Newsletters
April 2024
Lots of information this month:
ANNUAL MEETING
The monthly May meeting and the Annual Meeting are being combined on Thursday, May 16 at 7pm. Voting for the three Board openings will be available from 3pm until 7pm. All voting must be in person at the Club. As required by the By Laws, we have five candidates in alphabetical order for the three openings for a three year term: Bill High, Alton Kelley, Charlie Liberto, Terry Lynch, and Bobby Robinson. You have to have been a club member for three years in order to be eligible to vote.
SHELLEY RETIRES FROM BENCH REST LEADERSHIP
Shelley Gudger sadly announced her resignation last night as leader for Bench Rest matches. Shelley's been leading Bench Rest since 2018! She's done an outstanding job managing this discipline for the Club, turning in well over $7,000 in profits since she began. Everyone thanked her and we wish her well going forward. So, we now need a new Bench Rest leader. If you want to take this on, Shelley is more than willing to help with the transition. Let me or Shelley know if you'll do it and I'll get you in touch with the Board and Shelley.
MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS
As of last night, there were 103 of you who haven't renewed yet! If you're waiting, please do it now so Charlie doesn't have to chase you. If you are an existing member, we won't drop you until we verify contact (because some letters do get lost) but 100+ is a lot to check up on. If you never got a renewal letter or lost it, send your correct mailing address to Charlie at [email protected].
MEMBER POLL ABOUT PISTOL RANGE
Charlie reported on prelim results from his poll on the registration letter. Half of the respondents said they used the pistol (25 yard) range. 76% approved using the 25 yard range for sighting in rifles but the same 76% said 'no' to using rifles on this range for any other purposes. However, 85% agreed we should allow rifle use there for pistol calibers which is the way we've currently been handling the range. We'll get more clarity when the 50 yard range is completed.
50 YARD RANGE
The concrete pad has been poured. Bobby reports he hopes to place the target stands this weekend. After that, the shooting tables will be placed. We're going to get some gravel placed around the concrete too.. Then we can open the range.
VENDING MACHINES
All of you candy addicts will be happy to hear that Alton Kelley has volunteered to take over managing the three vending machines. I'll meet with him today to hand over the keys and I'm sure he'll be refilling soon with fresh stock. Say thank you if you see him. He's also been doing a great job getting new signs printed around the ranges, the latest for First Aid and soon our new Emergency Action Plan.
WNC JUNIOR HUNTER COMPETITION
This went very well this year and we received a $1500 check from the DNR. $500 will be used to reimburse the school team for providing food to the DNR per our contract and then $500 each will go to Junior Rifle and Clay Busters. Parking and prep again went smoothly with help from Sam Summey, Bill High, Bill Dennis, Kevin Brown, Rod Combs, Ken McFadden, Ron Dethloff, I hope I didn't miss anyone. Jason Ashley arranged to have over 30 GFL trash containers placed around the club and they were invaluable in managing all the trash. Altogether, there were 34 teams this year and the usual ~350 vehicles and 750 or so people. We dodged the heavy Friday rains again due to good sand drainage on all our fields.
SKEET TOURNAMENT DATES
Doyle finalized dates for four matches and they are listed on the website calendar: May 31-June1, July 19-20, August 23-24, and Nov 9. Doubles on May 28, July 16, August 20 and Nov 8. Contact Chris Bates.
Terry
March 2024
Good Morning, Everyone.
Lots of stuff this month.
WNC Junior Hunter Competition THIS Weekend
This is a big event for us. There will be 34 youth teams, the most ever, so we may have 1,000 people and up to 400 vehicles on site. All ranges are closed Friday and Saturday. We will be prepping the parking area on Friday morning starting at 9am. I have one helper but could use a few more. probably only for a couple hours.
Parking Saturday morning starts at 6am sharp. I have a couple volunteers so far but need several more. Trailers come in at 6 and everybody else starts in when the gates open at 630pm Cars will line up on Little Mountain Rd but bypass them and come to the gate and the rangers will let you in if you tell them you are a club volunteer. We should have a yellow vest for you. It is a VERY BUSY hour as most vehicles are parked by 730. Our volunteer assistance is critical to keep things moving. Bring a mag flashlight or spotlight.
AED/CPR Class Thank You!
Jeannette Burrell led the class on the Sat morning of work day. She did an outstanding job and the club thanks her profusely. Attendees thought it was great and she will be offering the class again.
Board Candidates Needed
Ed Skeels and Greg Fickel are seeking a few more nominations for the Board vote at the annual meeting on May 16. Charlie Liberto, Bobby Robinson, and I are up for reelection and all three of us have agreed to run again but per the by laws there are supposed to be at least 5 candidates. If you want to run, and we always need fresh blood, let Ed or Greg know. The pay is great and the hours are short!
Vending Machine Volunteer Manager Needed
If you don't want to run for the Board, we need a vending machine manager. We have three machines and it's important to keep tabs on the merchandise, refill as needed, and discard old products. If you want to take over this important volunteer positionB, let someone on the Board know.
