President’s Message

(July 2023)

Rockford Skeet Club hosted a club fun day on June 24. It was the best fun day ever with around 70 attendees. 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.

Club member Bob Liphart will be giving a trap tutorial this coming Saturday at 10 am. He will be giving basic trap shooting instruction including foot position, hold points and break points for all 5 stations. If you are new to trap shooting or just want to improve your game, come on out for this beneficial tutorial.

We have contracted with a tree removal company to remove trees and trim along the handgun range and 5 stand access road. Work will start at 8 am on July 24 and will take several hours to complete. Therefore, the road will be closed until the work is completed.

The parking lot will be seal coated in the near future. I you let you know when it is scheduled. As a result, the club will be closed that day and part of the next day.

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.

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 – in process
• Repair/replace handgun range heater
• Install a vent in the club house closet door – completed
• Repair flag pole – completed
• Repair skeet hoop – completed
• 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, July 11 2023                                                                                                      

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

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

2.     Minutes of May 2023 – Approved, 6-0

3.    Treasurers Report:  Approved, 6-0

4.    Open CD – completed

New Business:

1. NIRPC meeting June 27^th 6:00 P.M. Completed
2. Membership committee, working on new ideas
3. New member orientation, 1^st and 3^rd Saturday of the month
4.  Gravel – Completed
5. Tree removal – 6-0

Projects for 2023

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

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 August 1, 2023                                                                       

Respectfully submitted – Caleb Davis, Secretary       

RCS BOD, June 6, 2023                                                                                                      

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

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

2.     Minutes of May 2023 – Approved, 6-0

3.    Treasurers Report:  Approved, 6-0

4.    Open CD / 9 month   Approved 5-1

New Business:

1. NIRPC meeting June 27^th 6:00 P.M.
2. Membership committee, working on new ideas
3. New member orientation, 1^st and 3^rd Saturday of the month
4. BA Solutions new trap and skeet lights.  Completed
5.  Gravel – on the way

Projects for 2023

• Card reader systems, looking into
• Seal coat parking lot, getting quotes
• Replace Handgun heater TBD
• NRA safety officer training, certification.  TBD
• Leaf guards for gutters, Approved 6-0

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 July 11, 2023                                                                         Respectfully submitted – Caleb Davis, Secretary

President’s Message

(May 2023)

Through a program with Commonwealth Edison, the club will be getting new LED trap and skeet lights at no cost to the club. The lights will be installed on Thursday May 11 starting around 9 am. Therefore, no shooting will be allowed on skeet field 2 and trap field 2 until the work has been completed.

The Green County Conservation League is having a gun show on May 12 & 13. Our club will have a table display and needs help to man it. This is a great opportunity to promote our wonderful club and to hopefully get new members. If you are interested in helping out, please contact Mike Buckman at 815-608-5278.

Skeet under our brand-new stadium lights begins May 16th!  Come join your friends for a couple of low-key rounds of skeet on the first and third Tuesdays of the month.  We start at 7 pm and the lights are on before our last round ends at 9 pm.  You can always bring any gun you like, but starting in June we’ll feature show and tell theme nights.

Our annual club cleanup day is Saturday June 3 starting at 8 am. Please bring your trimmers, chain saws, blowers, etc. No shooting will be allowed until all of the work is done. Your help is needed in order to keep our club house and grounds looking beautiful. Lunch will be provided.

A skeet Tutorial is planned for Saturday June 10 at 10 am. If you are interested in getting some basic instruction and improving your score, please consider coming out. This can also be very beneficial for new shooters.

Rockford Skeet Club will be hosting a club fun day on June 24, 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 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. Guests are welcome

The skeet hoop for calibrating the skeet machines has been repaired and thanks to Bill Should and Dan Ratzer, all of the skeet fields have been calibrated.

Also, the flag pole has been fixed thanks to Mike Buckman. Now you can gage the wind to help improve your scores LOL.

We now have the capability to receive WiFi and internet at the club. Mike Buckman will install the antenna and the modem in the next few days. The password will be available at that time.

Starting April 1, 2023, guests will be required to sign a waiver of liability. The updated guest procedure is as follows. It is expected that all members will follow this procedure when bringing guests to the club.

RSC GUEST PROCEDURE

• 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 offices 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 offices/board members, 9 to 12 guests 3 safety offices/board members, etc.).

