President’s Message

(January 8, 2013)

If you are interested in running for the Board of Directors for the positions of vice president, treasurer, and three directors or want to make a nomination, please contact Gary O’Neill at 815-877-1337 or e-mail him at oneillgary@bfusa.com. Nominations are due by February 1, 2013 and elections will be held in March 2013.

Just a reminder, that the last day to pay 2013 dues is February 1, 2013. Payments received after February 1, 2013 and on or before March 1, 2013 will be assessed a late fee of $25.00. Payments received after March 1, 2013 will not be accepted.

The installation of the new remotes for the skeet fields was delayed. It is now planned to have them up and running in the next week or two.

We have been given the go ahead to install a handgun range by the Winnebago County Board. The Club handgun range committee will be meeting in the near future to discuss and plan the construction. I will keep you informed as plans become firm. If you have any comments or questions, please contact the committee chairman, Greg Baylander at 815-494-7321or email him at jaclynbaylander@msn.com. The other members of the committee are Milt Schwanke, Paul Schuler, Pat Whitehead, and L.K. Roney.  

Club Projects

• Second coat of paint on 3 of the skeet houses (one painted last year) – approved
• Paint bathrooms and kitchen – approved
• Electrical power for the 5 stand and handgun range – under consideration
• New badge system – under consideration

If anyone has any suggestions for additional club projects or comments on  the above projects, please let me know.

2013 Club Events

• Annual Meeting – March 23
• Spring cleanup day – May 4
• Silver Dollar registered Skeet Shoot – May 31 thru June 2
• Open House – August 17
• Land fill lunch – September 10
• Braggin Rights Shoot – October 5

Best Regards,

Sam Valenza

President, Rockford Skeet Club

BOD Minutes of 4 December 2012

PRESENT:  Sam Valenza, Larry Ohda, John Bailey, Sam Parkinson & Harley Shepherd

ABSENT:  Jim DeMaria and Greg Beylander

 MEETING CALLED TO ORDER BY PRESIDENT SAM VALENZA AT 0900

 Approval of Minutes of 6 November 2012 – Approved 4-0

1. Financial Report – Presented, attached by reference
2. Club Projects
   1. 2^nd coat of paint on Skeet Houses on 2 and 3 – In spring
   2. Paint Bathrooms and Kitchen – In process
3. Business cards – available to Board members who request them
4. 2013 Elections
   1. Will be done by computer, system up and already tested
   2. Offices open

                                                              i.      V.P. and Treasurer – 2 year terms

                                                            ii.      3 1 year directorships

3. Nominations – Now open, method of nominating will be spelled out in dues invoice
5. New remotes for skeet fields are here and being installed
6. New Business
   1. Updated website – check it out
   2. Elections voting test – successfully completed
   3. Hand gun/.22 rifle range

                                                              i.      Vote 4-0 to establish such a range

                                                            ii.      25 yards

                                                          iii.      Meeting withWinnebagoCountyofficials 11 December

4. Mowing tractor maintenance – Larry will take toMeridianto have done

 Meeting Adjourned at 0933

 NEXT MEETING DATE – TUESDAY, 8 January 2013

 Respectfully submitted:  Sam Parkinson, Secretary

President’s Message

(December 2012)

 It has been another good year for our club. As I do every year, the following are the events and projects that were completed during the year. Events: successful Open House, 3sucessful registered skeet shoots, Braggin Rights Shoot, cleanup day, and a steak lunch for our neighbors across the road at the Winnebago Reclamation Services. Projects: installed skeet lights, sidewalk and skeet field cement work, planted a memorial garden by the boy scouts, purchase start-of- the-art remotes for the skeet fields, installed road to the 5 stand venue, and purchased an umbrella heater for the trap fields.

 The new remotes for the skeet fields have been received and are planned to be installed in the next couple of weeks.

 Voting for BOD members will be electronic using a newly developed program. The initial test was completed and worked very well and is very easy to use. For those of you that don’t have internet/email access, hard copy ballots will be sent in the mail. More to follow as we get closer to the election. If you are interested in running for the Board of Directors for the open vacancies of vice president, treasurer, and three directors or want to make a nomination, please contact Gary O’Neill at 815-877-1337 or e-mail him at oneillgary@bfusa.com. Elections will be held in March 2013. Thanks to Gino Nizzi for setting up the electronic voting program.

