President’s Message – September 2023

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