Rainbow Rockers Curling League

SEASON OPENING AND SCHEDULE The 2024-25 season begins this coming weekend, on Sunday, October 6. The full season calendar can be found here, and the detailed schedule for Round 1 can be found here. Please check the schedule to know which days and at what time your team will be curling. Members of the executive will be on hand on opening day to chat or answer any questions you might have. RULES, REGULATIONS AND ETIQUETTE As we begin the season, we ask all curlers to familiarize yourselves with the league rules and regulations. It is the responsibility of all league members and spares to know and follow these rules, and this document is the tool of reference in resolving any questions that may arise. We also encourage you to review the league’s curling etiquette – this is especially important for new curlers! Above all, this is a recreational league so remember to have fun on the ice, and if you have any questions about the rules or etiquette of play don’t be afraid to ask! OVER THE RAINBOW BONSPIEL REGISTRATION: OCTOBER 5 The Over the Rainbow Bonspiel (OTRB) will take place at the Ottawa Curling Club from January 23-26, 2025. Registration will open at 12:00 noon on Saturday, October 5. Spots fill up quickly so you are encouraged to set a reminder and register as soon as the registration page goes live. The OTRB website, with details on the bonspiel, is available here. Information can also be found by following OTRB social media at Facebook and Instagram. DRAG BINGO: OCTOBER 19 Our first Saturday social event of the season is scheduled for October19, after regular league games. We will be holding a drag bingo night hosted by recently crowned Ms. Capital Pride, Vera! Bingo will start at 7pm. Cost is $25 per person. That includes a sheet of bingo tickets and a bingo dabber. There will also be some light snacks to enjoy. Please RSVP to [email protected]. Save the date for a night of fun! LEAGUE AGM: NOVEMBER 6 This year, we will be holding a virtual Annual General Meeting for the league on Wednesday, November 6 at 7:00 p.m. This will be an opportunity for interested members to share feedback, discuss the league’s Strategic Plan, our annual report from last year, and have an open discussion with the Executive. More information to follow, but if this is of interest to you please save the date! INTERMEDIATE CLINIC / DROP-IN CURLING: NOVEMBER 16 The Lisa Weagle Academy will once again run our Intermediate on-ice clinic on Saturday, November 16, from 2:00 – 4:30, followed by a “drop-in” fun curling game for anyone and everyone. Save the date and stay tuned for details! EQUIPMENT This is a reminder that league members and spares are responsible for having their own equipment to play (i.e., curling broom, curling shoes or slider, gripper, etc.). If you’re looking to find a new home for some of your old equipment, or are a new curler looking to buy used equipment, we invite you to take advantage of the RRCL “Buy/Sell” spreadsheet that can be accessed from the RRCL website. See you on the ice and good curling!

