Now that you’ve decided to join our fun loving little community club what’s next? As a community we think of our club as one “of the people, for the people, and by the people”. In short, along with your membership comes a little responsibility to give something back to the club to help it function. We have no employees so most of the work is done by the members. There are two components to this:
1) Bar duty. Every member of the Metcalfe Curling Club 18 years or older must be Smart Served in order to complete their required volunteer work as a bartender. Any member not wishing to do this will be subject to a bar fee of $200.00 ($100 for Half-Year Non-Members) so that the club may hire bartenders to cover all events.
2) Kitchen duty. Members are expected to help in the kitchen during at lest one bonspiel per year. At the beginning of the season there is a large poster listing all the bonspiels placed on the kitchen door. Volunteers add their name to the bonspiel of their choice.
Working with an experienced kitchen convener the volunteers will help with setting up tables, preparing and serving food, and clearing and cleaning dishes. Your “tour of duty” includes the opportunity to have supper with your fellow volunteers.
Most of our new curlers have approached both of these “duties” with a little bit of apprehension and nervousness. Afterwards, they almost always comment about how much fun they had, how many other members they met, and how the experience had helped them feel like a genuine part of the club. Many have gone on to become kitchen conveners themselves.
What else is involved with being a member? On the curling side, you’re expected to keep your skip informed if you can’t attend the club for your next scheduled game. In those instances, it’s always helpful if you’ve found a spare to take your place. The various leagues keep a list of spares who you can call.
There is a general meeting of the members twice a year (usually in October and May). This is your opportunity to participate in the club’s democracy. Many issues, such as membership dues, club finances, and the physical plant (the building, ice-making equipment, etc.), are discussed and decided upon at these meetings.
We also hold a year-end banquet in May. In addition to a fine meal and entertainment, the evening is also a celebration of the curling season with various presentations and the awarding of the league trophies.
So, what about bonspiels? Club bonspiels involve a full day of curling with lunch available during the day and dinner afterwards, followed by the presentation of the winners and the awarding of prizes. Dinner could be a potluck or something prepared by our kitchen volunteers. You can usually enter these spiels as a team or on your own, and the minimal cost is used to provide entertainment and prizes at the end of the day. The number of ends per game varies by bonspiel, and the number of teams entered, but each team is guaranteed at least two games.
There is some coordination regarding potluck dinners so the participants know whether to bring a salad, an entree, or a dessert.
Inter-club bonspiels have developed over the years into many friendly rivalries. Here are some examples:
The Broder Cup (Ladies) and the Merkley Trophy (Men) are competitive events held in January and February, respectively. Entry is usually by team, and the four competing clubs, Metcalfe, Morrisburg, Russell and Winchester, take turns as the host club.
The Gamble Bonspiel is a friendly competition between Metcalfe, Morrisburg, Russell, and Winchester, which take turns hosting each November. Watch for the sign-up sheet posted in the club early in the season.
The Metcalfe-Russell is a popular mixed competition, with each team playing a game at each club. Two teams from each club then play each other in the finals at the host club, which alternates each year.
Invitational Bonspiels are the Mushroom Spiel and the Ladies Invitational, which we host yearly.
The club is also open to rentals throughout the year based on availability. At the beginning of each curling season, we post a calendar of events, including the non-curling events with which we’re involved. Rental rates are available on the rental page.
