USA Curling Tapas for May 26

May 27, 2017 - 5:53pm -- Doug Potter

What happened in the previous two weeks:

Grants/Sponsorship/Revenue Development

  • National Wheelchair Team athlete Matthew Thums received his new Ki Mobility rogue wheelchair in person this week in a brief presentation in Stevens Point covered by a local TV station. USCA sponsor Ki Mobility donated custom-built chairs to all eight national team members, with a total value of approximately $32,000.
  • I signed a contract with the U.S. Olympic Committee for provision of Street Curling kits and content for the Road to PyeongChang WinterFest. The USCA will benefit through revenue, ultimate ownership of one of the kits, and exposure of the sport throughout the four-month-long campaign leading up to the 2018 Olympics.
  • A FanZone presenting sponsor has been secured by the local organizing committee for the 2018 U.S. Olympic Mixed Doubles Team Trials in Blaine, Minn.

Events/Sport Education

  • Bids are still being sought for several 2017-18 USA Curling championship events, including Seniors (Jan. 17-21), Mixed Doubles (Jan. 24-28) and Mixed (March 23-31).
  • Olympic Day (June 23) is celebrated throughout the month of June, and there is still time to sign up for events. Clubs are encouraged to borrow Curing in the Gym equipment for events in their communities. Click here for more information.
  • Registration is still open for a Level II Instructor course to be held at the Coyotes Curling Club in Tempe, Ariz., on June 10.

Communications/PR

  • The latest edition of the U.S. Curling News is available digitally.
  • Fourteen campaigns to date have taken advantage of the online fundraising page USA Curling provides through RallyMe for the benefit of athletes, teams and clubs. Those campaigns have raised a total of $22,498, with Team Schultz leading the pack by raising $7,888.
  • I had a great call with the NBC Sports digital team and they have agreed to support the transmission and hosting of all of our 2018 U.S. Olympic Team Trials web streaming.

Competitive Programs

  • Changes to the USA Curling Junior National Championships format and qualification process have been announced.
  • The athletes selected for the 2017-18 USA Curling High Performance Program have been named.
  • The HPP team led by Nina Roth is competing in the inaugural Artic Cup in Dudinka, Russia, this week/weekend. Event organizers are covering the majority of expenses for competing teams, and this USA team was invited based upon its World Championship results.
  • Fogerty Arena has been announced as the site of the 2018 U.S. Olympic Mixed Doubles Team Trials, set for Dec. 14-17.
  • The HPP team led by Nina Roth competed in the inaugural Artic Cup in Dudinka, Russia. Event organizers covered the majority of expenses for competing teams, and this USA team was invited based upon its World Championship results.

Inside the curling world                                      

  • May 31 is the deadline for submissions of photos of bonspiels, teams, curling adventures, etc. to be considered for featuring in the 2017-18 USA Curling Club Calendar.
  • June 11 is the anticipated go-live date for the organization’s new association management system.  Christy Hering has been working with an on-boarding specialist who is keeping us on track with what is needed prior to going live.  We are working to ensure that there will be minimal changes to the annual membership reporting  process for clubs under this new system.
  • Nominations are being accepted for the Jack Kelly Fair Play Award.
  • USCA Chairman Rich Lepping and I attended the GNCC regional meeting and 150th anniversary celebration last weekend, in Nashua, N.H.

Operations

  • NGB Council leaders were able to connect with key Congressional leaders in the past week to provide input on potential unintended negative consequences on National Governing Body membership structures that could result from the “Feinstein Bill” as initially drafted. That Senate bill has now passed out of Committee. Meanwhile, on Thursday the House passed its version of the bill, titled “Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse Act of 2017.” The USCA Executive Committee met on Monday to discuss the legislation.
  • Kim Nawyn completed an audit questionnaire on the USCA’s SafeSport policies and practices, which was discussed in a conference call with the auditors this week.
  • Interviews have begun with applicants for the USCA Controller position. Applications will continue to be accepted until the position is filled.

What’s up next week:

  • USCA National Office closed on Monday in observance of Memorial Day.
  • NGB Council meeting, Tuesday.
  • TV site survey in Blaine, Minn., for 2018 U.S. Olympic Mixed Doubles Team Trials, Tuesday.
  • USCA Strategic Planning Committee teleconference, Tuesday.

What’s coming two weeks from now (June 4-10, 2017):

  • Meetings with Olympic Regional Development Authority in Lake Placid, N.Y., June 6.
  • Meeting with NBC and WCF executives in New York City, June 7-8.
  • USCA Budget Advisory Group meeting in Madison, Wis., June 9-10.

Rick Patzke, USA Curling