2010-11 USA Annual Report Mission Statement: As the National Governing Body for the sport of curling, the USCA strives to grow the sport and win medals in world championships and Olympic Games. Letter to our members

t has been a pleasure serving as Over the past 20 years the scope of a priority for the board and is the key President of USA Curling this past the USCA has expanded considerably. to our long-term financial health. year. The 2010-11 curling season Our current governance structure does I I had an opportunity to see many of was an exciting time and I am proud not meet the financial and competitive st our championships this year. I was of our accomplishments. As a result of demands of the 21 century. This past impressed with the quality of curling, the Vancouver Olympics, the USCA year the board has embarked on a saw an unprecedented growth in process to reorganize the governance how well the events were run and the dedication of hundreds of volunteers membership this year. USCA now has of our organization. The ultimate goal over 16,000 curling members, a 16% is to create a board of directors whose that made it all possible. increase in one year. The USCA is ex- primary function is policy making and Good Curling, periencing phenomenal growth in non- fund raising; a staff to run the day-to- traditional locations; we are currently day operations, and an Assembly of curling in 41 states and about half of volunteers to support the staff where our clubs now curl in arenas. needed. The process is ongoing, with an expected completion next year. In March the USCA hired Derek Brown as our High Performance Director. Our financial position is good and for Derek comes from Scotland with a the second year in a row we have wealth of experience in the High Per- shown a small surplus. We broadened Christopher Sjue formance environment. He is tasked our efforts last year to obtain revenue with developing a program to put U.S. streams outside of curling, which has President teams on the podium in future World met with modest success. Obtaining United States Curling Association Championships and Olympics. additional revenues will continue to be

2011 world senior silver medalists Message from the Chief Operating Officer

is to be on the leading edge of growth, ing growth in membership, media at- development and competitive success. tention and partner support would not have been nearly as great without this How will we do this? For starters, in assistance. 2010-11 the USCA launched a new Sport Education initiative aimed at Other noteworthy happenings in 2010- supporting the mission at all levels. 11 included: Sport Education will need to develop  Launching of a new branding and deliver resources supporting the strategy for USA Curling, A year of transition USCA membership at the roots that will complete with a new look also seamlessly feed into further devel- and logo. at the USCA opment and ultimately high perform-  Renewal of two longtime ance programs. sponsors–AtomAmpd and hank you for your continued Nike—and the signing of support of the U.S. Curling At the top end, the high performance three new sponsors – The Association, whether as mem- plan developed in concert with the RAM Restaurant and Brewery, T BalancePlus, and Brooms Up bers, sponsors, or partners in develop- USOC led to the hiring of Derek Brown Curling Supplies. See more as the new Director of High Perform- ment, media, promotion or business about these sponsors below. ance in March 2011. Under Derek’s and competitive performance. The  Successful fundraising cam- 2010-11 season was a year of transi- leadership, with support from a High paigns, including the Vancou- tion, to an enhanced membership Performance Advisory Group, the pro- ver Team Captain Program, growth and development program as gram has taken shape with the hiring with NFL Pro Bowler Vernon Davis of the San Francisco well as to a new direction for high of additional key support staff, the forming of a National Team Program, 49ers joining as an Honorary performance programs. Team Captain. and the finalization of the 2014 U.S. The post-Vancouver Olympics period  Continuation of the world- Olympic Team Selection Procedures for class staging of the Men’s produced 15 new curling clubs and a Curling. More on high performance can and Women’s National Cham- 16% increase in overall membership, be found in Derek’s report elsewhere pionships, hosted in 2011 at which you can read more about in the in this document. Scheels Arena in Fargo, N.D. Member Services report. Meanwhile, with significant support from the U.S. The National Office filled a vacancy in The one current running through all Olympic Committee (USOC), a thor- the administrative assistant position levels of curling is camaraderie. While ough internal and external review of with the hiring of Christy Hering in July the sport and the USCA continue to the USCA’s high performance programs 2010, who quickly meshed with the evolve, it is this constant current that resulted in a new direction and a refo- small but hard-working staff in Stevens will keep the association grounded and cused commitment to attain long-term Point, Wis. moving in the right direction. On behalf competitive success. The USCA will always be grateful and of all of the staff, directors and volun- The USCA’s mission is to grow the dependent upon the dedicated core of teers, we appreciate your ongoing sport and support our members striv- volunteers across the nation who sup- support and are honored to serve you. ing to achieve their goals in curling, port the sport they love. Your efforts from becoming the best curler, coach, as a volunteer—whether at the club, official or instructor they can be to regional or national level—are very winning international medals. The much appreciated, and we want you to USCA’s vision is to become a world- take pride in your organization. class leader in the sport both on and After all, you are the USCA. off the ice. As the worldwide curling Many volunteers assisted at community grows, the challenges in the National Office during the these areas only increase if the USCA hectic days in and around the Vancouver Olympics, and the result- Sponsors & Partners

