OCC NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER 2018 Try Curling Now ‘New to the OCC this year was participating in the CurlON initiative to advertise curling club clinies. People accessing the website trycurlingnow.ca would enter their city and participating curling clubs within a certain radius would appear with a link to more information about the clinics being offered, a, | Online registration would collect contact information and, once registered, an email would be sent to each registrant and to the participating club's coordinator. | Under the expert guidance of instructors Cheryl | Heitzner, Barb Horne, Jane Binns and Dave Boyle, 11 e | participants came out to try curling at the club on ——— October 20" from 9:00am to 1:00pm. Thanks to Brian Moffatt for linking the OCC up with this great initiative and for providing the poster that was advertised at Rotary Place, on Facebook and sent out to members. ‘There are two more dates available in November (the 7" and the 14"), so spread the word! As well, 26 enthusiastic curlers enrolled in Orillia Parks and Recreation Learn to Curl Program. The 5-week program is run on Sunday afternoons from 3:00-4:15 during the fall and winter. It is a great opportunity for the general public to try the sport. Under the leadership of John Bouwhuis, OCC coaches share in instruction duties for these potential new members Charlene LeyOCC NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER 2018 New Membership Team Membership Team — New to OCC Although the curling season started October 15, activities associated with it started much earlier. In the spring, Joe Fecht, president of the Orillia Curling Club, had invited the Board of Directors, all league convenors, and instructors to a special meeting to specifically address the declining membership. In follow-up, another meeting was held to focus on recruitment, and retention of new and existing members. After participants split into working groups and shared their insights, an action plan was developed which has been guiding the new membership team’s work. From July 4" to the end of September, five meetings were held with a lot of work occurring behind the scenes. Some of the initiatives: + Recruitment/Publicity: Designing and utilizing Lawn Signs, © Utilizing social media co Advertising on TV Screens at Rotary Place Overtime magazine Direct email to club members ‘Try Curling Now Clinies Parks and Recreation - Learn to Curl program + New Members © Providing support to new curlers in deciding which leagues to join © Creating a detailed information package for new curlers co Ensuring new curlers participate in the curling clinics on the opening weekend. © Communicating to new members that they can get further training throughout the year. © Providing refresher clinics to 2" year curlers. © Asking League Convenors to ask curlers to act as mentors to new curlers + Existing Members © Draw Master to have meetings with League Convenors to share best practices and to provide advice/assistance, © Other suggestions were gathered and will be addressed as we move through the curling season. For example, create more of a club atmosphere, provide more social activities, © We will look to survey members either formally through on-line or paper methods to informally via focussed chats throughout the year. ‘The Membership Team utilizes a fluid approach to participation. When someone has an interest in a specific initiative they join the team and once complete they can drop off the team. So, as we move forward throughout the year and we are focusing on different initiatives, I will reach out to the full membership to see if there are some who want to pitch in. If you have an interest in participating, please let me know. I would like to give a big shout-out to the team members who have participated to date. Jane Barrett, John Bouwhuis, Susan Brooker, Gail Brown, Laura Cicinelli, Cathy Miller, Brian Moffatt, Carol Wilson-Moffatt. Charlene Ley Membership DirectorFor the past two years, many women at the OCC have participated in two different curling leagues that take place monthly at curling clubs in our area. These leagues are open to all female members of the club, although usually retired members take part as the games take place during the day. ‘The Parry Sound-Muskoka Interclub involves sending a team to play one &-end game followed by lunch in Parry Sound, Huntsville, Bala, Port Carling, Baysville, Bracebridge, or Gravenhurst. ‘The Barrie Senior Women Interclub League involves women curlers from the Barrie, Stroud, Bradford and Alliston Curling Clubs. We send as many curlers as we can to represent our club for two 6-end games and lunch. leagues are a lot of fun and allow our women curlers Both to experience bonspiels in a low-key format at different venues. For more information and to sign up for upcoming spiels, please check out the bulletin board in the Women's Change Room at the club. Anne Collins UPCOMING EVENTS, Saturday, November 3 (2:00-4:00) Annual General Meeting ALL WELCOME! Wednesday, November 7" (9:00am — 3:00pm) Senior Men's In-House Bonspiel ‘Tuesday, November 13" (9:30 - 3:00) Day Ladies Past President's Bonspiel Saturday, December 8 (9:00 - 3:00) Newbie Bonspiel (New and experienced curlers) ‘Thursday, December 20" (9:00 - 3:00) Day Ladies Christmas Bonspiel OCC newsletters, please contact the editors, To submit articles for future mon com) or Charlene Ley Anne Collins (annecollins5050@gn (charlene.v.ley@gmail.com),