Current News

Message from the President, Pete Harrison

The Bemidji Curling Club had a very successful season last year including hosting U18 Nationals. That success was magnified by having both championship winners come from our club, how truly exciting! This year consider forming a team and compete in a championship of your own. Whether in the junior ranks, women’s, men’s, mixed or senior’s, sign up for an event and bring yet another championship to Bemidji. Also, try something new by playing in a different bonspiel or with different teammates sometime during the season. A novice ‘spiel is a great way to mix it up while at the same time, introduce new people to curling. Speaking of new and different, keep reading to find out more about what is happening this year including a learn-to-curl and bonspiel event, new bartender and Friday open curling. Have a great rest of 2018 and I’ll see you on the ice!

Message from the General Manager, Eric Fenson

I just want to welcome everyone back for another great year of curling! There are a couple of new things this year at the club. First, we will be putting in a new key card entry system to make it easier and more available to anyone wishing to get into the club to practice, or just wanting to get in the club. You can see me if you are interested in purchasing a card for a small fee. Secondly, there will be basic curling supplies for sale in the office on the main level. Just stop by and take a look if you need something. Also, remember to bring a friend or relative to join your team in league. The club can always use more members. One last note on the ice. Please remember to have a separate pair of “curling” shoes to wear when you are in the arena. Outside shoes are not permitted on the ice. Nobody likes to have a “picked” stone. I am looking forward to another fantastic year. GOOD CURLING!

League/Draw Times and Contacts for the 2018-2019 Season

This year’s leagues and league chairs are listed below. Since all league start dates are different, please confirm with league chair.

• Monday Junior League, 3:45 – Jaime Quello, 218-556-3545
• Monday 2 on 2, 5:30 – Pete Bahr, 218-368-8773
• Monday Open League, 6:45 – Doug Fuller, 218-556-2472
• Tuesday Afternoon Legends, 2:30 – Kirby Bahr, 218-987-2525
• Tuesday Afternoon Open, 4:30 – Kari Erickson, 218-444-8431
• Tuesday Night Open League, 6:30 – Keith Hunt, 218-760-3502
• Wednesday Night Men’s, 5:30 – Dan Haluptzok, 218-751-8948
• Thursday Afternoon Open, 1:00 – Kirby Bahr, 218-987-2525
• Thursday Businessmen’s League, 3:00 – Terry Matson, 218-308-0949
• Thursday Businessmen’s League, 4:45 – Terry Jackson, 218-444-4720
• Thursday Businessmen’s League, 6:30 – Josh Bahr, 218-766-6537

Junior Committee Report

Junior curling had another exciting year with 12 players in the U-18 National tournament, 7 players in the Jr Nationals and 2 players making it to the world tournament level. Bemidji Jr Curling has the largest Jr Curling program in the nation with over 150 students in instructional leagues. These Jr’s are our future and need guidance from the adult members. If you want to donate your time to help navigate this next generation contact Jaime Quello @ 218-556-3545.

The BCC Junior Program continues its reimbursement program for certain fees. Eligible Juniors under the age of 21, participate in a BCC League or Program, and reside in the Bemidji area. In return, Juniors are expected to complete four hours of volunteer work at BCC, or Bemidji Winterfest.

Beginners, intermediate and avid curlers in 6th to 12th grade can participate in the Monday After School Curling Program from 3:45 to 5:10. Open to boys and girls, Juniors will get instruction and competition suited to their level of play. For those with interest, we intend to host competitions against other outof-town programs, and will make at least one trip to an out-of-town competition. The program begins Monday, December 3rd, and runs every Monday at 3:45-5:15 pm through March 11, 2019. Register in person at the Bemidji Community Education office, or at www.bemidjicommunityed.com. Fee is $50.

Boys and girls in grades 1-5 will start curling Sunday Nights at 5:30pm, starting January 7, 2018. The program will run Sundays from 5:30 – 7:00 with open curling from 7:00 – 7:45, running 7 weeks around the club schedule. Registration is available in person at the Bemidji Community Education office, or at www.bemidjicommunityed.com. Fee is $55.