Bench Rest Match RSO's Needed on April 7
Shelley Gudger reported a great turnout for the first match of the year on March 3 but she needs 2-3 more RSO's for the April match. Please volunteer to help her out Details on the website including Shelley's contact email.
Hold Harmless Agreements Need to be Put in the Notebook
Folks, you are doing a good job filling out the HH agreements but can you PLEASE punch holes in them and stick them in the notebook alphabetically by guest last name? There are about 25 stacked up and I really don't want to do it myself. Please help me out. And while you're a guest on site, please wear one of the Visitor lanyards.
Membership Update
Charlie reported we have 320 members and new approvals are on hold until after all the renewals and cancellations are in by April 30. If you need to reach out to Charlie for some reason, his email is on the Contacts page on the website. Just go to him directly rather than through me.
Website Link: https://polkcountygunclub.com/
Thanks to all on behalf of the Board for all the volunteering going on around the Club!
Terry
February 2024
Work day is March 2
The Spring work day is coming up in less than 2 weeks. We'll start 8am for the early birds but get there when you can. It's over when all the work is done. Projects as of now are as follows. Pick one or two and bring tools you think might be needed.
1. Pistol Range--Reset the distance markers from the firing line, re-position the railroad ties, fix other signs, straighten up target stands and materials in shed.
2. Well House--fix up as needed (Beryl Mollette)
3. 50 Yard Range--Build 4 target stands. May or may not put in ground at this time.
4. Inspect outer club fence line; remove downed trees. (Bobby Robinson)
5. Spread crusher run on rifle range parking lot--Need someone to bring a tractor with a bucket to spread it.
The wads and broken clays on the skeet/trap ranges have already been cleaned up by an early bird crew last Wednesday. They did a great job.
WNC Jr Hunter Competition (March 16)
We need a small set-up crew starting at 9am Friday. 4-5 guys. Meet on the rifle range. Should only take a couple hours. Let me know if you want to help then.
We also need a parking crew starting at 545am on Saturday. Meet at the entrance to the rifle range for a quick org meeting. Trailers not arriving on Friday will be allowed in at 6am and the gates for cars/trucks will open at 630am. Bring a strong flashlight or spotlight. Let me know if you are coming for this. Good if a couple folks can come both Friday and Saturday. Helps with parking in the dark if you saw the layout in daylight.
The NC Rangers also always like to have a few folks help with RSO duties during the day. Come on out if you want to help with this.
Active Target/Throom Vote Results
We got almost 50 votes from last month's survey question. 71% voted in favor of the club purchasing a few of the targets to try. 65% indicated they would like to shoot at them. Thanks to ALL who took the time to cast a vote. So, the Club is going to purchase three sets and likely make all of them available on the pistol range. They'll be mounted on sawhorse type stands that can be moved to different distances on the pistol/25 yard range.
Asphalt and electronic gate update
We continue to gather estimates for both projects. Laying either asphalt or tar and chips on Jack's Way from Little Mountain Rd back to the Club House will be in the $32,000-35,000 range depending on supplier. The estimates were all actually pretty close and all suppliers are considered good. We're currently holding on going forward.
Dave Foti and I have obtained two electronic gate estimates so far and the scope on the two is quite different as is the price. Next step is to compare the two and finalize what we really want. We're going to involve some of the club folks who have looked at this before too. We're going slow because it's not an easy proposition. We do know that we can have REMC drop a power line to the gate for a few thousand dollars and Windstream can drop an Internet hard wire for a couple hundred dollars. Stay tuned for more information on these topics.
The Board would be interested to hear your thoughts on which project to prioritize first, do neither, or do both, perhaps over a couple years.
50 Yard Range
The Board approved pouring of a concrete pad for this range. Once this is done the shooting tables will be placed and the target stands (hopefully built on the work day) mounted. A roof will follow this spring or summer. We're going to spread some seed, fertilizer, and straw this week. Hope we get rain.
Bench Rest Matches
Shelley reports these matches are getting popular and she could really use 2-3 more RSO's to come out and help!
Navy Arms Website
Charlie LIberto reports that he was checking all his firearm websites and Navy Arms is still active. On this site, for anybody who likes the movie, 'The Last Samurai', here is a chance to own an original Mauser that was in the movie. A bit pricey, but can be sent to you with no FFL due to their age.
https://www.navyarms.com/current-products/mauser/
Terry
January 2024
All,
Hope you are finding time to shoot in between the rain and freezing weather. Here's what's new and needed.
Reactive Targets--SURVEY QUESTION
One of our members is attempting to become a dealer for Throom and may be able to get these targets at significant discounts. Check them out at this website.
- Should the Club purchase a selection of these targets for everyone's use on some of the ranges, most likely the shorter ones?
- Do you think you yourself would use them?
PLEASE REPLY TO THIS EMAIL WITH A YES OR A NO FOR EACH OF THE 2 QUESTIONS.
