91341_Business of Curling 11/20/06 3:12 PM Page 1 NOVEMBER/NOVEMBRE 2006 Fort Rouge Capital Plan Outlines Their Future By Resby Coutts a retired Phys. Ed. Teacher and self-de- to generate a surplus every year and all of scribed semi-competitive curler who has that money goes back into the club been a Fort Rouge Board member since immediately or some of it will go into an the 2001-2002 season. emergency fund, just in case there is The new lights and improvements in something you can’t plan for.” the summer of 2006 cost about $50,000, Hodge says he believes it is important according to club manager Jeff Hodge. It for all curling clubs to plan not only for was an investment of both club money this year but for the future and for and grant money, including a provincial unforeseen costs. Fort Rouge is fortunate Community Places grant and help from to have a board that are looking into the Manitoba Hydro’s PowerSmart program. future rather than just getting through the ‘The lights are about four times as bright year, he says. as what we had but they’ll use a lot less The club’s revenue sources are league energy so long term they’ll reduce our fees, surplus from the cafe and lounge operating costs,” Hodge explains. (both of which are owned by the club) Those posters around the club tell the and grants. The club is also aggressive in club members about the money that has marketing itself as a preferred site for been spent, but more important, says charity and company mini bonspiels. Jeff Hodge, Manager and Ernie Wilson, Club President President Ernie Wilson, is the fact that Rental fees plus added bar and café Photo by Resby Coutts they also tell the members what the club revenues provide an important addition plans to do over the next few years. The to the club’s bottom line. hen you walk into Winnipeg’s It was not a surprise to the members of details of the Fort Rouge Curling Club’s Grants are important for two reasons Fort Rouge Curling Club, the the club, or at least to those who have 10-year Capital Improvement Plan are explains Ernie Wilson. “Obviously, grants W first thing you notice is that been paying attention to the information public knowledge through those posters. provide the money required for the job the 6-sheet ice area is much brighter efforts of their Executive Committee. Over $300,000 has been spent since but more important, the members see than it was at the end of last season. Central to that information effort are 2003, including the first item on the list you lessening their burden,” he says. The change is the result of installation full-colour posters prominently displayed - the $90,000 payoff of a mortgage for a Working with Wilson and his Board of of a complete new set of state-of-the-art on bulletin boards with the headline roof replacement a few years ago. There Directors, it is Manager Jeff Hodge’s func- T5 lights along with a fresh coat of paint. ‘Where do your fees and other funds go? is another $400,000 listed in the plan for tion to maximize profit – a word that he It came as a surprise to curlers visiting for (see page 2) ‘You have to have open com- the next 7 or 8 years. acknowledges is usually considered a bad the recent Casino’s of Winnipeg munication with club members so they “We have 10-year plan and we’re three word by some curling club members. Women’s Classic and to curling fans understand why fees go up – why we do years into it. We are going to continue to Hodge has done a good job creating visiting Fort Rouge to watch the games. fundraising,’ says President Ernie Wilson, invest, says Manager Jeff Hodge. “We try Continued on page 2 Second curling club symposium and coaching conference a high note in What’s Inside Atlantic Canada By Teri Lake Fort Rouge (con’t) ................................2 hat started two years ago as formance value for athletes to stay away. covered many important topics. And it Symposium (con’t) ................................2 a test-run in our Atlantic Kicking off the schedule was a general wouldn’t be a curling function without a W Canadian neck of the woods address to all attendees by Jim Waite social aspect so the evenings were spent Thistle Fire a Reminder to Review recently evolved into a weekend of detailing the Olympic experience. He meeting new people and catching up Club Insurance ................................3 sharing and learning among all levels of started with an exciting video highlight- with the familiar faces. curling enthusiasts. The impressive line- ing “the thrill of victory and the agony of The highlight of the weekend award Foam Lake Curling Club ................4, 5 up of qualified speakers, Canadian defeat” from Torino that encompassed was a unanimous victory won by Nichols Curling Association national coaches and two weeks’ worth of thrilling highs