To the Members of the NBRSA Southeast Region

JerrySharrett said:
“Taking the role of organizing a shoot” would take much more time and effort than I have right now....
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Jerry, any suggestions for someone who might be a good prospect for organizing a shoot at Kettlefoot? And a shoot at Unaka? (It would probably be best if that person lived within a 100 miles or so of the ranges.)

PS Prayers for your family.
 
Wilbur said:
Ranges in the Southeast region that may already have backer systems:

Charlotte Rifle and Pistol Club, Charlotte, NC
Fayette Sportsman's Club (maybe), Fayette, AL
Lakeland Rifle and Pistol Club, Lakeland, FL
Manatee Gun and Archery Sports Club, Manatee, FL
Rockingham Co. Gun Club, Reidsville, NC
Unaka Rod and Gun Club, Johnson City, TN

If you contact any of these clubs, you're likely to get a ho-hum response. Just don't let it end there...go in person if necessary and make promises you can't possibly keep....just be sure to smile when you say it.
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There may be some hope; here's a report.

Charlotte -- no response to an email I sent on 1/15 to the Outdoors Range Director, and multiple phone calls to 704-243-2449 go unanswered.
Fayette -- I've heard from two guys who used to shoot there and nothing sounds promising about that range regarding BR shooting.
Lakeland -- spoke with "Jack" on 1/17 and sent him an email asking for who to talk to about whether the club might have an interest in holding CF BR matches -- no response yet.
Manatee -- spoke with the club manager today; the club is not set up to accommodate short-range BR matches, nor does it have a moving backer system.
Rockingham -- I heard from Roy Darnell (who used to run the matches there) and he indicated that the club has the necessary equipment (but it may need some TLC); he will also inquire as to what the interest level might be of someone to run matches.
Unaka -- the club does not have a moving backer system, but it may be open-minded to holding matches there again -- we just need to find someone nearby who is willing to oversee getting the "stuff" together. I haven't found that "someone" yet.

So, including Kettlefoot (see post 13 above), it looks like there are at least three additional ranges in the SER that might let us hold matches. We just need to find volunteers (preferably who live close to the ranges) who will "take charge" and get things going.
 
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Fayette sportsman club

First off let me say that I am no longer a member of the Fayette Sportsman club or the NBRSA. Its been at least 4 years since I was at the range. They had 20 covered concrete benches ,a good size range house, a 200 yd berm, and several 30 amp hook ups. The covered target frames with the moving backer system was moved out behind the berm and pine trees now grow thru them, The officers decided to build a 100 yd berm half way across the range making 10 benches at 100 yds and 10 at 200 yds. I'm sure they did this to insure that there would be no more matches there. They are now a members only range. No public matches. They changed insurance to cover members only. The px # 205-932-4052 belonged to a member who has long ago passed on. At the next nbrsa match at riverbend, talk to Jonnie "reb" and he will fill you in more Also see post#10 of Steve lee's southeast region schedule. Another thing, Mickey (Rachels glen) told me before he stopped having matches. "it just aint worth it" I make a little with 30 shooters but its a lot of work and with 20 shooters I just break even
 
Jerry Dailey said:
First off let me say that I am no longer a member of the Fayette Sportsman club or the NBRSA. Its been at least 4 years since I was at the range. They had 20 covered concrete benches ,a good size range house, a 200 yd berm, and several 30 amp hook ups. The covered target frames with the moving backer system was moved out behind the berm and pine trees now grow thru them, The officers decided to build a 100 yd berm half way across the range making 10 benches at 100 yds and 10 at 200 yds. I'm sure they did this to insure that there would be no more matches there. They are now a members only range. No public matches. They changed insurance to cover members only. The px # 205-932-4052 belonged to a member who has long ago passed on. At the next nbrsa match at riverbend, talk to Jonnie "reb" and he will fill you in more Also see post#10 of Steve lee's southeast region schedule. Another thing, Mickey (Rachels glen) told me before he stopped having matches. "it just aint worth it" I make a little with 30 shooters but its a lot of work and with 20 shooters I just break even
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You said a lot there, Jerry.
 
Pay To Play

Mary and I went to a movie the other afternoon. 2PM Matinee, Treasure of the Sierra Madre, Bogart 1948. $26 for the movie and $14 for popcorn and pop. WTF I about crapped when they said instead of the usual $6, due to a special show the price was $13 apiece.

If the ranges aren't making money and the number of shooters is going down, what needs to happen?



Later
Dave
 
Dave Coots said:
Mary and I went to a movie the other afternoon. 2PM Matinee, Treasure of the Sierra Madre, Bogart 1948. $26 for the movie and $14 for popcorn and pop. WTF I about crapped when they said instead of the usual $6, due to a special show the price was $13 apiece.

If the ranges aren't making money and the number of shooters is going down, what needs to happen?



Later
Dave
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Dave, it's even more than that. This is what you have to have to hold a Registered BR Group Match. ( I know you already know this, just for those that don't).

1.First, you need a Range with adequate benches and some type of loading area. Preferably covered.
2. A Range Master. He, or she has to be there all day, both days, and know what to do.
3. A target crew. They have to change targets in a timely manner and replace moving backers cards, keeping everything in order.
4. An official scorer that knows how to use the scoring reticle.
5. A computer with the proper program to run the scoring program, and a printer.
6. Someone to run the computer.
7. Official Targets and corresponding backer cards pre numbered for every frame, every relay.
8. A properly operating moving backer system.
9. PortaCans if the range has inadequate facilities.
10. Arrangements for lunch. This is not a nessessity.
12.A scale with certified weights
13. Some help to clean up the place after everyone leaves.

