April 6 CMP Highpower Shoot
April 13 Ham/Turkey Shoot
April 25 Club Supper

May 4 Fishing Derby (Reese Pond - behind NWRECA)
May 10 CMP Highpower Shoot
May 23 Club Supper

June 1 Dead-Eye 4-H Shooting Club - shotgun project begins
June 8 CMP Highpower Shoot
June 20 Club Supper
June 21 NWTF Women in the Outdoors (LESL club grounds)

July 7-11 National 4-H Invitational Shoot (NRA's Whittington Center, New Mexico)
July 12 NRA Youth Outdoor SportsFest
July 18 Club Supper
July 29-31 4-H State Achievement Days (Penn State)

August 22 Club Supper

Sept. ? PGC Hunter-Trapper Education course (dates to be announced)
Sept. 19 Club Supper
October 12 CMP Highpower Shoot
October 17 Club Supper
October 18 Turkey Shoot
October 26 Turkey Shoot

Nov. 2 Turkey Shoot
Nov. 9 Turkey Shoot
Nov. 14 Club Supper
Nov. 16 CMP Highpower Shoot; Turkey Shoot
Nov. 23 Turkey Shoot

Dec. 07 CMP Highpower Shoot
Dec. 12 Club Supper
Dec. 14 Turkey Shoot

NOTE: Highpower Shoots begin at 8AM. Rifles may be available to borrow. Ammunition for sale. Club suppers begin at 530PM. Bring a dish to pass. Meat and beverage to be provided. All other club shoots and fishing derby start at 1PM.
Public is invited and welcome to attend all events.

SPRINGS ROD & GUN CLUB NEWS - FEBRUARY 2002

We need you! Our membership in 2001 was only 255 - so sign up now for 2002!

Dues: $10 for individuals or $15 per family for each CALENDAR YEAR

Meetings are held the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 7PM

President - Dave Birchard (PH 814-398-2262) birch@toolcity.net

Vice President - Ron Pude (PH 814-398-9698) rsgpude@mdvl.net

Treasurer - Jim Flick (PH 814-398-2937)

Secretary-Pete Mathews (PH 814-398-4368) mem22790@mdvl.net

MEMBERSHIP INFO

Our total membership in 2001 was only a few less than in 2000, but we need to do better and start INCREASING our membership! Please check your mailing label; a "02" after your name indicates your paid current membership (i.e., January 2002 through December 2002). If your label reads "01" you need to renew. Ideally, to make life easier on the secretary and to avoid continually updating the membership role (which is a pain in the "you-know"), please try to renew your membership on or before January 15 of each year. AS A REMINDER - the club membership year begins on January 01 and ends December 31. No matter when you sign up during the year, your membership expires December 31 of each year, This was approved at a regularly scheduled Club meeting in 2001, and was duly approved by motion by the members present. (Come to the meetings - make your voice count!), it was also decided that a current year membership is required to vote and/or use the Club facilities. Members can not sign up in October or November of one year and expect to use the Club facilities through the balance of the following year. At the same meeting, the Club by-laws were duly modified to provide for a "Family Membership" beginning January 01, 2001. A "Family" was defined as a husband, wife and all children under 16 years of age. "Family Membership" dues are $15 per calendar year.

Most Recent Newsletter

We now have running water, a leach field and the anti-vandalism gates. Our association with 4H Dead-Eye Shooting Club (air rifle, archery and shotgun projects) continues. In fact, Dead-Eye 4-H members have represented the Crawford County at the state level competitions and Pennsylvania at the 4-H national invitational shoot. The big news for 2001 was negotiating the purchase of 30 acres from Wanda Boyko. The parcel (essentially a square) adjoins the rifle range to the west. Although the transaction still is in progress, we should be the owners in another month or two. All-in-all 2001 was a good year for the club.

WHAT'S UP FOR 2002?

SPRINGS GOBBLER HUNTING SEMINAR featuring Denny Gulvas will be held at CS High School on Saturday March 2 at 7PM. This new TACTICs FOR TODAY's GOBBLERS is a outstanding show; please plan to attend. Novice and experienced hunters can learn a lot from this seminar. The evening's festivities include the informational seminar with new video footage, a gun raffle drawing, door prizes, refreshments and gear displays. Get your gun raffle tickets ($5/ticket, 3 for $10).

