President’s Message

(January 2024)

A new club house phone service has been installed. The phone number remains the same.

A committee will be formed to visit local private high schools this spring to investigate the possibility of any interest in forming trap, skeet, or 5 stand teams to participate in the Illinois high school shooting leagues. These teams will be modeled on the Cathedral Baptist High School team that currently uses our club as their home base. If you have any suggestions or contacts for area schools, please let me know.

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 – 3/9/2024
• 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

RCS BOD, January 16, 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 December 2023 – Approved, 6-0

3.    Treasurers Report:  Approved, 6-0

New Business:

1. Change phone to VOIP – Completed  
2. Gun raffle in spring
3. Shooting lessons – TBD  

Projects for 2023

• Card reader systems – TBD
• Repair skeet houses

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 – 3/9

Meeting adjourned at 6:30

Next Board meeting February 13^th   2024                                                                     

Respectfully submitted – Caleb Davis, Secretary       

RCS BOD, October 5, 2023                                                                                                      

• 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 November 2023 – Approved, 6-0

3.    Treasurers Report:  Approved, 6-0

New Business:

1. Combine waiver with guest logbook.   Completed
2. Membership committee, working on new ideas
3. New member orientation, 1^st and 3^rd Saturday of the month
4. Tree removal – Completed 
5. gutter guards – Completed
6. Increase dues for 2024 – Yes 6-0
7. Change phone to VOIP – 6-0
8. Update application – yes
9. Gun raffle in spring  

Projects for 2023

• Card reader systems, looking into for next year
• Seal coat parking lot – 6-0      Completed
• Handgun heater fixed

2023 Events

           Spring cleanup – Completed

• Fun days – Completed
• Landfill lunch – Completed     
• Venue Tutorials, Completed

Meeting adjourned at 6:30

Next Board meeting January 9, 2023                                                                       

Respectfully submitted – Caleb Davis, Secretary       

President’s Message

(December 2023)

The club had another good year. The following are some of the projects completed: new skeet and trap lights installed, fallen tree removal, parking lot seal coated, fixed handgun range heater, new furnace, installed Wi-Fi, and installed gutter guards on the club house. The following are the events completed: spring cleanup, trap/skeet/5-stand tutorials, two fun days, annual meeting, and the landfill appreciation lunch.

The invoices for the 2022 membership due will be mailed out in the next few days. Payment has to be received by February 1, 2022 in order to continue your membership. Payment received after February 1, 2022 will not be accepted. In order to be reinstated, a new membership application will be required with a check for $200.00.

The Northern Illinois Rifle and Pistol Club will be doing work this coming Saturday, December 9, at their front entrance gate from 9 am to 1 pm. Therefore, trap shooting will not be allowed during these work hours.  

The club house phone is not working and we have selected an alternate phone service. It should be installed during the next week or two. The club number remains the same.

The 5-stand will remain open this coming winter. To shoot this venue, the covers will have to be removed and the machines turned on. When shooting is completed, the machines will have to be turned off, loaded with targets, and the covers put back on.

WINTER SHOOT RULES

The following winter shooting rules are affective 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 or snowing.

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.

2023 Projects

• Club internet – completed
• Replace furnace – completed
• Install card readers – in process
• Seal coat parking lot – completed
• Repair handgun range heater – completed
• Install gutter guards – completed

2023 Events

• All events completed

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.

I wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Best Regards,

Sam Valenza

President, Rockford Skeet Club

President’s Message

(December 2023)

The annual membership dues invoices will be sent out in early December and payment is due by February 1, 2024. As previously reported the board has approved an increase to our annual membership dues. As you all know, the cost of goods has gone up over the past several inflationary years. Targets prices increased by 12% over last year’s order. Also, we are experiencing increases in our fixed costs (taxes, insurance, utilities, etc.). Therefore, the annual membership dues will increase to $150 from $125 for 2024. If you elect to use the handgun range, that additional fee remains the same at $25.

The heater in the handgun range has been fixed and is available for use. Simply turn on the timer located on the back wall near the thermostat. Once the time runs out the heater will shut down after a cool down period. Thanks to Steve Wiltgen, Crag Bergbauer, and Mike Brost for developing a plan and fixing the heater.

The club house phone is not working. We are looking at an alternative phone service as the service we have now has had issues for several years in spite of several compliant to the service provider.