Volunteer Opportunity
The Club recently purchased two truckloads of crusher run to fill in bare spots at the far end of the rifle range parking lot. We NEED A VOLUNTEER to bring a tractor with a loader to spread it. If you can do it, just come on down. If you let me know, I'll push it out to the whole Club so we don't get duplicate effort. Two loads of screenings were also delivered to the pistol range last week to fill in low spots and these have already been spread.
Hold Harmless Agreements (HHA)
With the new year, all guests must fill out a new 2024 HHA. Please fill in the guest name and sign, punch holes, and please please insert in the notebook by guest last name. Also, all guests should wear one of the VISITOR lanyards instead of pinning on the name cards which we have discontinued. Remember to return the VISITOR lanyards to the club house before leaving.
AED Now in the Club House; Training Planned at Work Day
The Club has purchased an AED device and it's mounted on the wall in the club house. An AED, or automated external defibrillator, is used to help those experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. It's a sophisticated, yet easy-to-use, medical device that can analyze the heart's rhythm and, if necessary, deliver an electrical shock, or defibrillation, to help the heart re-establish an effective rhythm. Jeannette Burrell is going to offer some basic training at various times during the work day on March 2 so we will be looking for interest via signups.
Spring Work Day--March 2
Mark your calendars for the Work Day on March 2. We will have a list of projects by then. All ranges will be closed until work is completed.
WNC Junior Hunter Competition--March 16
This annual competition among school shooting teams will be March 16 at PCGC. Friday, March 15 will be a prep day. All ranges will be closed both days. We will need a few volunteers on Friday to set up the parking area and then 7-8 volunteers starting about 6am Saturday to park the 350+ vehicles we get. Let me know if you are able to help.
50 Yard Range--Progress Report
The berm and shooting pad are completed. Bobby Robinson is getting prices to pour a concrete pad on which we will place 4 of the concrete shooting tables. Then we'll build 4 target stands identical to the ones on the other ranges. Later this year, we plan to install a cover similar to the other three ranges. Until this range is completed, 50 yard shooting is permitted on the alley to the right hand side of the 25 yard (Pistol) range. We had installed a target stand for the 50 yard shooters and someone took it down. If you know about that, please let me or one of the Board know. Removing it without authorization is a violation of Club property.
Reminders
- The NRA Regional Annual Meeting in Asheville is Feb 9 and the Club has purchased a table for the Clay Busters. If you would like to attend with them or make a donation, all the details are on the website.
- Don't forget to check out the Classified Ads on the website occasionally, There was a bunch of stuff just added. If your item has been up for a long time, please either tell me to take it down or do something different like change the price.
- The Annual 4-H competition will be August 9-10. More on this later.
- Ed Skeels and Greg Ficklin are looking for people who want to run for the three Board openings. Contact one of them if you are interested in this three year position. The elections are at the annual meeting in May and we need at least 5 people to run.
December 2023
Happy New Year, Everyone! It's been a while since the last newsletter but I, like I hope most of you, had a busy holiday season and I'm trying to catch up. Here is the latest news.
ASI Match Cancellation This Saturday
The ASI (Action Shooter) pistol match for THIS Saturday is cancelled due to weather. Saturday is not looking good.
New 2024 Hold Harmless Agreements Needed for Guests
With the start of the new year, all guests (adults and minors) need to sign new HHA's for 2024, punch holes in the form, and put them in the notebook alphabetically by last name of the guest. Guests only need to fill out a form once for the whole year. Guests need to wear one of the VISITOR lanyards while on site. Please return when leaving.
Junior Hunter Skills Tournament March 16 Calendar Announcement
Looking ahead to Spring, here's an advance notice of the NCWRC District 9 Youth Hunter Education Skills Tournament on Saturday, March 16, 2024. Our Spring Workday will be the preceding Saturday, March 9. Please mark your calendars. All ranges will be closed those two days (and also Friday the 15th.)
On the Website
1. High Power Rifle announces their 2024 Schedule
2. Long Range Handgun match details for 2024 posted.
3. Final Buffalo Rim Fire tournament results from December 30.
Pistol Range
Operation of the 25 yard range seems to be going well. We've heard lots of positives. The target stands for pistol shooting (courtesy of Jason Ashley) are all painted and available for general use. The vertical boards are missing so you may need to bring your own 1x2s or 1x3s. As always, make sure targets on the pistol range stands are at eye level to ensure all rounds hit the berm, especially at distances 10 yards and under. The large temporary target stand we put in the ground for the 50 yard alley on the right of the range has been taken down and we don't know why. If anyone knows about that, please let me know. We're going to try to reinstall it this weekend subject to weather.
50 Yard Rifle Range
The berm and range have been built for this and it looks great. It is not usable yet. The plan is to install four target stands, put in a concrete pad soon with four shooting tables and then a cover. We intend to make it just like the 100/200/300 yard range.
