Copper Country Curling Club

Annual Meeting Minutes

April 11, 2009

Meeting opened @ 1:10 pm

There were 18 members present.

  1. OLD BUSINESS/REVIEW OF YEAR
    1. Minutes of 2008 Annual Meeting were read and approved.
    2. President’s Report - Gordon MacLean
      1. Membership: The 2008-2009 curling season had 63 registered members with the Great Lakes Curling Association & the U.S. Curling Association. We are now the 6th largest (of 15 clubs) in the GLCA. Gordon MacLean, Noel Hanson, & Paul Eisenman will serve as representatives on the GLCA Board. The meeting will be held in Midland, MI on 2 May 2009.
      2. Drill House Improvements: central posts were removed; the ceiling & joists were power washed, concrete floors were poured; thus the curling season started several weeks earlier. Thanks to Mike Maksimchuk for making logos that were inlaid in each house. A formal letter of Thanks to the Board of the Appleton, WI Curling Club for the donation of a used ice scraper and used ice burner. Thanks to Stan Kaczmarek for transporting them from Appleton to Calumet & to Barry Tippet for getting them operational.
      3. Regularly Scheduled Events: We had two 8-team leagues; Tuesday and Thursday nights. Congratulations to Team Lassila (7-2) for capturing the Tuesday night title; and Team Rowe (10-1) for the Thursday night title. Regrettably warm weather canceled the play downs this year, so no overall club champion. Wednesday nights: MTU Student night - Victoria Demers: they had very low attendance. They plan on doing more advertising. Also requested to switch to a Monday night as fewer conflicts for students.
      4. Special Events: We held two Open Houses in the fall, which were lightly attended; however every one of the attendees became members. Blue Key was the biggest outside user of the facility for Winter Carnival; had around 40 teams participate. The MTU Curling Club hosted 1 party for the Residence Hall’s RA’s. The 3rd Annual Copperspiel had 10 teams participating, including Team Rowe and Team Strome from the CCCC. The 'Draw to the Button' fundraiser was well received. Thanks to Barry Tippett for his bag piping the athletes onto the ice; and to Stan Kaczmarek for coordinating the food & beverages.
    3. MTU Curling Club Report: Victoria Demers: only had 30 students this year; will be having open houses. Blue Key Fraternity representatives Matt Brown (co-chair Special Events) & Jackie DeMerath (co-chair curling Special Events) presented a letter of Thanks to CCCC for cooperation in Winter Carnival. They had about 36 teams participating in curling this past Winter Carnival. It seems that the late times for the students worked the best. MTU does offer a P.E. credit class thru the MTU Curling Club.
    4. EQUIPMENT: Barry Tippet/Gordon MacLean
      3. The Scraper is gasoline propelled.
      4. Burner was built in 1983. It gives two types of burn. The DEEP MELT melts the ice 1/8" deep and levels the ice. The impurities float to the surface. The CLEAN BURN: melts 1/16" of ice and has a 'shop vac' device to pick up remaining dirt and impurities. Uses a lot of propane fuel to operate.
      5. New Stones: We still need to purchase 7 stones that we have; the cost is $350.00 (several people can purchase one stone).
    5. Financial Reports: Noel Hanson - Noel was not in attendance and no one was given the report to present at the annual meeting.
    6. Club Incorporation: we are now incorporated & donations are tax-deductible.
    7. Signage: National Historic Park has no standard for signs, so we are on our own.
    8. Ice Making Lessons - Last year it was presented to have lessons to skips and all interested members to make and maintain the ice (so it does not fall on one person); Steve Woodworth was not in attendance, so no information on this.
  2. NEW BUSINESS
    1. By-Laws: no discussion. Motion to approve By-Laws by Paul Eisenman; seconded by Pam Heckt.
    2. Election of Board of Directors
      1. Three-year Terms (ending April 2012): Noel Hanson, Mike Mickus, Sue Mickus
      2. Two-year Terms (ending April 2011): Gary Lassila, Gordon MacLean
      3. One-year Term (ending April 2010): Paul Eisenman, Fraser Strome. Motion to accept nominations as read by Pam Heckt; seconded by Charles Goodman.
    3. GLCA nominations of Paul Eisenman, Gordon MacLean, Noel Hanson. Motion was made by Pam Heckt; seconded by Mike Maksimchuk.
    4. League/Play downs Discussion
      1. Make-up games & League Standings: Mike Maksimchuk indicated it is hard for students to make up games with their class schedules. Need more ice time; including weekends. Discussion around table that each team can schedule games when they want. Most days the ice is open including weekends- just need to connect with individual teams. One idea to encourage teams by assigning point levels (2 points if win, 1 point if lose, 0 points if no play). Brought up to Board level for further discussion.
      3. Play downs: have a shorter regular season; or have a 'in-house Bonspiels' play down at club level mid-season and continue playing league games until ice melts. Submit ideas to the Board for further discussion.
      4. New League Night (day) John Meyers. Is not happy with the starting time of late shift (8:45 pm) as doesn’t get home until midnight. New league day or early evenings suggested. Is hard to fit everyone’s schedule (with work). Be your own organizer. Organize the games that you play with the other team on a night of your choosing. Bring any other ideas to the Board level. Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday and weekends are open. Suggested that the previous rule of skips and thirds cannot sub was brought up. Suggestion that they can substitute as long as they are in the lead position; and cannot discuss strategy with the skip of the team they are substituting for. Bring to Board level.
    5. Dues Discussion: 1st year members and students are $40.00. if you pay by November 1 (in by-laws) you get a 10% discount.
    6. Webmaster: Mike Mickus
    7. Drill House Coordinator: Steve Woodworth
    8. Copperspiel Chairperson: no nominations, Board level to discuss.
    9. Reunion spiel Chairperson: this is the 15th anniversary of the Copper Country Curling Club. Held during winter carnival. Mike Gretz & Pat Joyce will co-ordinate.
    10. Other: Have clean-up day in Mid May. Upper deck needs some sort of railing or chicken wire. There are small children up there; and need protection from falling down onto ice.
  3. Other Business:
    1. Green Bay Summer Spiel, Bismarck Summer Spiel, and Madison Halloween Spiel; In-house Spiel.

With no further business, adjourned @ 2:30 pm.

Respectfully submitted:
Sue Mickus
Secretary
Copper Country Curling Club

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