Van Ess was the United States representative to the International Curling Federation from 1981 until 1991, and was on the Ladies Committee for six of those years including two years as president. She managed the United States' women's curling team at the
1988 Winter Olympics where curling was a demonstration sport. Van Ess was the president of the women's Wauwatosa Curling Club from 1976-1977, and president of the United States Women's Curling Association from 1980 until 1981. == Awards and honors ==