Other events planned for the year include.....
Planning Meeting (1st Church of God gymnasium) March 7
Hunter/Trapper Education (NWRECA) March 22-23
Spring Kid's Fishing Derby - Reese Pond (behind NWRECA) May 5
.22 Silhouette Shoots April thru Oct. First Sunday of the month.
Jug Shoot Sept. 29
Dead-Eye 4-H Shotgun Project May - dates TBA
NRA Outdoor Youth Sportsfest July 13
Fall Turkey Shoots Oct 27, Nov 3, 10 & 17
Summer Picnic to be discussed at planning meeting


We are asking your input as to what should be done with the 30 acres? Options range from nothing to a walk around multi-purpose range - any comments? We also need to plan for the future. If you don't know where you are going, you will never get there!

MEMBERSHIPS for 2002 are due and, of course, we would like to see all of you at a meeting. If you have paid your current membership, the gate lock combination is above your name on the mailing label - be patient, the mailing list is almost current. There has been some confusion on what the 2002 combination is so please check your label now. The locks sometimes freeze, to get it open, hold it in your hand for a minute or gently warm it.

The membership at 255 wasn't bad - we hope see an increase this year. Recruit new members! All sportsmen should belong to a club where their voice will be heard. Hunters should also join the NRA - our "anti" friends are still at it. Gun shows are the "target" now.

The land purchase will empty our savings so we must find an efficient way to make money. Since workers are few, we need to maximize dollars for the effort. A monthly drawing has been proposed. An outline of how it might work will be posted soon. Buildings and land purchases mean expanding our ideas about fund raising. We can not be content on generating a profit of a few hundred dollars here and there in order to move the Club forward. There will be a planning meeting on Thursday, March 7 at 830PM at the Church Of God gymnasium right after the Deadeye 4H air rifle meeting. A dues increase for 2003 is also in the works. Please come and check out the 4H youth program and participate in the Planning Meeting.

PRESENT NEEDS - What the club needs most is to expand the "workers" from eight to twenty-eight. Eight guys can only do so much! A walk around range on the 30 acres is almost beyond what the present group of guys can do - we need help! It ain't the work, it's the TIME and the INITIATIVE!!

Secretaries Comments:

As a long time member of the club, I look back at what we have done over the years and see we accomplished a few things and made some mistakes - mostly due to inaction. This club was once the largest in the county with a treasury to match. We don't enjoy that luxury anymore. I think it is because other than the rifle range, we don't have many activities to offer the members. Other clubs have trap, skeet, archery, rifle and pistol ranges. These facilities bring in people and create steady income sources that we don't have. We have been relegated to raffle ticket sales as a source of operating income. Costs are up, we need to think in terms of $1000's of dollars, not 100's if we are to move forward. We can't go back to the past even if we wanted to. Our taxes, insurance and utilities eat up nearly $1000 a year!

The leadership of the club has been working hard to try to get a handle on just where the club should head. We have virtually NO INPUT FROM THE MEMBERSIP. We thought the newsletters would stimulate input, maybe even get some people out to our meetings (our meetings typically last about one hour). But, all communication has been from us to you and nothing comes back. We know there are many members that join just to sight in their rifles for deer season. Still others feel some loyalty and continue their memberships, but never come to meetings and some (shooters) use the rifle range year around. All three groups are easy to please, you are happy the way things are. I'm not criticizing you, without you the club wouldn't exist. I read our bylaws, written fifty years ago, which say trap and skeet ranges and so on will be built. Our present land holdings, although convenient and accessible, are neither large enough nor oriented so that we can even build trap, skeet and a long range rifle range (the old trap fields shot right into the winter sun). We can build a nice indoor rifle/pistol/archery range, but "will they come"? And, do the few workers have it in them to raise the $100,000 it will cost to build this facility and then maintain it? Remember, we're talking about the future here. More restrictions on firearms are likely on the way. For example, we will probably see limited use of centerfire rifles for deer hunting, more posted land, more competition from other hunters - expect the same for fishing. The future of the shooting sports may/will revolve around some type of target shooting, while hunting opportunities will decrease - it is already happening. We could sell what we have and buy a 100+ acre farm somewhere for $200,000 and develop ranges, lakes and so on. Do we want to go that way? Should we keep what we have and buy a farm and skip the new indoor range or just do nothing and see what the future brings?

Opportunities to buy suitable land for our purposes are slipping away. We either act now or forget it. Please plan on attending the planning meeting and throw in your two-cents worth. PLEASE?

