Granite Curling Club of Seattle Mission Statement

Purpose

A mission statement expresses the current intent of an organization. It articulates what the
organization plans to do in pursuit of its vision. It is used by organizations to identify goal
achievement and forms the basis for determining appropriate evaluation methods of
organizational success.

GCC’s Mission Statement

“The Granite Curling Club of Seattle strives to be the most welcoming, member-focused, and
competitive curling club in the United States.”

Supporting Rationale

Since its founding, GCC’s purpose has been to promote and engage in the sport of curling
(GCC Article of Incorporation, Article II - July 28, 1960). What this means to each GCC member
can be fundamentally different. Some members wish to be national or international champions,
or at least be competitive at any level. Other members wish to enjoy the social atmosphere of
GCC while engaging in casual league play or bonspiels. For many members, these goals will shift
throughout their duration as a curler. GCC seeks to equitably support these and other curling-related goals of its members. At the core of the GCC is the recognition that all member curling
journeys are worthwhile. The building, the ice, the warm room, the bar, and indeed the
organization itself are a means for facilitating that exploration.

The components identified in the GCC mission statement speak to those aspects that are most
critical in current pursuit of the Club vision. Each of the words in GCC’s mission statement were
chosen for a reason:

• “strives” – GCC recognizes that the organization must evolve as the curling goals of its
  membership change. It is a continuous and conscious effort to establish and attain
  specific goals given limited resources, as well as to assess GCC’s performance in this
  regard.
• “most” – GCC will be a model for other curling clubs across the country. GCC’s
  membership is rich in diversity of experiences, background, and abilities. Leveraging this
  diversity is critical to the long-term success of the club. GCC should continually
  investigate best practices from other clubs and incorporate those that further the
  achievement of GCC’s mission and vision.
• “welcoming” – While first impressions matter, so does every impression after that.
  Visitors are more likely to become new members after a positive first-time curling
  experience. New members will also be more likely to stay and become lifelong members
  if their club experience continues to be enjoyable. Being “welcoming” does not
  necessarily mean having a greeter at the door. It refers to the genuine sense of
  belonging that all members and visitors will feel while being at GCC, regardless of who
  they are and how they identify themselves.
• “member-focused” – Engaged members are critical to the Club. Member-volunteers
  maintain the building, organize bonspiels, run leagues, manage the day-to-day
  operations, and introduce the general public to curling. At the same time, GCC must
  provide sustained value to all its members, in a manner that is much more than a pay-to-play transaction. Through this mutually beneficial relationship, GCC and its
  membership can thrive together as a curling community.
• "competitive” – Curling is a sport. Competing may be an integral part of being a curler.
  However, the meaning of “being competitive” can vary significantly with each individual,
  ranging from becoming a better player to becoming a world champion. GCC supports all
  members, whatever their aspirations.
• “in the United States” – In the near term, GCC strives to be a model club in the U.S. This
  is just the start.