AtomAmpd (www.atomampd.com, fares to the USA Curling athletes, under the Kodiak Technology Group) staff, organization/club members and guided and supported all of the USCA’s their families attending USOC recog- information technology needs for the nized events and other official team 10th year of an annually renewing part- business. nership. This support includes hosting Hilton Worldwide of the USCA web site and online Mem- (www.hilton.com) is the preferred bership database, planning and main- hotel partner/supplier of USA Curling. tenance of the USCA’s office and out-of Whether booking for curling events, -office computer network, and signifi- business or vacation travel, all USA cant on-site technical support services Curling members can receive 15% off at championship events, including the best available rates at any of the audiocasts. 3,600 hotels within the Hilton World- Nike (www.nike.com) renewed a four- wide portfolio of brands when making year partnership with the USCA that their reservations through the HHonors will carry through 2014. Nike provides USA Curling portal at www.usacurl.org the USCA with competitive team outfit- (or by going directly to ting as well as other apparel as www.HHonors.com/teamusastays). By needed, plus ancillary benefits through utilizing this benefit, USA Curling’s other sponsor relations support. members can save on their own travel expenses as well as support their The RAM Restaurant & Brewery (www.theram.com) became a new sport, because Hilton World- USCA sponsor in 2010, donating a wide donates a portion of percentage of every Taster Curl sold each booking to USA Curling. at its 27 restaurants to the organiza- tion. Several of the RAM locations Sitrin Health Care have also partnered individually with (www.sitrin.com), located in local curling clubs, enhancing the New Hartford, N.Y., has been national partnership, including in supporting the USA Curling Seattle, Boise, Denver, Indianapolis wheelchair program directly and indi- and Chicago. rectly for many years, including the National Team and those athletes rep- Brooms UP Curling Supplies resenting USA at World Championships (www.broomsupcurling.com) became a and Paralympic Games. Sitrin’s STARS new USCA sponsor in 2010, donating a program – Success Through Adaptive percentage of its gross annual sales to Recreation and Sports – is an innova- the organization. This Woodbury, tive adaptive sports program that pro- Conn.-based supplier also supports the vides individuals with physical disabili- USCA by providing equipment for pro- ties opportunities to engage in a variety performance. Bal- motional events and charitable causes. of sports on a recreational or competi- ancePlus provided tive basis. United Airlines (www.united.com) is equipment and the preferred travel partner of USA expertise to USA BalancePlus (www.balanceplus.com) Curling, as a long-time sponsor of the Curling National is about more than curling shoes, Team Program in U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC). brooms and related equipment. The 2011-12, and we United has been ―Flying America’s ingenuity of founder Lino Di Iorio has look forward to a Team for 30 Years,‖ and offers dis- led to great advancements in not only long and fruitful partnership. counted domestic and international curling equipment but also curling Treasurer’s Report

