Bingo | Don Rowing Club

As a not-for-profit entity, the Don Rowing Club is able to participate in charitable gaming through the City of Mississauga- what we refer to as “Bingo”.

Bingo is the highest source of fundraising revenue for our club, subsidizing membership fees while ensuring high calibre equipment and programs. In 2015, the Don Rowing Club generated over $40,000 (approximately 16% of the club’s total revenue) through our participation in charitable gaming at Delta Bingo.

All members have Bingo obligations as part of their membership, either by ‘buying out’ the bingo obligation (with a higher membership fee), or by participating in bingo sessions where they assist at the Delta Bingo hall, by selling tickets, counting money, and by fulfilling other customer service and administrative tasks. Rowing club members do not play bingo at these sessions. At the end of the night, a percentage of the proceeds are kept by our club.

All full-year members have Bingo obligations as part of their membership. The number of Bingos that are required to completed during the membership year depend on the rowing program.

Programs	Bingos Required
Junior Competitive	3
U23/Sr Competitive	2
Master Competitive	2
Recreation & Fitness	2

To sign up for bingo, contact the Bingo Captain for your program:

Programs	Captain
Junior Competitive	Beate Ensminger
U23/Sr Competitive	Elene Brett -Evans
Master Competitive	Cynthia Drewry
Recreation & Fitness	Jane Ohberg

All bingos take place at Delta Bingo at 1650 Dundas Street East, Mississauga, ON L4X 2Z3. Email the bingo coordinator (donrcbingo@gmail.com) a few days before the session to confirm your attendance.

There are many regulations that the Don Rowing Club must abide to receive the Lottery Licence, and be compliant with the City of Mississauga and the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (both bodies that govern the Charity Gaming events in Mississauga). The year is divided into two license periods:

· Licence period 1 – May 1st to October 31st (licence application made in January)

· Licence Period 2 – November 1st to April 30th of the following year (licence application made in August)

We have approximately 20-25 bingo sessions for each licence period. Three months before the start of each license period the DRC has to make an application to receive a Lottery Licence. In this application we have to submit the names of all current members that are in good standing (paid their fees and are registered with Rowing Canada); the names on this list go on to become the “Bona Fide” members – and only members that are on this Bona Fide members list are eligible to volunteer at bingo sessions at the Bingo Hall during that licence period. In the past we did not adhere to this requirement very well – we allowed family members (spouse, sibling, etc.) to replace a DRC member if they could not attend. We can no longer do this – ONLY Don Rowing Club members on the Bona Fide list can attend Bingo sessions at the Delta Bingo Hall.

Again in order to be compliant with these regulations, this year and moving forward parents and guardians of members under the age of 18 will be registered with Don Rowing Club and Rowing Canada as “Social Members”. There is no extra charge for the social membership of the parents and guardians, but registration is required as a condition of membership. Only these registered parents/guardians are able to fulfill the bingo obligations of the member under 18 years of age.

Finally, each Bingo session must have four (4) Bona Fide members in attendance. If the Don Rowing Club does not send the required number of Bona Fide members to the Bingo Hall, the club is penalized, and can have future licence applications refused for non-compliance. Additionally, Bona Fide members must show up at the stated start of session to get instruction and to help with the setup of the event. Failure to arrive and/or show up results in penalties for the club and possibility of having future licence applications denied.

I want to sign up for a bingo session, what do I do?

To sign up for bingo, contact the Bingo Captain for your program:

Programs	Captain
Junior Competitive	Beate Ensminger
U23/Sr Competitive	Elene Brett -Evans
Master Competitive	Cynthia Drewry
Recreation & Fitness	Jane Ohberg

All bingos take place at Delta Bingo at 1650 Dundas Street East, Mississauga, ON L4X 2Z3. Email the bingo coordinator (donrcbingo@gmail.com) a few days before the session to confirm your attendance.

I signed up for a bingo, now what do I do now?

Email the bingo coordinator (donrcbingo@gmail.com) a few days before the session to confirm your attendance. Members must arrive 2 hours before the start of their session at the Delta Bingo (1650 Dundas Street East, Mississauga, ON L4X 2Z3) and remain until all the money is counted. This means members must arrive at:

11am for the 1pm session
2pm for the 4pm session
5pm for the 7pm session
8pm for the 10pm session

Always remember that you must arrive 2 hours before the beginning of your shift and if you are cutting it close to call 905-615- 8707.

There is a huge snowstorm/rainstorm/bad weather outside. Should I assume the Delta Bingo has cancelled the bingo session due to the weather?
NO. The Delta Bingo is always open, regardless of weather. Members must arrive 2 hours before the start of their session. They must call the Delta Bingo duty manager at 905-615- 8707 if they are running late, stuck in traffic etc., to let him know they are on their way and their estimated ETA.

I can’t attend my scheduled bingo session. Can my husband/wife/friend/colleague/kind neighbour/etc go to the session on my behalf?
NO. Only registered members of the Don Rowing Club can fulfil bingo obligations. All substitutions must be submitted (reasonably in advance) and approved by the Bingo Coordinator (donrcbingo@gmail.com).

I want to sign up for a bingo session (either for myself or to substitute for another member) but the BingoCoordinator says that I have to wait several months. What’s going on?
Due to the timing of your registration date or an oversight, your name was not included on the membership list sent to the city at licensing time and thus you are not considered a member by City Hall. Your name will be included next time the membership list is sent to the City. The City decides when they will accept new membership lists – this is not under the control of the Don Rowing club.

I can’t attend my scheduled bingo session but another member of the club who usually buys out her membership says she’ll sub in for me.
Members who have bought out their Bingo obligations may not included in the Bingo membership list that is sent to the City, and therefore may not be eligible to fulfill your bingo obligations. You must confirm any substitutions with the Bingo Coordinator (donrcbingo@gmail.com).

I’m a member under 18 years of age with divorced parents. My mom and her husband have signed up as Social members. Does my dad have to sign up as well?
Yes, all parents/guardians of the member must register as social members of the club. There is no additional cost for the social membership of parents/guardians.

I’m a member of the club and my daughter/son is a junior rower, under 18 years of age. Can my spouse and I volunteer to do their bingo sessions?
Rowers under 18 years of age must have parents and/or guardians fulfill their bingo obligations, so you and your spouse are considered proper substitutes for your child. When you are responsible for different people’s bingo obligations (in this case your own and your child’s), let the bingo coordinator (donrcbingo@gmail.com) know whose obligation you are fulfilling when you sign up for a bingo session.

Any other questions?? Don’t hesitate to contact communications@donrowingclub.com!

Rather than competing their bingo requirements through volunteering at the bingo hall, members can “buying out” of the bingo obligation. Buying out of the bingo obligation can be done in your ClubWorks account and is $100/per bingo session. Bingo buyout cost increases in September to $125/bingo and then to $150/bingo in the New Year. Please contact membership@donrowingclub.com if you need further information about buying out of your bingo.