The curling season is quickly wrapping itself up and I wanted to touch on a few items before we all start thinking about summer weather, golf, boating, or whatever else we fill our time with when not throwing stones and sweeping. First, I need to apologize that, while this has been a very fun filled and busy curling season, I was not always the best at making sure that a newsletter arrived in your mailbox. I knwo that many of you look forward to keeping updated by reading the newsletter and we've had a few months without one and for that I'm sorry.

I think that records will show that this was another record-breaking year as far as membership at the curling club went. We had many new members who had never stepped foot onto a curling sheet join this year. From what I've heard, they'll all be back. We may have to start getting creative in order to provide enough ice for all of the curlers in the near future. I don't think that it would be a bad idea to start the consideration of adding additional leagues. I think the best thing that we can do as curlers and members of our club is to continue reaching out to the community and our friends to keep signing up new enthusiastic members.

Be sure to keep a couple of dates in mind. First, on the 29th of March we will hold the club championships during the day, followed by our annual meeting and banquet at 6:00 that evening. It is sure to be fun filled as always as we toast another successful curlling season and elect our next year's leadership. Please make plans to attend and bring a desert or side dish to share. More info will come at leagues this week and next from your captain. Also, we have tickets available for the World Curling Championships in Grand Forks. The dates are April 5 -13. We have a pair of tickets for every day. We will raffle the tickets for each day beginning next week and through the annual meeting. If you have questions please contact me at 844-6594.

Several people this season deserve some special attention. There are too many individuals to list in the newsletter who made this season extra special. I will be sure and recognize them at the annual meeting. The building and finance committees aof our capital campaign and building project worked very hard this year to make "sweeping" changes to our club. They sacrificed a great amount of time and resources for this project. Thank you to all of the members who generously donated to our capital campaign. I've spoken with dozens who haven't yet, but are still planning to give. If we want to complete phase 2, it is critical that we receive your support.

Also, this year I want to comment our league captains Tom Mack and Jill Mack, Don Beaton, Keven Meacham, and Bruce Bryngelson. Sue Meacham, our leagues commissioner in her rookie year in that role, stepped into the hack like a pro and really did a wonderful job. Roger Lee deserves thanks again as our Carefree bonspiels coordinator and for continuing to keep the refrigerator stocked with our favorite refreshments. Jim Velde again is responsible for our successful raffle and of course our champion raffle ticket saleswoman Lillian Maruska has my thanks too. Mary Rotenberger and Conrad Ohm have served countless years as the secretary and the treasurer of our club. They don't even curl! Their contributions have been invaluable. Finally, I'd like to thank our great board of directors this year for making it so much fun to be involved with this curling club.

That's it for now. Thanks for a great season. See you at the annual meeting on March 29th. Until then, be sure and enjoy the last few weeks of the season on the ice.

Good Curling,

Andy Van Dam