This report of USA Curling’s finances is USCA financial resources to support through the direct USOC support designed to provide you with an over- programs. ($485K), competition Entry Fees view of the organization’s revenue and  Dues from individual curlers were ($94K), and Sponsorships ($131K). expenditures for the most recently com- $436K, which represented 34% of pleted fiscal year ended June 30, 2011*. the USCA’s combined revenue Overall, the USCA remains in sound sources. Dues revenue partially financial condition with a positive out- Fiscal Year 2011 funded the organization’s Growth & look for the organization and curling in Financial Highlights: Development activity ($429K) and the United States.  The USCA achieved positive reve- Management & Operations ex- nue over expenses and provided penses ($220K). * Financial results are preliminary pend- well balanced support for both  Fiscal Year 2011 was a transition ing final audit

Growth & Development activity and year for Competitive Programs and Competitive Programs. USOC direct support was reduced  Dues revenue increased through to $485K, which included $363K for the continued growth in the num- competitive programs plus $92K in ber of curling clubs and curlers licensing and other types of funding across the United States. During (note: an increase in USOC funding the year, new and existing curling has been achieved for Fiscal Year clubs successfully grew member- 2012 to support the implementa-

ships by leveraging the Olympic tion of the organization’s new High media exposure, resulting in Performance Plan). Sean Silver, Treasurer, USA Curling stronger clubs, stronger state/  Competitive Programs expenses of regional associations and expanded $584K were more than fully funded

2011 U.S. junior women’s champions Income

INCOME [unrestricted and  RAM Restaurant & Brewery  Donations to Curtis Cup and Katie temporarily restricted income] Beck Memorial (Junior awards) Grants USOC Funding  Donation Pin Program • Chicago Community Trust  USOC and Paralympic grants, • Sitrin Medical Rehabilitation Center  Donations made for use of NIKE including United Airlines Value-In- ( support) VIK not related to USOC or USCA- Kind (VIK); USOC International funded projects Relations Grant • Develop- ment Assistance (DAP) Grant  Donations made for use of United  Grants to support outreach to VIK not related to USOC-funded Entry Fees military veterans for participation projects in Wheelchair Curling  Playdown entry fees and Field of  Donations made to support our Dues Play fees World and WWUGs teams, and  Dues paid by USCA members  USOC Licensing & Non-grant our Junior Programs United VIK Sponsorships Other  2010-2011 portion of content  Cash and VIK sponsor contribu-  Advertising income - Curling licensing agreement between USA tions from News, website, media guide, me- Curling and the USOC dia materials  Brooms Up Curling Supplies  United VIK earned when travel is  Bank account interest  Hilton Worldwide NGB Program booked through the United Air- lines portal on USA Curling’s web-  Educational program income  Kitinski Sound Corporation site  Merchandise sales and royalties  Kodiak Technologies Donations  An insurance claim [$30,447]  Nike (competitive apparel)  Chris Moore Legacy Fund dona- tions  Miscellaneous income Expenses

EXPENSES  Junior summer camp support  Media Guide/Directory

Competitive Programs  World team apparel (Nike VIK)  USCA Board meetings and confer- ence calls, budget meeting  Staff salaries and benefits  Continental Cup  Legal fees  Training for and participation in  Winter World University Games World and events - athlete, coach support  Audit fees and staff expenses Growth & Development  Website development and server  High Performance program [e.g., fees post-Olympic debriefing, camps  See chart on next page Property tax and clinics, development of edu- Management & Operations  cational and training content and  Office equipment depreciation materials, coach development, HP  Staff salaries & benefits staff, equipment]  Employee development - staff  Website redesign amortization  Outreach programs seminars and training  Leasehold improvements amorti- zation  Development of coaching-sport  World Curling Federation - annual education materials dues, WCF representative ex-  Asset write-off penses  Town Hall Meetings held to dis-  Bad debt expense cuss development of a high per-  Central Office expenses - postage, formance program telephone, photocopies, software  Board officer teleconference ex- and equipment upgrades and penses  Championship events leading to maintenance, rent, utilities, staff  Governance Task Force meetings Worlds - team travel stipends, travel; insurance - director/ (funded by USOC) facility rental, championship officer, property stones, sensor handles, officiating, icemaking, awards, scoreboards  Bank fees Growth & Development