Used Brass
Please pick up all brass from your shooting. If you don't want it, please toss it in the available buckets. DO NOT PUT LIVE ROUNDS IN THESE BUCKETS! Put live rounds in the trash. Used brass gets melted down and live rounds would not be a good thing. Do NOT put non-brass cases in these buckets either. The Club takes used brass to a metal recycler periodically and gets cash back.
Firearms for Freedom NRA Legacy Program
As we all grow older, are you wondering what will happen to your firearms when you are gone? The NRA has a program called Firearms for Freedom. Sam Summey brought this to our attention and it's posted under Our Club/Programs. Link here: https://polkcountygunclub.com/firearms-for-freedom/ The NRA offers many ways for your firearms to be passed on to the next generation. Take a look at this if it might work for you.
Major Capital Projects
The Club is taking a serious look at 1) asphalting Jack's Way from the main road back to the Clubhouse and 2) (again) considering an electronic gate of some sort. We have two asphalt quotes both around $35,000. We haven't got that far with the gate idea yet but we're working on it. Personally, I think an asphalt road entry would be a nice addition and reduce the need for maintenance of the gravel road that is constantly washing out. If you have pro or con thoughts on either, please let the Board know via responses to me.
Monthly Meeting
The next monthly meeting is Tuesday, January 9 next week.
2024 Board Nominations
It's still way early but Ed Skeels and Greg Ficklin are chairing the Nominations Committee for our elections in May. Charlie, Bobby, and my terms are up. Let Ed or Greg know if you are interested in a Board position.
Terry
October 2023
MODIFIED PISTOLRANGE
As mentioned a couple of weeks ago and repeated here, the modified pistol range with the pavilion moved up to the 25-yard line is now in operation.
Adjusted/Temporary Pistol Range RulesHere's how the pistol range should operate until the new 50 yard berm is completed on the rifle range. At that time, we may make the pistol range 25 yards only. All 50 yard shooting would move to the rifle range. This MAY change as we get experience but this is where we are headed.1. Right now, the pavilion firing line is at 25 yards and there is a 50 yard firing line off to the right. Two firing lines get complicated but we are trying to accommodate everyone temporarily.2. The 50 yard lane will be for anyone wanting to shoot pistols or rifles at that distance. When a 50 yard shooter is present, that distance takes precedence and there will be NO SHOOTING from the pavilion or anywhere closer than 50 yards. We ask during this temporary period 50 yard shooters don't take over the range for extended times and keep their shooting times brief. Please cooperate!3. All other shooting will be from the pavilion firing line 25 yards from the berm. Target stands, yours or the ones there now, may be placed at any distance from the pavilion.4. Shooters must ensure their targets on the stands are at sufficient height (e.g. eye level) that rounds impact the berm and not the floor of the range. At shorter distances, this means targets have to be 3-4' or more above the ground.5. ALL OTHER USUAL PISTOL RANGE RULES APPLY, PARTICULARLY WHEN THERE ARE MORE THAN ONE SHOOTER. PLEASE FOLLOW THE USUAL SAFETY RULES AND PROCEDURES!!6. There is a lot more available parking behind the pavilion. When someone is shooting at 50 yards, don't park there. If there are 25 yard shooters and their cars present, cars in front of the 50 yard line need to be moved before shooting starts from the 50 yard line.
NEW TARGET STANDS FOR PISTOL RANGE
Jason Ashley, one of our members, made a number of wooden pistol stands for anyone to use. Photos attached. Many thanks to Jason for a nice job! They have different slots for the verticals so the width can be customized to your targets. Use them at any distance but the taller verticals should be used at closer distances to help make sure your rounds impact the berm. Please leave the stands at the range for all to use.
DUNHAM DISCOUNTS
Reminder to use your discount cards available at the office for 10% off at Dunham's in Hendersonville anytime. I've used it several times. NOTE one of our FOUR 20% off weekends is coming up November 10-12. Good time to pick up a Christmas present.
CLASSIFIED ADS
We've had a flurry of activity recently. Remember to send me items you want to post and take a look at what's there. If you've had something up for a while with no action, you might want to change the price.
WEBSITE NEWS AND CALENDAR
Reminder that the leaders of our various disciplines regularly post match results under NEWS. Check it out. Also the 2024 calendar is updated with match dates that I've been given.
PCGC HIGH POWER RIFLE PROGRAM EXPLAINED
Sam Summey explained in a recent note how several of the high power rifle disciplines you see on our calendar link together. It was helpful to me so I'm passing along the information. (Sam, I rearranged and edited a little!)
There are two governing bodies, the NRA and the CMP (Civilian Marksmanship Program). The latter was started by the US Government around the turn of the 20th Century. Both entities sanction matches in their name and have similar but separate sets of rules. Both have High Power Rifle Programs. (Both also sanction small bore and air rifle too.)
