TACOMA SILHOUETTE IS SAVED - PRAISE BABY JESUS

Innocent · Post by **Innocent** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 6:51 am

One other thing to consider in shotgun sports, typically they deliver an ounce of lead with each round, and with the "lead" environmental problems, it is usually more expensive to have the shotgun area "cleaned".

Yes Bob, we have the same problems with shotgunners being out in numbers at the meetings, but the truth is their expenses are much higher across the board than all of the pistol, highpwer and smallbore disciplines combined.
Mary Watkins

shakes · Post by **shakes** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 8:47 am

Mike I was thinking the same thing, open the range up to smallbore during the week and even start a benchrest comp as well. I don't think we would have to make the current stands mobile I think all they need is more of the target stands they use on the members range that are moveable and you can lay them down out of the way when not in use. We might need to do some work on the benches to make then more compatible with everybody. Dave your also right I wouldn't mind paying more if that's what its going to take, it may be a combination of the two, and if they decide that benchrest may be a good thing there even more money to be brought in. I'm sure the benchrest rest guys in the area would be cool with one more day in the month to compete. This might even take a "fundraiser" from the guys that want to shoot to help donate funds to make the range happen if thats what the board decides to take this fiasco.

Jerry G · Post by **Jerry G** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 8:59 am

Bob and Mary, I think you have hit the nail on the head. All they see is the income and not the expense. Don't even look at the beer sales at most clubs during a trap session.

I don't think that a gun club should be run like you run a private business, to make money. I believe if your club is making enough money to take care of the place ans put a couple of bucks away for slow times, that should be good enough. Gun clubs should be run to make the members happy, not rich.

Sharing a club with trap shooters has been the death of more than one rifle, pistol club.

mordecai · Post by **mordecai** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 11:34 pm

UPDATE - 04/15/2008

A House Meeting was held and a two phase plan with a budget has been agreed upon. Phase one will install the bullet deflectors and sand pits as demanded by the board. This should satisfy them enough to have matches restart. Phase two will look at other safety issues that will allow the range to be opened to the public during the week for rimfire shooting.

The initial move is to get a written plan from the RO that satisfies (a somewhat arbitrary) requirement to deflect bullets. This is set for Thursday @ 10am. The group will meet again on the following Wed @ 7pm (23rd) to discuss how to follow through with the written plan.

I've tried to keep my head up throughout this ordeal and have learned a few insights I wish I hadn't. I sincerely hope this adventure works out well for the group as soon as possible. There's a little voice that's telling me we traded one wounded animal for another though and it's going to require some serious diligence to keep from getting bit again. Without sounding sour, I'm confident that in the end things will work out.

shakes · Post by **shakes** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 9:33 am

Mike this is going to reguire more of us to be at the meetings so we don't let this happen again. I myself am guilty of not going to the meeting becuase i thought they were boring and nothing would ever happen that would affect me, boy was i wrong. I have to to start going to the meetings to cut these people (with there own agenda) off at the pass if you will. I came to the conclusion last night when I voluntered my self as the chairman that I cant complain if I dont take any action and this is what "our" range needs if we want to keep it open. So i plan on being at as many of the meetings as possible. I and my dad agree with you that there was and still is some hidden agenda and there going to keep trying to get what they want and are looking for the ripple on the pond to shut silhouette down. See you sunday at Capitol.

mordecai · Post by **mordecai** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 11:28 am

Well - cat's outta the bag now. This is the first I heard of a Pistol-Only Range proposition???

[quote]First of all, it was brought to the board

duckgumbo · Post by **duckgumbo** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 1:52 pm

How many members do you have? Winnsboro Gun Club has 38 members! We have only a total of 50 memberships that could be held at any time. Our range is a stock holder non-profit corporation. The general public in our redneck area of the country will NOT support a shooting range and that is why we have a private club. Our facilities are second to none and our smallbore silhouette range is the best in the world PERIOD. PeEll has the best conditions overall, but our range and target set-up is the best in the world according to the Australian Team.

The only profitable gun club that I personally know of is Gateway in Jacksonville and their silhouette program is run by a committee of one - Chuck Deason. Our members relish the opportunity to host the Southern Nationals every year. We have only one active silhouette member as Jerry retired several years ago and this will be my last year to travel and shoot smallbore silhouette as I have lost interest in competing. I can be convinced to travel and party and visit with my many friends that I have met over the years.

We WILL host the Southern Nationals as long as we have fun and as long as the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism helps fund the match. When that happens, we will not have a match as we refuse to go backwards.