Effective:  Revised March 2023

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 – in process
• Replace furnace – completed
• Install card readers
• Seal coat parking lot
• Repair/replace handgun range heater
• Install a vent in the club house closet door – completed
• Repair flag pole – completed
• Repair skeet hoop – completed

2023 Events

• Spring cleanup day – 6/3/2023
• Fun day – 6/24/2023
• Fun day – 8/26/23
• Landfill lunch – 9/22/23
• Venue tutorials
  • Skeet – June 10
  • 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

President’s Message

(April 2023)

Starting April 1, 2023, guests will be required to sign a waiver of liability. The updated guest procedure is as follows. It is expected that all members will follow this procedure when bringing guests to the club.

RSC GUEST PROCEDURE

• 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 offices 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 offices/board members, 9 to 12 guests 3 safety offices/board members, etc.).

Effective:  Revised March 2023

Through a program with Commonwealth Edison, the club will be getting new LED trap and skeet lights at no cost to the club. The lights and fixtures should be installed in the next 30 days.

Our spring cleanup day has been moved to June 3 from May 5 due to a scheduling conflict with some of the board members.

The pistol league has been cancelled as George Ketters has some health issues. There is a possibility that it may be rescheduled during the summer.

We are planning to have tutorials for skeet on June 10, trap on July 15, and 5-stand on August 12 starting at 10:00 am. This is a good opportunity for to help new shooters improve their score.

For any members of our club and the Northern Illinois Rifle and Pistol Club that wants to be a member of the other club, the initiation fee for both clubs will be waived.  

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 – TBD
• Replace furnace – completed
• Card readers – TBD
• Seal coat parking lot
• Repair/replace handgun range heater
• Install a vent in the club house closet door – completed
• Repair flag pole
• Repair skeet hoop

2023 Events

• Spring cleanup day – 6/3/2023
• Fun day – 6/24/2023
• Fun day – 8/26/23
• Landfill lunch – 9/22/23
• Venue tutorials
  • Skeet – June 10
  • 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, April 4 2023                                                                                                      

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

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

2.     Minutes of March / 2023 – Approved, 6-0

3.    Treasurers Report:  Approved, 6-0

New Business:

1. Introduction to 5 stand– Summer
2. Membership committee, working on new ideas
3. Club internet, 0n order
4. Handgun league – TBD
5. New furnace – Completed  
6. New member orientation, 1^st and 3^rd Saturday of the month
7. BA Solutions new trap and skeet lights.  Approved 6-0
8. Twig arms ammo sale.  No 6-0
9. new welder for repairs. Approved 6-0

Projects for 2023

• Card reader systems, On hold
• Seal coat parking lot, spring
• Replace skeet light, in process
• Replace Handgun heater
• Replace boot on club house roof.  Completed
• NRA safety officer training, certification.  TBD
• Vents in closet door.  Completed

2023 Events

• Annual meeting – Completed
• Spring cleanup – June 3rd
• 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 May 2, 2023                                                                                 

Respectfully submitted – Caleb Davis, Secretary       

RCS BOD, March 7, 2023                                                                                                      

PRESENT:  Sam Valenza, Al Perry, Randy Scott, Steve Wiltgen, Bill Shold Caleb Davis, Mike Buckman, and guest Dave Zierke
 Todd Hendreys

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

2.     Minutes of February / 2023 – Approved, 6-0

3.    Treasurers Report:  Approved, 6-0

New Business:

1. Introduction to 5 stand– Summer
2. Membership committee, working on new ideas
3. Club internet, 0n order
4. Handgun league – April through October
5. New furnace – Completed  
6. New member orientation, 1^st and 3^rd Saturday of the month
7. Guest Waiver, Completed- Starting 4/1/23     Steve Wiltgen recuses himself from adoption of language of guest waiver.       
8. BOD nominations – Completed VP Al Perry, Treasurer David Zierke, Directors Bill Shold, Mike Buckman, Steve Wiltgen
9. Move 5 stand   – No  6 – 0
10.  Annual dues payment procedure review – Accepted 6-0
11. Administration list update –  Accepted  6-0

Projects for 2023

• Card reader systems, On hold
• Seal coat parking lot, spring
• Replace skeet light, in process
•  Venue Tutorials, TBD
• Replace Handgun heater
• Replace boot on club house roof.  In process
• NRA safety officer training, certification.  TBD

2023 Events

• Annual meeting – March 25^th
• Spring cleanup – May 5^th
• Fun days – June 24^th and August 26^th
• Landfill lunch – September 22nd

Meeting adjourned at 6:30

Next Board meeting April 4, 2023                                                                                 

Respectfully submitted – Caleb Davis, Secretary       

President’s Message

(March 2023)

Our annual meeting is set for March 25 at 9:00 am in the club house. The board of directors will be addressing club finances, events and projects, election results, a guest waiver, and will take questions from the attendees.

