President’s Message
(April 2024)
As previously reported, a work crew along Lindenwood Road has broken the water line to the club house. The company has installed porta potties and a hand washing station. One station is located near the club house and the other is located by the storage barn. Please do not use the club house bathrooms until water service is restored. An interim water tank will be installed in the next couple of weeks which will allow us to use the toilets and sinks. This water is not to be used for drinking or cooking. We will have bottled water and our water dispenser for drinking and cooking. This system will be in place until the deep well is drilled sometime in the May/June time frame.
As announced at the annual meeting, the board has voted to increase the price of rounds from $5 to $6 starting May 1, 2024. This decision was not an easy one but had to be made. Targets have increased 12%, insurance has increased 38%, and utilities have increased along with various other expenses. The club has absorbed the target price increases for the last two year and cannot continue to do it anymore. Targets can be purchased before May 1 at $5 per round.
The board has voted for and has purchased a target management system for all of our shotgun venues. By installing this system, it is estimated that we can save around 20% of our target costs. Basically, credit or debit cards will be required to purchase rounds using a kiosk that will be in the club house. Purchased rounds will be added to a rounds card that will be used to scan the receivers located on each field. I will provide more details, instructions, and we will have training sessions on how to use the system. The plan is to have this system in place in May of this year. The benefits include eliminating the log books, reduced accounting/banking effort, automated reports, and target accountability (target cost control). This will be a very easy user-friendly system.
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
The 5-stand venue will be setup for summer time usage on Sunday April 7. This means that the machines will be on all the time. Just sign out the remote and have fun. When done shooting, load the machines with targets but first turn off and release the arms. When loaded, turn the machines back on, breakdown the boxes and put them in the burn barrel. If full, light the burn barrel on fire. Report any mechanical failure by telling a board member or posting a note on the club house bulletin board. DO NOT attempt to repair.
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?
This is a reminder that club badges must be worn when on club property.
It is with heavy heart that I have to report that club member Dan Gengo suddenly passed. Dan was instrumental in maintaining the 5-stand venue. He set and repaired the machines, mowed the grass, and did general maintenance. He will be sorely missed. Dan’s funeral service is April 12 at James A. O’Connor Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Huntley, Illinois.
The Safety Rules Procedure has been amended as follows:
- Only firearms manufactured by a federally licensed Manufacturer or Importer, and are fit for the intended use may be used on club property. Intended use for club purposes, and this safety rule, is clays target shooting with respect to Trap, Skeet, and Sporting Clays, (including 5-Stand), shooting norms.
The Guest Procedure has been amended as follows:
9. Membership termination: Upon membership termination, whether by member request, non-renewal, or by RSC Board determination, the member is required to return all badges, keys, and any club property in the member’s possession, to the club Secretary. The Club Secretary shall notify the Treasurer of the completeness of these returns.
Refunds of prepaid rounds shall be done only upon written request and issued only upon verification by club secretary that all items identified above have been satisfactorily returned. Additionally, any refund shall be netted against any outstanding member liabilities. The written request must be made within 30 days of the notice of termination or by March 30 of the year of non-renewal. If a written request is not received within this time frame, the prepaid funds will be considered forfeit and used to support High School Shooting teams, marketing efforts or at the Boards discretion.
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.
As a reminder, please turn the furnace thermostat down to 60 degrees if you are the last to leave the club house.
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
- 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