Changes to Ennismore Curling Club website - Curling Manager

Editor: Ron Keyser
Date: 2023-06-01

Because of all of the problems that were experienced last year with the Curling Registration process as well as the on-going problems using the system during the year, the Board of Directors created a committee called Website/Social media. The intent of this committee was to recruit members who had some experience with websites, social media and computer systems in general. The stated goal was to evaluate existing system as well as a select number of alternatives and make a recommendation to the Board by the end of May 2023.

Ron Keyser and others (Tara Welbourn,Dan Deschene, Andrea Mitchell, Heather Fraser) stepped up and spent considerable time evaluating the existing systems that were used for both our public website and internal curling registration & management system. Substantial time was invested to re-develop the existing Registration system to make it more stable and user friendly. Alternative approaches to the actual registration process were developed and tested out by some Board members and other key people. The existing external (public) website was examined to see if it could be further developed and integrated into our curling registration and Management system.

After developing a full featured proof of concept attention was turned to alternatives such as Curling Manager and Curling Club Manager - both Canadian based systems. We talked with several Curling Clubs in the area about what they were using and how it was used by members. We reviewed Curling Clubs websites across the country to see how they developed their external website presence in addition to what they offered their members. 

Since Curling Manager had previously been used by ECC in years past, it was given the most attention. Taking into consideration all of the past comments about our existing system(s) a 3 month trial subscription (full feature version supporting 240 members and unlimited leagues) was purchased from Curling Manager.  Over the course of several weeks and MANY hours  a full featured , working proof of concept was developed. Virtually all features of Curling Manager were implemented (website admin, security admin, member admin, league admin, registration admin, financial admin, etc.). Member's data was then imported into the new system. This allowed us to do full testing based on real data.

A full demonstration was made to the Board of Directors (including Board members from the previous 2022/2023 Board) on June 7the after the ECC AGM meeting and the election of new Board members (June 3rd, 2023). The recommendation was made to go back to Curling Manager and was accepted by the Board. An Annual upgrade license was purchased ($479.40 for up to 240 members).

Since that time we have been developing more content as well as revising the format of the website for both the public facing website as well as for ECC members. Member only function and content has been developed and tested extensively, Each page/function has been reviewed by the Board during multiple sessions. Real life testing has taken place over the month of June-July 2023 in order to be prepared for the new curling Registration (Aug. 1st, 2023)

I am sure that some things have been overlooked and that improvements can be made. We look forward to your comments and feedback. Constructive crticism is always welcome !