Starting April 1, 2023, guests will be required to sign a waiver of liability. The updated guest procedure is as follows. It is expected that all members will follow this procedure when bringing guests to the club.

RSC GUEST PROCEDURE

• 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 offices 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 offices/board members, 9 to 12 guests 3 safety offices/board members, etc.).

Effective:  Revised March 2023

The 2023 club budget has been posted on the bulletin board on closet door for all members viewing. Also posted are the 2022 yearend financial statements.

The handgun range heater is still not working properly. We will make one more attempt to fix it and if not successful, it will be returned to the supplier under warranty.

A new furnace was installed in the club house by club member Evan Bomgarden. Nice job Evan. The furnace looks great and is very quiet. 

George Ketter has agreed to have another pistol league in the spring. If you are interested, please send George an email at geosueket@gmail.com.

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
• Replace furnace – completed
• Card readers
• Seal coat parking lot
• Repair skeet light
• Repair/replace handgun range heater
• Install a vent in the club house closet door

2023 Events

• Safety officers meeting – 3/11/23
• Annual meeting – 3/25/2023
• Spring cleanup day – 5/5/2023
• Fun day – 6/24/2023
• Fun day – 8/26/23
• Landfill lunch – 9/22/23
• Venue tutorials – TBD

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

President’s Message

(February 2023)

The 2023 membership renewal signup is now completed as of February 1. We lost members for various reasons which included death, illness, and relocation. We as a club are still very strong financially. As in the past, we will hopefully gain new members during the year to make up for the loss. We normally lose between 8 to 10% each year.

Our annual meeting is set for March 25 at 9:00 am in the club house. The board of directors will be addressing club finances, events and projects, election results, a guest waiver, and will take questions from the attendees.

Starting April 1, 2023, guests will be required to sign a waiver of liability. The guest procedure will be updated and communicated in my monthly newsletter in March. It is expected that all members will follow this procedure when bringing guests to the club.

The handgun range heater is still not working properly. We will make one more attempt to fix it and if not successful, it will be returned to the supplier under warranty.

As previously stated, a new furnace will be installed in the club house and is schedules for installation in the next couple of weeks. I will let you know which day it will be installed. Of course, there will not be any heat on that day.

George Ketter has agreed to have another pistol league in the spring. If you are interested, please send George an email at geosueket@gmail.com.

We are still working on getting Wi-Fi for the club. We have been told by Comcast that it will now cost us around $20,000 to $25,000 to have them run a cable to the club house. This is cost prohibitive and we are now looking for other providers.

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
• Replace furnace
• Card readers
• Seal coat parking lot
• Repair skeet light
• Repair/replace handgun range heater
• Install a vent in the club house closet door

2023 Events

• Annual meeting – 3/25/2023
• Spring cleanup day – 5/5/2023
• Fun day – 6/24/2023
• Fun day – 8/26/23
• Landfill lunch – 9/22/23
• Venue tutorials – TBD

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, February 7  

PRESENT:  Sam Valenza,  Al Perry, Randy Scott, Steve Wiltgen, Bill Shold Caleb Davis, Mike Buckman and guest Dave Zierke
 Todd Hendreys

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

2.     Minutes of January / 2023 – Approved, 6-0

3.    Treasurers Report:  Approved, 6-0

New Business:

1. Introduction to 5 stand– Summer
2. Membership committee, working on new ideas
3. club internet, TBD
4. Handgun league – April through October
5. New furnace – Approved,6-0   
6. New member orientation, 1^st and 3^rd Saturday of the month
7. Guest Waiver, Starting 4/1/23            
8. BOD nominations – VP Al Perry, Treasurer David Zierke, Directors Bill Shold, Mike Buckman, Steve Wiltgen

Projects for 2023

• Card reader systems, TBD
• Seal coat parking lot, spring
• Replace skeet light, in process
•  Venue Tutorials, TBD
• Replace Handgun heater

2023 Events

• Annual meeting – March 25^th
• Spring cleanup – May 6^th
• Fun days – June 24^th and August 26^th
• Landfill lunch – August 22nd

Meeting adjourned at 6:30

Next Board meeting March 7 , 2023                                                                                 

Respectfully submitted – Caleb Davis, Secretary