President’s Message – June 2026

President’s Message

(June 2026)

Rockford Skeet Club will be hosting a club fun day on Saturday June 13, 2026 starting at 9 am until around 1 pm. We have invited NIRPC members to join us. All venues will be open. There will be attendance drawings for ammo, a raffle for $1.00 per ticket for10 rounds, and a free lunch. Also, if you break a pink target, you will receive an extra attendance drawing ticket. Please check in at the club house to receive your attendance ticket before shooting. Come on out and join the fun. If you bring a guest, please let me know by emailing me on or before June 10 at sam.valenza@att.net so that I can order enough food.

A Skeet tutorial will be held on Saturday June 20 at 10 am. The tutorial will be basic Skeet shooting instructions including hold points, break points, and foot stance.  Members and guests are welcome.

Safety is our number 1 priority and all members are in a sense a safety officers in that if someone is unsafe, it is the members responsibility to politely correct the person that has violated our safety rules. If that person is unwilling to correct the violation, please report them to a designated safety officer (a list is on the club bulletin board) or to me and we will handle the situation.

Construction has started on our new 5-stand shooting shelter with a completion time frame is around June 12. If you plan on shooting while construction is being done, please yield to the workers and ask for permission to shoot.

On May 30 the club had its first ever pump gun skeet shoot. There were 18 participants and the high shooter was Greg Baylander with a 24 and the runner up was Caleb Davis with a 23. It seemed like everyone enjoyed the shoot and hopefully we can continue this next year.

The board has authorized the purchase of a new rabbit machine to replace the old one that is not and has not functioned properly. Also, the board has authorized the purchase of a new gas grill.

A handgun shoot is being held on June 6. You will need 1 magazine for your auto or a speed loader for your revolver. A total of 42 rounds of ammunition will be shot. The only time slot available is 11 am. 

2026 Projects

  • Reconfigure trap house 2 – completed
  • Replace camera system – in process
  • Seal parking lot blacktop
  • New member orientation video
  • Mulch, grass seed, fill and roll ruts
  • 5-Stand shooting shelter – in process

2026 Events

  • Annual meeting – completed
  • Cleanup day – completed
  • Fun days – 6/13, 8/15/26
  • Landfill lunch – 9/25/26
  • High school trap invitational – 11/1/26
  • Tutorials
    • Skeet – 6/20/26
    • Trap – 7/18/26
    • 5-stand – 8/8/26

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

George Ketter at 815-631-9366, Caleb Davis at 815-243-1483 or Greg Baylander at

815-494-7321. You will need to bring a handgun, ammo, eye and ear protection and a $25.00 annual fee (cash or check).

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 – June 2026

RCS BOD, June 2, 2026                                                                                                    

  • PRESENT: Sam Valenza, Al Perry, Steve Wiltgen, Caleb Davis, Bill Shold, Ben Ratze, Mike Buckman

1.     Meeting called to order at 5:30

2.     Minutes of May – Approved, 6-0

3.    Treasurers Report:  Approve 6-0

New Business:

  1. New member orientation video – TBD
  2. Skeet league – under way
  3. 5 stand league – under way
  4. Pistol league – under way

      5.   Water filtration for main water – completed

      6.  Ex members targets to be donated to youth shooters 6-0

      7.  Pump shotgun day completed

      8.  New grill – 6-0

      9. New rabbit machine – 5-1

Projects for 2026

  • Replace cameras in process
  • Seal parking lot –   Getting quotes
  • 5 stand Shelter – in process
  • Landscape area along parking lot TBD
  • Reconfigure trap houses – field 2  completed

2026 Events

  • Annual meeting – completed
  • Cleanup day – completed 
  • Fun days – 6/13 and 8/25
  • Landfill lunch – 9/25
  • Harley Shepherd trap invitationals – 11/1 and a possible earlier date
  • Tutorials – Skeet 6/20, Trap 7/18, 5 Stand 8/8

Meeting adjourned at 6:30

Next Board meeting July 7 2026                                                                    

Respectfully submitted – Caleb Davis, Secretary      

BOD Meeting Minutes – May 2026

RCS BOD, May 5, 2026                                                                                                    

  • PRESENT: Sam Valenza, Al Perry, Steve Wiltgen, Caleb Davis, Bill Shold, Ben Ratze, Mike Buckman

