OCC NEWS Preseason news

We're just a few weeks away from getting the club ready for the 2026-27 curling season!! Thanks for taking some time to read this newsletter.

You'll find information on club set-up, registration, bonspiels, club updates, and how YOU can help make sure the season is a great one!

Good curling!

We're working with Hack-to-Hack Solutions to get new colors printed for our ice! We're hopeful that we'll have it designed and printed to get in the ice in mid-October. This is being made possible with ICE SPONSORSHIPS. If you haven't checked out sponsorship opportunities (especially if you know of a great business in Owatonna), please do so ASAP!! We need to finalize our designs by September 12 -- and we'd love to have a few more businesses represented in our ice!

Are on the way! We'll have a removable hack system, which will make it easier for the ice crew to get the scraping done each night (and the new hacks won't shed rubber like the current hacks, either!)

If you made it out to the Steele County Fair, you may have noticed that our warm room had an upgrade after the 2025-26 season. The epoxy floor looks great, and will be easy to clean - - hopefully helping keep our ice clean, too! Thanks to Bulldog Coatings for their great work!

League team reservations will be updated HERE.

If you would like to SWITCH nights, let us know that, as well. After October 1, new teams will be added on a first-come-first-served basis. Wait-list teams will be added to the document and filled in if slots become available.

If you want to add a NEW TEAM, please let us know your preferred night. There are currently openings on Sundays, and we could get a Monday night league started again if we have enough interest. Teams will be added on a first-come-first-served basis.

Individual registration is open now. Please encourage your teammates to get registered online by October 19. *** PLEASE PAY ONLINE AT THE TIME OF REGISTRATION IF POSSIBLE! ***

Due to increasing utility costs, the board has approved a small increase in membership fees this season. Adult membership (with unlimited curling!) is set at $275 for the season, with youth membership at $50 for the season. This change not only offsets rising costs, but also enables us to continue to improve the curling experience at OCC.

If you would like to be a member of USA Curling, there will be a $25 fee added to your registration. USA Curling membership is required for board members, and the club will cover the $25 fee as a "thank you" for their work.

Not sure if USA Curling membership is for you? Find out more about the benefits HERE.

OCC is a volunteer-led club, and if everyone helps out, things go smoothly! The first opportunities will be doing clean-up (see date below). There will be more opportunities throughout the season - please step up and help out!!

CLEAN-UP DATE IS:

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30 starting at 6pm (there will be a board meeting at 6:45pm, as well).

** PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR TEAM IS REPRESENTED IF POSSIBLE!! Additional dates will be communicated if we need to schedule them. We'll be cleaning and setting up the clubhouse and getting boards, foam and coils set for the ice.

Other opportunities include:
- Clean-up

- Ice Prep

- Helping with juniors

- Helping with Learn-to-Curls and/or an Open House

- Bonspiels - helping organize, providing food, etc

- Seeking donations for club improvements

- And MORE!! Stay tuned!!

Have questions about how to get involved? Don't hesitate to ASK 😃

The skip's meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, October 28 at 6:00pm. We will meet at the club! ** Please make sure your team is represented!!

Returning (and new!) youth curlers, if you are interested in curling in the Sunday league, send an email -- you can either make your own team, or individuals can sign up and we'll put teams together! Can't make it every Sunday? That's OK, too! Just let us know!!

We are looking for a few more adult curlers to help facilitate and/or teach juniors --- if you can help, please let Kim know!! You don't have to be able to commit to every junior date to make a difference!!

We'll host two open bonspiels again this year - - Mark your calendars and plan to join us!! More info coming soon!

--- MSB Brewspiel --- December 4-6, 2026

--- The SKALA --- January 29-31, 2027

To register or request more information, email owatonnabonspiels@gmail.com

We've got ice until March 8 this year, so the tentative plan is to host the Taco John's Club Championship spiel (members only) March 4-7, 2027. Mark your calendar and watch for more info later in the season!

Kim Swanson (president)

Chris Dibble (vice president)

John Thompson (treasurer)

Jason Howland (secretary)

Darren Zempel

Steve Glynn

Jeff Hanson

Bil Beschnett

Jon Hanson