President’s Message
(March 2022)
Our club has been selected to be the home club for the Cathedral Baptist School trap team. To my knowledge, this is the only school trap team in the area. The team, consisting of 10 students, will be shooting in the Illinois state trap league and will shoot the league and practice at our club. This is a great opportunity for our club to introduce young people to the shooting sports. As we all know, the cost of shooting, especially in today environment, is very costly. If anyone would like to donate to the team ($10, $20, $25) to help differ some of the costs, please send a check to the following address with a note that the donation is for the trap team. The club will be donating team shirts for the students and coaches.
Cathedral Baptist School
5622 35th Street
Rockford, IL. 61109
The board of directors has approved a revised mission statement and wants to incorporate it into the bylaws. The membership will be asked to approve this change at the annual meeting on March 26, 2022. The current bylaws read as follows:
Article 1 – Name and Objective
The name of this organization shall be known as the Rockford Skeet Club, Inc. The Rockford Skeet Club is a not-for-profit club. The club’s objectives are to encourage organized clay target shooting; to forward the development of those characteristics of honesty, good fellowship, self-discipline, team-play, and self-reliance which are the essentials of good sportsmanship and the foundation of true patriotism.
The proposed change is as follows:
Article 1 – Name and 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.
The Board also approved a Strategic Vision that reads as following
“Ensure and promote Rockford Skeet Club’s financial viability as a private shooting club as well as the growth and development of the membership in accordance with our mission statement. Our goal shall be to provide policies, systems, and leadership to maintain the appeal of a small club atmosphere that perpetuates member participation and involvement, volunteerism, and member-key access 7 days a week.”
Our first task under this strategic vision is to form a membership committee which will be tasked to develop goals and strategies to grow our membership. We would like to have 5 members on this committee. If you are interested in joining this committee, please contact me at sam.valenza@att.net.
A new propane heater for the handgun range building has been approved and will be installed in the coming weeks.
Our annual meeting is March 26 at 9 am. We will be presenting 2022 project and events, election results, Northern Illinois Rifle and Pistol Club relationship, bylaws change, strategic vision, and taking questions from the attendees.
Winter shooting rules are in effect as follows.
- 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 op 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 815-456-2871, 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.
2022 Projects
- Rebuild trap houses
- Remove clay targets on skeet fields
- Pistol range heaters
2022 Events
- Annual meeting – 3/23/22
- Club cleanup day – 5/14/22
- Club fun day – 6/4/22
- Landfill lunch – 9/16/22
- Club fun day – 9/24/22
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