Newsletter of 50th Anniversary Summary

www.comoxvalleycurling.com
Volume 1, No. 4 - March, 2009
Message from 50th Anniversary Committee Chair
The Golden Anniversary Committee is in the final stages of celebrating our 50th year of curling in our club. We feel
we have achieved the main objectives that we set out to accomplish at the beginning of this curling season. Some of the
most important goals were to:
\involve as many current and past members as possible in our celebrations.
\bring awareness in the greater Comox Valley community to our game. We achieved that through coverage in both local
newspapers, Chek TV, A Channel, Shaw Cable and both local radio stations.
\promote our “Golden” theme in our four major bonspiels.
\have successful fundraisers to have a fund at the end of this year for the single purpose of promoting future Junior
curling.
\have one special weekend to officially mark our 50th year. By all reports our Gala weekend February 6th to 7th was an
unqualified success by any measure.
I would like to thank our Golden Anniversary sponsors and supporters for their generosity in helping to make this year a memorable one. Also, a huge
thanks to all of our members and volunteers who participated in this special year’s celebrations. Finally, a heartfelt thank you to the 50th Anniversary
Committee. It was hardworking, enthusiastic, dedicated forwarding thinking and most of all, a positive minded and fun group to work with.
Congratulations to everyone and good curling to all as we move into the next 50 years of curling in our club!
Sincerely,
Art Meyers, Chair, Golden Anniversary Committee
The Gala for the 50th Anniversary of the Comox Valley Curling Club held February
6th and 7th was an outstanding success that is still talked about today. Friday's Meet
and Greet was overwhelming with so many old acquaintances sharing many, many
stories and newer members enjoying the the historic occasion browsing through the
photos and the memorabilia set out. The Saturday afternoon opening ceremonies
was very moving with piper, Dave Logan leading the mayor, dignitaries and curlers
on to the ice. Even the Kokanee Sasquatch and Glacier Girls got into the act trying to
score a medal before the presentations. The Saturday evening dinner and dance was
absolutely spectacular! A sold out festive crowd dined on a fabulous dinner with
twinkling candle lights surrounded by the black and gold glitter of the beautifully
decorated banquet room. What a memorable night it was!
The 50th Anniversary Committee and its many volunteers worked tirelessly for
months to ensure this milestone anniversary was a success. And indeed it was. Many
thanks to everyone of you who are too numerous to name in this limited newsletter
but know you have done an excellent job.
The other very important factor in promoting our 50th anniversary was the interest
and support of the media in the Valley and within Vancouver Island. As Art has
mentioned in his message, we had Chek TV, A Channel, Shaw Cable, The Eagle 97.3
FM and 98.9 Jet FM as well as both local newspapers, The Echo and The Record
involved. Aside from advertising our 50th Anniversary, we also wanted to bring
awareness to the young people of the Comox Valley that we need their involvement
at the Club for curling to survive. It is with this goal in mind that the Committee,
through fundraising, was instrumental in donating $3,000 towards the CVCC Junior
Curling Program.
Another major factor to the Club's sustainability is our advertisers and sponsors who
continually support us and provide the resources with which part of the operating
budget is established. They were very instrumental in contributing to the success of
the 50th Anniversary by purchasing advertising space in the insert of The Echo that
featured the history of our Club. Our gratitude is extended to these businesses and
individuals
Now that the Gala is behind us, the spirit of the 50th Anniversary will live on. With
this in mind and through the support of Central Committee members, we must
ensure the sport of curling from the junior level and up is promoted. We must
continue to pave the way for a vibrant, healthy club with full leagues for all ages
otherwise the numbers will certainly shrink and we can't have that. Maybe it is time
for a 'Spirit of Curling' committee to be established that would interact with the
community, the membership and Central Committee to keep our Club going strong.
We should capitalize on the enthusiasm gained from the 50th Anniversary to
promote a shared interest and involvement amongst all leagues, including the
juniors, bringing back that 'good old days' feeling when, for example, the men
hosted the women's events and vice versa. There are many It's food for thought,
folks!
The
2008-2009 Bonspiel Chairpersons are
acknowledged and thanked for their part in organizing and
promoting great 'spiels in our 50th year, hi-lighting the
golden theme. They are:
Brent Aitken for the Golden Hammer and Open Skins; Gary
Smythe for the Senior Mixed; Deb English for the Open Mixed;
Wayne Harris for the Hangover Open; Janice Ainsworth for the
Ladies' Open and Tony Pisto for the Men's Open as well as the
dedicated
Junior
Co-ordinator,
Kathleen
Smith.
Congratulations, once again, to all the people who were
winners of these events in this historical year!. You have
indeed become part of the history of this great club.
Pictured from left to right, Ken Aitken,
Muriel Watts, Tom Nixon and Jack Kirk
The Saturday
opening Ceremonies
of the 50th
Anniversary had Ken
Aitken holding the
broom for junior
curler, Tom Nixon
with senior
sweepers, Muriel
Watts and Jack Kirk
successfully guiding
the rock into the
house.
Congratulations are extended to the Robson Ladies Rink
- Skip, Colleen Robson; 3rd, Mare Michell; 2nd, Val Schultz;
Lead, Cheryl DeCrane in winning the North Island BC Cup
Challenge. They will represent the North Island at the 10th
Pacific International Cup to be held at the Richmond Curling
Club on April 15 - 19, 2009. Good luck, ladies!
2009 Upcoming Events
Seniors Wind Up Funspiel and Banquet
March 25, 2009
Last day of League play
March 26, 2009
Wind Up Banquet and Awards
April 4, 2009
Central Executive Members for 2009-2010
President
Rod May
1st Vice-President
Candice Baker
2nd Vice-President
Daryll Wright
Secretary
Arnie Mihoiluk
Ladies' President
Lana Ferguson
Men's President
Al DeJersey
Mixed President
Deb English
Junior's Coordinator
Norm Cote
Senior's President
TBA
Past President
Kevin Robarts
The CVCC website will soon update the full list of nonvoting and finance committee members for next season.
Piper Dave Logan at Opening Ceremonies of 50th Anniversary