Death of a program? I sincerely hope not!

[lijeboy]

Today Glenn and I got up at 5:30 a.m. to attend a CLA match at Old Fort Gun Club in Van Buren, AR. It's a 3-plus hour drive for us. We arrived at the range at 9:10, just in time to help get the targets out of storage and set up and painted for warm-up before the 10:00 a.m. match start time. We, along with the match director James Slusher and other competitors, got them all out and set and painted, warmed up and commenced the match. We shot PCCLA and then SBCLA. We had a great time, being our first match of the season. The temperature was perfect with relatively no wind. A great way to start the season.

Meanwhile, a club member and "assistant match director" of Old Fort, who can't live more than 30 minutes maximum from the range, arrived at 9:50, got his equipment out and shot the match. This is status quo for this club member. He does it every time. He doesn't help set up or take down the targets. Ever. Consistently year after year.

At the end of the match Glenn and I, along with everyone else who shot the match, minus aforesaid club member, was downrange loading up the targets and returning them to their storage place.

I heard this club member talking to a new shooter about other shooters who had shot one match and never returned, the implication being the the program is dying at this range. And it is. The turnout is increasingly low. From our perspective, you are contributing to the death of the silhouette program at the Old Fort Gun Club. Perhaps you should reflect upon your actions at these matches and how it may impact new shooters.

Recognize yourself, Steve?

We will return and shoot this match out of respect for the match director James Slusher. He runs a great match, despite the lack of help and cooperation from his "assistant match director" Steve. But how can you seriously question the death of the program at your range, Steve?

We shoot at many ranges during the shooting season and gladly help set up and take down targets at each range; in fact, consider it part of shooting a match. But if a new shooter saw this, why would they want to return?

I love this sport and regret to see any program struggling.

My two cents for what it's worth.

[richard]

Not an unusual situation. There are givers a takers in this world. I do not know what to do about it but even the takers at least show up and shoot. People complain about no matches in their area but they are the ones that never seem to be interested in running any matches. Bottom line, someone has to do the work. Most of my friends and I do the work because we want to shoot.

[lijeboy]

Very true, Richard. We run the matches in our area. Luckily, we have a great group of guys and gals who pitch in and help.

[Jerry G]

Most everyone at TRC help set up and take down. I think there is a couple other things that drives some away;

The person that is always complaining about the way the match is conducted.

The person that is trying to give way too much advice to all the other shooters, especially the new ones.

We don't need to run the matches like we are 'drill instructors' with a bunch of new newbies and I have been to some matches that are just that.

[hermit5]

Don't be an ASS
A-arrive
S-shoot
S-skidaddle

[lijeboy]

Exactly, hermit5. As I said, we run the matches in our area and I cannot imagine standing around flopping my chops while a guest shooter was out picking up targets at the end of the match.

[ldholton]

Oh I know Steve I n=have driven like 3 hrs to same range and people such as Steve and other here that think they are special is why I built my own range and go to fewer "book " matches. I can name a few "high profile" names here but I won't An attiude change in certain leaders would help the sport a great deal. So there is no miss understanding John N from there is one of the greatest guys you will ever meet , It was great to shoot under his direction with out Tapp ing around

[glen ring]

We will shoot small-bore silhouette at Old Fort when they get the matches approved. Years ago they had a pretty good turn out there when John was involved with the program. There were several young folks shooting having a GREAT time...and only a one or two cranky old white guys. I hope john gets involved with the program again...he was a real ambassador to the sport when we met him a few years ago. We really like James Slusher, but I think he's going to take a break from shooting and we respect that. James is our friend shooting or not shooting. We will not shoot CLA at OFGC until he returns. That weekend Concordia Kansas has a CLA match at the Tappan Hill Gun Club. The folks there are VERY nice and everyone helps set up targets.

[Snake]

The situation seems wide spread. The HP and BPC silhouette programs at Bench Rest Rifle Club of St Louis has been suffering at the monthly matches. Its gotten to the point that the April HP match is no more and BPCR is down to 4 monthly matches per year.....and we have exquisite facilities and target setters who set up and reset the range. Even the SB is suffering and it has a dedicated SB only range....any ideas?

[ldholton]

yes I got ideas but they have fallen on deaf ears I can get an over load of people to my house at any time to shoot. It's kind of like the GOP they won't listen to the people and now the is a Trump card

[glen ring]

I think we are taking a proactive course of action with our matches. We don't like drama or cranky old guys. We strongly encourage any problem to get better or just shoot someplace else. Years ago I would just ignore a problem..until I heard grumblings from other shooters about a problem and I never saw those shooters again. Address the problem people and if they don't get better they can go home. I've shot Bullseye, IPSC, PPC, Skeet, Trap, smallbore silhouette and CLA. There seems to be one person in about a hundred that either doesn't set targets, gripes, talks down to new shooters or talks bad about a new shooter's equipment . We've all been there and most of us can name "that " guy / gal.

We are dedicated to cutting up and having fun at our matches. We strive to recruit women and Juniors. We try to work with problems and Drama ONCE...and then it can go home so the other 99 shooters can have fun.

The next time your "problem" doesn't set targets address it with them. The next time you see a cranky old guy lecturing a young shooter interrupt them and address it then and there.

The problems will get the hint most of the time and realize what they're doing...or they'll go home.

[ldholton]

I might just resymbol that old cranky guy which is your home range I might do a visit. got kids and grand kids that I would love to get more active in this sport . the son is even a machinist, we make lots of fun toys

[glen ring]

Oklahoma City Gun Club ,Arcadia Oklahoma. I was there with my grandson and wife today. A very friendly place.

[BCloninger]

We will shoot small-bore silhouette at Old Fort when they get the matches approved. Years ago they had a pretty good turn out there when John was involved with the program. There were several young folks shooting having a GREAT time...and only a one or two cranky old white guys. I hope john gets involved with the program again...he was a real ambassador to the sport when we met him a few years ago. We really like James Slusher, but I think he's going to take a break from shooting and we respect that. James is our friend shooting or not shooting. We will not shoot CLA at OFGC until he returns. That weekend Concordia Kansas has a CLA match at the Tappan Hill Gun Club. The folks there are VERY nice and everyone helps set up targets.

John agreed to come back as Assistant Match Director for the Smallbore Silhouette program if I would take the Director job. Backwards from how it should be, but he felt like his travel schedule was too busy for Match Director chores.

[glen ring]

Very Good. Please drop us a line when you get the 1/5 scale matches approved. We both need to get classified. Tell John we appreciate it very much.