Hello,
We hope your summer is off to a great start, and we hope you aren't missing curling too much. But if you are, we have summer fun you can join in on! You'll find out about all that below, after one less-fun news item.
Rising ice costs lead to increased league fees
The Cedar Rapids Curling Board announced in April that we would not raise league fees for the upcoming 2025-26 season. Unfortunately, shortly after that, ImOn Ice Arena announced a higher-than-expected increased ice rate for the next year.
After two board meetings of discussing how to deal with these increased costs, the CRC Board voted to raise league fees $3/night to $27.
We do not take these decisions lightly. We have not raised league fees in a decade, despite increasing ice costs, but it would be fiscally irresponsible to ignore this rate hike.
The Cedar Rapids Curling Board works hard every year to keep costs for members as low as possible and to spend their funds responsibly. However, costs continue to go up. Additionally, the board has been thinking more deeply about how to better save money to find a new dedicated ice home for Cedar Rapids Curling.
We do expect league fees to increase again the following season, 2026-27. However, we will begin offering a volunteer discount to offset that increase. Read below to learn how you can keep your league fees from going up in 2026-27.
As a reminder, membership fees for the upcoming 2025-26 season also will increase for the first time in club history to $125. Read more about that in the April newsletter.
We encourage input from our members and urge you all to considering joining the board to help us chart the future for Cedar Rapids Curling. You can find more information farther down in the newsletter if you would like to join the board. You also may email board members at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Good curling,
Cedar Rapids Curling Board
Save money on league fees by volunteering
As we raise membership and league fees to combat rising costs, we also have been discussing how to reward the volunteers who make this club the amazing group that it is.
The Cedar Rapids Curling Board decided that members who volunteer at six events during the upcoming 2025-26 season will be exempt from a league fee increase the following 2026-27 season.
To be counted as a volunteer at an event, you MUST sign up to volunteer on the website prior to the event. Some longer events will count as two events. We will indicate this on the sign-up page.
With the Winter Olympics coming up, we will have plenty of opportunities for members to volunteer (see below for a preliminary season schedule; events will be added throughout the season). And we will need you! With curling in the spotlight, it will be an especially valuable opportunity to grow our sport and our club.
We appreciate our volunteers more than we could ever say, and more than this new policy could ever convey. As Board President Phil Burian always says, “You all are why we curl.”
Last chance (maybe) to sign up for CedarSpiel
The 2025 CedarSpiel will be Aug. 8-10. If we don't have 18 teams by July 1, we will have to cancel this year's event.
We hope to see you there. There is a lot of fun in the works and more information will be on its way. This is a wonderful chance if you haven't yet been to a bonspiel! Be sure to register below to save your spot.
Cost is $460 per team. Registration deadline is July 26, 2024.
If you want to play but don't have a team, no worries! Sign up here. This link is for club members who do not have their own team. We will put teams together for club members from this list.
If you have any questions or concerns, please email Kari Kozak(This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).
Start marking your calendars for the 2025-26 season
The members who attended the recent planning meeting sketched out what our 2025-25 season may look like. These aren't set in stone but will give you an idea of what to expect.
Note that with the Winter Olympics taking place, we will take a break mid-winter to host more Learn-to-Curl events than normal. We hope everyone will help out in sharing our sport with new enthusiasts.- Teach the teacher and pick-up games: Sept. 9, free to anyone who has done an instructional league or league with Cedar Rapids Curling.
- Fall league: Sept. 16-Dec. 9 (off Nov. 25, two to three byes)
- Learn to Curls (during league): Sept. 30, Oct. 14 (potentially Oct. 7 and Oct. 21 if there is interest)
- Instructional league: Oct. 28–Nov. 18
- Winter league: Jan. 6–Feb. 3 (Feb. 10 snow day)
- Learn to Curls: Feb. 17, 24, 28, and March 3. Potentially March 10 and 17 if there is interest.
- Spring league: March 24–April 28
- Instructional leagues: March 24–April 7, April 14–28
- Pick-up games- May 5
Final call to join the CRC Board of Directors for 2025-26
Six two-year positions on the Board of Directors are up for election this year by the general membership. The Board meets once a month and establishes policies, appoints officers and committee chairs, and sets goals to accomplish Cedar Rapids Curling’s mission.
Joining the board is a great opportunity to serve and help guide the club through the exciting growth that we expect to experience in the next few years. Significant curling skill or experience is not required, and having a few newer members actually is desirable.
For more information about what is involved, ask any current board member. You can learn more about the current board members here.
To nominate yourself or another CRC member, email Phil Burian (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) by June 29.
Members will receive an email with a link to vote for board members on July 6. Voting is anonymous and will remain open until July 20. New members will be announced at the July 27 picnic (see below for more information about the picnic).
Mark your calendar for CRC picnic
We have much to celebrate! Our Member Meeting & Picnic is scheduled for noon Sunday, July 27, at CRC President Phil Burian's home in the historic Brucemore district of Cedar Rapids. (Address will be sent before the date.)
Bring your family and significant others! Cedar Rapids Curling will provide the hamburgers, brats, buns, and utensils. We ask that you bring an appetizer, side, dish, or dessert to share. After eating and catching up, we will have a short member meeting to share club status and plans and announce the new Board of Directors.
Share curling at CR Farmers Market
We are excited to announce that Cedar Rapids Curling will once again have a booth at the Cedar Rapids Farmers Market on Aug. 16.
We will have a tent with a table full of curling items for people to check out, balloons for the kids (and adults), and hopefully our street curling set so people can "throw a stone."
This will be a great time to hang out together and share our sport with our community outside the ice!
Save the date for Curl Jam
We had so much fun hosting a fundraising event for of East Central Iowa last year that we are doing it again! If you missed out last year, you have another chance!
This year's event will be Oct. 3.
Businesses will make a large donation to the Arc in order to enter teams for a short learn-to-curl followed by a minispiel with three two-end games.
Taking time off work is a big ask, but we have a sponsor for the ice rental, so 100% of the money raised will go to the Arc. Please save the date even if you are undecided now.
(Also, maybe your employer wants to enter a team?!)