Board of Director’s Message:
As we reported in an email to members in October, the NH DES has
completed their testing and approved a clean up order for the Club
property. This Administrative Order is being actively enforced by
the NH Attorney General’s office, and we are being held responsible
to complete it. The good news about this is that the AG’s office
knows we have no money on hand to do this and are willing to be
flexible with our timetable. This flexibility does require that we
demonstrate a real commitment to get this clean-up done. The Board
is determined to keep our property and keep the range in operation
and growing. The key is that the members also show the same
interest, because when it comes right down to it, the Club belongs
to all of the members, NOT the just the Board of Directors. The true
test of our success will be the response of the members. Our
agreement with the AG’s office is to set up a separate “escrow
account” and put aside as much as we can each year and then do the
clean-up in phases as the fund allows. The amount we are trying to
put aside annually is $2,000. This amount is in addition to our
normal operating expenses.
We have
discussed ways to generate this money. The possibilities are;
fundraisers, raffles, sales, activities and direct donations. These
all require a lot of effort on a few individuals. We will continue
to consider these. However, we thought the best way to start this
fund each year was to ask each member up front for a donation to
this fund. With 70 members, that averages out to $30 per member.
This may take us 10-15 years to complete, but we believe the end
result to be worthy. We realize some members may not be able to
afford that and just ask that members donate what they can. All
donations made towards our “Clean Up Account” will be deposited
there and used only for that.
We will continue
to solicit assistance in funding through the NH DES, the EPA and any
other organizations that may be offering grants to help ranges and
/or help in environmental clean-up. If any member has contacts in
such an organization, please contact one of the Board members with
that info.
Work
Party Dates: There aren’t any major
projects needed this fall. We only need to winterize the building.
The trailer has been cleaned out and will be scrapped by spring. All
targets have been put in the shed along with or folding metal
chairs. We will plan a work party in the spring.
Membership: As sportsmen, gun owners
and believers in the Second Amendment, we must keep this club a
success. Membership is the real strength of a Club. We have many
financial responsibilities and everyone’s dues are important.
Encourage family, friends and co-workers with similar interests to
join.
In light of our
need to fund our “Clean Up Account”, the BOD decided that there
would be no increase in dues for 2009. What we have opted for is
further reduction in expenses. Membership applications can be
printed from the website, obtained at the Clubhouse or from the
Family Barbershop.
When you’re
sending in your membership, remember to put in your “Clean Up Fund”
donation.
Club
Expenses: The BOD has
reviewed our expenses and will take steps to reduce them further. We
have 5 major expenses each year; a mortgage, PSNH, property taxes,
heating and plowing. We have little control over the mortgage and
taxes. Our electric bill is small, but when we winterize the
building, we will unplug the fridge which will help that a little.
The other 2 are the ones we can really minimize. Last year, we
reduced our gas bill from $1600 to $900 for the year. We will reduce
that further, as this year we will be winterizing the building (no
water or heat maintained). We hope to get funds from FNRA to
purchase a porta potty. Ira Day always did a fine job plowing snow
and we always got our money’s worth. However, for this year, Paul
Painchaud has volunteered to plow for no cost. We aren’t plowing the
trap field any longer, so it will be less snow to move.
Club
Safety: Please use eye and ear
protection while on the range during shooting.
When shooting
the steel deer target, please have it facing the right direction.
Please remember to put it back in the Clubhouse.
If you are
shooting at the 100 yard bench, please remember to put out the “No
Shooting” sign that’s in the Clubhouse parallel to the end of the
building so no one passes through your field of fire.
Trapshooting: Trap events for
2008-2009 will be announced when they are scheduled. Not having our
own Trap Field at this time will require our events to be held at
the Cushing’s range. John plans to contact the Fitzwilliam Club to
see what their interests are in holding a few trap shoots.
Pistol: The falling plate target is
out all of the time for all members to use whenever they want.
During this winter (November through March), we will be holding a
pistol shoot on the 3rd Sunday of the month at the
Cheshire County Fish & Game Club pistol range. This will be a great
opportunity to get out a few times over the winter and get some
shooting in. All fees raised from our members will go towards our
club. We will start back with monthly shoots at our range in April.
Hunter Safety: Bob King will be
scheduling his 2009 spring and fall sessions soon. These classes are
conducted at the Keene Parks & Recreation Dept with Field Days at
CCF&G. For information, call Bob at 352-7339 or visit the NH Fish &
Game website.
BSA
Merit Badge Classes: We had a range
day for Monadnock District Boy Scouts on August 23rd, and
we have upcoming class room sessions and testing in November. We
will hold another Merit Badge range day depending on the need.
FRNA:
The Club has purchased our targets that the Friends of NRA sponsored
in 2008. Some of these have been used at pistol shooting events.
Others are available to members as practice targets. For 2009, we
applied for a grant to purchase temporary covers, a porta potty and
ammunition for our BSA Merit Badge program.
Archery: We do have a practice
target for archers. We are also in need of members interested in
archery that could develop our former trap field into an archery
field/range as well as conduct events.
Sportsman’s Swap: This was suggested
at a recent meeting. We would like to hold one or two of these each
year. We’ll have further information as plans are set.
