CurlManitoba AGM Approves New Membership Model

Monday Jun 06 2011
by CurlManitoba Release

New Rule, New Directors & President, New Fiscal Year Announced

CurlManitoba’s Annual General Meeting has approved a significant change in the organization’s membership model. As a result of the approval of new by-laws at the June 4 AGM in Winnipeg, the individual curlers who participate in the sport across the province will now be recognized as members of the organization.

In the past, the members of the Manitoba Curling Association (aka CurlManitoba) have been the various clubs around the province who provide the opportunity to curl in their facilities.

 “The change may not make much difference to most curlers since they may not have even realized they were not officially members of the Association,” explained Shane Ray, CurlManitoba Executive Director.

“However, the existing model of facilities and clubs-only membership is simply not sustainable into the future,” Ray said.

The new model of membership carries with it a $4 ($3.81 GST) per participant membership fee. In the past, membership revenue to the organization was based on a per-sheet-of-ice formula which varied across the province.

“The formula was a direct cause of some clubs in smaller rural communities making the decision to withdraw from CurlManitoba,” Ray stated. “In smaller facilities, the per person cost of the old formula meant individuals were paying over $25 each while the figure was closer to $2 each in the larger centres.”

The new model, which has been in development for over two years, equalizes the investment of each participant in the administration of the sport in Manitoba. The new model also meets the expectations of Sport Manitoba, the major funding partner, in being able to track and report on participation, year to year changes and longer term trends.

Ray said Manitoba’s performance on the ice last season with a World championship (Stoughton), three national titles (Stoughton, McDougall-Masters, and Sobkowicz-Wheelchair) along with several other silver and bronze medals show Manitoba is still a province of champions.

“On the ice, the curling is in good shape. Unfortunately, the sport at the organizational level is struggling somewhat. We believe the new, more sustainable membership model allows us to re-focus our service to include all Manitoba curlers in addition to the clubs and facilities,” Ray said. 

The new membership model recognizes curling facilities, clubs, and associate members who have a direct involvement in organized curling in the province, as the voting ‘owner-members’ of CurlManitoba. Individual non-voting membership categories include active participants (players, coaches, and officials) and the continuation of a Honourary Life Member category in recognition of service rendered to the organization. A new supporter category for fans will also be offered in the future.

New Board of Directors Elected
Returning Director Sharon Thiessen-Woods (Heather) and three new directors, Norm Magnusson (Riverton), Bryce McEwen (Victoria), and Laurie MacDonnell (La Salle) joined the CurlManitoba Board for three year terms expiring in 2014.

The acclamations of the four candidates add the new directors to a Board which includes:
Cindy Maddock – Morden (term expires 2012)
Wendell Keeler-Portage (term expires 2012)
Garry Vandekerchkove-Swan Lake (term expires 2012)
Jim McRae- Charleswood (term expires 2012)

Bill Biehl-Heather (term expires 2013)
Sam Antila-Burntwood (term expires 2013)
Rob Van Kommer-Carberry (term expires 2013)
Resby Coutts-Morris/Fort Rouge (term expires 2013)

The Board of Directors selected Resby Coutts as President and Rob Van Kommer as Vice-President.

At their first meeting, the members of the Board of Directors committed themselves to a renewed endorsement of the CurlManitoba Mission Statement through unanimous support for the following statement of beliefs.

We believe for Curling to thrive in Manitoba, we must emphasize service to the sport, service to the clubs, and service to ALL curlers.
We believe for Curling to thrive in Manitoba, our facilities-clubs-leagues must be able to expect the support of their association in promoting, developing, and enhancing the sport at a level appropriate to them.
We believe for Curling to thrive in Manitoba, ALL curlers from the recreational to the elite must be able to expect service from their association in developing their abilities, understanding and enjoyment of the sport at a level appropriate to them.
 

New Rule
Manitoba continues to be a leader in the sport and will be the first province to adopt thinking time as a way of timing events at its provincial championships. This models what is currently being done on the World Curling Tour. The game time allotted to each team to complete 10 end will be 42 minutes. The game time allotted to each team for 8 ends shall be 33 minutes. This will promote more efficient and quicker game play.

Extra ends will be 5 minutes. The time allotted between ends to clear the house and start the next end will be 1 minute. 

New Financial Year Implemented
CurlManitoba’s traditional fiscal year, April 1 to March 31, has long presented challenges for the organization in the year-end finalization of accounts, the audit process, and development of projections for the future at a time when the curling season has not yet been completed.

Therefore, CurlManitoba has formalized a change of fiscal year to a July 1- June 30 timeframe.

“The new fiscal year will allow us to operate much more efficiently in managing all of the financial affairs of the organization,” Executive Director Shane Ray explained.

One of the spin-off results of the change will be a move to a September Annual General Meeting which will allow the organization to focus on planning for the year ahead rather than the traditional model of simply reporting on the year past.

 

 

 

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