Older Newsletters

GROUNDS

Many of you may have noticed the recently installed No Trespassing signs around the Club. Our liability insurance provides coverage for current members (and one guest only per active member). These signs were emplaced at the suggestion of our liability insurance carrier as preventive measure in the event of (God-forbid) an incident. They are not designed to prevent authorized members (and ONE GUEST per member) from entering and using the grounds. A Sewage Permit (for installation of in-ground sewage system) was issued to the Club on June 15, 2000. The Club is presently soliciting quotations for installation of a septic system in preparation of the installation of flush toilets and running water - won't that be a welcome change!! NOTE TO ANY CONTRACTORS...... if you are experienced in septic system installation and interested in submitting a proposal, please contact either Dave Birchard or Pete Mathews.
PRESENT NEEDS Hopefully (weather permitting and if the monsoons hold off), by the time you read this newsletter a new roof coating will have been applied to address some leaks in the clubhouse roof. A SIGN-IN SHEET will be placed at the rifle range in September in an effort to simply survey the use of the range. Please enter your name (and guest's name/address) and date each time you use the range throughout the balance of the year.

NEWS

NRA's EDDIE EAGLE GUN-SAFE PROGRAM was presented by Pete Mathews and Dave Birchard to more than 30 toddlers at the PSD Cambridge Springs Preschool just this past May. The program, if you're not familiar with it, teaches youngsters (and teachers or adults for that matter) what to do in the event they would encounter an unsecure firearm. The kids enjoyed the program, were provided some excellent NRA published activity/coloring books and learned the gun-safe motto along with the "Eddie Eagle shuffle" - Stop. Don't touch! Leave the Area! Tell an adult! The program is presently being considered for offering in other PennCREST District Schools.
PARENTS OF SCHOOL AGE KIDS....... this is an excellent gun safety educational program. The Eddie Eagle program is not designed as a gun handling program or a testimonial/membership drive for NRA. You are encouraged to contact you child's principal, teacher or PTO representative and request the program be offered in your child's school.
".22 Fun Silhouette Shoots" were held (one per month) in April, May and June. The events were very well received and successful. Although the shoots did not generate a huge profit, that was not the purpose. The goal was to provide an alternative event for the members and the public and "test the waters" for future events. Everyone who participated seemed to have fun and we are tentatively planning of having similar events this fall. WE WANT TO DO MORE OF THESE TYPE OF EVENTS BUT WE DO NEED MORE VOLUNTEER HELP!!
The 3rd annual Youth Outdoor SportsFest was held on Saturday, July 15, 2000 at the Lake Edinboro club grounds. The Springs Rod & Gun and Lake Edinboro Sportsman's Clubs once again co-hosted this event. More than 70 area boys and girls participated in several events including archery, muzzleloading rifle, air rifle biathlon, trap shooting, fly fishing along with demonstrations on ammunition handloading, trapping, K-9 police units, safe boating, fly-tying and SCUBA diving. The Clubs donated a 18-speed mountain bicycle which was awarded to _______________. The NW PA Chapter of Trout Unlimited presented a custom fly-fishing rod/reel/fly outfit to _________________. Many thanks to all who participated. If you weren't there, you missed a good time!
Dead-Eye 4-H Shooting Club With the support of our Club, the Lake Edinboro Sportsmans Club, Finck Tire and NRA, 35 local boys and girls participated in either the air rifle and/or shotgun projects during this year. Forty-two boys and girls representing Crawford County recently traveled to Penn State to compete in the 2000 PSU 4-H State Achievement Days. Of those Crawford County-ites, 14 (including 5 members of our very own Dead-Eye Club!!) competed in air rifle, air pistol or shotgun contests. (NOTE: See President's comments.) Crawford County made a tremendous showing at State Days!
Team (state ranking) and/or individual results per contest are as follows: Air Pistol - Senior (ind.) Jared Whitman - 1st Air Rifle - Junior 3rd Christine Carroll - 4th Air Rifle - Senior 2nd Beth Grinarml - 10th Shotgun - Senior 1st Andy Bushak - 2nd, Gregg Spiegel - 5th, Jeff Quinn - 6th (tie)
Congratulations to all the participants.