PCGC embraces both governing bodies (as High Power Rifle.) We hold NRA Service Rifle Matches (6) in the summer and CMP GSM matches (4) in the winter. As a rule the CMP League matches are more relaxed and instructive. We started doing these matches to introduce new shooters/competitors to high power rifle competition. In February we hold the Frozen Chosin which adds another position (sitting) as a fun "club match".The CMP winter "League" is still classified as High Power Rifle and includes the WW II Garand, WW I Springfield, and Modern Military rifles (M14, AR-15, FNFAL, and derivatives of the German G3) and thus adds the GSM acronym (Garand, Springfield, Modern Military).The NRA F-class matches that PCGC holds are also an NRA High Power Rifle Program with a side program of small bore F-class.
JUST IN: GREG CHAPA TAKES TOP HONORS AT 1000 YARDS
Dan Henk passes on a very hearty congratulations to club member Greg Chapa for taking top honors as F-Open competitor at the NC State 1000 yd F-Class championship on 28 October at Burlington NC. Kudos, Greg! Says Dan: "We've watched you practice faithfully and we're all proud of your win!"
Terry
September 2023
Hi Everybody,
Sorry for the long absence of a newsletter but I've missed the past two club meetings due to vacations, and then my computer died, so I'm just getting back in the swing.
Junior Rifle Brass Processing Machine
At the September meeting, Bobby highlighted the need for a new high power brass processing machine for the Junior Rifle team. The current system is old and inefficient. Cost is estimated at $3250. Rather than club fund it directly, it was suggested that we first ask for donations from members to help pay for it. We already received several hundred dollars in pledges at the meeting. Please make a donation if you can. Make checks out to PCGC and put them in an envelope marked Jr Rifle Brass Machine and stick it in the safe or give it to Bobby or another Board member. For perspective, we have 300 members and if just 30 of us can give $100 each, we'd have it made.
US Representative Chuck Edwards May Attend October Meeting
Thanks to Caton McBride's invitation, Representative Edwards (NC-11) may attend the October regular meeting and address the group. He apparently is an avid shooter and Caton has invited him to shoot with some of us.
Clay Pigeon Costs
The cost of the latest delivery of clays is coming in at about $20,000 later this month. It's up from approximately $12,000 in recent years. While we are not yet raising prices to shooters again, be aware of this rising cost and don't be surprised if cost/round of skeet or trap goes up at some point in the future.
Clay Pigeon Handling
We have noticed an increase in the amount of clay breakage in loading the machines. With the number of new keys out there and maybe more and newer people loading, we need to be extra careful in handling and stacking clays into the machines. Given the cost, (see above!) please be careful with loading clay targets into the machines.
4-H Donation
Following the 4-H event here in August, the 4-H folks took a collection and donated $372 to the Club. We thank them!
Modified Pistol Range Proposal
There have long been complaints requiring pistol shooters to place all targets at the berm making folks shoot from the open field. Also, rifle shooters on the 50 yard range have been damaging the metal fencing used for hanging targets at the berm. So we are proposing a major change at the pistol range.
We will move the covered pavilion up to the 25 yard mark. We will remove the wire fencing and clean up/square up the berm. All shooting will now be from the pavilion using your own target stands at any distance you choose. All target stands will need to be positioned to ensure rounds strike the berm and not the floor of the range.(We may provide standard ones at some point in the future.) The range will now be PISTOLS ONLY. NO RIFLES OF ANY CALIBER will be allowed on the pistol range now. (We will make an exception only for .22 shooters at the Junior Hunter Event in March and the 4-H Event in August.) To accommodate rifle shooters, we will construct two new 50 yard target stands in between the 100 and 200 yard ranges. Shooting table 210 will have a clear line of sight to both the #10 target at 200 yards and the #1 target at 50 yards. Table 101 will have a clear line of sight to both the #1 stand at 100 yards and the #2 stand at 50 yards. (It is still possible we may move the 50 yard stands to the right of the 100 yard range and/or use fold-up, semi-permanent stands for them at the above location.) A side benefit of moving the pavilion will be a lot more parking for pistol shooters behind the relocated pavilion.
The Board is in favor of these changes but we wanted to push it out to the membership for any additional questions or comments we may not have thought of. We will probably confirm all this at the Oct 10 meeting and hopefully implement the changes at the Oct 14 Fall Work Day. Please reply back to me or to any Board member. I will forward anything that I receive to the Board at the meeting.
Long Range Handgun
The Sixgunner is the top national handgun hunting periodical. Dan Henk recently submitted an article about our Long Range Handgun matches and it was included in their most recent issue.
The link to the magazine is HERE: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CfLUMhJPRDWhiDP_f9n4eK9ken5-WsAD/view
Sixgunner also offered a FREE subscription to the magazine HERE: subscribepage.com/thesixgunner
The number of long range pistol shooters has been decreasing a bit at our matches so if you're still interested, please make a point to come out and join in. Only one match left this season on Tuesday, October 3 at 630pm. If you just want to try it, Dan Henk might be able to set you up.
July 2023
Just a few updates following last week's meeting.
