Assiniboine Memorial Curling Club

AMCC Update - 12-Feb-2021

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During this evening's monthly meeting, our Board of Directors made the difficult decision to shut down the ice plant at this time.

Despite all of our efforts, current public health restrictions simply do not make any attempts to continue curling this season feasible.

February 15, 2021

Good Evening AMCC Members,

By now, you are most likely aware of the revised Public Health Orders that the Province placed into effect Friday February 12th. Unfortunately, those revised orders continue to prevent us from opening our facility to you in any meaningful way.

The Assiniboine Memorial Curling Club Board of Directors met virtually on the evening of February 12th and made the difficult decision to officially end our Curling Season effective immediately.

Like you, the Club is extremely disappointed to have had to make this decision. Throughout the season, the Club and its Board has worked tirelessly to ensure we provided a safe facility that exceeded public health regulations where our members could participate and enjoy.

Based in part from your valuable feedback and support, the Club continued to operate under the premise that we would be able to return to play at some point to conclude our season. Our facility, having been efficiently maintained, was ready to open immediately after the Provincial Health Orders were lifted. No one could have imagined however that three and a half months later we would still be under a Code Red Lockdown.

As a Non-Profit Organization, the Club relies heavily on our Member’s fees and our lounge sales to keep our doors open on a yearly basis. The Club has faced severe financial challenges this year in the wake of this Pandemic, but has left no stone unturned in cutting expenses and applying for every available grant, loan or program to help offset the loss of revenue and continued expenses.

The Club has projected a deficit this season as a result of the pandemic, which increases significantly the longer we are forced to wait for the restrictions to be lifted.

The decision to shut the Club down now helps to ensure the Club may open next season without the need to burden our members with unprecedented increases in fees. The Board has always been upfront and transparent with our members from the start as we navigated through this season together.

From our AGM in August where you approved of our direction and Return to Play Guidelines up until the decision to shut down our season this past weekend, your ongoing feedback and support has been greatly appreciated.

We remain committed to being able provide you the opportunity to once again enjoy all that the AMCC has to offer. The work of your Club Executive to finalize the books and plan for next season has already begun. Further updates will be made available to you once completed.

Thank-you for your continued understanding and support through these difficult times. We look forward to seeing you next season where we hope the exciting changes and opportunities planned for you will wash away the disappointment of this season.

Sincerely,

Assiniboine Memorial Curling Club - Board of Directors

AMCC Update - 11-Jan-2021

Details

In response to extension of Level Red public health restrictions until at least January 22, AMCC has the following updates to share with our members.

In the event that the province announces a move to a lower pandemic response level that would allow us to re-open, ice will be available to play on as early as Saturday, January 23. Information on availability of additional game times outside of the "normal" schedule will be communicated to league conveners later this week.
Players are asked to watch our website and social media feeds for updates, and be prepared to show up for regularly scheduled games if circumstances allow it.
In the event that an extension of restrictions beyond January 23 is announced, the Board of Directors will meet on the evening of January 22 to discuss next steps.

A message from our Club President:

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Greetings everyone,

I am honored to bring you greetings this holiday season in my first December as your Club President. It’s that time when we pause to reflect on the year that was and look ahead to the new year where brighter days are sure to be in store for us all.

Over the past twelve months our club has faced many challenges. None greater than COVID-19, which effectively shut down the world and has placed a terrible hold over all of us. Through it all though the Assiniboine Memorial Curling Club (AMCC) achieved and accomplished many great things including:

Dennis Thiessen (2^nd) on Team Canada winning a Silver Medal at the World Wheel Chair Curling Championship in March;
Team Brett Walter winning the Junior Men’s Provincial Championship in January;
Team Jacques Gauthier winning the Canadian and World Junior Men’s Championship in February;
We successfully hosted draws for the Manitoba Open;
We successfully adapted to the digital age with our Online Registration feature;
We successfully implemented our Return to Play Protocols which allowed us to safely open our facility for use;
We re-introduced our Youth Program laying down a solid foundation to help build our game at the grass roots level;
We successfully and safely ran one of the few competitive Bonspiels in the Province during the Pandemic - the Atkins Curling Supplies Classic;
We successfully ran a Drive Thru Poppy Fundraiser for the Royal Canadian Legion in November;
The AMCC Men’s Leagues continued its long tradition of supporting the Christmas Cheer Board with a Generous Donation in December.

As our global community fights to win against this virus, the Board of Directors and I are going to be working very hard to ensure we will be able to continue to operate, when we are safely able to, and provide the quality service and on ice experience our members and guests deserve. Some of the key initiatives we have already undertaken or are in the process of implementing include:

Targeting all available grants, loans and programs from all levels of government to help offset the mounting expenses caused by the shutdown of our facility;
Continuing the refinement of our Return to Play Guidelines to ensure a quick transition when our facility is permitted to open for use;
Working with our Leagues to ensure that facility availability and options are provided to allow for the completion of a complete and meaningful season;
Improving our members on ice and off ice experience while at the Club;
Ensuring the long term financial viability of the Club by improving operational efficiencies, increasing revenue streams and through sound financial decisions.

As we enter the new year, I am confident that together we will see many more successes and overcome the current challenges that we now face. I thank you for your continued support and commitment to making the AMCC the Home of Champions on and off the ice.

In closing, on behalf of the Board of Directors, I extend my warmest wishes for a safe and enjoyable holiday season and a healthy and happy new year to you and your families.

Regards,

Ken Onagi | AMCC Club President

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