The club sponsored a table at the Winnebago-Boone County annual fundraiser for the Friends of the NRA Foundation that was held in October. The table sponsorship included a CZ 9mm pistol. We plan on selling raffle tickets for the gun prior to and during our fun day in June of next year. I will provide more information about the raffle and fun day at a later time,

The sporting clays Illinois North Zone Tournament was held June 2-4 at Rock Ridge. Club member Caleb Davis was champion of master class. Caleb also won the 28-gauge event in Class C. The Illinois State Championship for Super Sporting was held Sept 8-10 at Rock Ridge

and Caleb was State runner up in Master Class. Steve Howlett was Class D Champion

and Bill Shold was Class E Champion. Congratulation to Caleb, Steve, and Bill

Club member, Joe Vancura won the Illinois state shoot championship for 12-gauge with a 100X100 score and the state championship for 12-gauge doubles with a 97X100 score which included a 5 way shoot off. He also won the zone 5 .410-gauge championship at the Zone Shoot in Sauk Prairie Wisconsin with a 100X100 score. Congratulation Joe.  

Bob Liphart has decided not to be the chairman of the trap range effective immediately. Rob Tholin has agreed to take Bob’s position. Thank you, Bob, for all your service for the past several years. Bob has however, agree to assist Rob when needed. Thanks Rob, for taking on the trap chairmanship.

In September the club hosted the annual steak lunch for the landfill forks in appreciation for all that they do for us. It was well attended and the food was delicious.

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.

2023 Projects

• Club internet – completed
• Replace furnace – completed
• Install card readers – in process
• Seal coat parking lot – completed
• Repair handgun range heater – completed
• Install gutter guards – completed

2023 Events

• All events completed

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

RCS BOD, November 7  2023                                                                                                      

• 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 August  2023 – Approved, 6-0

3.    Treasurers Report:  Approved, 6-0

New Business:

1. Combine waiver with guest log book .   Completed
2. Membership committee, working on new ideas
3. New member orientation, 1^st and 3^rd Saturday of the month
4. Tree removal –  Completed 
5. gutter gaurds – Comleted
6. Increase dues  for 2024  – Yes 6-0   

Projects for 2023

• Card reader systems, looking into for next year
• Seal coat parking lot – 6-0      Completed
• Handgun heater  fixed

2023 Events

• Spring cleanup – Completed
• Fun days –  Completed
• Landfill lunch – Completed     
• Venue Tutorials,  Completed

Meeting adjourned at 6:30

Next Board meeting  December 5 , 2023                                                                        Respectfully submitted – Caleb Davis, Secretary                  

President’s Message

(September 2023)

After much discussion and debate, the board has approved an increase to our annual membership dues. As you all know, the cost of goods has gone up over the past several inflationary years. We just received an order of targets which increased by 12% over last year’s order. Also, we are experiencing increases in our fixed costs (taxes, insurance, utilities, etc.). Therefore, the annual membership dues will increase to $150 from $125 for 2024. This increase will be reflected in the dues invoices that will be mailed in December. If you elect to use the handgun range, that additional fee remains the same at $25.

The club will be sponsoring a table at the Winnebago-Boone County annual fundraiser of the NRA Foundation being held on Thursday October 12 starting at 5 pm at the Tebala Event Center located at 7910 Newburg Rd., Rockford. The table is for 8 and 4 board members will be attending along with 4 of our general members. The first four members to respond to me at sam.valenza@att.net will be selected to attend this event. There will be a dinner, drawings for firearms, NRA gear, décor and collectibles. So, email me ASAP for a chance to attend this event. This is a no cost to you event. Good Luck!!!

Rockford Skeet Club hosted a club fun day in August. It was well attended. We had drawings for ammo, a raffle for three separate drawings for 10 rounds, and a free lunch. The food was delicious and a big thanks Dan Gengo for doing the grilling.

Thanks to Steve Wiltgen and Craig Bergbauer for installing gutter guards on the club house rain gutters.

Whenever workers are present at the club, the right of way belongs to the workers. That mean that if there is work being done on the shooting fields (mowing, carpentry, painting, etc.) shooting will stop or will not begin until the fields are safe to shoot on.

The parking lot was seal coated on August 24 and 25 and looks much better and hopefully will perverse it for several more years before it has to be replaced.

This month we will be hosting the annual steak lunch for the landfill forks on Friday September 22 starting at 11 am until around 2 pm. This lunch is in appreciation for all that they do for us. The club house will not be available for our members except for bathroom use and the logging of targets.

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.

