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NEWS AND VIEWS FROM YOUR GRAVENHURST CURLING CLUB
President’s Message
Gord Haugh, President
Presidents Message—Feb. March
It is very hard to believe that the Third draw has begun and we are only 6 weeks away from the end of
the curling season.
However, there is no reason to be despondent. Looking at the positive side, there are 6 weeks of
curling left. On top of that Murray and Leslie have put together a season ending Fun Bonspiel
sponsored by Harveys/Swiss Chalet. With Murray’s leadership, we have tried to promote more social
events for the membership. If you missed the Valentines dance, by all reports you missed a great
evening. Unfortunately, Michael Wayling’s son chose that night to get married so Michael and I had
to miss the dance. It takes a lot of work to put on one of these events. Please support your club
socials so that we can continue to have more fun evenings at the club.
We are still trying to assess the cost of hydro, water and sewage for this season and it will be a month
or two before we have a good idea of how much are costs have increased this season. If you have been
watching the news, you have seen the stories of other clubs that are finding it difficult to carry on with
the ever increasing cost of utilities. How can we solve this dilemma and still keep our club in the
black? We either have to increase the fees (which may be unavoidable) or we need to increase our
membership. Why not invite some friends, neighbours or maybe some people who used to curl, to the
closing fun bonspiel and show them how much fun curling can be. With 2 six end games, it will be a
great time to introduce some new people to the game and the social aspects of the Gravenhurst Curling
Club.
I look forward to welcoming current and new players to bonspiel on April 1. Don’t be a fool!! Join us
on April 1.
Sponsor of the month !
CARSTAR - Ratcliff Auto Body is the sponsor of the month.
Their new sign will soon up outside to the left of the entrance.
A great supporter of our golf tournament each year and also our curling rink with their annual bonspiel
the third Saturday in March for so many years in the past.
Shane Ratcliff again will be hosting the 2017 event so drop by their shop and say Thank you.
Look for their in ice ads and more inside signage in the fall of 2017.
Web Site/Member Management Software Project.
The project continues to move along with the last of the User IDs sent out to members to allow
them to log in and update their profile information.
We are encouraging members to log in when they go to our web site. We are also requesting that
you take time to update your profile and to enter your willingness to spare. This system allows us
to have a Club wide spare list instead of separate lists in each league. To accomplish this, we need
you to enter where/when you will spare and in what positions. You will also see a place under
your profile where you can get a list of available spares for the leagues you play in. (Also
available under the Our Leagues menu Item.) If interested, you can also add any special skills,
trades or training that you want to offer to other members under the Other Tab in your profile.
Under the Membership + menu is a member list for when you need to contact another member.
Members that have indicated a willingness to share their email address with other members will
cause their email address to show next to their phone #. A handy thing to have avail. if you are
willing.
Also under that Membership + menu is an item called +My Info . This will show what teams you
are on. What schedules you have (who you play and when) and what spiels you have signed up
for. There will be scant information in there currently as the conveners have not yet had a
chance to look at the scheduling feature.
The conveners and others sat down for a demonstration of what 'league scheduling and scoring'
options are available in the software on Thurs last. We hope they can do some testing of these
features to determine how useable it is to them.
We are using the calendar, leagues, membership profiles/lists, Social Media Links, Photo
Gallery, News Letter (this one), Bonspiel lists/registration forms and the mass emailer function.
Next we will be looking at scheduling, volunteering and more Sponsor info and finally the
registration for next season (a self serve function for members with a computer.)
Thank for your patience while we move these features forward.
Barry Brock
Ivy’s Spiel
On Saturday, February 4, 2017 the annual Ivy’s Spiel was held. We had a great turnout of 10 teams
that led to a great day of curling and friendship.
Our theme this year was Glitz and Glam Las Vegas which brought out some amazing costumes for the
evening festivities. Congratulations to the winning rink of Jenna Godfrey, Irene Meek, Susan
McAughey, Sylvia Bouchard and LoisAnn Darrach. This team was a last minute entry and played
amazing all day.
We also asked our curlers to bring socks for donation to the Muskoka Interval House. This request
went out just one week before the event and we were just overwhelmed with the donations we were
able to forward. Special thanks to everyone for making this day a huge success both with curling and
sock donations.
We the organizing committee would also like to thank our entire behind the scenes volunteers who
without them the Ivy’s Spiel would be in some jeopardy.
Looking forward to next year!
It will soon be Margarita Time!
All Members are invited to our final Bonspiel
of 2017
Especially for all our "Parrot Heads" ,
the theme this year is
Margaritaville
Please see the attached introduction
and registration form.
A chance to curl for the final time this season
and spend a great evening with your
curling crew.
April 01, 2017
Winner of the Big TV at our Valentine Dance is Kathy Orr from Gravenhurst.
Blasts from the Past
Muskoka Grandmasters Curling League
The Muskoka Grandmasters Curling League is a men's league for seniors over 70 years old (or turning
70 during the current season) and who are members of one of the 6 clubs who participate Gravenhurst, Bala, Port Carling, Bracebridge, Baysville and Huntsville.
