BYLAW AMENDMENTS AND MEMBER CLUBS
Becky Duffy Photography
The amended bylaws introduce many positive changes for Member Clubs of USA Curling. They include:
NO REINSTATEMENT FEES. In the past, clubs that left USA Curling had to pay reinstatement fees if they decided to rejoin. In the revised bylaws, reinstatement fees have been eliminated. This isn’t simply a change in governance—it reflects a cultural shift at USA Curling. Instead of requiring membership, we’re going to earn it—every day and every year.
NO COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS. Previously, to be a Member Club, curling clubs were required to have 95% of their membership also belong to USA Curling. That requirement has been eliminated. In the new model, dedicated ice Member Clubs will pay $750 per sheet to belong to USA Curling and clubs that curl in arena settings or rented facilities will pay a flat fee of $300, regardless of how many club members are also Individual Members of USA Curling.
$5 OFF THE MEMBER CLUB FEE FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL MEMBER OF USA CURLING. While Member Clubs are no longer held to compliance rules, they are incentivized to have their members also be Individual USA Curling members. For every Individual Member, a Member Club can deduct $5 off their fee.
For example, a four-sheet club would pay a $3000 Member Club fee. If they have 300 individual members, they would reduce their Member Club fee by $1500. Arena Clubs can also reduce their Member Club fee in the same way but since the flat fee is only $300, it is capped at $150.
Member Clubs are also incentivized to collect Individual Memberships. Many clubs have long made USA Curling dues part of their club dues and expressed a desire to continue to do so. If a roster of Individual Members is submitted by November 30th, the rebate on the club fee will be applied immediately and reflected in the invoice we send this curling season. If it is not, the number of Individual Members will be calculated the following November 30th and the rebate will applied to next year’s Member Club fees.
VOTING RIGHTS AT THE ANNUAL MEMBERS’ MEETING. Member Clubs can carry the votes of all their Individual Members at the annual Members’ Meeting. Previously, votes at the Members’ Meeting were carried by the regional associations. Unless an Individual expresses a desire to separate their vote from their Member Club, a representative of the Member Club can vote on behalf of all Individual Members of USA Curling.
CONTINUED RISK MITIGATION. The changes for Member Clubs don’t affect the protections that membership currently provides. General Liability insurance, free SafeSport training and compliance, and assistance with Best Practices are all still available to Member Clubs of USA Curling. There are also guides for Club Operations in Our House, the USA Curling content platform.
RECOGNITION. We’re going to help you celebrate being a Member Club. A USA Curling flag with the Member Club designation will be sent to every club that belongs to our organization. We’ll be sending those out after November 30th.
SPECIAL DISCOUNTS. Member Clubs can enjoy new savings on Jet Ice products, Warm Room Hero club management software, and iceless curling products from Rock Solid Productions.
HOSTING AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES. Member Clubs can host clinics and courses, including sessions with elite players through our well-received Athlete Outreach Initiative funded by the Bill Peskoff and the Peskoff Charitable Fund. Ice Tech consultation and site visits are also available, and we’re working hard to make our national championships positive, revenue-producing events.
WHAT ELSE? Member Clubs can designate two people of different genders to serve on the Club Council, a group that will meet regularly with the USA Curling CEO and other leaders of the organization.
Players will need to be league-playing, dues-paying members of a USA Curling Member Club to compete in Club Nationals and and Arena Club Nationals. While most National Championships will only require an Individual Competitor membership, we want to continue to celebrate and enhance the club culture in our sport.
Member clubs will also receive marketing materials, benefit from efforts such as National Curling Month, and be listed in the Find a Club section on usacurling.org.
STILL HAVE QUESTIONS? We’re here to help. If you want to learn more, don’t hesitate to reach out. Send an email to lauren.rich@usacurling.org or dean.gemmell@usacurling.org. We’ll be happy to discuss further or schedule a meeting with your club Board or membership.
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, IHG, 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.
