The MCC Board had an emergency meeting at 5:15pm [Thursday] evening after monitoring rapidly changing conditions and new information about the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Over the past couple of days we worked nationally and within the State to assess our options for mitigating the spread of the virus.
We know that events such as Rotary Worlds, Women’s Worlds, College Nationals and U18 are canceled for this curling season, and our own Kraut Spiel will not occur. We were also made aware that a growing number of clubs are suspending their curling seasons. These include clubs like Seattle, Portland, Denver, Cleveland, Broomstones and Lodi. We’ve all become aware of the positions that the WIAA, NCAA, NBA and other professional sports have taken, as well as prominent destinations like Disney World.
Our highest priority is the health and well-being of our club member community and families. We have a significant number of our curlers who are in the higher risk categories and we have members who have recently traveled, including to areas with a high prevalence of the illness.
In an effort to be at the fore-front of infection control recommendations, the Board determined that the prudent action was to end our curling season, effective after league play Thursday, March 12th.
We apologize for any inconvenience caused by this cancellation. I personally apologize for the fact that, with the rapidity of changes in viral activity and recommendations for managing prevention, and our emergent meeting just being tonight, some curlers found out at the club of this Board decision before I could come home to write this notice. It was not the intent to have fractured communications.
The shutdown of the ice will be coordinated with Jeff, Dan and the crew
installing the desiccants. It will be in the next couple of days.
The building will be put in locked mode, but if you have a key card you will be able to access the building to get curling equipment. If you don’t have a card you will be able to access your locker on Saturday when Walt Erbach’s life celebration will occur, or when you come to Spring Clean-up. We know that this notice doesn’t give you a lot of planning time so we will do our best to meet individual needs.
There are other decisions that the Board needs to discuss in the immediate future, after which we will put together a FAQ that we will send out. We ask that members hold their questions and be patient on the response time as most questions will probably be addressed in the upcoming FAQ.
We appreciate your continued support of the Madison Curling Club. Thank you for your understanding, and be well.
Best,
Carol Hassemer
MCC President
