TCA to OCA: I'm watching you

The Toronto Curling Association released a statement on the recent OCA Special General Meeting and it can be summed up in a Fockerish way: "I'm watching you."

The TCA, which was outspoken against the Ontario board after a few months of disaster for the latter, found a few positives from the meeting. First, it found promise in the new OCA Executive Director, Stephen Chenier. It also was pleased to see that the TCA, OVCA and HACA have all been invited to sit as voting members on the OCA board.

But it also pointed out some continuing problems, listing three examples:

However, during the meeting, numerous members of the OCA Board demonstrated a substantial lack of understanding of some core issues at hand. Three examples:

1. When asked if Board meetings were open, it was clear there was disagreement and contradictory responses among Board members as to who was eligible to attend board meetings. Ultimately, no clear answer was offered.

1. The Board identified several new committees, but one Board member appeared confused and unable to name any of members of his committee when asked.

1. Many in attendance were of the opinion that Board members should have recused themselves from voting on a motion of non-confidence in the Board due to a conflict of interest. One Board member explained that she felt no conflict of interest in voting to effectively retain her own position, demonstrating the lack of understanding and arrogance among board members that has frustrated the Ontario curling community.

The TCA also pointed out that while the CCA's Hugh Avery spoke and admitted to friction between the OCA and CCA, that the provincial bodies problems will need to be handled from within.

While it was good of Mr. Avery to attend and to offer a degree of assurance that the CCA and the OCA are on their way to mending fences, the TCA believes the root of the OCA’s problems have been internal for many years, and that it will require strong guidance from within to extricate the OCA from its current situation. The recent debacle with the CCA has only been a symptom of the provincial association’s internal issues.

You can read the full statement here. Ultimately, it appears those on the TCA board, which seem to have a good understanding of just what exactly such a body is supposed to do, will be keeping a close eye on the OCA. Just like the rest of us.