Curl Troy

Well I missed the weekly update last week, but unfortunately that means that not much really happened.  I received a packet of information from the United States Curling Association with alot of information which will be helpful in getting us started up.  Myself, along with a few of the other principals have been reading through the information and determining what information is useful as we go forward and what information we should keep for later down the road. 
 
This week I hope to hear back from the U.S. Curling association on aquiring stones though I believe that they are going to tell us that we are going to have to purchase the stones in the long run.  This is a major concern to me because I want the organization to be operating in the black in its first year of existance and going into a payment plan with USCA regardless of how good the plan is.  We do have some other options for stones and I'll be pursuing those as well but the time has come to move on stone aquisition if we want to be curling this summer.
 
Another project, and what I would consider the biggest project of the week is the creation of the articles of incorporation, and an initial draft of the by-laws.  We have to have articles of incorporation and become a non-profit organization in the State of Ohio in order to apply and become a 501 (C) 3 and be able to accept tax deductable donations.  This is also a major step in being able to aquire aid from the Troy Foundation and other charities as they are bound to only give to non-profit entities. 
 
I am also planning on meeting with the people from Hobart Arena to solidify their interest and get some figures on ice time.  How much ice time can we get and how much will it cost.  After this I can determine how much it is going to cost us individually to curl.
Some major hurdles are down the road and these are the specific things that Curl Troy face right now. 

• Legal representation to review the articles of incorporation
• An Accountant to explain and assist in obtaining 501 (c) 3 status
• Financial assistance to buy the necessary equipment.

A ball park estimate to get two sheets of curling operating, which is minimally necessary to make the most out of the ice rental, assuming that stones will be loaned and or financed is approximately $2,000 - $3,000, and you can add about $10,000 to that if stones need to be purchased outright. 
 
If anyone would like to assist us through these hurdles please don't hesitate to contact me at bruce (at) curltroy.org