2024 Annual meeting minutes

Rockford Skeet Club Annual Meeting
3/23/2024

President Sam Valenza called the meeting to order at 9 am.

The minutes from the 2023 annual meeting were reviewed and approved by the
members present.

Dave Zierke , treasurer presented the financial position of the club for 2023.
As of 12/31 /2023 the cash assets totaled $69,455.
Gross income for 2023 was $65,393 while expenses were $75,805.*
Net income showed a deficit of $10,413. This included maintenance cost to the parking
lot and repair from storm damage to trees on the property of approximately $8,000.
● Increases were highlighted in the following expenditures last year
● Targets up by 12%, Insurance up by 38%, Accounting up by 14%

Accordingly, the 2024 budget was presented as approved by the board. It provides for
expenditures based on 2023 actual expenses as well as installation of a target
management system discussed below.

The current cash assets of RSC are $97,103 as of 3/23/2024

Club Projects were discussed.
A card reader target management system will be installed at a general cost of $15,000.
A committee has researched the systems available and would expect about a 20%
savings in unaccounted for targets thrown. The system will allow for each member to
have a unique digital card with a running total of paid for rounds. Systems were
discussed to allow for broken targets and malfunctions.

The chair solicited input and comments from the members present. A consensus was
reached that implementation of a system was in the club’s best interest, and that the
technology as used by members at other locations they shoot at is not difficult to use.

The skeet houses are in need of repair from water damage to the siding. This is
pending and scheduled as weather permits.

The website update is in progress.

2024 events were presented.
Spring cleanup day: 5/28/24
Fun Days: 6/8/24 and 9/7/24 will include invitations to NIRPC and Cathedral Baptist
Venue tutorials: Trap 6/15/24 Skeet 7/13/24 5 stand 8/17/24
Landfill lunch date is 9/20/24

New Business
2024 election results: Sam Valenza elected to 2 year presidency
Caleb Davis elected secretary
Mike Buckman, Steve Wiltgen, Bill Shold board members

Rounds price will increase from $5 to $6 beginning May 1, 2024. Discussion ensued
highlighting two consecutive years of cost increases absorbed by the club prompting the
increase. Competitive bids are used for purchasing targets.

Water supply to the club was accidentally severed by work crews along Lindenwood
Road. The club has been furnished portable toilets, hand wash stations, and will get a
temporary water tank provided as a result. The club will also be provided with a new
850 foot well in the May 2024 timeframe. NIRPC as landowner is finishing the legal
documents. The club has not incurred any expense from the interruption of water
supply.

Cathedral Baptist trap team will again use the club facilities for the spring competitive
season. A sign identifying RSC as their home range will be displayed. The club has
donated money to be used for team jerseys. Members at large are encouraged to make
voluntary donations to the youth shooting sports.

Dave Zierke has contacted several other area high schools who may be interested in scholastic shooting teams. Rockford University has also been contacted. President Valenza noted that the youth demographic as well as their parents is a focus of membership efforts.

The club will be offering club hats and club shirts for sale during 2024.

Leagues are being offered in pistol (Starting 3/30) and 5 stand/sporting clays (Starting
5/15) George Ketter and Bill Shold are heading up the leagues respectively.

The meeting was opened for general discussion and questions.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:52 am.

Respectfully submitted,
Bill Shold as acting secretary

President’s Message – March 2024

President’s Message

(March 2024)

A work crew along Lindenwood road has broken our water line to the club house. Therefore, we will not have a working water line to our club for 2-3 weeks. The company has installed porta potties and hand washing stations. One station is located near the club house and the other is located by the storage barn. Please do not use the club house bathroom until water service is restored.

The remote for skeet field 2 is still missing. If you were out to the club on February 29 and/or March 1 and shot on skeet field 2, please check your shooting bags, shell pouches, and vehicles for the missing remote. If found, return it to the club ASAP and notify me at 815-721-1417 or email me at sam.valenza@att.net. A spare remote is now functional on skeet field 2.

A handgun league will start on Saturday March 30. If you have any interest in participating, please contact George Ketter at geosueket@gmail.com.

Also, a 5-stand/sporting clays league between our club and Rock Ridge is being formed by Bill Shold. See below for information and schedule.

Rock Ridge and Rockford Skeet Sporting Clays and 5-Stand League $225, includes 10 weeks of shooting, dinner at our last shoot, and a weekly shell raffle.