REGISTRATION UPDATE Season registration and team compositions have now been finalized. We are pleased to report that this year we will have 42 teams in 6 divisions, and 185 members including 5th players. We are excited to welcome 16 new members to the league and expect to have a healthy spares list of roughly 20 people to begin the season.  SEASON FEES This is a reminder that full season registration fees must be paid by Thursday, September 19. Payment can be made in person by card, cash, or cheque at the pre-season meet and greet on September 19 (see below), or by e-transfer to [email protected] if you cannot attend the event. PRE-SEASON MEET AND GREET (WITH PIZZA!) ON SEPTEMBER 19 The pre-season meet and greet will take place on Thursday, September 19 from 5:30-8:30pm at the Ottawa Curling Club (440 O’Connor St.). This annual event is an opportunity for you to reconnect with your team and league members, meet our new members, and strategize for the upcoming season! This year we are holding it at the Ottawa Curling Club to allow new members and spares to familiarize themselves with the club ahead of the season (we’ll even be doing some tours!). But most importantly, complementary pizza will be served and the cash bar will be open!  SEASON OPENING, SCHEDULE AND BYE REQUESTS League games will start on Sunday, October 6. Members of the executive will be on hand on opening day to chat or answer any questions you might have. We will have the season calendar and list of divisions available by the meet and greet on September 19. The detailed schedule for Round 1 will follow shortly thereafter. Round 1 league games will run October 6 through December 1st, with games every Sunday (except Thanksgiving weekend) and one Saturday (October 19). Should you need to make a bye request for Round 1, skips must contact the Drawmaster by noon on September 20 at [email protected]. NOTE: Skips should limit requests to ONE bye. Any further requests may or may not be accommodated. For fairness to all teams, you cannot request “all 3pm games” or “no 5pm games”, etc.    BEGINNER / REFRESHER CLINIC: OCTOBER 5 If you are new or relatively new to curling (or just in need of a refresher after the summer break), you are strongly encouraged to register for the pre-season Beginner / Refresher Clinic taking place on Saturday, October 5 from 2:00 – 6:00 p.m. at the Ottawa Curling Club. The clinic will be led by experienced league members and include off-ice and on-ice instruction. There is a registration cost of $10. Some equipment may be available but you are best to bring your own. To register, please send an email to [email protected]. The deadline to register for the Beginner / Refresher Clinic is Monday, September 30. SAVE THE DATE: DRAG BINGO – OCTOBER 19 Our first Saturday social event of the season is scheduled for October 19, after regular league games. We will be holding a drag bingo night hosted by recently crowned Ms. Capital Pride, Vera! Save the date for a night of fun -details to follow in the coming weeks.  INTERMEDIATE CLINIC / DROP-IN CURLING: NOVEMBER 16 The Lisa Weagle Academy will once again run our Intermediate ON-ICE clinic on Saturday, November 16, from 2:00 – 4:30, followed by a “drop-in” fun curling game for anyone and everyone. Save the date and stay tuned for details! NATIONALS PLAYDOWNS We will be holding playdowns for our Nationals team entry to the Canadian Pride Curling Championships, taking place in Edmonton in April 2025.Teams will need to declare their intent to compete for the Nationals and pay a $100 entry fee, by 7pm on Thursday, September 19. Playdowns will occur over a few Saturdays in November with the final games to determine “Ottawa 1” on Sunday, December 22. If interested, send your declaration of intent along with your team roster to [email protected] by September 19.  NAME TAGS As in past years, the league will be providing all new members with a metallic Rainbow Rockers name tag that you can choose to wear when you play. If you are a returning member and would like a replacement name tag for a fee of $15, please send an email to [email protected] by September 19. EQUIPMENT League members are responsible for having their own equipment to play (i.e., curling broom, curling shoes or slider, gripper, etc.). If you’re looking to find a new home for some of your old equipment, or are a new curler looking to buy used equipment, we invite you to take advantage of the RRCL “Buy/Sell” spreadsheet that can be accessed from the RRCL website. OVER THE RAINBOW BONSPIEL: JANUARY 23-26, 2025 The OTRB website, with details on the bonspiel, has launched and is available here. Registration will open at 12:00 noon on Saturday, October 5. Information can also be found by following OTRB social media at Facebook and Instagram. Please bookmark us and follow along for information updates during the fall. REMINDER: RRCL STRATEGIC PLAN REVIEW A reminder that we are still seeking members’ feedback on the draft 2024-2027 RRCL Strategic Plan. It’s the first strategic plan for the RRCL and it charts where the league will focus in the coming three years. Members were sent an email with information and a link to the draft plan on August 28. A copy of the plan can be found here. Feedback is being received up to September 25 and can be emailed to [email protected]. Feel free to discuss it with executive members during the meet and greet on September 19 or opening day on October 6. Good curling everyone – see you on the ice soon!

Hello curlers!

We interrupt your summer with some important curling pre-season information – believe it or not, the start of the season is right around the corner!

REGISTRATION UPDATE

We are excited to announce that the league will once again have 42 teams and 6 divisions. Work is currently underway to finalize the composition of all teams and determine the first round divisions. Skips will receive an email from the Membership Coordinator by the first week of September seeking their validation of the composition of their teams (members and positions).

We also have a waiting list of people looking to join the league, and would encourage teams to consider adding a 5^th player to help us find spots for new folks. If you’re interested in adding a 5^th player to your team, please send an email to [email protected].

Finally, please note that full season registration fees must be paid by September 19. The registration fee for the season will be staying at $210/person, or $150 for 5^th players, so for most of you who have already paid the $50 deposit, your remaining balance will be $160 (or $100 for 5^th players). Payment can be made in person by card, cash, or cheque at the pre-season meet and greet on September 19 (see below), or by e-transfer to [email protected] if you cannot attend the event.

PRE-SEASON MEET AND GREET AND PIZZA PARTY ON SEPTEMBER 19

Save the date! The pre-season meet and greet will take place on Thursday, September 19 from 5:30-8:30pm at the Ottawa Curling Club. This annual event is an opportunity for you to reconnect with your team and league members, meet our new members, and strategize for the upcoming season! This year we are holding it at the Ottawa Curling Club to allow new members and spares to familiarize themselves with the club ahead of the season. We are also hoping the curling shop at the club will be open for those looking to buy new equipment (still TBD). But most importantly, pizza will be served and the bar will be open! 

SEASON OPENING AND SCHEDULE

League games will start on Sunday, October 6. Members of the executive will be on hand on opening day to chat or answer any questions you might have. The season calendar, list of divisions, and the detailed schedule for Round 1 will be available in the coming weeks. We’ll also be providing an updated waiver for members to sign.

We are also hard at work planning for our first Saturday social event in October. Stay tuned for more details!

BEGINNER’S CLINIC

If you are new or relatively new to curling, it will be important for you to register for the pre-season Beginner’s Clinic taking place on Saturday, October 5 at the Ottawa Curling Club. The clinic will be led by experienced league members and include off-ice and on-ice instruction. There is a registration cost of $10. More information to follow, but for now, new curlers please save the date!

RRCL STRATEGIC PLAN

We are excited to announce that the executive has spent some time over the summer drafting a 3-year Strategic Plan for the league, and over the course of the next few weeks, we will be consulting members on the draft plan. The plan outlines where we envision the league going over the next 3+ years and provides details on proposed goals, objectives, and activities for the league to undertake. A separate email to members will follow with a copy of the draft plan and details on where and how to provide feedback.

