Members & friends of Conn River Sportsmen’s Club: Some news from our January 2010 Monthly Meeting;

Spring Tax Raffle:          We hate to preach ‘gloom & doom’ all the time, but we can’t stress the importance of these tax raffles enough. Currently, we have only distributed 85 tickets to 6 members. We have a total of 250 tickets that need to be sold. We need more to have more members step up and take some tickets to sell. The reality is that bringing in $2500.00 in dues annually doesn’t cover over $7,000.00 in basic annual expenses ($2400 in taxes, $3360 mortgage, $1000 liability & property insurance, $360 electricity). Sort of simple math… These raffles and club events are needed to fill in the rest of the gap. The options are to make the dues $150 a year or just fold it up…Every member’s support is critical. We’re a year behind on out property taxes and we need to catch up.

The drawing is 2 months away, but it’ll go by quickly. Tickets for the spring raffle are ready. A Ruger Mark III is the prize (or $250 cash). Please contact Larry Parker (357-6047) to have tickets mailed/delivered to you. The drawing for this raffle will be on Saturday April 24^th at the Sports & Stuff Swap.

We are already working on the fall raffle. We will be raffling off a Thompson Center Impact muzzle loader & scope package to be drawn at the September 25^th Sports & Stuff Swap. We will be looking to sell 300 tickets for this raffle.

Membership Dues for 2010:          Thanks to the many members that have already renewed their 2010 memberships already. Please keep them coming. Also thanks to the members that have again donated to our State Mandated Clean-Up Fund.

Attached is a renewal application in PDF. Please print one to send with your renewal. Those of you getting this in “snail mail”, a copy is enclosed. If there are no changes to your address, phone email, etc, you only need to put your name on it and sign and send it in. Please give us your email if you have one. Saves on postage.

Remember, the locks have been changed to combination locks on the gate and clubhouse to reduce the expense of keys. The combination number will be sent with you new membership card. For members with email addresses, you will get an email confirmation of your renewal. The email will have the combination for the new locks. Your membership cards will be placed in an envelope with your name on it and put in a box on the club table inside the clubhouse so that you can pick them up at any time. The lock on the gate and the lock on the clubhouse will have the same number. There is also a drop box with these envelopes for your old key.

Sports Swap:      This event is another in dire need of member support. Even if you don’t get a table, you probably have items that could be donated to the Club’s table. We will be planning the spring Sports & Stuff Swap for April 23/24, 2010. Remember to dig out your garage, shed, basement, gun room for items you really don’t need. When we have the Spring sale, get a table or outside spot or donate your items to the Club for their table.

Winter Heating / Porta Potty:                To reduce expenses this winter, we have gone to a cold building. All of the plumbing has been turned off and drained. The wood stove can be fired up when there is a meeting or event. There is a porta-potty set up off the front corner of the clubhouse (behind the shed). Please advise someone on the Board if there are any problems or supplies lacking with the PP.

On the topic of wood heat, anyone having some dry wood and or kindling material that the club could have would be appreciated. Also, if anyone has a larger woodstove than the one currently in the clubhouse and would donate it to the club, we could use it. The one there is rather small and works hard to warm the building.

Trap Shoot:        Our next Trap Shoot at Cushing’s Range will be announced when set. The next “5^th” Sunday is Memorial Day weekend and will likely NOT be then.

Pistol Shoot:      The February shoot was again sparsely attended (only 3 people), so it turned into just a plinking day. Yes, it was a bit cold, but the sun was shining.

For the February 21^st and March 28^th shoot, we thought we would have it just a .22 rifle shoot. Paper & steel targets in both slow and rapid fire from 35 yards (the permanent benches). Perhaps this will draw some interest.

4-H Shooting Activity:    We will post any further dates for this activity when they are set.