1.     Meeting called to order at 5:30

2.     Minutes of January – Approved, 6-0

3.    Treasurers Report:  Approve 6-0

New Business:

  1. New member orientation video – In process
  2. Gun racks – Rebuild 3   completed
  3. Skeet league – starts on May 13th
  4. Pistol league – starts in March

      5.   Water filtration for main water – NIRPC willing to pay for

      6.  Ex members targets to be donated to youth shooters 6-0

      7.  Pump shotgun day 5/30

Projects for 2026

  • Replace cameras in process
  • Seal parking lot –   Getting quotes
  • 5 stand Shelter – in process
  • Landscape area along parking lot TBD
  • Reconfigure trap houses – field 2  completed

2026 Events

  • Annual meeting – completed
  • Cleanup day – completed 
  • Fun days – 6/13 and 8/25
  • Landfill lunch – 9/25
  • High school trap invitationals – 11/1 and a possible earlier date
  • Tutorials – Skeet 6/20, Trap 7/18, 5 Stand 8/8

Meeting adjourned at 6:30

Next Board meeting June 2, 2026                                                                    

Respectfully submitted – Caleb Davis, Secretary      

President’s Message – May 2026

President’s Message

(May 2026)

Construction has started on our new 5-stand shooting shelter with a completion time frame around the end of May.

The club annual meeting was held on March 21. The board of directors discussed club finances, events and projects, and election results (all members were re-elected).

New cameras are being and have been installed in the club house, barn and handgun range house. Thanks to Jeremy Hernandez for coordinating this project

The trap house on field 2 has been reconfigured to allow for easier access and to limit interference with the trap machine. Field 1 was reconfigured last year. Thanks to Rob Tholin and crew for doing the work.

A new water filtration system will be installed in the next couple of weeks to remove the iron that is staining our sinks, toilets, and urinal. Club member Hal Wirtjes from Hal’s Plumbing will be doing the work.

Our annual club cleanup day was held on Saturday May 2. I want to thanks all of you that helped to make our club ground look great.

May 30 will be our first annual Pump Gun Skeet Shoot with a 9 a.m. starting time. If you don’t have a pump gun, shame on you, there will be guns available. A trophy will be awarded to the high shooter. In the event of a tie the shoot off will be doubles starting at station 2 then 3, 4, 5, and 6 if needed.  George & Sue Ketter will be coordinating this event.

As you may have notice, a lot of dirt from Lindenwood roads washes down our driveway into the parking lot causing a mess. The Winnebago County Highway Department has agreed to do some excavating around our drivewy to help eliminate this issue. This may have to be done periodically.

We have been having issues with our current bank and are now in the process to banking with Members Alliance Credit Union.  

Skeet League

Starting Thursday 5/14 Rockford Skeet will host an in-house Skeet League. The league will run from 5/14 to 7/16 Thursday nights (10 weeks), from 5:30 until done. This time is not set in stone, this is just the time I will be at the club, if you or other want to shoot earlier/later, make plans accordingly

Rules will be posted in the clubhouse, but here are the basics:

  • You pay for your own clays using your own card.
  • Cost is $25 per participant to enter the league; this covers a league ending banquet (just some food and trophy for HOA) on the final night. We will also raffle rounds off at the end of the league like we did last year.
  • 50 clays (2 consecutive rounds) a week, if you can’t shoot on league night shoot whenever you want and leave the sheet in the clubhouse for me to collect.
  • Lowest score of each 50 will be thrown out, or if you miss a week that will be your thrown out score.
  • First 2 scores will calculate your handicap for the league. To establish your handicap on the first week with the largest gauge you will use. You can shoot later weeks with any gun of the same gauge or smaller.
  • Shoot your handicap rounds with the gun you are going to use for the league. If you handicap with a 20ga, that is the largest gauge you are allowed to use during the league, if you handicap with a 12ga that is the largest gauge you can use during the league.
  • Score sheets will be in the club house to fill out, and emailed every week. Please include a cell number for text communication regarding weather and other issues that may arise.
  • Sign-up sheet will be located in the club house.

