YY URUR CURLERCURLER Summer 2020 YOUR CONTENTS 04 AGM Round Up Statement from RCCC 05 Board of Directors 2020/2021 06 Bulletin Board 08 Development Team - Summer Update 13 Glasgow Ice Centre 15 Update 17 Competition Corner Cover photo: ©WCF/Céline Stucki A WORD FROM OUR CEO Dear Members, I hope you are all well and enjoying the summer season as much as you can. Firstly, I would like to thank all of our members who attended and participated in the first ever virtual AGM of the Royal Caledonian Curling Club. Over 400 members 'zoomed' in to hear the latest updates and it was refreshing and interesting to answer questions and hear a few familiar voices as our members voiced the questions of our community. You can read a round up of the main discussion points and outcomes of the AGM on page 4, as well as a statement released after the initial meeting with our newly elected directors of the Board, Keith Prentice and Janine Wilson. Along with new RCCC President Andrew Kerr and Vice-President Susan Kesley, the board are progressing with the areas of change deemed necessary to more effectively communicate with and involve our membership in the governance of our sport. We are continually assessing the situation surrounding the global pandemic and the implications that the current restrictions may have on curling when it comes time for a new season. We have a dedicated page on our website for these kinds of updates, and this is where you can find our Return To Curling Guidelines, which we are reviewing at every step of the Scottish Government's phased route map out of lockdown. In this issue, we also have a large scale update from our development team, to keep you, our members, in the loop as to what your membership is helping us to progress over the quieter months. I'm sure you'll enjoy this update and I hope that if you have any questions about any of the projects, you contact the relevant member of the team by tapping their name at the beginning of each section on pages 8-13. Rounding out this YourCurler, we have included information about our updated competition refund policy for season 2020/2021. We understand that just because curling is allowed to go ahead, that does not necessarily mean that you will feel comfortable or able to return to the ice for competitions on set dates. You can read all about this on page 15. As ever, I hope to see you all on the ice as soon as we can get back out there, and I wish you all the best for the rest of the summer. Best Wishes, Bruce Bruce Crawford Chief Executive Officer 2020 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING SATURDAY 27 JUNE The 182nd Annual General Meeting of the Royal Caledonian Curling Club, was held online using Zoom’s video webinar platform on Saturday 27 June 2020 at 2pm. Brian McArtney reported on his year as President and Bruce Crawford (CEO) summarised the Annual Report. Graham Lindsay (Chair) steered the members through the business elements of the meeting and the results of the online and postal voting. The proposed changes to the Rules of the Game, and Annual Accounts were approved, and it was agreed that the subscriptions for the 2021-2022 season would remain the same at £20 for ordinary and honorary playing members, and £7 for Juniors (under 21). Special Resolution 7, submitted by New Abbey Curling Club, was not passed by the voting members. As a result of this vote, a selection process will be used to determine which team will represent Scotland for the coming season. The Board accepts and respects the decision of our members. Chairman Graham Lindsay said, “I recognise that we need to change. We must do all that we can to properly engage with our members; we will improve our communication; we need to consult with our members as never before, and we need to keep you all informed, so that you are fully aware of the consequences of our actions. We will engage, we will communicate, we will consult. The Board will serve the members of the Royal Caledonian Curling Club to the best of our abilities and in the best interests of curling in Scotland.” Andrew Kerr (Troon Portland) was appointed as President and Susan Kesley (Currie and Balerno) became the first woman to be appointed as Vice President of the Royal Caledonian Curling Club. David Hardie and Hugh Templeton stepped down as directors, while Keith Prentice (Ayton Castle) and Janine Wilson (Letham Grange) were elected as directors and will now begin their terms on the Board. Lochaber Curling Club was awarded a 150 year club medal, having been admitted in 1870, and Troon Portland Curling Club was awarded a 100 year club medal. The following members were virtually awarded with 50 year medals to celebrate 50 years continuous membership: David Steel (Biggar), Patrick Edington (Boswall), Craig Hutcheson (Broomhall), Douglas Walls (Crawford Priory), Ian Whiteford (Crawford Priory), Tom Neilson (Dippool), Alison Allison (East Kilbride & Haremyres), Oonah Grigor (Elgin), Inglis McAulay (Falkirk), Jeanette Johnston (Falkirk Ladies), Margaret Ramsay (Glasserton), Anne Brook (Kennoway), Charles Gibb (Kilmahoe), John Duncan (Lesmahagow), John Veitch (Lesmahagow), Jean Veitch (Lesmahagow Ladies), Norma Lammie (Leswalt), James Wyllie (Midcalder), Jim Cowper (Penicuik), Jane Paton (Penninghame), Jack Kennedy (Sorn), Kate Dykes (West Linton). The winners of the Scottish Curling Awards were acknowledged with James Craik, Robert Forrest, Pete Loudon and Team Mouat voted this year’s Young Curler, Grassroots Coach, Ice Diamond and Team of the Year respectively. The Board would like to extend thanks to the staff at Scottish Curling for their help to allow the 182nd Annual General Meeting to go ahead in its new format, and to all of the membership for a fantastic season. The 183rd Annual General Meeting will take place on Saturday 26 June 2021. The venue is yet to be confirmed, but it is hoped it will be held at Greenacres Curling Rink. Statement from RCCC Board of Directors 2020/21 The new board met on Thursday 2 July and have committed to forming a working group that will include staff, directors, athletes, members and stakeholder organisations to inform the board’s future selection policy decisions. A new group has also been immediately created to simultaneously consider the ways in which we can most effectively consult with as many of you as possible. By the start of the new season, we will present a comprehensive plan for consultation on all our key issues, including selection and the modernisation of our organisational structure. The board will keep the members informed as we make progress in the coming period. Bulletin Board Our competitions refund policy has changed for season 2020/21, allowing We're Here you to feel more at Scottish Curling HQ staff are ease about getting a currently working remotely - refund if you need to you can find our contact cancel! details here Read all about it here VACANCY: Academy Manager We're looking for someone who can identify and develop our next generation of world class curlers, providing quality opportunities to aspiring athletes. More info and apply here. Development Team Summer Update Head of Development - Nick Rennie Now that our new development team structure is in place we have been busy over this prolonged summer period, progressing the plans for the development of curling. We wanted to use this opportunity to give you a flavour of what we are working on. In the January and April editions of YourCurler we have provided updates on our plans for developing curling. These have centered on having a closer relationship with each ice rink curling community across Scotland, driven by three development managers. We highlighted plans to build on the strengths of our sport and help us to encourage people from the age of 8 to 80 to play our great game. Some of these strengths are the commitment to junior curling across the country, the great progress in developing coaches and officials, providing opportunities for those with disabilities, developing the performance pathway and organising curling competitions, camps and events. In addition to all of the above, we've identified the following seven areas to focus on more intensively: 1. Converting participation to membership from introductory programmes such as Curling’s Cool, Try Curling etc 2. Targeted Secondary School work 3. Retention of School Leavers 4. Targeted recruitment campaign for 50+ 5. A more convenient version of Curling 6. Capitalise on high profile curling events 7. Review Scottish Curling Membership & Benefits As you know last season was cut short by the global pandemic and we have been working closely with ice rinks and sportscotland and Scottish Government to develop our Return to Curling Guidelines. The latest guidelines can be accessed here. The following updates from each member of the development team provide an overview on the work we've been doing, and will continue to progress with until the season reopens. If you have any questions or would like to get involved please contact myself or the relevant member of the development team. workforce development manager - fiona harfield During this summer period I have been developing new resources to support courses and the new workshops that are being written. The changes to how we have all had to communicate recently have allowed me to fast track plans for online CPD courses and workshop along with an online coaches forum to hopefully go live in December. Planning is underway to virtually deliver the Coaching and Development Conference and Umpire Refresher Day in September.