Soaring popularity meant Glacer Gymnastics’ finances stuck the landing during the last fiscal year.
The club revealed a profit of $20,434.75 during its annual general meeting on Nov. 8.
The treasurer’s report for the fiscal year of Sept. 2015 to last August actually shows a loss of $26,565.25, but that doesn’t account for an annual gaming grant of $47,000 that was received just days before the end of the 2014-15 fiscal year.
Glacier manager Steve Long said the club’s good health is a reflection of local interest in its programs and the work done by its coaching staff.
The club grew by 150 members last year and now boasts 1,009 participants.
“I think this last year is icing on the cake from all the previous years’ growth,” said Long. “A lot of those numbers have to do with casual members… so just a little expansion in the schedule and [getting] a ton more people.”
The expansion of non-competitive programs is a big part of the club’s success.
The recreational program, which the report states is now bigger than the entire club was five years ago, saw a jump of $23,000 profit, while drop-in classes alone doubled their income to $5,214.50 last year.
Long said the club is working hard to address a lengthy waitlist of eager gymnasts.
“It used to be we would just open new classes and we would go and meet the demand,” he said. “But now, that after-school time is the peak time, we’re just packed. The facility is totally full.”
Hosting meets has also proven lucrative for Glacier. The annual Judge’s Cup as well as the Zone Championships provided just over $30,000 last year, while the club’s competitive team of 84 athletes made regular appearances on the podium at meets throughout B.C.
That was highlighted by a return of 13 medals from the provincial championships and a gold medal won by Brianne Stefani at the B.C. Winter Games.
One incoming change to the club’s future at the Civic Centre will be a new lease agreement with the City of Nelson, which was announced at the AGM by outgoing president Michael Stefani. Long wasn’t ready to comment on the agreement, which he said still needs to be examined by the new board of directors, but said he was optimistic after a stellar year for the club.
“I think the finances look super, super healthy,” said Long. “As long as people are still signing up and coming to the program I think it will keep looking that way.”