Rockford Skeet – 50 5 Stand: 5/15, 5/29, 6/12, 6/26, 7/10

Rock Ridge – 50 Sporting: 5/22, 6/5, 6/19, 7/3, 7/17

Rock Ridge: 14755 E Edson Road, Davis Junction

Rockford Skeet: 8104 Lindenwood Rd, Rockford

Top 8 scores will be taken, allowing for 2 missed weeks or 2 throwaway scores. Shooting every Wednesday night beginning at 5 from May until July. We will have a random drawing of 50 shells for shooters in attendance each week. To sign up, contact Andrew (815-382-1232) at Rock Ridge or Bill (815-978-8686) at Rockford Skeet

At this time, we don’t have any volunteers to run a trap league. If you are interested in running a trap league, contact me at sam.valenza@att.net.

Twilight Tuesday skeet will start April 16 at 7 pm. Come out and enjoy a couple of casual rounds of skeet under the lights. Low key and open to all ability levels. All shooting ends by 9 pm. Invite your friends for the first and third Tuesday of the month. Heck, why not invite a prospective new member?

The Cathedral Baptist High School trap team will be shooting at our club on Tuesday’s starting April 2 through May 28 and on Thursdays starting April 18 through May 30 from 4 to 6 pm. Therefore, the trap fields will not be available to club members on these dates and times.

Our lawn crew is in need of a couple more helpers, if you are interested in joining this team, contact Steve Wiltgen at 815-761-3531 for more information. Please consider as we need the help.

Since my last message regarding bringing in professional shooting instructors for our various venues, very little interest has been shown. Therefore, we will not pursue this any further at this time.  

The annual meeting is rescheduled for March 23 at the club starting at 9 am. No shooting will be allowed until the meeting is adjourned.

As a reminder, please turn the furnace down to 60 degrees if you are the last to leave the club.

If anyone is interested in getting certified for the handgun range, please contact Milt Schwanke at

815-988-2278, George Ketter at 815-631-9366, Caleb Davis at 815-243-1483, or Dan Gengo at 815-572-1423. You will need to bring a handgun, ammo, eye and ear protection and a $25.00 annual fee.

2024 Projects

  • Install card readers
  • Repair skeet houses

2024 Events

  • Annual meeting – 3/23/2024
  • Cleanup day – 5/18/2024
  • Fun days – 6/8/2024, 9/7/2024
  • Tutorial – trap 6/15/24, skeet 7/13/2024, 5 stand 8/17/24
  • Landfill appreciation lunch – 9/20/24

Remember gun safety is our number 1 priority.

Rockford Skeet Club Mission Statement

The Rockford Skeet Club’s mission is to promote clay target shooting and complementary shooting sports. The objectives are to promote those characteristics of honesty, good fellowship, self-discipline, team-play, and self-reliance which are the essentials of good sportsmanship. It is the duty of all members to contribute to the wellbeing, to protect, to grow, and to enhance the club and its membership.

Best Regards,

Sam Valenza

President, Rockford Skeet Club

BOD Meeting Minutes – March 2024

RCS BOD, March 5th, 2024                                                                                                     

  • PRESENT:  Sam Valenza, Al Perry, Bill Shold, Steve Wiltgen, Caleb Davis, Mike Buckman, Dave Zierke
     Todd Hendreys

1.     Meeting called to order at 5:30 by President Sam Valenza

2.     Minutes of February 2024 – Approved, 6-0

3.    Treasurers Report:  Approved, 6-0

4.    2024 budget – Passed as changed 6-0

New Business:

  1. Club hats – yes 6-0  
  2. Gun raffle in spring.    Getting tickets made
  3. Shooting lessons – No
  4. Target price increase – getting quotes
  5. Club ammo for events – yes 4 cases

Projects for 2023

  • Card reader systems – In the budget for 2024
  • Repair skeet houses – Jay Schaack

2023 Events

  • Spring cleanup – 5/18
  • Fun days – 6/8 and 9/7
  • Landfill lunch – 9/20     
  • Venue Tutorials, Trap 6/16, Skeet 7/13, 5stand 8/17
  • Annual meeting – 3/23

Meeting adjourned at 6:30

Next Board meeting April 2   2024                                                                     

Respectfully submitted – Caleb Davis, Secretary