GROWTH & SUPPORT EXPENSES Growth & Development Overhead Support for Competitive Events

Member Services Club Support  Wages and benefits  Club Nationals

 Arena curling and club formation  Administrative Support  Mixed Nationals support  Curling News Central Office facili-  Awards  Club insurance program ties  Host Site plaques  Development of and access to Membership Development, Pro- educational and training content motion & Long-term Support  Equipment support and materials  Promotional banners  Icemaking  Instructional brochures and videos  Donation Pin Program  Officiating  Instructor clinics  Media and public relations  Travel stipends  Regional conferences and skills  Strategic marketing Junior Athlete Development camps  College Curling  Sponsorship and revenue develop-  On-line membership database ment  Junior Awards  Outreach and development sup-  Videos port  Junior Merit Program  Public Service Announcements  U.S. Curling News  Junior Camp support (PSAs)  World Curling Federation stone  Support for Winter World Univer-  USA Curling website program sity Games

Growth & Development

By Jerome Larson,

Vice President of Member Services

n 2010-2011 the USCA continued its strong growth with a 16% I membership increase. In addition, the USCA welcomed 15 new arena- based clubs, including Oklahoma City; St. Louis; seven clubs from GNCC - Addison County, Atlanta, Bucks County, Charlotte Center, Coastal Carolina, Palmetto, and Panthers; Curl Troy and Fort Wayne from GLCA; Northwestern (Illinois), and Missoula, Whitefish and Nederland in MOPAC.

To support this growth, the USCA has professionally produced an Open House/Learn to Curl video, and an ice- making video for transforming arena ice to curling ice. They are download- able on the USCA web. Additional camps are scheduled for Camps with 163 club curlers seeking to Youth Curling: The USCA sponsored 2012. improve their curling skills. four youth camps to support the grow- Training and Instruction: The College Curling: The college curling ing number of junior curlers. These USCA conducted 14 Level 1 Instructor bonspiel was conducted in Chicago regional camps (East – Cape Cod; Mid- Clinics, five Level 2 Instructor Clinics, with 32 teams participating from 20 west – Green Bay, St Paul. and Bis- and 13 Officiating Clinics throughout colleges and universities. In addition marck) trained 150 junior curlers from the United States this year. In addi- to the bonspiel, College Curling is or- across the U.S. The camps were fo- tion, the USCA conducted three Skills ganizing a college league and facilitat- cused on all skill levels, from the be- ing the formation of club curling on ginner to advanced junior athletes. campuses in the U.S. Currently there are 21 campuses with active college curling clubs. The long-term goal is to sponsor a true collegiate champion- ship. Growth & Development

Curling clubs are now located in 41 of 50 U.S. states. New clubs that formed since 2010 include:

Addison County CC, Middlebury, VT Atlanta CC, Marietta, GA Bucks County CC, Warminster, PA

Charlotte Centre CC, Charlotte, NC Coastal Carolina CC, Wilmington, NC Palmetto CC, Taylors, SC

Panthers CC, Coral Springs, FL South Shore CC, Bridgewater, MA Cincinnati CC, Cincinnati, OH

Curl Troy, Troy, OH Fort Wayne CC, Fort Wayne, IN Northwestern University CC, Chicago

Klamath Falls CC, Klamath Falls, OR Missoula CC, Missoula, MT Orange County CC, Westminster, CA