and and national coach Paul Webster for their Breaking Down Barriers in sharp-shooting Olympic gold medallist devastating lows experienced by athletes Saturday night keynote. With both the Collingwood! ..................................5 Mark Nichols paved the way for an representing various sports and nations. symposium and coaching groups exhausting weekend for over 200 partic- Nichols was on hand to inject his together over a succulent dinner hosted Champ Endorses Didsbury’s ipants representing many different facets perspective into the discussion and by the Mount A folks, the quiet and of our roaring game. offered his medal to the curious crowd. unassuming Nichols and the ever-en- Stick Curling ....................................5 Club board members, administrators A fashion show followed with a small thusiastic Webster took centre stage and Glenboro Curling Club Opens with and volunteers took part in Phase Two of display of the Team Canada garb the crew shared intimate stories of excitement, the CCA’s Business of Curling plan that collected. Nichols noted that the result- defeat, perseverance and success. New Geothermal Plant ..................6 launched the symposium idea to offer ing luggage resembled that of a hockey But these stories weren’t the feel-good support and development tools to the team rather than a curling team. kind of stuff you might see them divulge Bonjour! From Our Beautiful folks comprising the foundation of our The meat of the weekend was covered in television interviews. These stories Hautes Laurentides!........................6 sport. on Saturday and Sunday and the two were honest and real nitty-gritty truths of Meanwhile, a few buildings away on groups went their respective ways armed the work that went into their achieve- 2006 Curling Development Fund the beautiful Mount Allison University with notebooks, pens and a plethora of ments and the numerous struggles along Results ..............................................7 campus in Sackville, N.B., a group of questions like how to make their club the way: longing for a Big Mac as the only athletes and coaches convened with function better or how best to mentally available semblance of familiar food Promotion of Curling in Serbia ..........7 performance enhancement topics on the prepare their team for a tough game. during bouts with stomach ailments, agenda. Dubbed a “coaching confer- Vibrant discussions and sharing followed supporting and having fun with the 2006 CCA Volunteer of the ence,” the sessions led by Jim Waite, Ken the informal lectures in each hour-long Kleibrink ladies, the rock star appeal of Year Award........................................8 Bagnell and a host of other experienced agenda item and superb organization the Canadian athletes among the Italians leaders were far too juicy with high per- allowed for a jam-packed weekend that Continued on page 2 91341_Business of Curling 11/20/06 3:12 PM Page 2 NOVEMBER/NOVEMBRE 2006 Fort Rouge Curling Club continued Symposium in Atlantic Canada continued surpluses by maintaining focus, by and the extensive security, having cutting expenses, and by appropriately airplane flying contests from their high pricing their products, notes Ernie rise accommodations in Pinerolo away Wilson. “All of that money gets pumped from the hustle and bustle of the back into the club to make it a better Olympic Village, and eventually, facility for the curlers,” Hodge adds. enjoying several well-deserved beers at One of the most obvious directions the their British Columbia Canada Place club moved to improve the experience for post-victory celebration. the curlers was to have world-class For Fredericton, N.B.’s Gary Wilson, Joe professional Eric Montford join their staff Pavia’s media relations how-to was the as Head Ice Technician. The decision is high note. “He was the best! Very already paying dividends in player satis- Fort Rouge Curling Club interesting too.” faction with ice conditions. Photo by Resby Coutts Aside from a 3:00 a.m. fire alarm in Most of the recent capital spending at the residence after someone’s late-night the Fort Rouge has also been on the ice top ice conditions before you do any- for the things you can’t plan for. “Our ‘to popcorn craving went awry, the weekend area. A complete ice plant has been thing else. do’ list is very comprehensive – yet there was incredibly informative and installed in the past couple of years on Installation of the dehumidifier and will always be unforeseen problems,” inspiring. top of what was done this year. Next in the re-establishment of a $50,000 emer- Wilson says. On behalf of the Atlantic Canadian the ice area will be the installation of a gency fund are the top priorities in the “In the past a lot of curling clubs, curling community, hats off to Curl dehumidifier.