And probably a few other things I can't think of.

This is why people burn out. No pay, no help, and often, no thanks.
 
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Bingo

You got it. I dont know the answere> IF the ranges are not making any money then why close the range to members for those days. and do all that work, Like Jackie, I have had to skip matches at Fayette to help run them. There is also a lot of prep before the match like numbering targets, checking backers, camper hook ups etc. If you raise match fees then many shooters cant afford it. I wish I knew the answere I sure do miss it
 
One other thing

If we would learn to run matches more effeciently like Mickey did, it would cut down on labor. Mickey did all the scoring, computer stats,etc himself. Brady called the match and Deborah and husband were the target crew. They had it down to a science. Jackie can tell you how well it was run
 
Jerry Dailey said:
I wish I knew the answere I sure do miss it
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We need more volunteers, even if it means skipping a match like Jerry has done. To modify what I said in post 17 above -- Maybe if guys in one area helped put on shoots for the enjoyment of guys in other areas, then guys in those other areas might want to reciprocate, and on-and-on.

Also, I suspect the cost of holding a match could be reduced by eliminating some of the trophies. Other than an overall winner trophy, do guys really want "loser" trophies?
 
Hunter said:
We need more volunteers, even if it means skipping a match like Jerry has done. To modify what I said in post 17 above -- Maybe if guys in one area helped put on shoots for the enjoyment of guys in other areas, then guys in those other areas might want to reciprocate, and on-and-on.

Also, I suspect the cost of holding a match could be reduced by eliminating some of the trophies. Other than an overall winner trophy, do guys really want "loser" trophies?
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Trophys are a huge cost, even the cheap one we give out.

At this point in life, I could care less about another Trophy. The brutal truth is, the excitement last about 24 hours. Nobody cares what you did two weeks ago. We tend to live for the moment.

But, remember back when you first started. You looked for that day when you would hear your name called and you walked up and got that make believe wood plaque. Nothing meant more to you.

So, we have to keep giving them out. Sometimes you don't even have enough shooters to cover that cost.

And the beat goes on.
 
Recycle plaques

Buy new stickers for the range name, event, date, ect. to put on the used plaques. Recognition is very important to the new or improving shooters.
 
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jackie schmidt said:
Trophys are a huge cost, even the cheap one we give out.

At this point in life, I could care less about another Trophy. The brutal truth is, the excitement last about 24 hours. Nobody cares what you did two weeks ago. We tend to live for the moment.

But, remember back when you first started. You looked for that day when you would hear your name called and you walked up and got that make believe wood plaque. Nothing meant more to you.

So, we have to keep giving them out. Sometimes you don't even have enough shooters to cover that cost.

And the beat goes on.
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I agree with you that at this point, who really cares about a piece of wood, BUT, the person that is trying to impress the Mrs, it really matters. So keep up the work.
 
I don't know the solution other than, over time, attract new people to the sport.

I finally, after 2 years, talked MGGOA in Dublin GA into holding a second shoot. I told them they could run the shoot with 4 people, range officer, scorer/statistician, 2 target crew. I told Matt Walker that if he couldn't find a scorer that I would agree to not shoot and do it myself.

We all need to get out and support this second shoot at Dublin if we want them to continue. It will be the 200 yard 4 Gun stage of the SE Regionals, and will be held July 28-29. I know it's going to be hot, but this is the south...suck it up and come on down!

Dublin has great camping so plug in and suck down some kilowatts to stay cool!
 
This isn't really my problem, but I'll share what I have done with the two matches I run for UBR. The cost for having 4 separate classes and three places can be significant. So, we made some changes that probably won't help you guys. But some of it could.

The trophy company we use will make "printed certificates" for a minimal charge. Also, one can find software to print certificates for a very small amount. Using the scoring software that IBS uses I think you can even print awards at the match. If you want to include frames they can be bought for about $1 each from Dollar General. And you can get certificate paper from the office supply stores. Of course, you probably wouldn't choose to do this for a big match, but for club matches it gives a guy an award that won't break the bank. For UBR matches, I order the awards after the match so that I don't have to get trophies for classes that didn't participate. For example, we don't always have competitors in one class or another, say we only have two in Factory Class. If you've ordered the awards in advance then you have one you can't use. Some ranges get a full set, but don't date them and just add date stickers when needed. For matches with say, 25 shooters, my award costs are usually around $130-140. These are awards that have the date, the shooters scores and his name. He gets it late, but it's pretty special.

Rick
 
Dave Coots said:
Mary and I went to a movie the other afternoon. 2PM Matinee, Treasure of the Sierra Madre, Bogart 1948. $26 for the movie and $14 for popcorn and pop. WTF I about crapped when they said instead of the usual $6, due to a special show the price was $13 apiece.

If the ranges aren't making money and the number of shooters is going down, what needs to happen?


later
Dave
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Three reasons I don't go to the movies anymore.

1) They are crappy stories.

2) They are most all on TV in a short period

3) Their floors are so nasty your feet stick to them.


Group matches;

1) great effort required to set up and run the target line.

2) Most all gun clubs are membership supported and he members don't like a bunch of strangers moving in for a week and taking the facility.

Solution?

Buy a bass boat and take up fishing?


Seriously, I've been in some sort of organized shooting sport for the last 50 years or so, trap, sporting clays, metallic shilouette, bullseye pistol and now benchrest. They have all been cyclic in popularity and attendance.

In the SE Region there are several one-day score shoots being held.


.


.
 
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