Oklahoma CC, Edmond, OK St. Louis CC, St. Louis, MO Lansing CC, Lansing, MI

**More clubs in the forming stage High Performance & Sport Education

High Performance Program (HPP) Update, October 2011

Staff

Three coaches were appointed in June 2011 as follows:

• – National Coach, Men

• Phill Drobnick – Project Coach, Men

• John Benton – Project 2018 National Coach, Women

These positions are part-time, with the National Coach for Men at 50% time and the Project 2018 coaches serving even more limited-time positions. USCA Director of High Performance Derek Brown will oversee the Women’s National Team program closer this Caitlin Maroldo, Molly Bonner, ductions, fitness and strategy sessions season until a National Women’s Coach and anti-doping education. Also held Mackenzie Lank is appointed, by summer of 2012 at were coach training sessions for Na- the latest. These coaches add to the Team Brown: , Debbie tional Program and Team Coaches on current members of the High Perform- McCormick, , Jessica the use of the new HPP statistical soft- ance Staff as follows: Schultz ware.

• Derek Brown – Director of Project 2018 Teams High Performance Team Hamilton: , • Scott Higgins – Director of , Karlie Koenig, Sophie Sport Education Brorson

• Brian McWilliams – Athletic Team Solem: Miranda Solem, Trainer (limited-time consult- Mackenzie Lank, Julie Lilla, Chelsea ant) Solem

Athletes Team Bahr: Josh Bahr, Chris Bond, Atticus Wallace, John Muller The HPP Advisory Group (overseen by Derek Brown) selected the following Team Dropkin: Stephen Dropkin, teams to be part of the National Pro- Korey Dropkin, Thomas Howell, Derek gram for season 2011-12: Corbett, Cameron Ross

Team Fenson: Pete Fenson, Shawn The HPP staff ran two training camps Rojeski, , Ryan Brunt in Green Bay, Wis., in July/August for the HPP Teams, which included on-ice Team George: Tyler George, Chris technical sessions, practice games, Plys, Rich Ruohonen, Aanders Brorson delivery analysis and video feedback. Team Lank: , Nina Spatola, Off-ice there were HP Program intro- Championships

By James Pleasants, pressed with the playing conditions nesota's Aaron Wald got past Stephen VP of Championships and the entertainment at Scheels Dropkin's Massachusetts team, 6-3, in Arena in Fargo, N.D., which provided the men’s championship. Both champi-

excellent preparation for world play. ons represented the U.S. at the 2011 articipation in our champion- World Juniors in Scotland. The Senior Men’s and Women’s Na- ships continued to be strong tional Championships continue to be Brady Clark’s team continues to domi- last year, with a significant P popular events, with 34 teams compet- nate in the National Mixed Champion- upward spike in Mixed entries and ing for the right to represent the ships. His Washington team not only Senior Men’s entries. The team regis- United States at the World Senior won the Mixed Championship in Mid- trations, sites, and winning rinks for Championships in 2011. This year the land, Mich., but Brady and his wife, the championships were as follows: U.S. was privileged to host the World Cristin, also won the Mixed Doubles In 2010-11, in the playdowns leading Senior Championships in St. Paul, Championship in Duluth, Minn. They up to the Men’s and Women’s National Minn. The U.S. men’s team skipped by went on to post USA’s best finish to Championships, we made greater use Geoff Goodland won the Nationals at date in the Mixed Doubles World of triple knockout formats and an ob- Broomstones Curling Club in Boston, Championship in St. Paul, placing sev- jective team ranking system, which and represented USA well by winning enth. were well received by the teams. We the silver medal at the Worlds, losing The Janice Langanke rink from New also qualified some men’s and to Canada in the final. Margie Smith Jersey and the Seppo Sormunen rink women’s teams into the Nationals and her team from St. Paul won the from Minnesota won the 2011 USA based on points earned at major Senior Women’s National Champion- Curling Club National Championships at bonspiels, both national and interna- ship played in Bismarck, N.D. They the Mankato Curling Club in Mankato, tional. finished fourth at the World Seniors. Minn. In the men’s national final, Pete Fen- The U.S. had 57 junior teams compete In addition, the Blake Morton rink rep- son’s team held off the Tyler George in regional playdowns, with the goal of resented the U.S. at the Winter World rink in an exciting extra-end game. In representing their state or region in University Games, finishing sixth, and the women’s championship, Patti the Junior National Championships Augusto Perez once again led the Lank’s team was strong throughout the conducted in Fairbanks, Alaska. Becca Americans at the World Wheelchair week, and defeated ’s Hamilton's Wisconsin rink defeated Championship with a seventh-place team in the gold medal game. Com- Minnesota's Miranda Solem, 11-4, to showing. petitors and spectators alike were im- win the junior women’s title, and Min- Championships & Awards