Rock Ridge and Rockford Skeet Sporting Clays and 5-Stand League

$235, includes 10 weeks of shooting, dinner at our last shoot, and a weekly shell raffle.

Rockford Skeet – 50          5 Stan Rock Ridge – 50 Sporting

      5/13                                          5/20

      5/27                                          6/3

      6/10                                          6/17

      6/24                                          7/1

      7/8                                            7/15

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 Club

2026 Projects

  • Reconfigure trap house 2 – completed
  • Replace camera system – in process
  • Seal parking lot blacktop
  • New member orientation video
  • Mulch, grass seed, fill and roll ruts
  • 5-Stand shooting shelter – in process

2026 Events

  • Annual meeting – completed
  • Cleanup day – completed
  • Fun days – 6/13, 8/15/26
  • Landfill lunch – 9/25/26
  • High school trap invitational – 11/1/26
  • Tutorials
    • Skeet – 6/20/26
    • Trap – 7/18/26
    • 5-stand – 8/8/26

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

George Ketter at 815-631-9366, Caleb Davis at 815-243-1483 or Greg Baylander at

815-494-7321. You will need to bring a handgun, ammo, eye and ear protection and a $25.00 annual fee (cash or check).

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

2026 Annual Meeting Minutes

ROCKFORD SKEET CLUB ANNUAL MEETING          3/21/2026

President Sam Valenza called the meeting to order at 9:00 am.

The minutes of the annual meeting from March 15, 2025 were read and approved by the membership.

Treasurer Ben Ratze stated that the club had a sound financial footing.  Year over year operating expenses 2024 to 2025 came within $300.  There was $91, 635 cash on hand.

Sam Valenza reviewed club projects and events.

Camera installation

Five-stand shelter

Trap house 2 improvements

New member instructional video

Parking lot sealing

Iron removal system for water supply

Club clean-up day on May 2

Fun days in June and August

Landfill lunch

High school trap invitational

Tutorials in trap, skeet and five stand

A skeet league will be organized by Jeremy Hernandez

A handgun league will be organized by Georg Ketter

A 5-stand league will be organized by Bill Shold

All members of the Board of Directors were reelected unopposed.  Sam Valenza is President; Al Perry Vice President; Ben Ratze Treasurer; Caleb Davis Recording Secretary; Bill Shold, Mike Buckman, and Steve Wiltgen, Directors. The club thanks Jeremy Hernadez for running the election.

During open discussion, Rob Tholin urged that something had to be done to address the mudslides at the entrance

The meeting adjourned at 9:30 am.

President’s Messsaage

President’s Message

(2026 March)

Plans are moving forward to build a 5-stand shooting shelter. We are working on getting a building permit and approved architectural plans. We hope to start building sometime in April. Thanks to Bill Shold for coordinating this project.

The club annual meeting is scheduled for March 21 at the club starting at 9 am. The board of directors will be addressing club finances, events and projects, election results, and will take questions from the attendees. No shooting will be allowed until the meeting is adjourned.

I was just informed that club member Harley Shepherd passed in November of last year. Harley was a long-time member and made numerous contributions to the club by serving on the board of directors and as treasurer for several year. Harley will certainly be missed. Our condolences to his family.

Skeet League

Starting Thursday 5/14 Rockford Skeet will host an in-house Skeet League. The league will run from 5/14 to 7/16 Thursday nights (10 weeks), from 5:30 until done. This time is not set in stone, this is just the time I will be at the club, if you or other want to shoot earlier/later, make plans accordingly

Rules will be posted in the clubhouse, but here are the basics:

  • You pay for your own clays using your own card.
  • Cost is $25 per participant to enter the league; this covers a league ending banquet (just some food and trophy for HOA) on the final night. We will also raffle rounds off at the end of the league like we did last year.
  • 50 clays (2 consecutive rounds) a week, if you can’t shoot on league night shoot whenever you want and leave the sheet in the clubhouse for me to collect.
  • Lowest score of each 50 will be thrown out, or if you miss a week that will be your thrown out score.
  • First 2 scores will calculate your handicap for the league. To establish your handicap on the first week with the largest gauge you will use. You can shoot later weeks with any gun of the same gauge or smaller.
  • Shoot your handicap rounds with the gun you are going to use for the league. If you handicap with a 20ga, that is the largest gauge you are allowed to use during the league, if you handicap with a 12ga that is the largest gauge you can use during the league.
  • Score sheets will be in the club house to fill out, and emailed every week. Please include a cell number for text communication regarding weather and other issues that may arise.
  • Sign-up sheet will be located in the club house.

