GRAND NATIONAL CURLING CLUB INSIDE 2 Obituaries 3 Message from the President 4 Increased Stipends 4 GNCC Arena Championship The Official Newsletter of the GNCC November 2015 | Vol. 26, No. 2 News 5 GNCC Wins Ross Tarlton 5 GNCC Senior Women’s Bob Pelletier Receives an Award of a Lifetime 6 GNCC Club Updates by George Shirk 8 New Club Starter Kit 8 GNCC Stone Rental Program 9 NBC Curling Night in America 10 Broom Controversy Heats Up 12 Rare 8-Ender in Philadelphia Free Curling Software submitted by Howard Griffin Over the past several years, the Potomac Curling Club has developed custom The GNCC has awarded Potomac Curling Bob is an avid curler and supporter of the written software to help manage our Club member Robert Pelletier the Lifetime game. He was recently awarded the Collie volunteer opportunities, open house Membership Award. Bob is a deserving Campbell Memorial Award at the Ross Tarlton. crowds, and other smaller event recipient. In addition to being a past The award recognizes “gentlemen” for their reservations. In 2012 the Chesapeake President of the GNCC, he served from 1999 longtime service to the sport. Curling Club asked if I knew of a timer to to 2007, and he was also the President of the He also curled in the U.S. Men’s Nationals help keep friendly games and bonspiels Potomac Curling Club for 12 years, through in Duluth in 1994, representing the GNCC, moving forward in a timely manner. I 2003. During those years, he lived by the and has been on numerous other winning didn’t know of one so a simple game phrase: “If we build it, they will come.” curling teams over his long curling career. timer application was developed to keep He toiled, begged, borrowed, and pleaded His most coveted and prized win, however, is friendly games and bonspiels moving with vendors, lenders, and contractors—to his Gold Medal at the Rotary World Curling along. A “virtual” strategy board suitable build the Potomac Curling Club—the first Championships in Edinburgh, Scotland, in for video projections for larger crowds was “stand alone” dedicated curling club to be March 2002. also developed. built (from scratch) in the east since the early Bob, the GNCC sincerely thanks you for your All of the software developed by the PCC 1960s. Following his lead, and utilizing his tireless dedication and service to our sport is available to any club or organization, techniques for success, several other new and for being a lifelong ambassador for absolutely free of charge. Point your curling facilities have since been built in the “the roaring game.” favorite web browser to howardgriffin. eastern U.S. org, try the applications out online, and Another example of his tireless effort and then download any that you wish to use. dedication to curling—he sought out and won the bid for Potomac to host the 2012 Rotary World Curling Championships, and he took the reins as chairman of the Rotary Worlds Championships Committee. The event was hugely successful. Obituaries Dave Dewees by Russ Lemcke, Bob Ottaviano with material from CapeCodTimes.com Dr. David Dewees, of Falmouth MA, passed away on March 11 at the age of 88. Dave founded the Cape Cod Curling Club with his wife Anne in 1969, bringing the then little-known sport to Cape Cod. He pursued establishing curling for many years, learning, playing and teaching with a passion. The Cape Cod Curling Club is now a thriving recreational addition to Falmouth and greater Cape Cod, with approximately 300 members, who were his “curling family.” The popular “Summer Bonspiel” started the same year the club was founded, and it has since grown to one of the largest off-season bonspiels in the world. As president of Cape Cod for the first 10 years, he convinced a donor to build a dedicated facility and kept a small group of curlers together through difficult economic times. He served as GNCC president from 1988 to 1999, during which time he visited every area club on at least one occasion. With his guidance, the club brought female membership to the administration of the GNCC. In 1984, he was a member of the Massachussetts State Championship team that went on to compete in the Nationals. Through Dave’s record of dedication to the sport, he was chosen to be in the Scot’s tour in 1992, and in 2002 he was awarded the Collie Campbell award by the trustees of the Ross Tarleton Canadian/US competition. Cape Cod members are determined to carry on his vision for the sport he loved so much. Paul Mort, Jr. adapted from CapeNews.net Paul R. Mort Jr., a resident of East Falmouth since 1998 who became an ambassador for the sport of curling, died at home July 9 after a long illness. He was 86. In the early 1970s, Paul and his wife Isabelle took up the sport of curling in Ardsley, New