Message from the President
Dear BCC Members,
The start of the season is when the President welcomes new and returning members to the 69th season of curling at the Burlington Curling Club. This address will certainly be different than any other in our history.
This past year has been hard on all of us, some more than others. We were hoping things would improve and we could return to curling. However, I am sad to say that our Board of Directors has voted unanimously to keep the club closed until September 2021.
This is an extremely hard decision to make on behalf of all our members. Our board deliberated over the last several months and, with the following key factors, we believe we have made the right decision:
- Covid 19 case numbers continuing to rise
- Red Zone Closures
- Length of time required to vaccinate the population
- Less than 40% of the membership willing to curl from our most recent survey
- Risk of opening the club and then having to shut down
- As a club we need to do our part to stop the spread of the virus
Our Treasurer and Manager completed a budget that has been reviewed by the board for a September 2021 start. This budget includes government assistance for wage subsidies covering approximately 60% for our staff salaries. We will also receive some funding from the Canadian Emergency Rent Subsidy. Every dollar counts and I would like to give Mike, Jim and Paula a special thanks for their efforts to secure this assistance.
As I reflect on the disappointment of not being able to open this season, I am reminded of the progress that we have made in the last 4 years, the investments, the club management and all the new members and the LTC section that have joined us. We all should be proud of our club, the caliber of our facility and the support this club gets from all of us as members.
Have a look at the list below outlining some of the projects that have been completed in the last few years. It was a huge undertaking and has potentially added decades to the life of our club.
- Insulated the entire ice rink enclosure
- Replaced our chiller, old dehumidifiers, compressors/motors, electrical system, condenser which allows us to gain efficiency and supports our ice quality in warmer weather.
- Re-piped the plantroom so it runs more efficiently and upgraded our glycol cooling loop allowing for warm weather operation
- We have added a new control system for the entire plant that allows for pinpoint ice temperature and playing condition control. This system integrates heat, humidity, the ice temperature and anticipates ice changes allowing our icemaker to make the best ice possible.
- Insulate the basement to reduce mold potential inside the clubhouse.
- We also reworked all our drains on the westside of the building to eliminate any possible spills into the storm system.
- Upgraded our plantroom exits and added new ammonia detectors
- New carpet in the ice rink
- New custom houses
- New Ice Scraper
For most clubs, this list would take 15-20 years to accomplish. We had a 25-year Capital Plan for these repairs and upgrades but through the hard work of your Managers and Boards we were able to leverage government funding to substantially reduce the Club’s portion of these expenses. A special thank you to Jim, Craig and the volunteers who rolled up their sleeves and helped with the upgrades as well as repairs and maintenance of the Club, which continued during our shut-down periods. Craig has been an invaluable resource in up-grading our technology to maximize efficiencies in our systems.
However, this all came at a price. We spent a significant portion of our cash reserves to accomplish everything on this list. The unfortunate timing of this pandemic comes when our reserves are at a low point. We have done so many projects and it has dramatically changed our 25- year Capital Plan. We have basically replaced 95% of the entire ice plant in this short period. The only immediate projects we have coming up is replacing our brine pump and purchasing a new boiler to heat our club. We are continuing to apply for grants with the hope we can get funding for these projects as well.
This year we purchased brand new rocks. By trading in our old rocks when we did, we received a premium on our trade-in value and, although we will not be using them this season, I can hardly wait to try out our new rocks when we hit the ice again. A $75 per adult member capital assessment would have been needed to purchase these rocks but, it was all paid through member donations. This says a lot about our membership and the way you feel about the club.
Karen and I joined the BCC almost 30 years ago. We had relocated from Calgary and were looking for a curling club to join. After doing our research and visiting a few clubs in this area to see what they had to offer, we walked through the doors of the Burlington Curling Club. On our way up the stairs, we were greeted by Wendy Morgan and shortly after by Chris Bailey. We were made to feel at home and the rest is history. We have never looked back. To this day, our club is about family, community and the atmosphere is second to none. The sportsmanship and dedicated volunteers are what keeps the culture of this club vibrant.
That all said, the club will be closed for a total of 18 months (March 2020 thru Sept 2021) with no revenues coming in from the membership, bar, equipment sales and outside rentals. We considered the leave of absence fee of $200 plus HST for the 2020/21 season, however, after much discussion and research the Board has chosen to go through the National Sport Trust Fund which will allow our members to make donations (thereby getting a charitable tax receipt for the amount paid) that will not be subject to the HST.
