If there is one area of membership development that deserves to be highlighted, one that I feel I have worked very hard to develop and expand, it would be ... school visits! Although ice time is very valuable at a club as busy as RKCC, I have always reminded our members to allow calendar time for student visits - these are the desperately needed curlers of tomorrow!
In previous years, I have been able to schedule as many as 1000 children over the course of a season. But, as the club gets busier and busier, suitable ice time for visits has been somewhat restricted. Thankfully, the days that we have had some open ice have proven to be quite successful (most recent visit pictured below).
The reason why making ice time available for students is so important, are two fold. First, the average age of a typical curling member is slowly getting older ... we need to develop a new generation of curlers to replace those leaving the sport (although, with the use of a delivery aid, i.e. extender scope, curlers are able to stay involved in the sport much longer). Second, without visiting a curling rink, most kids will never be exposed to our great sport. At school, children can spend their recesses playing football, soccer, baseball, basketball, or running on the track ... but, throwing curling stones is just not possible. To get them curling, we need to get them curling.
From giving the lessons myself for the first couple of seasons, to now having a small army of member volunteers, RKCC has managed to provide instruction to literally thousands of students over the seasons. From elementary school children, to St.Lawrence and Queen's aged young adults, we recognize the value of getting kids on the ice - they may not ever join our club, but at least we are adding to the pool of future curlers.
I hope that other clubs can manage/are managing to do the same.
Sometimes, in the case of Kristina Simpson - a St.Lawrence college student (who just happens to be my niece - insert proud uncle smile), RKCC is able to help promote the sport in a different way. With some available ice time, it was possible to allow her access to shoot a "how to curl" video. While the video is to be submitted as an assignment, I am working with her to expand and edit it into something that may help to attract other college students to our club, maybe as part of an intramural league. Also, as a result of the opportunity to use the club, Kristina has agreed to help me film a "Welcome to RKCC" video that will highlight the facility and its amenities. Look for that by early Spring.
In addition to getting students in the club and on the ice, I am always looking for other opportunities to promote our club and the sport.
Sometimes, as was the case in January of 2010, we are given the rare opportunity to contribute, and promote, on a national scale. A gentleman by the name of Robert Tello, walked into the club, introduced himself and offered me his story. He had entered a contest online which, if picked, would allow him the chance to compete, on national television, for the right to throw one rock ... to the button ... for $1 million dollars!! Robert's name had been drawn at random from the tens of thousands who had entered the Capital One Million Dollar Button contest. Problem was, he hadn't curled in years and didn't know if he could even remember how to deliver the stone. To help insure that he had a fighting chance, I arranged a sheet for him to practice on ... and, hopefully to his benefit, the members on hand contributed their advice on how they would play the shot. It was priceless!
Although Robert did not end up throwing for the million dollars, I know that he enjoyed his time at RKCC, he thanked our club on national television, and he expressed an interest in becoming a member next year!! Watch for him in September when the opening clinics begin.
I hope that this piece helps all members see that, as a result of maximizing ice and facility usage, RKCC is working hard to develop and maintain a vibrant membership base for today and tomorrow. At the same time, we give back at the grass root level to promote the sport in Kingston and surrounding areas ... I think we have a very good balance!
Thank you to all members who have helped instruct visiting groups in the past ... please contact the office if you would like to have your name on file for future visits. Also, a big thank you to those curlers who have shared their ice time with outside groups ... you have certainly helped RKCC showcase our club and the sport.
Good Curling!