SCHEDULE of COMING EVENTS

State Correctional Institution - Camb. Springs (SCI-CS) Security Guard Qualifications - By prior arrangement, SCI-CS security guard personnel have requested exclusive use of the rifle range for firearms qualification purposes. A donation in the amount of $500 from SCI has been agreed upon and the group has agreed to repair/replace any damaged target frame carriers. In return the Club will issue fifty memberships (calendar year - 2000) in order to comply with the member and one guest per member policy. The qualifications have tentatively been scheduled for September 11 through 22, 2000 (Monday through Friday only) from approximately 830 AM to 1PM each day. Please adjust your range time as necessary. Final qualification schedules will be posted in advance at the club grounds.
PLANNING MEETING - SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2000 @ 7 PM at club house. Any and all members and ideas are invited. Agenda will include grounds usage and development.
HUNTER/TRAPPER EDUCATION COURSE - September 15 and 16, 2000. NOTE - Course to be held at NW Rural Electric grounds on Route 86, south of Cambridge Springs. Preregistration is required and available at Uncle Sam's Trading Post, Hendrickson's True Value Hardware and Laura'a Barbershop.
FUN .22 SILHOUETTE SHOOT - Sunday, September 17th TENATIVE DATE following HTE Course?
MILK JUG SHOOT We will have a jug shoot for centerfire rifles/handguns on Sunday, October 22, 2000 at 1PM. There will be fun and prizes for all. Off-hand rifle targets will be water-filled milk jugs @100 yards; pistol targets @ 50 yards. Bring your shooting iron and have some fun. Juniors are welcome; those under 14 can shoot from the bench. TURKEY SHOOTS - October 15, October 29 and November 12, 2000 @ 1PM.
ELECTION DAY - TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7th!!
The DEAD-EYE 4-H SHOOTING CLUB will likely have a kick-off meeting in mid-January for the air rifle project. TENATIVE plans include for a shotgun, air pistol and possibly archery projects for 2001. Any boys and girls interested in participating are encouraged to attend. Stay tuned for details!

PRESIDENT'S EDITORIAL.........

I feel the Springs Rod & Gun Club is at a critical crossroads. The Club needs to grow with the times and the regional community in order to survive and thrive in the future. As you may have read already, we have made some modifications to the by-laws to provide for family memberships. I feel this may be an important step to encouraging Club participation by Moms and the kids. The addition of planned rest rooms should also make visiting the club grounds much more pleasant for all. As you may have noted, we are trying to provide a positive experience for youth and adults of the community in the form of the Youth Outdoor SportsFest, 4-H Shooting Club, etc. The youth of the area are the next generation of Club members. They are also the future sportsmen and sportswomen, whether trout fisherman, trapper, trap shooter or archer. During the recent PSU 4-H State Achievement Days, I was encouraged to see that the shooting sports programs' (archery, smallbore rifle, air rifle/pistol, shotgun) participants comprised nearly 20% of the total 4-H participants. For those of you who either missed or opted to not get involved with the recent Sportsfest or 4-H club project, you missed some great events! We have sponsored different events (fishing derby, Fireman's Carnival Shooting Booth, 4-H club support, 22-fun shoots, milk jug shoot, etc.). These are an excellent effort in providing some variety of activities for the community (both existing and potential members). However, we really need to plan for the next five years, not the next five months. For nearly two years, we have half-heartedly discussed the construction of an indoor range/multi-purpose building and/or expansion of rifle range. Such a building would have terrific potential for fund raising events, consistent income and a home for the 4-H shooting club, among other groups. And as indicated earlier, we might also consider leasing/purchasing grounds in order to accommodate a high-power rifle or silhouette range. Regulations are only going to become more stringent in the future for range placement and operation. Serious consideration needs to be given to either developing the present facilities or development elsewhere. Preliminary research is be conducted into holding the annual fishing derby at an alternate location which would be not only better suited for year-round fish survival but might eleviate the pond - rifle range safety issue. These issues require serious discussion (by any and all members) and action. The Club's Planning Committee has been hibernating but a meeting has been scheduled for Sunday, September 7 at 7PM. Please try to attend. We really need membership input on these decisions that will dramatically influence the future of the club. If you can take time to participate or offer ideas, please do not complain about future decisions made by those members which did vote. And finally, all eligible voters need to register (if you're not already) and get to the polls on November 7th! VP Al Gore is running full steam ahead on the anti-gun plank fueled by the present anti-gun Presidential administration. If the more than 80 million gun owners in America would vote simply pro-gun, a significant statement would be made to all. In addition, the next President will also appoint three supreme court justices. Remember these are the folks that decide whether their interpretation of the Second Amendment means we can own firearms! Many of you may say, why not provide the BATF folks with the serial numbers of all my guns? Well, think about it, all you've done is added to a database of names and addresses of other law-abiding gun owners. If you feel that is no big deal, get ready for the knock on the front door when they come to take your guns. Don't try to kid yourself with the comment, "well, let 'em try to take em". I doubt you'll be able to offer much resistance. Many California residents provided the state government serial numbers for their SKS and AK-47 rifles which were promptly collected with no compensation. Further, sportsmen in California can not even legally own a Remington 1100 or 11-87 (or equivalent) semi-auto shotgun! Don't be so naive to think it can not happen here. Gun control will most certainly continue to be a hot topic in the months to come before the general election. By all means, register and vote in the upcoming general election. Similar to our Planning Committee, If you don't vote in the upcoming election, don't complain about the outcome. Also, keep the pressure on your legislators and, please, consider joining or renewing your National Rifle Association membership. Whether you agree with all the NRA's policies or not, they are working hard to protect our 2nd Amendment rights. I have enclosed a copies of two articles recently printed in The Blue Press, a catalog and information guide offered by Dillon Precision Products, Inc. (NOTE: By the way, the folks offer tremendous equipment and technical support to many shooting development programs such as Boy Scouts, 4-H, American Legion, etc.) The articles, reprinted by permission, essentially lay out this whole issue for you to consider. If the first article somewhat offensive, think how offended you might be when Big Brother comes knocking for your guns.
Thank you.