HOLD HARMLESS FORMS AND NEW GUEST PASSES
Every guest, shooting or not, is required to complete a Hold Harmless Agreement (HHA) once a year. It must be signed by a Member. The NEW procedure this year has been to insert the form alphabetically by the guest's last name in the notebook. (Some were still putting the forms in the black mailbox which was on the floor but we've now put that away in the office.) NEW THIS MONTH, instead of the little guest cards to wear, we are making up a bunch of VISITOR tags on lanyards for guests to wear around their necks. We decided the cards were being used erratically and what was important was for everyone to know who the visitors were. PLEASE GET YOUR GUEST TO WEAR A VISITOR LANYARD AND RETURN IT BEFORE LEAVING THE GROUNDS.
CLASSIFIED ADS REMINDER
Don't forget about our classified ads on the website. Ads submitted have been coming a little slow. Purchases have also been slow. And, if you have an ad there that hasn't generated any interest recently , it might be time to reduce the price and/or take down the ad for a while. LMK.
NEWS ITEMS ON THE WEBSITE
We continue to post results of each of the Club's matches on the website. If you want to know who's been shooting well, check out the site.
FALL WORK DAY SCHEDULED: OCTOBER 14
Mark your calendars for Saturday, October 14. We will have our semi-annual work day. If you want a project done, let someone on the Board know.
SAFETY FENCE EXTENSION
Ron Wilson is leading a group to extend the safety fence between the skeet/trap fields and the other ranges. Let him know if you can help.
4-H TOURNAMENT AUGUST 11-12: RANGES CLOSED
The annual tournament is scheduled for August 11-12 and all ranges will be closed for this event.
CONTACT INFORMATION CHANGES
As always, if your email or snail mail address or phone number changes, please let us know.
June 2023
Hi Everybody,
I was on vacation last week and missed the meeting so this newsletter is a little late this month.
Membership Check Deposits Problem
Al has had a problem making deposits. Our bank is requiring special deposit slips and he had to order more. Also, the bank is moving to electronic deposits which introduce another layer of complexity and delay. Net, deposits are being made but slowly so just sit tight if your check hasn't cleared yet. If you got your new gate code in the mail, your membership is ok.
Membership Update
At this time, the Club's membership quota has been reached and no further action on applications will be taken until there are vacancies. Those currently on the wait list as of 6/13/23 will be allowed to complete the membership process and be voted on. We will continue to take applications, and those applicants will be up for membership sequentially by the date they were received by the membership chairman when vacancies occur. Our 2 meeting requirement is still in place and easy to meet, but it would be beneficial for any applicant to first, get to the club, participate in something, and make associations such that you will have two sponsors, one of which will request the application. There are many hopefuls with the meeting requirement completed, but no application submitted. So, preferred process: visit the club, get sponsors, submit application, attend meetings, wait for opening.
AED Unit
The Club is in the process of purchasing an AED (Automatic External Defibrillator) unit which will be mounted in the Club House. Once it is received and installed, we will have training on its use for any interested member. One of our members, Jeanette Burrell, who has a Masters in Nursing and teaches CPR and other classes extensively in addition to her regular hospital job, has volunteered to conduct our training. More information on that will be forthcoming.
Dunham's Discount
The Club has applied for and received 10% discount cards from Dunham Sports. Look for a separate email with details.
Email Updates
Just a reminder to let me know if you change email addresses (or any other personal data.) I'll forward it to Charlie and keep you on the newsletter list.
Coffee Pot
Another reminder. If you use the coffee pot, when done, please make sure it's cleaned and left unplugged.
Terry
May 2023 and Annual Meeting
I will combine news from both meetings.
ELECTION RESULTS: CHANGE AT THE TOP
Despite light attendance, enough votes were cast "legally" and as expected Doyle Estes, Al Boehm, and Greg Ficklin were re-elected to the Board for a three-year term. When officers were selected after the Annual Meeting, Doyle and Beryl nominated each other for President, and Beryl was selected as the new president. Doyle will be VP, Al will remain as Treasurer, I will continue as Secretary, Charlie will continue as Membership Chair, and Bobby will continue as Executive Officer. Note Charlie's email is posted under Contacts on the website if you have membership questions. Go to him, not me!
RECENT CLUB PURCHASES
A total of $1,000 was approved for lumber to extend the safety fencing alongside of Field #3.
An AED device has been ordered for approximately $1,000 and will be installed in the clubhouse. We will probably arrange for training on its use for anyone interested.
Ten new Samsung tablets totaling about $1,000 were approved to facilitate electronic scoring on the rifle ranges.
TRAP/SKEET KEYS
Exactly 50 keys have been given out so far. We still have a few more. Contact me to arrange a meeting time if you want one.
TRAP/SKEET SIGN-IN LOGS
At one point, we announced we were going to have logs in each skeet/trap house to log in opening and closing, but we have decided not to do that. However, all shooters must continue to complete the sign-in books at each range. We need to know who is shooting, especially the last person leaving.
Without the close-out logs in the houses now, everyone must remember that the LAST trap or skeet shooters of the day MUST follow the closing procedure (to be posted in each house) and make sure all machines are re-filled and houses are LOCKED. A key is not needed to lock them. ONE IMPORTANT POINT: When the last MEMBER is finished shooting, the houses must be closed/locked. A non-member cannot continue to shoot withOUT a member present.
