GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT // REPORTS FROM THE WARM ROOM
Lessons from the Business of Curling Symposium
By Kim Nawyn, Director of Growth & Development
June 4-5, 2016. Attendees from clubs in Alaska, Arizona, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin discussed topics such as recruit- ing, retention, sponsorships, running a board of directors, and more. Attendees were encouraged to interact, all sharing helpful ideas and experi- ences. Knowing the true cost of managing the or-
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ganization and establishing standard operat- ing procedures were two themes that generated much discussion. Below are a few examples of ideas shared in these areas. Know the Cost of Ice Per Hour: When asking
an arena-based curler, “do you know how much your ice is worth?” the answer is easy. Arena- based clubs use hourly rates charged by the arena to set costs for leagues, corporate events, and private parties. However, members of dedicated ice clubs oſten struggle with this question. Deter- mining the cost of ice per hour in a dedicated fa- cility involves comparing annual operating costs to the number of “primetime” hours a club is likely to be used during the season. Understand- ing the actual cost of the ice can help eliminate some of the guesswork when discussing pricing for potential dues increases and rentals. In ad- dition to preventing the club from unintention- ally undercharging for their ice, such data can be used by a board to justify their decision-making to members. Mark It Up: Calculating the total cost of ac-
quiring a product is important when pricing logoed merchandise, equipment, beverages, and even sponsorships. “Hidden costs” such as ship- ping, production/set-up, and even storage should be factored into the pricing decision. While the profit margin may vary by type of item, marking up merchandise makes good business sense for most clubs. When trying to appeal to curlers or sponsors looking for a deal, the mark-up can also allow the club to offer discounts without losing
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he second annual Business of Curling Symposium was held at the Milwaukee Curling Club in Cedarburg, Wis., on
money on the transaction. Define Duties of the Board: Transitioning
new directors onto a club board can be a stress- ful time. In order to set expectations, it is help- ful to have written descriptions of the board’s duties. A board orientation package or session can help answer questions and provide guidance for a more seamless transition. Darrell Ell, Com- petitions and Development Officer at the World Curling Federation, suggests clubs consider the following areas when writing board job descrip- tions: broad areas of responsibility, expectations (e.g., behavior, time commitment), terms of of- fice, specific position titles, authority/duties for specific positions, accountability, and assessment practices. Clarify Volunteer Opportunities: Curlers’
lives are busier than ever. When asking for vol- unteers for a project or event, it is important to be prepared and make good use of their time. Being clear, honest, and accurate in the description of volunteer duties and time commitments will set expectations and help volunteers identify areas that work for their interests, skill sets, and sched-
ules. For leadership positions or those that re- quire many hours of self-direction, clubs should consider writing up job descriptions similar to that listed above for the board of directors. In addition, developing a shadowing or mentoring program for key positions will help make transi- tions easier. USA Curling is currently planning for the
third Business of Curling Symposium in June of 2017, at a location to be determined. Prior to this event, the third annual USA Curling Members’ Assembly will be held in Arizona, Oct. 13-16. In addition to learning more about USA Curling, including upcoming programming initiatives, and participating in the USA Curling Members’ Cup (the shortest ‘spiel with the tallest trophy!), numerous seminars of interest to those seeking to grow their clubs and improve their own games will be offered. For the latest information on the program, go to the Members’ Assembly page on the USA Curling website at http://www.teamusa. org/USA-Curling/Clubs/Member-Programs/ Member-Assembly. A detailed schedule will be published by the end of July. n
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