The Weyburn Curling Club experienced some unexpected financial losses in the 2004-2005 season, centred around an expensive mix-up with a new condenser, the onset of the smoking ban and a downturn in lounge receipts.

According to their financial statements, which were presented at the Curling Club AGM on June 28, the club reported a net income loss of $30,936 from 2004.

Gross revenue from dues, net bonspiel earnings, building and ice rental, pro-shop sales and advertising was $101,860. The income from projects, the kitchen and lounge was $43,306.

Subtracting expenses, which were estimated at $176,102, the Curling Club had a net loss of over $30,000. (It should be noted that depreciation of the building - estimated at $30,323 - was counted in total expenses. Though it's included every year, depreciation is not an actual cost in dollars.)

One of the biggest reasons for the loss was a decrease in lounge receipts, which dropped from $99,717 the previous year to $87,540 this year. Other sources of revenue remained fairly consistent.

In terms of lounge revenue, November was a particularly bad month for the Weyburn Curling Club.

"We have not had a November like that in our club history," said past president Harry Plemel.

The downturn in lounge revenues was likely due to a couple factors. First, the farming community was in a grim mood last fall after a bad growing season, as well as continued troubles in the livestock season, said Plemel.

Second, the Curling Club instituted its own smoking ban a few months before the provincial smoking ban, and some speculate that drove revenues down.

Plemel noted the Curling Club also had to do without their annual summer curling spiel. Around the same time as the spiel is usually held, the club was putting in a new condenser.

An unfortunate mix-up occured with the installation, as a $16,000 part that they needed arrived damaged, said Plemel. They had to send out for a new one, but it meant cancelling the spiel.

In the previous year, the summer spiel meant an extra $6,201 in revenue, which was gone from this year.

It's a fact that most Curling Clubs make their money in the lounge and from special projects, noted Plemel, so decreases in both areas hurt their financial situation.

The news was not all bad, however. Revenue from dues went up a little from $22,588 in 2004 to $22,993 in 2005.

Pro-shop sales were up nearly $2,000, and advertising shot up slightly. As well, there was revenue from the Southern Women's Playdowns in early 2004, and the New Years' Eve cabaret hosted in conjunction with the Golf Club.

"It's certainly not the worst year we've had," said Plemel. "It just wasn't as good as the year before."

Fortunately, the financial picture looks a little better for the coming year. The summer spiel is being held this month, and the Curling Club will host the provincial Labatt Men's Tankard in early 2006.

This will be the first time in nearly 10 years that Weyburn is hosting the Tankard, and the very first time since the tournament was switched into a 16-team draw.

The Curling Club will also have revenues coming from the 2005 biennial Saskatchewan Oil and Gas Show, he said.

As well, the Curling Club, in conjunction with the Weyburn Golf Club, has created a new fund-raiser: the sale of $25 cash calendars.

Purchasers of the calendar will have a shot of winning cash prizes, said Plemel. Those are on sale right now at the golf club, but Curling Club executives also have them.

In other news, Plemel said the executive is switching to seven members instead of the usual 11 or 12.

The executive includes: president Scott Paxman; past president Harry Plemel; two-year directors Fred Martyn, Fred Milliker and Danette Tracey; one-year directors Kevin Bakken and Bob Milligan.