The end of the year meeting was held on Championship Saturday, April 15th. Full minutes will be posted under the Board minutes section, but we also want to highlight the service and recognition of some of our many volunteers:
Board of Directors
Contratulations to the newest members of the St. Paul Curling Club Board of Directors: John Miller, Ann Dondlinger, and Mike Barrett. They will serve a 3-year term, replacing outgoing members Laurie Arnold, Mike Barrett (who served a 1-year term replacing new Vice President Ron Paul), and Liz Willard.
2017 Larry Pieper Service Award Winner (speech given by President Tim McMahon at the meeting)
The Larry Pieper Service Award is one of the most treasured awards given out at the St. Paul Curling Club. Larry was quite a guy. He had a great mechanical mind and spent countless hours volunteering at the club at a time when major renovations were necessary. Since his passing in 1998, the club has selected one member annually to receive an award in Larry’s name who best exemplifies the volunteer spirit at our club.
This year’s winner became a member in 1971. Like many of us, he joined because his father was a long-standing member. He quickly joined the ranks of competitive curling, which culminated in 1998 when he was the alternate on the Tim Somerville rink that finished fourth at the Nagano Olympics. In more recent years, he has been a member of numerous Seniors teams that have gone on to Worlds. His team won the Worlds here at St. Paul in 2011, and he will be playing second on the US team skipped by Mike Farbelow, competing for the World Championship in Lethbridge, Alberta, April 22-29th.
All that said, where this guy shines is in his attention to detail. In his official capacity as the Chairperson for the Ice Committee, he is charged with leading a group to oversee the overall ice conditions at our club. As we all know, the conditions are wonderful. He was instrumental in the hiring of Craig as ice maker. His reports to our board are detailed, concise, and thoughtful. In short, he makes the board’s job easy when it comes to making decisions about the ice. Plus he’s been a volunteer for the work crew for years and he’s an all-around great guy!
It gives me great pleasure to announce this year’s Larry Pieper Service Award winner, Mr. Tim Solin!
(Nomination submitted by members listed below; read and voted upon by members at the 2016 Spring Meeting.)
We are pleased to submit the name of a St Paul Curling Club member for approval as an Honorary Lifetime Member of the St Paul Curling Club.
This curler was an active member of St Paul Curling Club from 1984 to 2015. He was a stalwart member of the club and the Tuesday night work crew. He served on the Board of Directors and numerous club committees, and was club President from 2000 to 2002.
In 2005, he was given the much deserved Larry Pieper Award in recognition of his years of service to the club, including both the Tuesday night work crew and many weekends working on special projects. Many of our club’s large electrical and lighting projects were successful in large part to his efforts. It is safe to say that our 100-plus year-old building would not be the same without his hard work and contributions.
His accomplishments on the ice include playing in the US Men’s Nationals, long-time participation in the Canadian Goodwill, and winning the club championship, the McCann Over 40 bonspiel and the Minnesota State Senior championship. As competitive as he was on the ice, he always upheld the rich traditions of our game off the ice.
It is our pleasure to nominate Pat Barry to be an Honorary Lifetime Member of the St Paul Curling Club.
Respectfully submitted,
John Armstrong, Donn Satrom, Larry Satrom & Craig Zbacnik
The Larry Pieper Service Award -- 2016
SPCC Spring Membership Meeting -- August 16, 2016 (remarks by President Linda Lokensgard)
For those of you that didn’t have the opportunity to meet our good friend Larry Pieper, he epitomized the spirit of volunteerism. This award was established in his honor to recognize annually a member who best exemplifies the volunteer spirit at our club.
This year’s recipient started curling here in 2003 and shortly afterwards started lending a hand here and there on club projects and with bonspiels like the All American and Gopher State. She has curled in many different leagues and bonspiels since joining; she has lead planning efforts for the Winter Carnival Bonspiel and the Ladies Cold Cash Bonspiel for many years; in 2011 she joined the Bonnie Board serving as Vice President and President through this past year; and is also serving as a USWCA representative since 2013.
Amid all this, 4 years ago she agreed to take on oversight of our website to spearhead some needed improvements. Along with the Website Committee members she started from scratch with a new program and worked to provide a smoother process for league and bonspiel registration while providing league schedules with dates and opponents, and most recently adding byes to the site. You can also find subs on the website as well as other relevant information for members. She continues today in the Webmistress role while mentoring others on board to help with the various parts and pieces of our website.