 If you haven’t noticed, our web site has been updated by Gino. There is no longer a need to log in. The forum section has been deleted as it was seldom used. Visitors can however post comments. Check it out at rockfordskeetandtrap.com and let us know what you think. Thanks again Gino.

 The 2013 dues invoices are in the mail. Payment is due by February 1, 2013.

 If you have not heard, we are looking at building a 25 yard handgun range on the south end of the club next to the 5 stand venue. We have several hurdles to get over before construction begins. If everything goes smoothly, the plan is to have it in place in mid to late spring of next year. If you have any comments, questions, or would like to get on the handgun range committee, please contact Greg Baylander at 815-494-7321or email him at jaclynbaylander@msn.com.

 Best Regards,

Sam Valenza

President, Rockford Skeet Club

BOD Minutes of 6 November 2012

PRESENT:  Sam Valenza, Larry Ohda, John Bailey, Sam Parkinson, John Bailey, Greg Beylander, and Jim DeMaria

 MEETING CALLED TO ORDER AT 0900 BY PRESIDENT SAM VALENZA

 Approval of minutes of 2 October 2011 – 6-0

1. Financial report – accepted, attached by reference
2. Club Projects
   1. Painting – second coat on trap 1 and 2, skeet 1
3. Revision of membership process – process reviewed, no changes except safety officers will wear a badge indicating they are safety officers when they are on site
4. Business cards – available to board members who want them
5. 2013 elections
   1. Vice- president and Treasurer – 2 year term
   2. 3 directors – 1 year term
   3. President and Secretary – in second year of two year terms
   4. Notify Gary O’Neill at oneillgary@bfusa.com if interested in running
6. New business
   1. Mowing report – attached
   2. “Braggin Rights” shoot – attached
   3. Open House report – attached
   4. FAQ sheet should be developed for prospective members
   5. Purchase of new skeet remotes @ $600 each – approved 6-0
   6. Paint bathrooms and kitchen – Larry will do
   7. Winter shoot policy – will be restated in newsletter
7. Business of the members
   1. NRA flag to be purchased and put on flag pole – approved
   2. USflag is now down and being re-sewed
   3. Old birds will not be picked up this spring during clean-up, only every 2 years

 Meeting adjourned at 1000

 NEXT MEETING – TUESDAY, November 6, 2012 at 0900 hours

 Respectfully submitted:  Sam Parkinson, Secretary

The Braggin Rights Shoot was held on October 20, 2012. We had 27 shooters take part in this event. The winner was, as always,  George Ketter. Second place was Milt Schwanke and the third place winner was Greg Baylander. Congratulations guys. With George winning this event since its inceptions, we may have to rename the shoot and call it “The George Ketter Barggin Rights Shoot”. Great job George.
 
Now that winter is upon us the following rules are effective immediately • Trap and skeet fields and sidewalks are to be cleared of snow before shooting. Shovels are outside of the club house and in the storage barn. The snow blower is available for use and is located in the storage barn. Do not shoot on fields that have not been cleared of snow. Doing so will compact the snow and make it difficult to remove. It is everyone’s job to pitch in to remove snow from the sidewalks and shooting fields. • As always, gun cases are not permitted in the club house. Guns will be permitted, but it is strongly suggested that they only be kept inside if it is raining.
 
Thanks to Sam Parkinson for cutting the grass this past mowing season. He did a great job and saved us a lot of money. He mowed 20 times and in the past we were paying $150.00 per mowing which totals $3000.00. His total bill for gas/oil and labor was $700.00 which saved us $2300.00. Thanks again Sam.
 
The BOD has approved the purchase of state of the art remote controls for all three skeet fields. The money ($1800) for this project was left over donated funds that were collected for the skeet house renovations. The funds remaining in the donations Capital Account after the $1800 expense is deducted is $2900.00. Of this remaining balance $2000.00 is earmarked for the 5 stand/sporting clays venue. The remaining $978.00 has not designated for a project at this time. More details to follow once the remote controls have been installed.
 
A propane umbrella heater has been purchased and installed outside of the barn for the trap shooters. This heater is for OUT DOOR USE ONLY. DO NOT use it in the barn. The lighting instructions are on the heater. Just be sure to turn it off when done shooting. If there is interest, one can be purchased for the 5 stand area.
 
Trap field 2 is now operational.
 