Rock Ridge and Rockford Skeet Sporting Clays and 5-Stand League

$235, includes 10 weeks of shooting, dinner at our last shoot, and a weekly shell raffle.

Rockford Skeet – 50          5 Stan Rock Ridge – 50 Sporting

      5/13                                          5/20

      5/27                                          6/3

      6/10                                          6/17

      6/24                                          7/1

      7/8                                            7/15

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 Club

Handgun League

The plan is to have 8 pistol matches starting in March through October, weather permitting. There will be 3 different courses of fire. Two of the matches can be shot with a revolver. You will need 1 speed loader for 1 match. The other match is will require only 5 shots at a time. You can use a .22 for the league but only center fire scores will count for high shooter and a trophy. The shooting time slots are at 9., 10, and 11 am. You will need to sign up for a squad. There will be make up shoots allowed, but due to the time to set up 1 of the courses it would be best to shoot twice when we have that match. If you are interested in participating in this league, send George Ketter an email at geosueket@msn.com to sign up and with the time you would like to shoot. Only 8 shooters are allowed for each time slot.

2026 Projects

  • Reconfigure trap house 2
  • Replace camera system
  • Seal parking lot blacktop
  • New member orientation video
  • Landscape grass along parking lot 
  • 5-Stand shooting shelter – Approved

2025 Events – all events completed

  • Annual meeting – 3/21/26
  • Cleanup day – 5/2/26
  • Fun days – 6/13, 8/14/26
  • Landfill lunch – 9/25/26
  • High school trap invitational – 11/1/26
  • Tutorials
    • Skeet – 6/20/26
    • Trap – 7/18/26
    • 5-stand – 8/8/26

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

George Ketter at 815-631-9366, Caleb Davis at 815-243-1483 or Greg Baylander at

815-494-7321. You will need to bring a handgun, ammo, eye and ear protection and a $25.00 annual fee (cash or check).

Gun Smithing – Shotguns and handguns

Rick Holloway

Davis Junction, IL.

815-739-6118

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 2026

RCS BOD, March 3, 2026                                                                                                    

  • PRESENT: Sam Valenza, Al Perry, Steve Wiltgen, Caleb Davis, Bill Shold, Ben Ratze,Mike Buckman

1.     Meeting called to order at 5:30

2.     Minutes of January – Approved, 6-0

3.    Treasurers Report:  Approve 6-0

New Business:

  1. New member orientation video – In process
  2. Gun racks – Rebuild 5-1
  3. Skeet league – starts on May 13th
  4. Pistol league – starts in March

      5.   Water filtration for main water – NIRPC willing to pay for

      6.  Winter shooting rules – in effect

      7.  Annual waiver for all club members. Starting 2026

      8.  Trap shoot be named for Harley Sheperd 

Projects for 2026

  • Replace cameras in process
  • Seal parking lot –  Getting quotes
  • 5 stand Shelter – 6-0
  • Landscape area along parking lot TBD
  • Reconfigure trap houses – field 2 TBD

2026 Events

  • Annual meeting – 3/21
  • Cleanup day – 5/2
  • Fun days – 6/13 and 8/25
  • Landfill lunch – 9/25
  • High school trap invitationals – 11/1 and a possible earlier date
  • Tutorials – Skeet 6/20, Trap 7/18, 5 Stand  8/8

Meeting adjourned at 6:30

Next Board meeting April 7    2026                                                                     Respectfully submitted – Caleb Davis, Secretary     

BOD Meeting Minutes – February 2026

RCS BOD, February 3 , 2026                                                                                                    

  • PRESENT: Sam Valenza, Al Perry, Steve Wiltgen, Caleb Davis, Bill Shold, Ben Ratze, Mike Buckman