Members, we are asking each of you to contribute $200 to keep the club in good standing for this season. Some members have generously donated their fees for this year, this is very much appreciated. We are a member owned club and each one of us is invested, please support our club with your financial contribution.
I would like to thank Jim Holland and Paula for all their hard work in these difficult times. The section heads did a fantastic job making calls and collecting data that helped the board with all their decisions. As for the board, thank you so much for the dedication you put into keeping our club alive and for all those evening Zoom conferences.
On behalf of the board, I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas, Happy Holiday, and a safe and healthy New Year.
John Neal
Club President
How to Make your Donation
As you know, the Board has requested a contribution of $200 from each adult member in order to ensure that we are able to weather the closure of the club until the fall of 2021. As part of the process of collecting the donations we need specific information from each member on how you want to handle your donation.
We Need To Hear From Each of You
We will need everyone who has not already contacted the Club to do as at their earliest convenience.
As a reminder, you can donate more than $200.
For those who have already contacted us to let us know that you would like to donate your entire 2020/2021 season fees we thank you for your generosity. If you have previously contacted us with your selection you don’t have to contact us again.
Your options are spelled out below. Please make your choice and then email Paula or Jim in the office so we can record your choice and update each persons account.
Two options to make your initial donation
1 Mail or drop a cheque at the club or e-transfer directly to the club.
Email Address: bccetransfer@gmail.com
2. Use the NSFT Link below to donate through the program and receive a charitable tax receipt. You will get a receipt for the full amount you donate mailed to you at tax time by the NSFT.
Note: To donate $200 to the club you must pay $210 through the NSFT site. You can donate more than $210 if willing.
You can pay with credit card using this method.
Your options if you have already paid some or all of your Membership dues and have an existing balance on your Account.
3. Let us know how much of your balance you want to donate and if we can leave any remaining as a credit on your account or you want a refund cheque.
4. We can donate through the NSFT program on your behalf, you just need to tell us how much of your balance you want to contribute. The NSTF will mail you a tax receipt at tax time.
If you have already sent us a post dated cheques we have stopped depositing them and will destroy them or you can arrange to pick them up from the office.
We realize that the pandemic has impacted people’s finances and invite anyone with concerns to reach out to Jim and we will do whatever we can to assist you. These discussions will be held in the strictest confidence.
Please note:
We reviewed the program charges and it will cost $210 through the program for the club to receive the requested $200 Donation. If you like you can also just pay the club the $200 directly and avoid the $10 surcharge but you will not get a charitable receipt.
Thank you for your support.
Project #185 – Burlington Curling Club
PROJECT NAME – Donations To Keep Club Operating
| Project Description:
Due to forced closure we are going to need funds to remain in operation until Oct 2021.
The proceeds from this fundraising will be used for the following cause(s):
Pay Utilities: Hydro, gas and water bills. Telephone, internet. Pay Insurance. Day to Day operational costs. Pest control, office supplies, security.
Please Note:
You need to pay $210 through the link for the club to receive a $200 donation from you.
|
Welcome to Our Club
The Burlington Curling Club is one of the finest curling clubs in Ontario with five sheets of quality curling ice, first-rate food and beverage service, and a friendly atmosphere that fosters the love of the game on and off the ice.
If you are interested in membership information, please go to the “Club” dropdown box and click on “Membership” to access information on the Burlington Curling Club Leagues, 2020-21 membership rates, and our $99.00 introductory special.
We also offer an introductory Learn to Curl league for people new to our sport. See details below.
If you are interested in joining the BCC, please go to the “Club” drop-down box, then to “Membership Form”. Fill out the form and submit it. There is no cost to do so. You will be contacted within a few days confirming the receipt of your application. Many of the BCC sections have short waiting lists so it is important to apply early.
You can contact the Club Manager, Jim Holland anytime at 905-634-0014 or jwhbcc@gmail
The Burlington Curling Club gratefully acknowledges a Trillium Foundation grant of $67,900 that has allowed us to update our ice plant and remove the mold infected areas of the club. This will provide both energy savings and a safer environment for our curlers.
If you click on the link above you can download a PDF of the latest guidelines for reopening curling clubs that our curling associations have released..
If gives you an idea of how our game will be affected and some of the steps, we as a club, will have to take to open. Most key steps are noted above in Andre’s message..
Videos to show Game Flow
CurlON has created a couple very short videos just to show you the flow of a game with the covid procedures in place. One sweeping, where to stand when other team is throwing and one skip in the house etc.
Click on the links below to view.