Best Regards,
Sam Valenza President,
Rockford Skeet Club

The skeet lights have been installed on field 2. I encourage everyone to try them out., it is quite an experience. Thanks again to the members that generously donated money and time to making this project a reality. Thanks to Rich Tomazewski for coordinating the construction and subcontracting of the lights. The following rules apply
•Positively no shooting after 9 PM
•Your key will unlock the pad lock on the power switch for the lights which is
located on the light pole closest to the low house
•When done shooting turn off the lights and lock the power switch with the pad
lock in the off position
•Load the skeet machines with targets
•Log your rounds

The club held our annual steak lunch for our neighbors across the road, the Winnebago Landfill. Thanks to Jeff Theien, John Lichty, and crew for all that they do for the club – snow and garbage removal, target loading, excavating, gravel, etc. Great neighbors!!! Thanks guys.

The Braggin Rights Shoot has been rescheduled to October 20, 2012. This is a fun shoot for all club members. Twenty five each of trap, skeet, and 5-stand will be shot. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three shooters and drawings will be held for all of the entered shooters. Guests are welcome but they cannot share in the prizes. It is a fun day and I encourage all levels of shooter to come on out and have some fun. Can anyone unseat our three time champion George Ketter? Lunch will be provided. The following rules apply.
• Cost is $5.00 per man plus you pay for your own rounds. You will shoot one round of trap, skeet, and 5 stand
• Total of all three scores will determine the winners. Ties will be determined by a shoot off.
• All entry money is returned at:
o 1st place – 50%
o 2nd place – 30%
o 3rd place – 20%
• You can shoot any gauge at any field
• Shooting between 9:00 AM and 12 noon
• If you do not wish to shoot in the event, you can shoot anyway at any open field or spot
• Members only may shoot in the event but club is open to guests

It has been brought to my attention that # 6 shot shells were found in the shot shell disposal bin. Just a reminder that shot larger than 71/2 cannot be used on club property.

Trap field 2 is down for machine repairs. Please use field 1.

Best Regards,
Sam Valenza
President, Rockford Skeet Club

I was hoping it would not come to this, but I’m going to have to address this head on as I have mentioned this issue in my previous President’s Messages but some members just don’t get it or don’t want to get it. As we all know, we do not pay anyone to maintain the club other than for machine maintenance and mowing. These comments are certainly not directed at the members that help maintain the club house and grounds and for that I commend them. Just recently I walked into the club house and found potato chips and donut crumb all over the floor near the table. It was quite a mess. Bathroom waste baskets full with paper towels spilling on to the floor. One day I found finger nail clipping on the floor – gross. There are some members that think the rules are not for them. It is time for those of you that are abusing the privileges of our club to change your ways and be responsible members. This means picking up after yourselves, emptying garbage cans, vacuuming the carpet, picking up your hulls, and loading the machines. If this continues, we will be forced to identify the individual(s) by using our nine surveillance cameras, of which there are two monitoring the club house interior. When identified, the membership statue of these individuals will be brought before the board of directors for review. Again, I apologize to the majority of our members that work hard to make our club the best in the area.

One item for the trap shooters. Some members are adjusting the machines to throw straight aways, that is fine, but when done shooting, please return the machine to its full functional setting.

The skeet lights for field 2 are in process. The pylons have been poured and have to cure for one week. The lights should be installed sometime during the week of September 17. I will send out instructions regarding the use of the lights in the near future. It should be noted that the cost of the lights was funded by donations from some of our members. Thanks to those members for their generous donations.

The open house held in August was a huge success. We gained ten new members. Thanks to all the members that were on hand to support this event.

The Braggin Rights Shoot has been rescheduled to October 20, 2012. This is a fun shoot for all club members. Twenty five each of trap, skeet, and five stand will be shot. The entry fee is $5.00 plus the cost of rounds. Prizes will be awarded to the top three shooters and drawings will be held for all of the entered shooters. Guests are welcome but they cannot share in the prizes. It is a fun day and I encourage all levels of shooter to come on out to have some fun. Lunch will be provided. More to follow as the date gets closer.

We now have club hats for sale at $14.00 each. There are two styles of hats, baseball and winter knit hats. They are in the trophy case in the club house. Put the money in an envelope located on the log desk and deposit in the slotted drawer.

2012 Events

• Members only ”Braggin Rights Shoot” – October 20

Best Regards,
Sam Valenza
President, Rockford Skeet Club