1.     Meeting called to order at 5:30

2.     Minutes of January – Approved, 6-0

3.    Treasurers Report:  Approve 6-0

New Business:

  1. New member orientation video – In process
  2. Gun racks – Rebuild 3   5-1
  3. Skeet league – starts on May 13th
  4. Pistol league – starts in March

      5.   Water filtration for main water – NIRPC willing to pay for

      6.  Winter shooting rules – in effect

      7.  Annual waiver for all club members.  Starting 2026

      8.   Website camera access – main gate  

Projects for 2026

  • Replace cameras in process
  • Seal parking lot –   Getting quotes
  • 5 stand Shelter – 6-0
  • Landscape area along parking lot TBD
  • Reconfigure trap houses – field 2 TBD
  • Setting up dues payment via internet – Completed

2026 Events

  • Annual meeting – 3/21
  • Cleanup day – 5/2
  • Fun days – 6/13 and 8/15
  • Landfill lunch – 9/25
  • High school trap invitationals – 11/1 and a possible earlier date
  • Tutorials – Skeet 6/20, Trap 7/18, 5 Stand 8/8

Meeting adjourned at 6:30

Next Board meeting March 3, 2026                                                                    

Respectfully submitted – Caleb Davis, Secretary       

BOD Meeting Minutes – January 2026

RCS BOD, January 6, 2026                                                                                                    

  • PRESENT:  Al Perry, Steve Wiltgen, Caleb Davis, Bill Shold, Ben Ratze, Mike Buckman

1.     Meeting called to order at 5:30 by Al Perry

2.     Minutes of November– Approved, 5-0

3.    Treasurers Report:  Approve 5-0

New Business:

  1. New member orientation video – In process
  2. School trap team invitational – HUGE SUCCESS
  3. Landfill rounds donation –   Yes 6-0
  4. Skeet league will be on again this year  

      5.   Water filtration for main water – NIRPC willing to pay for

      6.  Winter shooting rules – in effect

      7.  Annual waiver for all club members.  Starting 2026

      8.   Website camera access – main gate  

Projects for 2026

  • Replace cameras in process
  • Seal parking lot
  • 5 stand Shelter – More discussion once we have some quotes
  • Landscape area along parking lot TBD
  • Reconfigure trap houses – field 2 TBD
  • Setting up dues payment via internet – Completed

2026 Events

  • Annual meeting – 3/21
  • Cleanup day – 5/2
  • Fun days – 6/13 and 8/15
  • Landfill lunch – 9/25
  • High school trap invitationals – 11/1 and a possible earlier date
  • Tutorials – Skeet 6/20, Trap 7/18, 5 Stand 8/8

Meeting adjourned at 6:30

Next Board meeting February 3   2026                                                                    

Respectfully submitted – Caleb Davis, Secretary       

BOD Meeting Minutes – December 2026

RCS BOD, December 2, 2025                                                                                                    

  • PRESENT:  Sam Valenza, Al Perry, Steve Wiltgen, Caleb Davis, Bill Shold, Ben Ratze, Mike Buckman

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

2.     Minutes of November– Approved, 6-0

3.    Treasurers Report:  Approve 6-0

New Business:

  1. New member orientation video – In process
  2. School trap team invitational – HUGE SUCCESS
  3. Landfill rounds donation –   Yes 6-0
  4. Skeet league will be on again next year  

      5.   Water filtration for main water – Getting bids

      6.  Winter shooting rules – in effect

      7.  Annual waiver for all club members.  Starting 2026

      8.   Website camera access – main gate  

Projects for 2026

  • Replace cameras
  • Seal parking lot
  • 5 stand Shelter – TBD
  • Landscape area along parking lot
  • Reconfigure trap houses – field 2 TBD
  • Setting up dues payment via internet – Completed

2026 Events

  • Annual meeting – 3/21
  • Cleanup day – 5/2
  • Fun days – 6/13 and 8/15
  • Landfill lunch – 9/25
  • High school trap invitationals – 11/1 and a possible earlier date
  • Tutorials – Skeet 6/20, Trap 7/18, 5 Stand 8/8

Meeting adjourned at 6:30

Next Board meeting January 6   2025                                                                     

Respectfully submitted – Caleb Davis, Secretary