Something NEW. Open Curling

After being asked frequently when our club had open curling, we will finally have this available for the public starting this season. There will be open curling on some Friday evenings this year. Similar to open bowling, anyone who wants to curl can come to the club and, for a fee of $20.00, curl for 2 hours. Helpers will be needed. Please consider getting involved in this new event.

This is open to all; people who have never curled can come and try it, families who want to have an evening out, experienced curlers who want to curl with family or friends can just throw rocks or play games. Exact dates and details yet to be finalized. Questions or comments: Contact Terry Matson @ 218-308-0949

Community Ed, Open House and Novice League

Community Ed Intro to Curling classes will be held Oct 14, 17, 22, 24, 29 and Nov 1. Kent and Josh Bahr are unable to teach the class so we need volunteers to help with instruction. Please find a way to help out! New this year we will have an Open House on Oct 26 followed by a Novice Bonspiel free to our Community Ed students and members of the Bemidji community. A free lunch will be provided to all who participate. All club members and experienced curlers will be needed to help skip teams and provide instruction. Contact Eric Fenson for more details at curlbem@paulbunyan.net. 

The Wednesday Novice League is back again! This is a perfect place for Community Ed students and other inexperienced curlers to start. The league is Wednesday nights at 7:30 and teams are formed by whoever shows up that night so there is no pressure to participate every week. This is open to all curlers with 3 years of experience or less. For questions contact Lanny Cyr, 218-556-9440 or Pete Harrison, 218-239-0027. If you know of anyone who is looking for a league like this, send them our way!

Membership Committee

There is a newly formed membership committee aimed at increasing league membership by 10% each year for the next ten years, in an effort to ensure the long-term success of the Bemidji Curling Club. Steve Johnson, Eileen Campbell, Doug Fuller, and Pete Harrison are this year’s committee members and they are looking to all current members to help in this effort and encourage others to join. The committee will be surveying members to see what different types of leagues might be of interest, such as a Mixed Doubles league or a 4 end/wine/and diner league, or maybe a mixed league with babysitting provided. They also plan to contact former league curlers to learn how to win back members.

Bar Manager Position

The Bemidji Curling Club has engaged a new bartender for our 2018-2019 season. Ryzard (Richard) Gorski, will be assuming these duties. The club would like to thank Terry Jackson for his efforts over the last several seasons.

New Registration Procedure and Early Bird Discounts

Early Bird Deadline of 12/10/2018 is going to be changed to 10/15/18. The deadline for early bird registration for leagues this year is October 15. It’s been moved up this season to give league chairmen more time to anticipate needs and to fill open spots, so there will be full leagues for the entire season. Also, members will have an opportunity to get a reduced registration fee if they commit to volunteering throughout the season [ cleaning/painting, bartending, kitchen duties, etc.]. There will also be a reduced rate for recruiting a new member. Look for the new Registration form which will be mailed out to you the first week in September.

A Note from our Web Developer, Rob Yuretich

Please check the website or our Facebook page for new announcements and calendar events throughout the season. If you’d like to join our email list, you can sign up on the website or Facebook page. We may have online registration and credit card payments available for memberships and a few bonspiels this year. All draw schedules are posted on the website once they are posted on the bulletin board at the club. Check the Leagues page for league chair info and draw schedules that can be downloaded as a pdf file. If anyone has any announcements they’d like to share with the club, contact me at rob@goaskrob.com or 218-760-1319 and we can get it posted to Facebook or send out an email blast. We’d really like to use Facebook and the website as another way to communicate with all our members and guests.

Our Sponsors!

PLEASE support our numerous sponsors. Take the time to thank them for sponsoring the Bemidji Curling Club. Support their business. They are ALL important. It is very important to take the time to say Thanks!

State Senior Men’s Championship

We are hosting the State Senior Men’s Championship January 11-13, 2019 and will need volunteers help with planning and running the event. Contact event chair Steve Pemble at steve.pemble@wsn.us.com to learn more.

Pull Tabs

We are working to get pull tabs in to raise funds for our club! They will be sold at the bar!