It is my pleasure to announce this year’s Larry Pieper Service Award to Nancee Melby.
Nancee, thank you for all your time, energy and contributions to the Club - we are in a better place thanks to your efforts. Your name will be added to this plaque and as a small memento of our gratefulness I’d like to present you with some White Truffle Oil. As I said, it is just a small memento, though I thought you would enjoy it being the mighty Truffle Hunter you are.
Back in November, Children's Hospital came out on a Saturday morning to film a segment on the curling club, specifically on Junior Curling, for its Star Studio program:
"Star Studio is a closed circuit channel that airs inside of Children's Hospital and Clinics of Minnesota. We broadcast a variety of live and interactive programs throughout the week and we're also working to film pre-recorded segments involving organizations and groups from the Minneapolis/St. Paul community."
The result is a great showcase of our Juniors program, with our very own Reuben Harris hosting. Check it out - you'll probably see a lot of familiar faces!
http://childrensmnstarstudio.org/videos/
(scroll down and click on the picture of kids curling)
We are sad to announce the passing of former SPCC member Dick Gatti. Dick passed away February 27th from complications of bone cancer. His son Tony Gatti is currently a member of our club. You can find Dick's obituary here:
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/twincities/obituary.aspx?n=richard-j-gatti&pid=177525281&
Our club has lost a special longtime member - Jeanne McCann died last Thursday, April 30.
Jeanne started curling in 1965 and continued through 2012. She was a curling pioneer in the McCann and Fisher families, leading generations of family members down to the SPCC. Jeanne is the mother of current members Chris McGirl and Tim McCann, and wife of the late Jack McCann.
Known as 'T-Line Jeanne' to many due to her predictable draw weight, Jeanne played all positions on many teams. She curled both socially and competitively during her career and served on numerous committees throughout the years at the Club. She was an active member of the Bonnie Spielers; serving as a board member in 1969-70, writing the first Bonnie Spieler Handbook, and in 2000 received the prestigious Honorary Lifetime Member award from the Bonnies.
She also served as a Gopher State representative and helped write the first Gopher State Bylaws. After curling in the Gopher State Bonspiel for decades, she won it in 1974-75. Jeanne also played on teams that won the USWCA National Bonspiel in 1994 and 1996 and curled in the USWCA Senior Bonspiel many times.
We will miss you, Jeanne, RIP. Our sympathies are with the family as we fondly remember her.
You can find her obituary and more information about her funeral and visitation here or in the Pioneer Press.
No one is surprised by the 2014-15 winner of the SPCC Larry Pieper Award: BARB GUTZMER!
(Speech given by VP Tim McMahon at the board meeting Saturday:)
The Larry Pieper Award is one of the most treasured Awards given out at the St. Paul Curling Club. It is given annually to the member who best exemplifies the volunteer spirit at our club.
This year’s winner began in the Junior’s program here in 1974 and became a full-time member in 1978.
She was State Champion and National Champion in 1986 and is a Past- President of the Minnesota Curling Association. She became the Treasurer of the St. Paul Curling Club in the 2002 and remains in that position today. One of her favorite things to do is helping and teaching new curlers to enjoy our sport.
She’s quick with a hug and a good word. She obviously is a chip off the old block, as her father Otto volunteered many hours as the unofficial club cook during the ‘80s and ‘90s.
Unfortunately, our winner couldn’t be here this weekend. But it gives me great pleasure to announce this year’s Larry Pieper Award winner - Barb Gutzmer!
Congratulations to the newest Honorary Lifetime Member of the St. Paul Curling Club: Paula Dunlop Arnold!
Read about this amazing SPCC member, curler, and volunteer in her nomination letter:
March 9, 2015
Dear Members of the Board,
I would like to nominate Paula Dunlop Arnold as a recipient of the Honorary Life Member Award at the Saint Paul Curling Club. She has been a part of this club her entire life. Paula’s grandfather Ker Dunlop was a founding member and her father Stuart Dunlop curled here from 1913 until his death in 1950.
In 1951, when women were allowed to curl, Paula officially joined the club. I’ve heard stories told that they were permitted to play only on sheets 7 or 8 and those two were particularly dodgy back then. Hats off to those founding sisters that persevered!