- detach here -

Springs Rod & Gun Club MEMBERSHIPS are available at the following sponsoring locations:

John's Barbershop (Camb. Spgs.) ... Hendrickson's True Value Hardware (C.S.)

Finck Tire, Inc. (Camb. Spgs.) ... Uncle Sam's Trading Post (Edinboro)

OR COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION AND FORWARD APPLICATION ALONG WITH MONIES

NAME (Print)

NRA MEMBER ... yes ... no

ADDRESS

PHONE

PETE - Shoud we try to include some sort of survey regarding proposed development or do you think it would be a waste of time?

SPRINGS ROD & GUN CLUB NEWSLETTER - Winter 2001

NRA Eddie Eagle Gun Safety Program - During 2000, club members and other volunteers visited eight different schools in the area and presented this important message to more than 1100 students in pre-school through grade three. In case you're not familiar with the program, Eddie Eagle's purpose is not to teach whether guns are good or bad, but rather to promote the protection and safety of children. The program does not involve gun handling. Just as children learn to "stop, drop and roll" for fire safety, Eddie Eagle teaches them not to play with unsecured firearms with a simple, memorable four-part plan: "Stop! Don't Touch. Leave the Area. Tell an Adult". Eddie Eagle is roosting right now for a needed rest but you'll surely see him around in 2001! If Eddie Eagle did not visit your child's school, contact you child's principal, teacher or PTO representative and request the program be offered in your child's school. This is a necessary and worthwhile program!!