York. After Paul retired in 1998, they moved to East Falmouth, mainly for the town’s vibrant curling community. He became a strong advocate for the sport, holding officer roles in the GNCC and accompanying the US Men’s Senior Tour to Scotland in 2002. “He was an enthusiastic supporter of the sport,” said his daughter, Elizabeth Mort Calcagni. “He shared his enthusiasm with anybody who would listen.” Isabelle echoed that sentiment, saying, “He enjoyed talking about curling to everybody.” In 2004, he was a member of the curling team from Cape Cod that won the “Dr. Jim” medal at the 24th annual Northeast Seniors Curling Bonspiel held in Ardsley-on-Hudson, New York. Please consider making a tax deductible charitable donation in memory of members who are no longer with us, or consider naming the Grand National Curling Club of America as a beneficiary under your will or as a beneficiary to your life insurance or retirement accounts. Bequests provide the GNCC with a fiscal foundation that ensures the continued strength of our extraordinary programs and services. Message from the President Grand National Curling Club submitted by Chris Banino Officers and Directors Curling is now a year- prestigious GNCC events. This will allow President Chris Banino round sport. Although everyone to enjoy the gracious Southern 1st Vice President Dan Boerger many dedicated ice hospitality that the region is famous for. facilities are just starting 2nd Vice President Charlie Brown These events are hosted at different sites Secretary Pauline Davies up their leagues, many every year, and we want all of our member Treasurer Gwen Krailo-Lyons arena clubs are finishing clubs to participate in hosting these events. up theirs. Curling Club of Virginia, skipped Immediate Past President by Travis Hamilton, had a successful run at The dues and insurance costs for the GNCC Sally MacKenzie the GNCC Arena Championships, and many will remain the same as they were last At-Large Directors Marj Moore, other fun bonspiels were run during the year; however, the GNCC will no longer be George Shirk, Maryann Vermeulen, summer. Now, as the weather turns cooler, collecting the dues for USA Curling. We were the only region in the United States dedicated ice facilities begin to start up GNCC News collecting dues for the national governing is published by the their physical plants, and begin to put down Grand National Curling Club of circles, lines, and hacks. These dedicated ice body, and it was becoming too cumbersome America, Inc. The newsletter is staff put in long hours in order to prepare for for our volunteers to reconcile the way USA the long road ahead as a new season begins. Curling required with their new database. distributed free to members of the More importantly, this will allow each club Grand National Curling Club. The As your president for the next two years, I to actively communicate directly with the annual subscription rate for non- look forward to working with all clubs to national governing body, as we have heard members is $10.00 (US). Advertising continue to grow the sport of curling in the clubs wanted more direct access to USA rates are available upon request. eastern United States. GNCC Junior, Senior, Curling and their programs. and Mixed Doubles teams have all won national championships and have gone to The GNCC is also active in mentoring new All correspondence should be sent to: worlds in the last three years. Some of this clubs; once the club is formed, we can help GNCC Curling News success can be attributed to great coaching guide the club in best practices, such as in 46 Ledgewood Drive from our volunteers over the years. Another board administration and marketing. The Norwalk, CT 06850 successful junior summer camp was held GNCC also has a modest financial program for making the transition from arena ice over the summer, and we look for continued Editor & Art Director Jacki Temple, success from that program. to dedicated ice. The GNCC board has dedicated more financial resources to make [email protected] I am excited that the GNCC Mixed this program viable to these clubs. Championships will be held for the first Contributors Carol Arakelian, I look forward to the next two years and look time in Charlotte, NC. Their new dedicated Chris Banino, Vickie Brown, Rich ice facility is ideal for holding large curling with eager anticipation for further growth and development of curling, and continued Collins, Peter Ellis, Howard Griffin, events in the future. As more clubs put in Gwen Krailo-Lyons, Russ Lemcke, dedicated ice facilities, we hope that these successful bonspielling results in the eastern Bob Ottaviano, Dave Ryan, Tracy new clubs will look to host more of the United States for all of our members.