Similar to the Muskoka Masters league for curlers who are 60+, the Grandmasters league is intended to
foster fellowship and provide more senior players an opportunity for competitive inter-club play in the
Muskoka area. The current Ontario Grandmasters champions are from Bracebridge and play in this
league. This year a team from Gravenhurst has qualified for the Provincial playdowns.
There are currently a total of 14 teams in the league including 2 from Gravenhurst. The league will
likely expand to 16 teams next year and there will be an opportunity for another team from
Gravenhurst if a team wishes to join. Otherwise new teams must challenge an existing team to gain
entry.
Games are played at all of the participating clubs, usually on Tuesday mornings, and lunch is provided
by the host club. The league curling season starts in November and concludes with a playoff in
February.
Bill Bromley
Appeal for Volunteers
Another busy month ahead and help is needed to carry out these events.
Please consider helping at some of these listed below;
Feb 21 Tues morning Grand Masters Playoff 56 curlers. Please see Wilma to coordinate
kitchen/cleanup helpers
Feb 25 Sat noon to 2 Two ktichen helpers. Please contact Laurie Oake to volunteer
Mar 03 Friday morning Masters playoff 64 curlers 2 lunch helpers, 2 cleanup Please contact
Susan Lindsay.
Mar 07,08,09 10am to noon. GHS Electives, 4 - 6 on ice instructors
Please contact Laurie Ryan.
Mar 18 Ratcliff Men's Spiel 2 Food Service helpers 10 - 1pm and 2 from noon - 3pm
in addition, we need male bouncers on the following shifts, 1 - 3, 3 - 5, 5 - 7, 7 - 9pm.
keep an eye on the lounge and downstairs, no drinks downstairs, on ice or outside. Carry
cases downstairs, pickup empty bottles, clear tables, and keep rowdies in check. Please contact
Laurie Oake.
Apr 01 Closing Bonspiel. Several helpers will be needed. TBA.
For all these volunteer requests Irene Meek will be making up sign up sheets for the bulletin
board.
Help support your club.
TUESDAY NIGHT MIXED
So the 2nd draw for Tuesday night had it’s challenges. The weather gods apparently did not love
us. I had to cancel 3 times due to bad weather. I felt so bad having to do it but safety first. I
appreciate that everyone understood.
That being said it made for a very close race for 1st place.
In the end this is how it went down.
3rd place Team Godfrey
Ryan Godfrey Matt Underwood Christina Brown and Kelly Fallis
2nd place Team Washburn
Gord Washburn Julie Washburn John Roud and Charmaine Roud
and the winner of the cars
Team Kent
Allan Kent Jim Barrowman Sue Kent and Barb Barrowman
Congratulations !!!
FRIDAY NIGHT MIXED
Friday night was spared cancellations for bad weather.
We had 6 sheets and 2 bye teams for the 2nd draw so spares were easily found.
I love curling and seeing a full house on the ice. Lots chatter and laughing is always a good sign.
We actually had a tie for 3rd place
Team Washburn
Gord Washburn Julie Washburn Pete Lemoine and Sandy Lemoine
Team McCann
Leslie McCann Murray McKeown Dan Freeburn and Tamara Carley
2nd Place
Team Irwin
Bill Irwin Brenda Gabitous LoisAnn Darrach and Mark Millard
And the Winners
Team McNeice
Tom McNeice Terri Puittinen Maureen Boyd and Wayne Boyd
LOOKING FORWARD TO THE LAST DRAW
SEE YOU ON THE ICE!!
Monday Night CYOR
Draw 2 is now complete for the Monday night CYOR (Create Your Own Rink) league, with the Ryan
Godfrey team of Gord Washburn, Bob McDevitt and John Scott in the lead.
Draw 3 starts Monday, February 20 and runs for six weeks. The eight teams have been divided into
Groups A and B according to their standings and will play every other team in their group twice to
determine who the group winner is (a double round robin playoff). We will continue using the points
system we have used all year but, to keep it interesting, we are not carrying the totals forward. We will
start from scratch. This way each team has a chance to win the final draw. The teams with the highest
points earned in Draw 3 will be the league winners - one for Group A and one for Group B.
Congratulations to Bill Bromley and his rink of Bill Kennedy, Steve Sharko, John Scott and Howie
Atkinson (all CYOR curlers) for finishing first in local Grand Masters league play. They will now
advance to a sudden death playoff with the second place team to determine the trophy winner.
Good luck and good curling everyone!
Howie Atkinson
CYOR convenor
Women’s League
The women’s league this year continues to be a great place to improve your game, learn new skills,
make new friends and have fun too! Our Christmas event was a great success with lots of donations
for the Salvation Army Christmas Drive and another wonderful meal prepared and served by the
culinary class at Gravenhurst High School. Final team standings had Alexandria Mitchell’s team top
the league followed by the Gougeon team and the McCann team.
The second draw saw the McCann, Stirling and Gougeon teams, each with new team members, jockey
for top standings. In the end, the McCann team topped Stirling by half a point, (which really is a
“virtual tie!”) and the Gougeon team was a close third.
We look forward to a great third draw to round out the season!
Irene Meek, Convenor
More? Check out the calendar for more events coming up!
http://www.gravenhurstcurlingclub.com/schedule.html
Rock Tock—Keeping you Informed. If you have news of club events or happenings, please forward
it to [email protected]
.