President’s Message May 20, 2023
So, we have four weeks of shuffling done and our Charlie Loiselle Memorial Singles Tournament completed. Thanks to all the volunteers and a special thanks to Brian and Gina Bissillion for being our Draw Masters. They did a fabulous job! And having Louis Loiselle and Roger Bouvier, Charlie’s brother and brother-in-law playing in the tournament was very special as well. We had 48 players and three events. Thanks all for attending! The winners were as follows:
A EVENT B EVENT C EVENT
1. Dennis Stockman 1. Conrad Karpetz 1, Charlie Cull
2. Brad Sawchuk 2. Lorna Bentt 2. Susan Sawchuk
3. Wilma Gerlach 3. Peter Palko 3. Ruby Karpetz
4. Vern Schmidt 4. Roger Bouvier 4. Ray Abercrombie
Following play on Tuesday evening we had a banquet prepared by the Ottewell’s new caterer, Cho. The meal was delicious and there was a way more than we could eat. Much better than pizza!
Now the place has gone to the dogs. Again! The annual Dog Show will run May 31 to June 5. So after this Thursday, May 25, the next play will be on Monday, June 12th. Your board decided to throw in an extra day of play to make up for the dog show. Charlie Cull will be contacting select volunteers to assist with removing and re-installing our courts.
Please mark your calendars with the following events:
- Extra Day of Play June 12
- The Annual Fun Day June 13
- The Battle of the Sexes June 27
- The Mixed Doubles Tournament July 24 - 26
- The Club Championship August 18
Linda Wozniuk is currently taking entries for the Mixed Doubles Tournament. Call her at 780 916-2203 to enter and she will give you directions to do an E-transfer to hold your spot.
Come on down and join us for 100% PURE FUN and bring a friend!
Wally Bentt Cell 780 690-5004
President wbentt@telusplanet.net
President’s Message April 11, 2023
After six completed seasons of the Greater Edmonton Shuffleboard Association, it still amazes me that the majority of people I talk to have never heard of court shuffleboard, or of GESA. I personally have tried very hard to get the word out, but my success rate is sub-par at best. I have sent posters, brochures, and articles to seniors residences, senior clubs, curling rinks, recreation centres, senior newspapers, and we have our website and now a FaceBook page. But it is my observation that the best method of getting people interested is in personal contact. Tell a friend and have them tell their friends, and so on. But your board are just a few individuals canvasing for new members.
You, as active members in our club, are the best way to get the word out! You know how much fun and fellowship this game has going for it. I encourage each of you to talk it up with people in your circle. Many of you live in condos, apartments, or other communities. Download the electronic copies of the brochure and poster from our website at the bottom of the “About Us” page. Print them off, post them up, and email them to your friends. Make it personal by printing your own name on the bottom as a contact. Direct folks to our website! Talk it up at events that you are attending, and don’t forget our referral program of $10 back for each new member you bring in.
The Ottewell ice plant was turned off April 2, so Charlie Cull will be calling select volunteers for April 19 to 22. We are hiring labour for the heavy lifting and locating of scoreboards and carpets.
Now the exciting news! Drum roll please! Our 2023 season will start Tuesday, April 25th at 10am. We will have a pre-registration day Monday, April 24th from 10am to 1pm. If you can’t make the pre-registration, please come a half hour early on any day we are there. And of course you may register your membership with Linda Wozniuk at 780 916-2203 anytime. She can even do e-transfers to save you dealing with cheques or cash. Membership gives you unlimited play for the season, and a say in the operation of your club.
And just a reminder, we will play a 16 frame game at 10am and 12:30 every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and a 16 frame game on Thursday evenings at 7pm. Don’t forget to mark your calendars for the Charlie Loiselle Memorial Singles Tournament May 15 -17, and the Mixed Doubles Tournament July 24 to 26. And this year we will have buffet style banquets at only $25 per person.
Let’s do some shuffling!
Wally Bentt 780 690-5004
President wbentt@telusplanet.net
President’s Message March 10, 2023
Well folks, here we are in mid March already. I checked with the Ottewell and we should be able to commence our shuffleboard play on April 25th. As in past years, we will have a pre-registration event from noon to 4.00pm on Monday April 24th.
Our last message to you was our Christmas greeting and a call for members to enter into the CNSA Interprovincial Tournament to be held in Winnipeg, the week of June 18. This is a team tournament with 2 ladies teams and 2 mens teams allowed from each province. GESA has a ladies team and a mens team ready to go. Players are Nicole Corbin, Joyce March, Lorna Bentt & Wilma Gerlach for the ladies, and Bert Routhier, Charlie Cull, Wally Bentt & Charlie Gerlach for the men. There are also players from our club playing on other club teams.
The CNSA is also looking for players for an Interprovincial team. They need one man and one women to fill that team and prefer players from western Canada. If you are interested in this tournament please go to the CNSA website at https://theshufflersnews.wordpress.com/ and scan down the homepage to a link called MB IP PACKAGE REVISED.pdf. Or you may contact Norm Lindsay at normanli@uoguelph.ca or phone (519) 820-6676. It should be a fun time in “The Peg.”
We realize that our increase in membership fees from last year may be a little hard to swallow for some of you. Inflation is hitting us everywhere but we are hoping that we can maintain and increase our numbers at these new rates. Many of you are eligible and have applied for the Alberta’s Affordability Action Plan. Just one month of that will cover your club membership. We feel we are still providing a great program at this cost at one of Canada’s premier facilities. We would hate for you to miss out on all the great fun, laughs and playing with your friends. And that increase can be mitigated by our new member referral program. We will provide $10 for each new member that you bring in to the club. Bring in ten and your membership is free.
We have a short promo video on YouTube about our club. You may even be able to spot your self in one of the video clips. Check it out by double clicking the link below or by copying it into your web browser. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCWiIWrJHQI
See you all shuffling soon!
Wally Bentt 780 690-5004
President wbentt@telusplanet.net