The Fairbanks Curling Club is closed for the season.  We'll see you back on the ice next Fall. Have a great summer!

Curling Pin Bistro Table Project for the Fairbanks Curling Club in Fairbanks, Alaska:

What the heck does a person do with their old curling pins?…….. It’s simple……make a curling pin bistro table for the Curling Club.

In prior years it was customary to exchange curling pins with curlers from different clubs or curling events. Pins were awarded to event winners and given to USCA donors. Pins kept accumulating. Sometimes pins were arranged in a framed display case, hung on the wall and blended into obscurity. The majority of the pins would land in a drawer or box…….”out of sight; out of mind”. In the summer of 2020, several curlers decided to take action with their pins. They covered small serving trays, wooden chair seats or side tables. The curlers discovered enjoyment out of the new curling pin covered objects, BUT it hardly made a dent in their unused pin collections. In June 2021 several retired curlers (the “Pin Gang”) stepped up to the plate (or hack) and decided to combine their collections on a 30” bistro table top (this required a LOT of pins…and they still have leftovers!) and donate it to the Curling Club. The goal was to purge “stuff” from drawers, and provide the Curling Club with a fun conversation piece. The bistro table would be in the bar area; a person(s) could sit and enjoy a beverage, look at the pins and reminisce about places, curlers, and good times. The “Pin Gang” (aka “Somebody has to do it; it’s just pathetic it has to be us!” ~ Jerry Garcia) started to locate their pins (in some cases easier said than done) and started the project:

First task was culling duplicate pins.  Pin backs were pulled or clipped off and some backs were flattened with a grinder.  A Lancaster 30” table top was ordered. The rounded rubber edge was removed and a thin black painted metal strip was screwed around the edge….it sticks up slightly to hold the resin pour. Pins were arranged on the 30” table top…..this took time! Many of the pins on the outside edge are USCA donor pins in chronological order. Fairbanks and Alaska pins are in the center, followed by our neighbor Canada. Then other US, international and generic pins fill in the rest of the space. Pins were individually brushed with Weldbond glue and set in place. A magnifying glass helped identify correct direction of some pins with small print. The next day any loose pins were re-glued. Table top was attached to a 42” Lancaster bar height column table base with a 17 .” foot ring. Several days later the table top was filled with resin (Craftsmart Clear Coating Resin 2-part from Michael’s store). The two parts were carefully mixed together and poured over the glued pins.

Tip #1: Use a drop cloth, and make sure the table is level before pouring the resin.

Tip #2: Small amounts were mixed and poured until it was even with the top of the metal edging.

Tip #3: The table top is heavy, so a hand cart is helpful to move it.

The “Pin Gang”: Susan Carothers, Pat Fox, Gayle Hazen, Ken and Kathy Nussbaumer, Becki Phipps, Margaret Rich, Jennifer Towler.

Donated Pins: Susan Carothers, Ted Cox, Pat and Denis Fox, Jeanine and Marty Gray, Hopen (first name unknown….the bag included a 1976 FCC 41st Internat’l Bonspiel button with the name “Hopen”), Robyn Karlan, Ed Krivak, Kenneth A. Murray (Sr), Kenneth H. Murray (Jr), John and Kathy Nussbaumer, Marion Nussbaumer, Vicky Persinger, Margaret Rich, Olga Steger, Jennifer Towler. (Some of the pins used were donated to the Curling Club years ago and found in the office filing cabinets.)

Thank you to everyone who donated pins and helped with the fun curling pin bistro table.

Two Ways You Can Help Support the Club

AmazonSmile is a way for our members to support the Club each time you order through Amazon.

Here's how to shop AmazonSmile:

1. Visit smile.amazon.com
2. Sign in with your Amazon.com credentials
3. Choose Fairbanks Curling Club to receive donations.
4. Start shopping!
5. Add a bookmark for smile.amazon.com to make it even easier to return and start your shopping at AmazonSmile

Shop at Fred Meyers and link your Fred Meyer card to donate to the Fairbanks Curling Club. We will receive quarterly donations based off of your purchases. To link your card follow the instructions below:
Go towww.fredmeyer.com Sign in or Register in the top right corner.
After signing in, click on your name in the top right corner and select My Account
Scroll down to “Community Rewards” and edit
Search for our organization name “Fairbanks Curling Club” or use our organization number EG305.
Select and click Enroll.

Thank you to all of the 30 teams that participated in the 85th International Bonspiel and congratulations to this year's champions, the Greg Persinger team.