Paula was a founding member and president of both the Cairn Lassies and Bonnie Spielers; she coined the Bonnie Spielers name as well. She and her husband Dick Arnold founded the SPCC mixed league. They conceived and chaired the first Winter Carnival Mixed Bonspiel in 1963.
In 1968 Paula’s team won the USWCA National championship in Duluth. She was on the winning teams of many club championships as well as local and out-of-‐town bonspiels. Paula and Dick Arnold were founding members of the Arden Hills Curling Club.
Paula is a tireless volunteer here at the club, always stepping up and helping in any way possible. She is an ambassador and steward of curling, eager to meet new people and share with them the love of the game.
Without mentioning numbers, Paula is the oldest active member at the club today. She curls every Tuesday morning in the Cairn Lassie league and still throws from the hack.
I am honored and humbled to nominate her as the first woman to receive the Honorary Life Member Award.
Kindest regards,
Laurie Clauson Arnold
With sadness we share the news that Sharon O'Leary, wife of Jim O'Leary, a recently retired longtime manager, died on Sunday, March 22nd, in Duluth. Our sincere condolences go out to Jim and his family. RIP Sharon - your beautiful spirit will be missed and remembered by many.
You can find Sharon's obituary and information about the celebration of her life at: http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/obituaries/3706585-sharon-jean-bohlin-oleary
We are sorry to share the unfortunate news that Jana Bell, who worked for the SPCC as a bartender on Wednesday nights, is currently battling stage 4 cancer. If you would like to learn more or support Jana, please view her GoFundMe page.
With sadness we anounce the passing of former member Trevor Blanton. Trevor curled the Thursday night 6:55/9:00 league for three seasons, his last season being the 2012-2013 season. He died on February 3, at 30 years of age. You can find his obituary and funeral details here.
We are sad to report that one of our former members, Jim Jensen, passed away on Saturday, January 31. Jim became a member in 1956. He will be missed by his many curling friends and family. He is survived by his daughter Christine Jensen and grandaughter Alexandra Carlson, both active curlers at our club.
Our heartfelt condolences go out the Jensen family. RIP Jim, we will miss you.
Here is a link to his obituary and guest condolences from the Pioneer Press.
The Minnesota State Club Championships will take place at the St. Paul Curling Club this weekend. Competition starts Thursday with 12 Men's teams (split into 2 pools) and 3 Women's teams competing for State Club Champion.
The draw times are listed below and most of the teams competing are from the St. Paul Curling Club, so come on down to watch some good curling and cheer them on.
Welcome to the St. Paul Curling Club and good curling to all those competing this weekend!
Drawtimes:
Thursday: 7:00PM
Friday: 2:00PM and 7:00PM
Saturday: 9:00AM, 2:00PM and 7:00PM
Sunday: 9:00AM and 1:00PM
Kitchen Hours:
Thursday: 6-10pm
Friday: 6-10pm
Saturday: 11am-5pm
Sunday: Closed
The SPCC is sad to let you know that one of our members, Bill Zuehlke, passed away last Friday, December 26. Bill was a member since 1988, and will be missed by his team and many curling friends. Our heartfelt condolences go out the Zuehlke family. RIP Bill, we will miss you.
A memorial service is planned for a later date. Here are links to his obituary and guest condolences from the
Star Tribune and
Pioneer Press.
7th Annual Fabulous Fireball 500
The 7th Annual Fabulous Fireball 500 Bonspiel will draw curlers from across the U.S. and as far away as Scotland to the largest member-owned curling club in the United States, the St. Paul Curling Club On Selby Avenue in St. Paul. While registration for this event has been closed for weeks, the doors to the curling club will be open the entire post-Thanksgiving weekend so visitors and spectators can stop in and see what curling is all about.
Check out the man behind the Fireball spiel, Drew Arnold, as he tells Red Current why curling is such a big part of his life.
Click here for the Red Current blog.
The Big Spiel is coming in January! This is a brand new, open format bonspiel that involves 3 Twin Cities clubs - St. Paul Curling Club, Frogtown and Four Seasons -- and 128 teams. The event will offer a 4 game guarantee plus the opportunity to curl at all 3 clubs. How cool is that? Check your calendars and save the dates of Jan. 8-11, 2015. Registration is available at http://twincitiescurling.org.
Click here to view the flyer for this bonspiel.
Please click here for the SPCC Fall 2014 Letter to Members.
