USWCA NEWS Circuit spotlight: Centerville’s ‘Sippy’ Spiel By Elizabeth Demers and Sara Hein, USWCA
month, we chose the Centerville Curling Club’s Sippy Spiel. We interviewed bonspiel coordina- tor Sara Hein about what makes it so unique: ED: Why Sippy? How did the theme come
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about? Does the spiel feature wines from the winery? Which ones? SH: “Sippy” is a play on words both for the
Mississippi River and for sipping wine. Center- ville is located only five miles from the Missis- sippi. It seemed appropriate both for the geog- raphy of the area and the growing wine industry close by, most notably, Elmaro Winery, which is owned and operated by a family of avid curlers. Elmaro hosts entertainment and wine-tasting opportunities during the bonspiel, as well as in- depth tours of their facility. Saturday evening the club hosts a wine-paired banquet, featuring bottles from Elmaro and other local wineries. Te upcoming Sippy Spiel is Feb. 5-7. ED: Tell us a little more about the winery. SH: Elmaro Vineyard started because of a
curling trip to Italy in 2003 where the family fell in love with wine. Lynita Delaney and daughter, Laura Roessler, have been making wine commer- cially since the fall of 2010, while helping grow University of Minnesota cold-climate grapes in the vineyard since 2006. Being in the Mississippi
2015 Sippy Spiel champions from St. Paul(l-r) Megan Delaney, Shelley Kinney, Amy Lou Ander- son, and Teresa Hoffoss.
River Valley gives Centerville’s microclimate a curbed edge, soſtening the harshness of Mid- west winters. Mark Delaney, Lynita’s husband, manages the vineyard and landscaping while Cameron Delaney (their son) manages the tast- ing room. Everyone in the family has curled for decades and is now working as a team at Elmaro. ED: What else should we know about the
Centerville club and about Trempealeau? SH: Te Centerville Curling Club was estab-
lished in 1947. Only 20 miles from La Crosse, Wis., and 10 miles from Winona, Minn., the club attracts members from as far as 70 miles away. Originally a three-sheet club housed in a steel-roofed quonset, the club built a new facil- ity in 1996 that includes a banquet hall, meeting rooms, and four sheets. Both buildings and the property on which they were located were the re-
he USWCA Circuit Committee picks one new bonspiel each month for our new “Circuit Spotlight” feature. Tis
sult of generous donations by members and their families. Currently, we have about 325 members. Unique to our program is that we have about 125 junior league members from third to 12th grade. Trempealeau County was established in 1854
when George Gale secured land from neighbor- ing counties. Te word “Trempealeau” is derived from a French term, meaning “mountain in the water.” A small bluff can be seen surrounded by water close to Trempealeau in Perrot State Park. Home to many different settlers, the county be- came rich in many native heritages. From logging to dairy farming, settlers made their lives off the land. Curling in Trempealeau County started in 1908. Today, the area is rich with activity like hunting, canoeing, bird-watching, and hiking. ED: And finally, is there anything that you’d
like people to know about the spiel, the club, the people, or the region? SH: Te Sippy Spiel is a true example of home-
town hospitality. We make our own food for all meals except the banquet. Meals with multiple courses and unlimited beverages are the norm. Raffle baskets are a collection of items donated by all members of the women’s league. Afford- able area accommodations range from local bed and breakfasts to warm, small-town hotel recep- tion. We pride ourselves on the best value for your money. If you would like to attend but are worried about cost, chances are a club member will put you up for the weekend. Just contact the women’s organization. Q
Great strides made at annual fall board meeting By Donna Pearson, USWCA president
by club representatives and executive officers, the association’s annual fall meeting accomplished much and was enjoyed by all. Te Scot Tour Committee spent several days
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in advance of the fall meeting reviewing appli- cations for the outgoing Women’s Scot Tour in November of 2016. Also, executive officers met early to review process and outline a protocol for moving the organization forward during the fi- nal structural transitional stage. On Friday evening, as more USWCA repre-
sentatives arrived from as far away as Alaska and Maine, members gathered at the University of North Dakota Alumni Center for the President’s
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omplemented by great weather, the USWCA met Sept. 17-20, in Grand Forks, N.D. From the feedback given
dinner. Te women’s Junior Nationals bronze medalists were honored. Team members includ- ed Abigayle Lindgren, Katie Sigurdson, Emily Lindgren, and Kelsey Colwell. University Presi- dent Robert Kelley shared a UND greeting with the women, encouraged them to enjoy the cam- pus and city, and wished them “good curling!” More than 60 women attended the fall meet-
ing, conducting business through 23 commit- tees. Te weekend concluded with the Board of Directors meeting where committee chairs gave reports and officers outlined transitional processes to be considered at the upcoming win- ter meeting in Fairbanks, Alaska. Committee chairs shared major accomplishments and con- tinued efforts to address objectives as identified in their strategic plans – evidence of the dedi- cation and professionalism of the organization’s
volunteers. Upon adjournment, many spoke of the tasks ahead, but emanated excitement about how the changes will move the organization for- ward in fulfilling its core mission. As president, it was a privilege to share the
city of Grand Forks and the University of North Dakota with these women, but most important were the achievements made in respect to pro- gressive changes in our organization. We must be fluid in respect to society and the current needs of women curlers in the USA. Reaching out and growing the sport of curling lies in evolving – notably not an easy process, but a necessary one. We have achieved much and with the continued assistance of these great women who dedicate hours of their time and talent, the USWCA will continue to strengthen the sport of curling for women and youth. Q
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