2023 Projects

• Club internet – completed
• Replace furnace – completed
• Install card readers – in process
• Seal coat parking lot – completed
• Repair/replace handgun range heater – in process
• Install gutter guards – completed

2023 Events

• Landfill lunch – 9/22/23

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

RCS BOD, September 5 2023                                                                                                      

• 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 August 2023 – Approved, 6-0

3.    Treasurers Report:  Approved, 6-0

New Business:

1. Combine waiver with guest log book.   Completed
2. Membership committee, working on new ideas
3. New member orientation, 1^st and 3^rd Saturday of the month
4. Target delivery – August 9th   Completed
5. Tree removal – Completed
6. Install gutter guards – Completed
7. Increase dues for 2024 – Yes 6-0   

Projects for 2023

• Card reader systems, looking into
• Seal coat parking lot – 6-0  – Completed
• Replace Handgun heater – TBD
• NRA safety officer training  certification.  TBD

2023 Events

           Spring cleanup – Completed

• Fun days – Completed
• Landfill lunch – September 22^nd         
• Venue Tutorials, Completed

Meeting adjourned at 6:30

Next Board meeting October 3, 2023                                                                        Respectfully submitted – Caleb Davis, Secretary                 

President’s Message

(August 2023)

The guest procedure has been updated to eliminate one of the two forms that were required to be filled out. The guest log has been eliminated and the only form that a guest and member is required to sign is the guest waiver. The new procedure is as follows and is effective starting Saturday August 5.

RSC GUEST PROCEDURE

• Guest(s) and their host member shall sign the guest waiver on every visit. This shall serve as approval of the waiver and guest registration.
• The Guest will shoot at member’s round fee. The member may log all rounds (member and guest) on his/her page in the log book to pay for

Guest rounds shot. Or, the Guest may pay for their own rounds by placing payment in a payment envelope and clearly marking envelope

“payment of guest rounds” including the Guests name.

• The Guest will also be required to pay a $5.00 user fee for each day that he/she shoots. The $5.00 user fee will be deposited in the envelopes provided and will be placed in the club depository located in the clubhouse. 
• The member’s spouse, children, and grandchildren (under the age of 25) may shoot under the member’s membership.
• For safety concerns, a safety officer or board member is required for every four guest that are brought to the club (i.e., 4 guests 1 safety officer/board member, 5 to 8 guests 2 safety officer/board members, 9 to 12 guests 3 safety offices/board members, etc.).

                           Effective:  Revised August 2023

Rockford Skeet Club will be hosting a club fun day on August 26, 2023 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 for three separate drawings for 10 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. Guests are welcome at no cost to them except for any rounds that they shoot. So, bring a guest.

Club members George Ketter and Alan Perry will be hosting a 5-stand tutorial on Saturday August 12 at 10 am. They will be giving basic shooting instruction including foot position, hold points and break points. If you are new to 5-stand shooting or just want to improve your game, come on out for this beneficial tutorial.

We contracted with a tree removal company to remove trees and trim along the handgun range and 5-stand access road to prevent trees/limbs from falling on the road and potentially damaging vehicles and injuring people. The work was completed on Monday July 31.

The parking lot will be seal coated on August 24 and 25. Therefore, the club will be closed on august 24 and until noon on August 25.

Skeet field 2 is low on birds which is intentional. We want to shoot the targets on the other two field so that we can load all three fields at the same time and also to make room in the barn for our next delivery of targets which is scheduled for August 9.

The Promatic service rep was out to the club on this pasted Monday to service all of the skeet field machines. Everything looked good and he only made some minor adjustments.

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.

2023 Projects

• Club internet – completed
• Replace furnace – completed
• Install card readers – in process
• Seal coat parking lot – 8/24 & 8/25
• Repair/replace handgun range heater
• Install gutter guards – in process

2023 Events

• Fun day – 8/26/23
• Landfill lunch – 9/22/23
• Venue tutorials
  • Skeet – June 10 completed
  • Trap – July 12
  • 5-Stand – August 12

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

RCS BOD, August 1 2023                                                                                                      

PRESENT:  Sam Valenza, Al Perry, 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 July 2023 – Approved, 5-0

3.    Treasurers Report:  Approved, 5-0

New Business:

1. Combine waiver with guest log book.   Yes   5-0
2. Membership committee, working on new ideas
3. New member orientation, 1^st and 3^rd Saturday of the month
4. Target delivery – August 9th
5. Tree removal – Completed

Projects for 2023

• Card reader systems, looking into
• Seal coat parking lot – 6-0       August 24th
• Replace Handgun heater TBD
• NRA safety officer training, certification.  TBD
• Club house lock repair – Completed

2023 Events

• Spring cleanup – Completed
• Fun days – June 24^th and August 26^th  
• Landfill lunch – September 22^nd         
• Venue Tutorials, Skeet 6-10 Trap 7-15 5 stand 8-12

Meeting adjourned at 6:30

Next Board meeting September 5, 2023                                                                        Respectfully submitted – Caleb Davis, Secretary