CONCRETE STEP REPAIRS
Bobby is working on this and by the time of this writing, I believe all the repairs/replacements have been completed.
Repeating two points from last month:
Terry
April 2023
Charlie mailed the Annual Meeting notice with the new gate code on Tuesday, April 18. Be on the lookout. If your check hasn't cleared yet, be patient as Al deposits them in batches to avoid extra fees from the bank. If you get your letter in the next few days, you are good.
Nominations for Board Positions
There were no volunteers for the Board except for the three going off--Doyle, Al, and Greg--to recommit for another three-year term. If last minute you want to run, you'll have to have the Board consider it.
Clay Busters Leader Announced
Johnny Cantrell has agreed to take over leadership of Clay Busters. Please congratulate him and help him out if he needs a hand.
Nora Ross Clinic Coming May 6-7
Details on the website PCGC members can get first dibs by signing up now with Dave Foti.
WNC Junior Hunter Event Recap
We had 31 teams and parked 377 vehicles. We're almost at capacity. There were lots of people here and the event ran very smoothly and safely.
Women on Target
We're still seeking a person to lead this. It would be a great service to the ladies of the community. It requires a lot of effort but a well organized, manager-type individual would be able to manage it. Contact the Board if you are interested or want to recommend someone.
ATF News
Sam Summey has reported a couple of very positive results on gun legislation by NC legislators. Details are posted on the website.
Lawn Care
We started a lawn service this week and they mowed and weed eated everything on Wednesday morning except the rifle range which Ed did himself last week. In my opinion, they did a GREAT JOB. The service will generally be there on Wed morning and alternate between the rifle range or all the rest of the ranges each week until we get a pattern figured out..
Trap/Skeet Keys
We have "given out" 45 keys in exchange for a refundable security deposit. Thirty-two old ones were turned in. I have 5 more left from the second production run. When they are gone, we will get some more made. Contact me to meet sometime at the club to get a key.
We are dispensing with the opening/closing logs in the houses but NOTE THAT A KEY IS NOT NEEDED TO LOCK UP. Therefore, anyone can close up the ranges but you must follow the shut down process--turn the machines off, refill the trays, etc-- and remember to lock the houses if you are the last shooter.
Gate Lock
Gate--If you are fortunate enough to open the main gate sometime, be sure to lock the lock back onto the chain after you swing open the gate and spin the dials to hide the code. If you don't relock the lock, you can't spin the dials and the gate code will be exposed for all to see all day.
Club House Lock
If you are last out, make sure both doors are locked. It's possible to flip a switch on the combo lock so it's turned off, and similarly, the other door automatically stays unlocked when opened from the inside. Check both, please.
New Parking Area
A new parking area for 10-15 cars parked on an angle has been completed just behind Field #1. This will also be convenient for the Pistol Range. John Holbert did the work and also replaced the culvert between the fork and the Pistol Range. Great job!
Dogs Still Prohibited
Once again, a reminder to all that no dogs are allowed on property for safety reasons, both for the dog's sake and for the humans' sake. Most everybody has been good but there have been a few dogs here. If you see one, do your RSO duty and ask them to leave with the dog.
Upcoming Events
F Class Match--April 22
Buffalo/Rim Fire--April 29
Long Range Handgun--May 2
ASI Pistol--May 6
Bench Rest--May 7
Turkey Season
Check out the attached photo taken just before the March meeting. They knew the season wasn't open yet.
Hope you made it this far.
March 2023
Lots of important information this month. Not everybody reads emails so please pass this stuff on by word of mouth.
NEW TRAP/SKEET HOUSE KEYS TO BE ISSUED
The new locks will be placed and new keys will be exchanged with old ones on April 8 from 10am to Noon in the Club House. This date/time will be for people with current keys only. It's a tight window but we want to get it done quickly. If you want the new key, make it a point to get there because the locks are being changed that day. Bring your old key and a $50 deposit check which is refundable if/when you return the key. People not having a current key and wanting one will be taken care of later after we see how many current holders claim new keys. Not everybody reads these emails so spread this event by word-of-mouth to your friends with keys!
WNC JUNIOR HUNTER COMPETITION THIS WEEKEND
All ranges closed THIS Friday and Saturday. Need a few volunteers for Friday setup (9am), Saturday parking (6am), and RSO support (9am-3pm). There will be ~300 cars and ~700 people on site Saturday.
NO DOGS ON PROPERTY
We continue to remind everyone that the club policy is NO dogs on property. This is primarily for safety (human and animal) reasons.
CLUB HOUSE DOORS BEING LEFT UNLOCKED
This is another reminder that if you are the last one in the Club House on any given day, MAKE SURE BOTH DOORS ARE LOCKED. We've had several instances where the combo lock door is locked but the other door is open. For the latter, if you open it from the inside, it AUTOMATICALLY UNLOCKS from BOTH sides. When you leave, you have to turn the button. Check it! The combo lock door needs to have the interior switch in the correct position to lock from the outside. Check it too! Please!
