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Table Plaque
GESA SPONSORSHIP
Our shuffleboard association is offering an opportunity to all of our members to have their name connected to our club for the lifetime of GESA.
For the sponsorship donation of $100.00 you will have a plaque with your name and the GESA logo attached to one of the 48 cue holder tables located at the head and foot of each court.
This donation provides each of us with a life time legacy of supporting the ongoing development of our club for the enjoyment of all our current members and for those who decide to take up the game of shuffleboard in the future.
We are looking for 48 members to support this sponsorship. Please add your name to the list, which will be left at the check-in table. Or, you can email Dennis Stockman at dbstockman94@gmail.com to have your name added.
An E-Transfer, cheque or cash can be given to Linda Wozniuk. Linda’s email is lwozniuk@gmail.com. E- transfer to her at 780-916-2203.
See attached sample of plaque.
Thanks!
Club Bottle Donations & Collection
GESA INITIATIVE
Club Fund Raising
Your annual membership of $55 provides our biggest income. $25 from ea
ch membership goes toward our facility rent at the Ottewell Curling Club. The remainder is used to fund our court and equipment maintenance, and supplies such as wax, markers, brushes, etc. Part of this will be set aside to replace our vinyl courts which do wear out over time.
As you know, we ask $35.00 per person entry fees to compete in our tournaments. The distribution of this money is as follows: $12.50 goes towards facility rent at the Ottewell Curling Club. $12.50 is retuned to players with the cash prizes. Shufflers have made it clear that they do not want trophies, but cash is definitely the winner. The remaining $10.00 goes towards equipment maintenance and purchases.
And, we are always willing to take donations. Collecting bottles is one way you can participate in this. You can bring your bottle donations to the Ottewell when you come to shuffle, and we'll take them to the bottle depot. Our preference would be for you to take them to the bottle depot and turn the cash in to our volunteer at the registration table when you come to play shuffleboard.
If bottles aren't your thing, we will gladly take cash, cheque, or e-transfer donations of any amount and give you a receipt.
We need you to keep reaching out to people to become a member and/or to compete in our tournaments. More players, more income, less work for our volunteers. We could afford to pay for some of the heavy jobs that need to be done such as installing, removing and storing of our courts and equipment.
The biggest obstacle to increasing membership numbers is that people are unaware of the game or that our club even exists. Word of mouth is a very potent recruiter. We all know how much fun this game is, so go and promote the game to family, friends and neighbours. Bring it up in casual conversations. If we belong to other organizations, we can promote GESA in their newsletters, bulletins boards or gatherings. Direct them to our website at www.shufflewithgesa.ca. Let them know that we provide free lessons, equipment, and that we are the friendliest bunch of people on the planet.
PLEASE let's keep the momentum going!
Thanks!
New Horizons For Seniors Program Grant
NHS Program Grant Letter
June 26, 2020
New Horizons for Seniors Program
Service Canada/Government of Canada
In March of 2019 the Greater Edmonton Shuffleboard Association (GESA) Board members started looking into a grant program to help purchase the equipment needed to expand our club. We are a not for profit club operated by volunteers. We have grown steadily in the last 3 years. We found a community-based project grant program funded by the Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program. We applied for the maximum allowable amount.
Seniors have planned and executed everything we have done so far and through hard work and not much money we have still managed to let the public know about us. We have held tournaments whereby people from all over Western Canada and even some US citizens have come to compete. Our project was to purchase the equipment needed to double our capacity and to make 1/2 of our playing court area safer (i.e. carpeting). We have had on occasion to turn people away in our third year as we can only play 48 people at a time. Expansion will allow up to 96 to play. With guidance from staff at NHSP we completed the necessary documents and in June 2019 submitted our application for this grant. The amount we applied for was $24,409.
In February 2020 GESA received word that our project had been approved! A bit more paperwork to do and we could now purchase 12 more courts, 24 sets of the new factory beveled discs, carpeting for the shooter’s boxes and runners for in-between the courts for enhanced footing on at least 1/2 of our courts. This carpeting would greatly increase the safety for courts 1 through 12. Carpeting is used at 2 other older established clubs in Alberta so we know from their experience what the carpet delivers with respect to safety. We also budgeted $750. for a computer to assist with on-line court registration and manage our charting for tournaments as well as other club needs. It was while I was in Arizona this winter, I received word that our application had been accepted and the agreement to accept and to fund our project would follow. This happened in March of 2020. Covid had just begun and little did we know the world would be turned upside down.
We were able to sign the paperwork in Mesa, Az, as 4 of our GESA Board members were in Mesa Arizona at the time. Three of the signing authorities met on a street, we social distanced, wore masks and gloves and signed the agreement papers, and disinfected all we touched.
It is now June 2020 and Covid-19 rules have been relaxed enough that we can start reduced shuffleboard play and use this new equipment following covid-19 restrictions for players. The timing could be very beneficial to benefit our shuffleboard competitors in the Greater Edmonton area as the feedback I am getting is that a lot of senior activities have not opened up and there is therefore not a lot to do. Our program may be the answer to get our shuffling friends some exercise and social contact (while safely distancing) with others who are like-minded and of similar physical abilities.
Our project goal is to make sure nobody gets shut out because there is no more room. The expansion allows us to go to 96 people from 48 (will be cut in 1/2 by covid-19 social distancing until we are told differently). A computer would allow members to email a pre-registration so they are not shut out at the door. Some members have hour long drives to get to the club.
We have had a positive effect on the community as our senior skills have taught us to run an efficient and inexpensive club that all levels of seniors can enjoy. Our club plays indoors making it pleasant for all seniors anytime they come out to play.
Our shuffleboard club is very grateful for all the support and guidance we received when applying for this grant and we consider our club very fortunate to have received this grant that we know will make a difference in many lives. A special thank you to our contacts, Papinder Rehncy, Grace McRae, and Chad Arnish, A/Team Leader, New Horizons for Seniors Program, for your patience in answering all our emails, calls, questions and advice. Our success is the team effort given by all.
Charles Loiselle, President
Greater Edmonton Shuffleboard Association
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