What happened in the previous two weeks:
- The latest digital-only edition of the U.S. Curling News is now available.
- The USCA College Curling Committee is close to completing the 2017 College Championship Guidelines. This document will be distributed to the college curling email list at the start of the fall semester. The committee has also launched a logo design contest.
- The National Governing Body Council met by teleconference today with USOC leaders for an update on the progress of the U.S. Center for SafeSport, which is expected to open in January 2017 in Denver. The Center will deliver prevention and response services for all NGBs, which are mandated to have SafeSport programs in place. The USCA’s SafeSport program has been in place for a few years now and is a member benefit that all clubs are encouraged to take advantage of.
- We have reached a verbal agreement with Ki Mobility to become the newest USCA sponsor of our Paralympic program.
- The U.S. Olympic Committee auditors completed their work at the USCA National Office today as part of their process of auditing the 2014-15 and 2015-16 fiscal years. They are anticipating providing their written report by the middle to end of September. The final report for the 2015-16 USOC Resource Allocation was completed and submitted ahead of the Sept. 1 deadline to assist with the USOC audit process.
- The annual external audit of the USCA is scheduled for the week of Oct. 24.
- Planning continues for the staging of the next Curling Night in America competition and TV production. The event is scheduled to be held Dec. 1-3 at the Duluth Curling Club. A production site visit is tentatively scheduled for Oct. 11-12.
- Fargo has been selected to host the 2018 USA Curling Men’s and Women’s National Championships.
- Team World has been announced for the 2017 WFG Continental Cup of Curling in Las Vegas. Also, four-time Olympian Debbie McCormick has been named the captain for Team North America.
- A Level I Instructor Course was held at the Dakota Curling Club recently. Several more USCA Instructor Courses have been scheduled.
- Our application for enrolling the USCA as a participating organization in Thrivent Choice has been approved, meaning eligible members can direct Thrivent Financial grant dollars toward the USCA.
- Longtime USCA sponsor Atom Ampd has renewed its sponsorship of the World Junior Curling Championships for 2017.
- Several U.S. teams – including five in the High Performance Program—are competing in the men’s and women’s World Curling Tour events in Oakville, Ont., this week.
- Discussions are ongoing with the U.S. Paralympic Committee regarding potential amendments to the 2018 U.S. Paralympic Team Selection Procedures.
- If your club, or a club you know of, is interested in hosting the 2017 Mixed National Championship (set for March 24 – April 1), please reach out to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ASAP, as we are still seeking a host site.
- The rules and registration process for the 2017 East and West Junior Challenge Rounds and the new U-18 National Championships have been announced, and distributed directly to all states/regions.
- Discussions are underway with potential donors/sponsors of various elements of the new U-18 National Championships.
- Mayo Sports Medicine Clinic is sponsoring the USA Curling High Performance Program by providing a team physician, support services, and a wealth of medical knowledge and expertise to all of the National Team athletes. During recent HPP camps in Blaine, Minn., the women’s and men’s National Team athletes underwent physicals at the state-of-the-art clinic in downtown Minneapolis under the direction of Dr. Ellie Jelsing, who will serve as the head team physician. Dr. Jelsing was assisted by Dr. Jon Finnoff and Dr. Jeff Payne.
- Registration is now open for the Members’ Assembly and meeting of the Board of Directors in October. You can also now make hotel reservationsfor the Hilton Phoenix Airport.
- Remember to sign up for USA Curling’s latest member benefit – exclusive discounts from Experticity.com (formerly Promotive.com). Last week, 40 additional brands were unlocked including Briggs & Riley, CAT Apparel, Moji, Klymit, Wilson Sports, Point 6 and many more.
- The USCA ad hoc Membership Committee met last week, by teleconference.
- People interested in starting clubs continue to contact the national office, including two new groups that were not on our radar. In addition, several new clubs in Massachusetts are starting up this season – in Marlborough, Hopedale, Nantucket and Boston, MA. There are also plans in the works for new clubs on Cape Cod as well as Western MA (Curl Berkshires). USA Curling will be purchasing an intro to curling kit (including stones) to be used to help groups like these to drum up interest in their communities.
- The process for how the 2017 Americas Challenge will be handled has been announced through various channels, including being communicated directly to an extended list of athletes.
- A proposal has been submitted to the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) for an interactive curling exhibit and contest as part of the USOC’s 2017-18 Road to PyeongChang pep rally and hometown takeover series. Benefits to the USCA would include national exposure, revenue and new promotional equipment.
- Michael Dellemann attended the USOC SportsLink and Connect conference last week in Grapevine, Tex.
What’s up next week:
- WCF 4th Annual Congress, Sept. 7-10, Stockholm, Sweden.
- The HPP men’s team skipped by Heath McCormick will be competing in the inaugural Harbin International Elite Tournament, Sept. 7-12 in Harbin, China.
- The Paralympic Summer Games begin in Rio on Wednesday, and continue through Sept. 18.
What’s coming two weeks from now (Sept. 10-16, 2016):
- Teleconference with DOW leaders to continue discussion of water treatment solutions and partnership proposals, Sept. 14.