Upcoming 2001 ACTIVITIES

HUNTER-TRAPPER EDUCATION Two courses will be offered this year. Exact dates have not been established; spring course will likely be in late March or early April. Please watch for flyers posted locally or the Meadville Tribune for more details. Registration information will be available at Hendrickson's Hardware no sooner than 30 days prior to the course.
4-H SHOOTING CLUB KICKS OFF With the financial support of the Club and other groups/vendors, the DEAD-EYE 4-H SHOOTING CLUB fired up again in January 2001. This year's club included air rifle, air pistol and archery project. Club volunteers are Bob Grinarml, Don Meyers, Pete Mathews, Paul Martinson, Jim Jones, Jim Flick, Joe Shrader and Dave Birchard. Other instructors and 4-H volunteers are encouraged to allow the program to expand. Some of these youth may be the rekindling of an active Junior Club! It's not to late to sign your child. Archery club meets Monday evenings; air rifle and air pistol meet Thursday evenings. Phone any officer for details. Last year, club members represented Crawford County at Penn State days placing 2nd overall in Sr. Air Rifle and 1st in Sr. Shotgun competition. We need more volunteer leaders and instructors.
Annual KID's FISHING DERBY This year we are departing from our typical fishing derby format. The derby will be held on Sunday, April 29, 2001. THE DERBY WILL BE HELD AT REESE'S POND LOCATED ON ELECTRIC DRIVE, IMMEDIATELY BEHIND NW RURAL ELECTRIC BUILDING. The derby will try to replicate a more realistic fishing experience for the youngsters as opposed to the typical put-and-take approach of the past. This shift in venues also avoids the problem of non-carryover of trout in our pond during the dry summer months. The derby is being chaired by Ron Rude.
SPRINGS ROD & GUN CLUB to Co-HOST 4th ANNUAL YOUTH SPORTSFEST - The Springs R&G and Lake Edinboro Sportsman's Clubs will once again be co-hosting an NRA sponsored Youth Outdoor SportsFest in July 2000. The purpose of the NRA sponsored event is to introduce the participants to shooting sports, hunting/trapping and other outdoor sports. Last year's event was a great success but we need your help - contact Dave Birchard if you can help (814 398 2262). Please offer your talents!
.22 Rimfire FUN SHOOT! Stay tuned…they'll be scheduled and advertised soon.
PLANNING MEETINGS Meetings are held at 7PM the Club on the Monday prior to the regular monthly meeting, unless otherwise noted. The purpose of the meeting is essentially a mini-work and brainstorming session to help with the direction of the Club and also prepare an agenda for the forthcoming meeting. All members are encouraged to attend and offer input.

OTHER TOPICS

Club facts Oldest continuous membership - 54 years!! Donald Martin
MEMBERSHIPS Our membership for the year 2000 was 237 members. However, it took nearly the full year to reach this number. Many people seem to subscribe to the cyclic membership plan, that is, they seem to buy one every other year or so. We encourage everyone to renew their membership on or before January 15 of the following year. It certainly makes life easier on the secretary and also keeps members more informed. Please check the mailing label on your envelope; a "00" after your name indicates your paid current membership (i.e., January 2000 through December 2000). If your label reads "00" you may need to renew. Some of you may even be receiving a newsletter even though you were only current as a 1999 member. Please renew! This will be your last newsletter unless you renew for 2001! AS A REMINDER - the club membership year begins on January 01 and ends December 31. No matter when you sign up during the year, your membership expires December 31 of each year. Members can no longer sign up in October or November of one year and expect to use the Club facilities through the balance of the following calendar year. Family Memberships are available beginning January 01, 2001. Family memberships due are $15/year for a husband, wife and all children/guardians under 16 years of age.
National Rifle Association GRANT MONIES NRA has provided grant monies exceeding more than $7000 to our Club and the 4-H Club since 1998. The Club has already purchased its own training firearms and other equipment thanks to grant monies provided by NRA. Other equipment for use with the HTE course and SportsFest has also been purchased. We expect more monies to be issued for 2001 in order to support the SportsFest and 4-H projects. Once again, I know many of you that do not agree with all the things the NRA expounds, however the NRA is the only national organization of its kind working to protect and preserve our Second Amendment rights. If you're not a card-carrying member, PLEASE consider joining or renewing your NRA membership! And sign up a friend or family member!!!!! If you wait, it may be too late. Do not be so naive to think that it cannot happen to us! The anti-gunners and anti-hunters are rolling!!!! In the near future, the Club will be selling NRA yearly memberships for $25/yr with a $10 rebate (per membership) being returned to our treasury by NRA. Stay tuned!!

LOST AND FOUND - at rifle range

FOUND - Tan Rifle Case ~ Sept. 01. Contact Hank Steadman @ 814 734 4122. LOST - Spotting Scope Nov. 26. REWARD - Contact S. Sanderson @ 440 942 7475 or any club officer

