Great Smoky Mountains Curling Club
October 21, 2022
The Great Smoky Mountains Curling Club Board of Directors is deeply troubled by the findings of the Yates report detailing systematic sexual misconduct throughout the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). The Club is concerned ever greater with the actions or lack thereof by the NWSL’s former Commissioner, Jeff Plush. The refusal of Mr. Plush to cooperate with the investigation is especially egregious. Mr. Plush should be held accountable for these actions. It falls upon the current Board of Directors to take action to remove Mr. Plush from his current position.
In this regard, the leadership of the Board of Directors of USA Curling is woefully lacking. It is increasingly clear that the board of directors have ignored calls from the USA curling membership for this accountability. The statement posted to their website on October 14, 2022, states “After reviewing the results of [the USA curling commissioned investigation], the USA Curling Board of Directors is confident in Jeff’s ability to continue as an effective leader of the organization.” However, the board has not answered any calls to release their report from this investigation.
We further stand with the members of the Curling Community who have lifted their voices around the actions of Mr. Plush and the leaders of USA Curling. We support the calls to action detailed in the USA Curling Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) Task Force’s statement dated October 12, 2022.
We must recognize that Curling is a unique sport, however concerns of like these are not unique to our sport. In fact, the atmosphere of bonspiels could become unwelcoming, and be home to situations of sexual misconduct if it were not for the ‘spirit of curling.’ Without a culture of trust, transparency, and accountability the bonspiels and community we all love would not exist. All of us have a role to play to maintain this culture from the club level to the national level.
The Great Smoky Mountains Curling Club Board of Directors,
Jennifer Dunn, Jeff Bunn, Bill Renaud, Jeff Brookins, Jodi Roskind, David Wiles, and Savannah Wolfgram
