NEW MEMBERSHIP MODEL PROPOSED BY USA CURLING
Photo: Bob Weder Photography.
[EAGAN, MN, July 11, 2023] Following more than six months of work by the volunteer Governance 4.0 Ad Hoc Committee, organization staff, and the Board of Directors, we are pleased to introduce the plans for a new membership model at USA Curling.
In addition to the details provided here, there is a Town Hall scheduled for Thursday, July 13 at 7 PM CT with USA Curling CEO Dean Gemmell and members of the Board of Directors. This Town Hall focus specifically on the changes related to membership.
We will follow up with more online sessions throughout the next few months, and provide regular communications to ensure clarity and get feedback.
We urge everyone in the curling community to review the materials you will find in this post—Individual Membership tier comparisons, Member Club Benefits, Frequently Asked Questions—but key points are also summarized below.
HOW IS THE MEMBERSHIP MODEL CHANGING?
We are launching tiered individual memberships—Youth, Basic, Supporter, Coach, Competitor, Gold—to fit the needs of everyone in the curling community. The Basic membership is $25 per person each year, down from $34 per person in the old model.
We are changing Member Club requirements. Dedicated ice Member Clubs will pay a flat fee based on the number of sheets at their facility—$750 per sheet. Clubs that operate in other facilities—arenas or another curling club—will pay a flat fee of $300.
We are offering reductions in Club Membership fees based on the number of individual USA Curling members—clubs will save $5 per individual member.
We are eliminating the 95% compliance rule.
We are offering new benefits at every tier of Individual membership.
We are strengthening connections between member clubs and USA Curling. Every club can appoint two USA Curling representatives—one female, one male—to attend a monthly meeting with the CEO and others.
We are maintaining the current approach to populating the Board.
We are changing the voting process at the Members’ Assembly. Clubs will now carry the votes of their individual USA Curling members at the Members’ Assembly, but individuals can still separate their votes from their club if desired.
This new membership model aims to provide value and a meaningful connections to the national organization for curlers of all levels and clubs of all kinds. We look forward to discussing it in the months ahead and believe it is a positive step forward for our sport and this organization.
To learn more and ask questions, please join us on Thursday July 13th at 7:00PM Central for the USA Curling Town Hall. Or call in (audio only) at +1 321-270-1596 and use 244450520#.
About USA Curling
Founded in 1958 and headquartered in Eagan, Minnesota, USA Curling is the National Governing body for the Olympic sport of curling and the Paralympic sport of wheelchair curling in the United States. The mission of USA Curling is to grow, strengthen, and advocate for the Olympic and Paralympic sport of curling in the United States by prioritizing accessibility and programmatic development from grassroots to podium. USA Curling is sponsored by Columbia Sportswear, Twin Cities Orthopedics, Training HAUS, Toyota, ISS (Ice, Sports & Solar), Rock Solid Productions, Jet Ice, and Laurie Artiss. USA Curling is a proud member of the World Curling Federation and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee. To learn more, visit usacurling.org.
