Editor’s note: “Sweeping Palaces” is a new U.S. Curling News feature profiling member clubs across the country. We hope that these profiles will help readers learn more about their fellow curlers and curling clubs in the United States, and that they may also further the sharing of ideas between clubs.
Who: Cape Curling Club
Address: 37 Highfield Drive, P.O. Box 396, Falmouth, MA 02541
Web site: www.capecodcurling.org
Club phone: 508-540-2414
Club contact: Henrik Gulmann, membership chairman, Henrik@Gulmann.com
History:
The Cape Cod Curling Club was formed in 1969 and moved to its current facility
in 1975.
Number of sheets of ice: 3
Number of members: 225, including 140 active curlers. Membership has increased 40 percent during the past year.
Major events: 10-12 per year
In order to attract new members, a 25-minute curling video is shown on Community Access TV throughout the Cape Cod area. The club also conducts radio and magazine interviews, holds two to three open houses each year and holds member-invite guest evenings and charity events for organizations such as Habitat For Humanity. The club stays in the media’s eyesight by submitting press releases and continues to build on existing relationships with its local ice-skating arena, according to President Russ Lemcke.
“We believe it is our spirit that makes our club unique,” Lemcke said. “We are an all-volunteer club and push to expand our range of activities.” The club has a youth program, educational programs, an active “stick” league to address the Cape Cod demographics and is working to position the club as an integral part of the community.
Types of programs/leagues: The club offers junior, senior, men’s,
women’s, mixed and stick leagues. Curlers are able to curl as often as they
wish, although membership has increased during the last year. Some leagues are
currently full. The club also has junior and Little Rocker programs with a set
of rocks for each program.
Instructional programs: The club offers three instructional programs – for new, intermediate and new or “wannabe” skips.
Community work/fund-raisers: “We hold fund-raisers as often as we can,” Lemcke said. “We work with the Chamber of Commerce on business events. We introduce curling to church and other groups and we push our video on Community TV stations.”