GROUNDS

SEPTIC SYSTEM: Hilltop Excavating of Cambridge Springs was awarded the project to install the inground on-lot septic system. Work should be completed in early 2001, whether permitting. Following installation, plans include connection of the water well to one or more water hydrants in order to at least provide running water. Full-scale rest room facilities will be postponed until future building plans can be finalized.
POTENTIAL ADDITIONAL LAND PURCHASE The Club has been contacted by our neighbor, Mrs. Wanda Boyko, about purchasing a portion of the Boyko farm property which abuts the Club grounds to the west and south. The Boyko property is presently been professionally appraised and we are attempting to determine our exact property boundaries. The complete details of the potential deal are much too complicated for this newsletter. You'll just have to attend the upcoming Planning Meetings and regular meetings! Action will likely be taken on this issue in the next six months.
INDOOR RANGE We have been discussing the construction of an indoor smallbore/air rifle/pistol/archery range. Many of the Club members feel such a building would have terrific potential for fund raising events, consistent income and a home for the 4-H shooting club, among other groups. This project has been placed on temporary hold while we work out financial details of the potential land purchase. We are still considering the project, however, a lot of planning and fund raising will be required.
RIFLE RANGE ... the good, the bad and the ugly The good.. As previously indicated, the Club's range saw some significant usage not only by individual Club members, but by other scheduled Club events and the local community. An informal sign-in survey was conducted from September through December. Although we had many "repeat customers", the sign-in sheet included nearly 160 entries during that time period. However, we likely had many more range users that simply did not sign in or were non-members. The informal survey also indicated that nearly one half of the members brought a guest with them…food for thought… The bad.. Like never before, the range recently fell victim to serious vandalism. For example, on more than one occasion, rifled slugs, small caliber rifle bullets and shotshells were fired both indiscriminately and deliberately into upright support posts, advertising posters, wall boards, etc. Several of these rounds were obviously fired to the north and east, directly toward neighboring residences, busy Rt. 99 and the clubhouse. One can only imagine the potential tragedy that could have occurred? The most serious incidents appear to have occurred on or about October 19, 2000. The ugly.. Presumably at the same time as some of the vandalism, the perpetrators bothered to write some very derogatory comments on the range survey forms.

PRESIDENT'S EDITORIAL

Happy New Year and welcome to the new millennium (yeah, I am of the school that actually starts counting with 1, not 0). Anyway, as you may have read, the Club has been busy during the past year. We have made some membership changes to encourage Club participation by Moms and the kids. We are also continuing to provide a positive experience for youth and adults of the community in the form of the Youth Outdoor SportsFest, 4-H Shooting Club, Eddie Eagle programs, range events, etc. The youth of the area are the next generation of Club members. For those of you who either missed or opted to not get involved with the recent Sportsfest or 4-H club project, you missed some great events! I must say, many of us were disgusted with the vandalism at the rifle range. Since we all know everyone who uses the range is a member and/or guest (yeah right!), we must have some very slobbish members. This can not continue or drastic changes will be result. Those members present at recent meetings discussed two possible proposals to help prevent this in the future. These options include Gate Installation and altering Facility Use Policy. Specifically, the membership is giving serious consideration to the construction of a locked gate at the entrance to the Club grounds. As with any lock and gate, their purpose ends up inconveniencing the innocent in an effort to prevent the unnecessary vandalism. Our thoughts are that the gate would prevent easy access, via automobile (to the range area), to those individuals intent on causing vandalism or worse. As for the Facility Usage, I believe the time has come where the Club Grounds will be open to card carrying members only, thereby removing the Member/Guest privilege. As the informal range survey statistics show, nearly one half of the range users brought one (or more) guests. I doubt the $10 yearly dues will strap anyone. Further, I doubt you'll find a better bargain anywhere in the region. When you use the range, help the other paid members. Introduce yourself as you encounter other users and inquire whether they are current members! As an aside, as they say, your mother does live here, please clean up after yourself at the range. We are still need input and are working, ever so slowly, on a long range plan for the Club. At the December meeting, the officers from 2000 were re-voted into another term for 2001. In fact, the Club elected officers before America could decide on a new President! As for the grounds, proposed future improvements include the addition of rest rooms should also make visiting the club grounds much more pleasant for all. For nearly two years, we have half-heartedly discussed the construction of an indoor range/multi-purpose building and/or expansion of rifle range. Such a building would have terrific potential for fund raising events, consistent income and a home for the 4-H shooting club, among other groups. This project is sort of on hold with the possible land acquisition, however, it is not dead. With the help of a PSU Behrend College group, hopefully we will be able to conduct an impartial feasibility study in order to collect some usable data as to who will use the range and project operation and maintenance costs. Many other issues still remain that require input from the membership…more than just the same six or eight members that we see ever month! Meetings are typically less than one hour. How about getting involved? In order to encourage meeting attendance, maybe we could implement a monthly cash drawing with an attendance requirement? Many thanks to those of you that do get involved. Thanks, also, to our membership sponsoring locations.