U.S. Mixed Doubles Championship U.S. Mixed National Championship

Hosted by the Duluth Curling Club, Duluth, MN Hosted by the Midland Curling Club, Midland, MI

20 teams Playdown team entries: 50

Champions: Brady Clark & Cristin Clark, Seattle’s Granite Champion: Brady Clark rink of Washington Curling Club U.S. Club National Championships U.S. Junior National Championships Hosted by the Mankato Curling Club, Mankato, MN Hosted by the Fairbanks Curling Club, Fairbanks, Alaska Playdown team entries: 57 (men) & 18 (women) Playdown team entries: 35 (men) & 22 (women) Champions: Seppo Sormunen rink of Minnesota & Janice Champions: Becca Hamilton rink of Wisconsin & Aaron Langanke rink of New Jersey Wald rink of Minnesota U.S. Wheelchair Team Selection Event U.S. Senior Men’s National Championship Hosted by the Green Bay Curling Club, Green Bay, WI Hosted by The Country Club and Broomstones Curling Club 12 athletes in the Boston area Champions: Augusto Perez, James Pierce, James Joseph, 27 teams Jacqui Kapinowski, Penny Greely Champion: Geoff Goodland rink of Wisconsin/Minnesota Thank you also to the following clubs for hosting qualifying U.S. Senior Women’s Championship events:

Hosted by the Capital Curling Club, Bismarck, ND Green Bay Curling Club

7 teams Capital Curling Club

Champion: Margie Smith rink of Minnesota Rochester Curling Club

World University Games Playdown Seattle’s Granite Curling Club

Hosted by the Fargo-Moorhead Curl- Medford Curling Club ing Club, Fargo, ND Grand Forks Curling Club 4 teams Waupaca Curling Club Champion: Blake Morton rink of Wis- AWARDS: consin Female Athlete of the Year: Patti Lank U.S. National Championships Male Athlete of the Year: Pete Fenson Hosted by Scheels Arena in partner- ship with the Fargo-Moorhead Curling Team of the Year: Geoff Goodland rink Club, Fargo, ND Developmental Coach of the Year: Playdown team entries: 30 (men) & Sandra McMakin 13 (women) Bruce Bennett Media Award: Jim Car- Champions: Pete Fenson rink of Min- rington, Bemidji Pioneer Press nesota & Patti Lank rink of New York

Communication & Social Media

n the past few years, social media has become an important part of how USA Curling communicates I news with its membership. The great Olympic TV ex- posure the sport has experienced in the past decade has enabled fans to catch the curling fever.

USA Curling connects with its fans and membership via several social avenues, including Facebook, Twitter, Four- square and YouTube. The monthly electronic newsletter, Stone Soup, also allows news to be spread, especially in between issues of the U.S. Curling News, which is pub- lished and mailed to the membership five times annually.

Check us out online at www.usacurl.org and you’ll find daily updates.

USA Curling’s Facebook page grew from 1,500 fans before the 2010 Olympic Winter Games to nearly 19,000 today

USA Curling’s Twitter account has 700 followers and growing daily USA Curling

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