OVER THE RAINBOW BONSPIEL

This year’s Over the Rainbow Bonspiel (OTRB) will take place January 23-26, 2025. The OTRB website with details of the bonspiel and registration information will launch on Friday, September 6. Registration for the bonspiel will open at 12:00 noon on Saturday, October 5. Additional information and notices will follow in September by email and on social media, but keep these dates in mind.

FOLLOW OUR SOCIALS!

If you are not already following the league on social media, we invite you to do so to receive timely updates and connect with members. Our socials can be found here:

• League Facebook page
• Over the Rainbow Bonspiel Facebook page
• League Instagram account (rainbowrockersottawa)
• Over the Rainbow Bonspiel Instagram account (otr_bonspiel)

BUY/SELL EQUIPMENT

League members are responsible for having their own equipment to play (i.e., curling broom, curling shoes or slider, gripper, etc.). If you’re looking to find a new home for some of your old equipment, or are a new curler looking to buy used equipment, we invite you to take advantage of the RRCL “Buy/Sell” spreadsheet that can be accessed from the RRCL website.

Enjoy the rest of your summer and keep an eye out for more season information coming in September!

Your Rainbow Rockers Executive

Happy Spring Curlers! We have some exciting announcements to share with you …. – Bocce Ball Tournament and BBQ – It’s back! – Trial Aggregate Scoring Results – End-of-Season Member Survey – 2024-2025 Registration – Deadline approaching!

Bocce Ball Tournament and BBQ – It’s back!

After a break due to COVID and construction on North River Road, Bocce and a BBQ is back to help us maintain the curling spirit as we move into summer! Never heard of Bocce Ball? Not a problem! This game of “summer curling” is fun, fast and easy to learn. Let’s see if our players are as good on grass as they are on the ice! This event will be held at 221 North River Road (near the Cummings Bridge off of Montreal Road), the home of our league president on Wednesday, June 19, 2024 at 6:15 p.m. sharp, with games starting at 6:30 p.m. Please note that there is no parking on North River Road, please park on side streets.　Bocce games will be played on the lawn of the park across the street along the Rideau River and we will be serving a BBQ, including vegetarian options. The cost is $10 per person which includes BBQ burgers, sausages, salads, snacks dessert and soft drinks/juices. BYOB but please make sure you arrange for designated drivers or public transport.Bring your friends, partners, and any new or prospective league members to give them a chance to get to know our group. Members of the Executive will be on-hand to meet people and answer questions. Please RSVP (including number of guests) to our new Promotions Coordinators, Kevin and Dean at [email protected] before Friday, June 14, 2024.

Trial Aggregate Scoring Results

As mentioned at the start of the season, concurrent to the league’s usual approach to final team standings and rankings (based on Round 3), the league trialed an aggregate approach that used team’s results from each of the three rounds. The results of the trial are now available on the website at Trial Aggregate Scoring ResultsIn part, the trial was intended to test the aggregate waters and stimulate discussion on the option within the league. The year-end survey to members includes an opportunity to submit feedback on this trial, as well as any thoughts on staying with the current approach that uses Round 3 results or using an aggregate of all three rounds. The Executive will be considering the matter in the coming months, ahead of the start of next season.

End-of-Season Member Survey

We would like your feedback on our league. Please complete this short survey to keep us informed of your priorities for our league – should take you only a minute or two. See your email for the survey link.

2024-2025 Registration – Deadline approaching!

The registration deadline for returning members is May 17, 2024. As of June 1st, we will begin accepting new member registrations and will no longer guarantee spots for returning members.Please note that each curler must submit their own registration. When registering, you will be prompted to indicate whether you are registering as part of a team, or as an individual looking for a team. To confirm your registration, you must complete the following 2 steps: Complete the online registration form at: https://rainbowrockers.org/online-registration/ Pay your $50 registration deposit by sending an e-transfer to: [email protected] If you have already registered online and paid your deposit (for example, at the year-end banquet), you do not need to do anything further.For any questions about the registration process or your registration status, please reach out to our Membership Coordinator at [email protected].

Have a great summer, and see you at Bocce on Wednesday June 19th! Steve H / Chad B / Bill J / Patrick P / Mike M / Kevin M / Russ F / Brian J / Dean L / Kevin V.

View division champions here

This is an important reminder to submit your registration for the 2024-2025 curling season if you haven’t already done so and intend to curl in the league again next year. The registration deadline for returning members is May 17, 2024.

As of June 1^st, we will begin accepting new member registrations and will no longer guarantee spots for returning members.

Please note that each curler must submit their own registration. When registering, you will be prompted to indicate whether you are registering as part of a team, or as an individual looking for a team.

To confirm your registration, you must complete the following 2 steps:

1. Complete the online registration form at: https://rainbowrockers.org/online-registration/
2. Pay your $50 registration deposit by sending an e-transfer to: [email protected]

If you have already registered online and paid your deposit (for example, at the year-end banquet), you do not need to do anything further.

For any questions about the registration process or your registration status, please reach out to our Membership Coordinator, Mike McGuire, at [email protected].

Have a great summer, everyone!