All that was said to prove a point that you do not need a lot of members to have a successful club. Benton Gun Club is a great example of a large club that is successful with their silhouette program. Maybe Frank, Greg or Chicken can tell you how they are successful. I hate to see programs disappear for whatever reason.

shakes · Post by **shakes** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 1:58 pm

I read that last night and was wondering when the f@#% we decided on it being a pistol only range. Mike Rasmussen(the president of the club) was so drunk at the meeting I dont think he remembers what the hell went on. I'm going to that meeting and asking what the hell is going on, do you or dont you want to support the shooting sports or just rent out that damm hall and keep the bar open, hell they should shut down the shooting all together and just call it the Tacoma Social Club for Rednecks. This pisses me off so much. They dont understand that if they spent the money they "could" have a match like the CBC at tacoma and make $10,000 in one weekend, but they have there redneck heads so far up there redneck assed that they cant see the light of day. THEY WANT THAT RANGE FOR SOMETHING OTHER THAN RIMFIRE ONLY AND NOW IT LOOKS LIKE THERE GOING TO GET IT. I'm so glad I didn't renew my membership to a ANTI-GUN RANGE. I'm about ready to say F@#$ IT and walk out and have nothing to do with the A-HOLES at tacoma

I might even make the motion just to give us the damm stands and animals and we'll go somewhere else because the dont want any form of competion other than shotgun and archery to occur. I wonder what would happen if the local newspaper or news channel found out that they serve liquor at a GUN RANGE.

mordecai · Post by **mordecai** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 2:07 pm

Shakes for Pres in 2008!

Well, as you can see, the House looks to have met with the Board and ideas other than the ones we voted on have taken root.

The best (and really only) chance at working this is to get everyone to turn out at that meeting Wednesday, plead the case in the most polite way possible and probably let Blair be our spokesman - with any luck we can secure a copy of the rules by then because we'll get skewered with them, I promise.

Part of me is glad to see them show their true colors. I was betting some of you didn't believe the baloney I was encountering with the wunderkinds.

dave imas · Post by **dave imas** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 2:34 pm

this wednesday? what time?

shakes · Post by **shakes** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 2:46 pm

WED May 7th at 7:00 o'clock.

Mike I'm picking you as my Vice. You do sort of have that Cheney attitude.

dave imas · Post by **dave imas** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 3:03 pm

some random thoughts...

i had the unfortunate priviledge of being president of the board of a small not for profit during a very challenging time. We had an outside group of people with a very strong opinion about how things were being run that was contrary to the current path of the organization. their initial mode of attack was to show up en mass to argue their case. these were pretty rude and disrespectful people so it wasn't a pleasant experience but even if they had been orderly and respectful, the large presence and "show of strength" if you will, actually worked against them instead of for. the board was naturally and immediately on the defensive as anyone might with a large group of people hoping to intimidate you. after we got past the people's snide comments and veiled threats we found very little common ground and had no success moving forward.

i'd like to suggest that we might have more success with a closed door meeting of decision makers from the club with the appropriate influencers from the silhouette shooting community (hopefully club members as well.) A negotiation away from the posturing and positioning that public meetings tend to propagate. A meeting that produces an agreed upon path that is signed by all. If we have the right people in the room, folks in a position to agree to and execute that path, we have an opportunity for success. I believe a small party of articulate individuals will fare much better than 20, 30 or 100 people showing up pissed off.

that said, much of the argument must be developed prior to the meeting. mostly, what is our value proposition to the club? we have to answer the age old question... "what is in it for them?" we must have a compelling argument that states very clearly that it is in their best interest to maintain the silhouette range. It must be measurable and supportable. How many people, how many dollars, etc... how will it be accomplished? raising revenue, increased participation, increased membership, increased and positive public awareness for the club and shooting sports... all of these things can be and should be discussed. and we should have our ducks in a row prior to that discussion. an argument that basically states they would be crazy not to continue silhouette.

you can still be dealing with disingenuous people that have an inflexible agenda and aren't concerned with the best interest of the club. in that case - the hell with 'em.

my apologies if you have already done all this.

shakes · Post by **shakes** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 3:15 pm

Thanks for your insight Dave, that is probably the path we are going to have to take. Unfortunatley we had a closed door meeting with the powers that be without the public present and decided that a vote was to be made at the general meeting on weather to open it up for rimfire only on the weekdays or just to shut the whole thing down. This "pistol only range" was never discussed at that meeting. Now they have decided to "add" that if you will to the general meeting for a vote from the general public most of which don't even know what silhouette is. I truley wish that I owned 10 acres of land so I could build my own range(when I win the lottery) and invite everyone to come and shoot. I do agree that 20 pissed off silhouette shooters might do more damage than good.

Matt

mordecai · Post by **mordecai** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 3:20 pm

Dave's right.
We've tried many thing things and a lot of them in vain.

As we can see, the Board is still asking people to show up to their meetings to argue and be skewered by Robert's Rules, so their ability to be genuine is completely suspect.

Our only value to them ( and they'd relish this ) is to provide periodic work parties for the whole club, etc... They place high value on that sort of thing. Whether this was negotiated right there on the floor of the General Meeting or more directly with the House Cmtte/Board is probably dependent on how much we risk to lose at the May 7th meeting by not acting.

dave imas · Post by **dave imas** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 4:03 pm

other values...

we had tables at gun shows with silhouette rifles and targets on them. quick and dirty brochure explaining the game and brochures about the club. a variety of silhouette shooters manned table in shifts throughout the weekend.

we had fund raisers. sponsored shooters getting donations based upon their scores at fund raising matches. funds donated to non-shooting causes sometimes create better good will and more public awareness.

many newspapers will advertise competitions and weekend events in their weekend editions

silhouette was starting to see significant growth in participation by new shooters just before the range was closed.

raising prices of matches to contribute to revenue stream.

boy scout merit badge activities... silhouettes is a great activity for those kids.

i'm sure all you egg heads can come up with more...