Hello everybody. Please take time to read this letter because it contains important information about the status of the club. We have about 170 cash calendars to sell in the next month or so. We will be handing them out at league on Dec. 4 so you can take them with you. They are easy to sell and even make good Christmas gifts for people who like ... well, money. If you have any questions, please ask. Thank you. -Scott
To the Aberdeen Curling Club Family,
First of all, welcome to another season of curling! Our first games will be Wednesday, Oct. 23, and we’re all looking forward to getting back on the ice. Thank you all for being a part of the club. We appreciate it very much, though we do have something serious we need to talk about.
After much discussion by board members, we have decided we need to pose a question to everybody in the club. This is a topic we will continue to talk about throughout the season and likely vote on during the club banquet at the end of the season.
As you know, everything the Aberdeen Curling Club accomplishes is the result of people who are willing to volunteer. But frankly, we have not had enough buy-in from most of us who enjoy playing each winter. When there are volunteer opportunities, too often it’s the same handful of folks who are willing to show up. It’s not too much to expect almost every team to provide one volunteer when we have work to do, be that at the downtown concerts or the Pheasants Forever banquets, setting up and taking down ice, or raising funds to keep the club going and the cost for each curler reasonable. We are burning out our most reliable volunteers, and that is getting to be both discouraging and detrimental.
Please remember that our club is not subsidized like city league basketball or softball or many other activities we enjoy. Without volunteers, the club ceases to exist.
That said, the club has an important decision to make. Either more people step up or we decide to help at fewer events.
Most of you already know that league fees and dues are going up next season for the first time in several years. How much depends on what course we want to take. If we quit helping at community events, the result is a loss of revenue to the club. That means a higher jump in prices for next season. It’s that simple.
We understand, of course, how busy life gets, especially for club members who have families and kids. Nobody is expected to help out at every event. But all teams should be at least modestly active throughout the year.
So that’s what we want you to consider this season — more volunteering or more money.
Your first opportunity to help is already here. Our fundraiser this year is selling cash calendars. They cost $25 each, and we will pay out roughly $4,500 next year with weekly, monthly and holiday/special event drawings. The top payouts are $500. Our goal is to sell all 500 calendars. If we do that, the club will raise roughly $8,500, a substantial amount that will help determine how much it costs to curl next winter. If you have questions or want calendars to sell, please contact a board member or club officer.
For every five calendars a person sells, their name will be put into a drawing for two $50 gift cards to C-Express and one Aberdeen Curling Club hoodie. The hope and expectation is that everybody will be able to do that. If that happens, we will consider the prospect of more incentives next season.
Please know we appreciate all of the teams in the Aberdeen Curling Club and everybody who volunteers to help. You’re all a big part of what makes our league and club so much fun and such a success. We want to continue that well into the future, and that’s why we are asking you to consider helping out the club by volunteering more.
Thank you for your understanding. Please think about these options during the league season. And, as always, good curling!
Sincerely,
Scott Waltman, club president, and members of the Aberdeen Curling Club Board of Directors
This email was sent on behalf of:
ABERDEEN CURLING CLUB
P.O. Box 1282
Aberdeen, SD 57401
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