The United States Women's Curling Association
The Heart of Curling!
Membership in the United States Women's Curling Association has evolved in three ways over its 75 plus year history. The Central/Wisconsin region is where the USWCA was founded in 1947. Of those five clubs, Appleton, Wauwatosa and Exmoor are still faithful members of the USWCA.
The majority of our member clubs joined the USWCA when the women of those clubs organized their own leagues because no curling existed for them. Most of our Grand National and Central clubs fall under this category.
Many of our clubs in the Minnesota/ Western Regions also are USWCA members as a result of women curlers banding together to create their own special curling experiences. Examples of these are the Arden Hills Cairn Lassies and the St. Paul Bonnie Spielers in Minnesota, the Fairbanks Golden Heart Ladies in Alaska and the Grafton Heathers in North Dakota.
The second evolution in women's curling begun when curlers of all abilities in clubs large and small just wanted to come together in friendship and the USWCA offered not only its National Bonspiels and the United States Women's Championship, but also intra-club events and International Tours. Still, most were members of organized women's curling within their own club. And third, the advent of Olympic Curling raised awareness of the sport. It did change some inner-club women's organizations, however, the USWCA continued to prosper and most clubs maintained their membership in the USWCA, enjoying its many benefits.
The Mission of the United States Women's Curling Association is: To develop, nurture and promote the sport of curling among today's women and all youth. Our positioning statement "The Heart of Curling" supports that Mission. Our Vision for the USWCA is: To be committed to traditions of service to women and curling while embracing organizational changes that best serve its members, its volunteers, and its reputation in the curling community. Our Inclusion Position Statement is: In keeping with the USWCA mission, we seek to develop, nurture, and promote the sport of curling respecting the dignity of all individuals. As the USWCA, while we advocate for women and youth, we seek to ensure that our membership is inclusive in our discussions, thoughts, and operations as an organization. Inclusion promotes involvement and empowerment, where the inherent worth and dignity of all people are recognized. The USWCA values and practices respect for the talents, beliefs, abilities, backgrounds, and ways of living of its members. (For the entire Inclusion Position Statement, go to the Governing Documents page.)
Presently, the USWCA is welcoming the newest curling clubs across the land with women members from all walks of life who want to enjoy the sport in different ways. Some are women who have recently taken up the sport in established curling clubs that are already members of the USWCA. A growing number are new curlers in newly organized clubs.
Our history is impressive and we are proud of it. After over 75 years, membership in the United States Women's Curling Association remains the "The Heart of Curling!"