RIFLE RANGE NUMBER SIGNS REPLACED/PENALTY TO SHOOT AT THEM
Recently, new signs were installed. Please make every effort NOT to put bullet holes in them. We know there is an occasional flyer but we have seen tightly grouped patterns on some of them suggesting people are unwilling to hang targets and use the number signs as targets. THIS DESTRUCTION OF CLUB PROPERTY IS A VIOLATION OF CLUB RULES AND IF OBSERVED WILL BE PUNISHED BY TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP. As RSO's, if you observe someone shooting on the rifle range without targets, we'll assume they are shooting at the signs so please find out the name of the person and pass it on to the Board immediately.
HOLD HARMLESS AGREEMENTS
Every guest needs to complete a Hold Harmless Agreement before shooting but only once a year. Forms are on the rack on the wall. There is NOW an alphabetized notebook on the table to put the completed forms in by last name of the guest. Don't stuff the mailbox; it's gone!
ASI PISTOL MATCH #2
Since it's the newest discipline in the Club, we'll give this a bit more of a plug! The second ASI match was a success. The weather was good and the shooting was great. There were 15 competitors, twice last month, with several from the first match. Also they were about equally split between members and non-members. The word is spreading. After the safety briefing, we started at 1215 and ended up at 330. We shot 4 stages with a round count of 46 rounds What was surprising and a good sign was that almost half of the competitors were rocking with 1911’s. Yay! Also, 9mm ruled today! The best overall shooter was Jake Davis with a time of 58.20. Everybody was safe and shot great. Some were new to this style of shooting and as the stages went on you could see improvements. I want to thank Tom Brooks again for his RO duties and scoring, Kathy McBride for signing everybody up and keeping the paperwork straight. The next match is April 1 and I (Caton McBride) am already looking at some different stages with a couple really challenging ones.
LONG RANGE HANDGUN
OK, the second newest discipline! Dan Henk sent me a nice article but it's too long for this newsletter. I'll send it separately next week and read it if you're at all interested. The next LRH match is Tuesday evening, April 4.
WOMEN ON TARGET
At the Feb meeting, the Board discussed a desire to restart this program which teaches women how to be more comfortable and competent with shooting. PCGC used to run it but the leadership dropped away. The program needs a strong, capable administrator. If you have an interest in taking on this project for women both in our Club and the community as a service to both, please contact someone on the Board and we would be happy to discuss what's involved.
RUDY EIDAM LEAVES TOWN
For those of you who knew Rudy, he recently moved away and sent me a nice note he asked to share:
I want to thank the entire club membership for the manner in which they accepted, and instructed me, during my three years of shooting. Polk has proved to be the very best club I have ever been associated with.I have moved to Indiana to be closer to family. But please let the good folks at the club know how I appreciated the way they allowed me to enjoy being part of their organization.Respectfully,Rudy Eidam
February 2023
February 2023
Well our next meeting is tomorrow night which, of course, is Valentine's Day. Given the kind of guys your Board is, we decided to leave the date alone and take our spouses/others out for dinner on a different night and beat the crowds. But YOU can bring your spouse along to the meeting for a romantic night out. Parking lot will be real dark after the meeting!
Website
We've made a couple small changes to the website.
1. Past newsletters are now posted under News.
2. There is a Volunteer Project List now posted under Our Club. Take a look. Pick a project you could help with, or send new project ideas to me to post.
3. The Classified page continues to be popular so give it another look. If you have something to sell or want, send me an ad for it.
New members
Last month, Lee Wangsted, Marc James, Devon Cole, and Bob Shutt were approved as new members. Two more will be interviewed tomorrow. We are at about 315 members., I think.
Nominating Committee
Bobby Robinson ([email protected]) is chairing the nominations committee for the three new board positions coming up for election at the Annual Meeting on May 16. If you'd like to run, get in touch with Bobby.
Frozen Chosin (February 18)
Shooting begins at 10am. Match is held under modified CMP rules. Will be a 40 shot match (due to limited availability of ammo) conducted at 200 yards on standard SR targets. Sighting shots are allowed. Shooting positions are: prone slow fire, prone rapid from standing, sitting rapid from standing, and standing (off hand) slow fire. A competitor will need 60 rounds total which includes sighting rounds.
Spring Clean Up Day (March 4)
To get ready for the Junior Hunter competition--we'll have over 700 visitors to the Club--we'll have our annual Spring Clean Up Day on March 4 starting at 8am. It usually lasts until between noon and 2pm depending on work and attendees. All are encouraged to attend and the more who do, the quicker the work gets done. Projects are being planned so if you know of something to get done, let me know.
Next ASI Pistol Match (March 11)
The first ever Action Shooting International pistol match went off smoothly on Feb 4 with 8 shooters braving the cold weather. Reports were it was a lot of fun. The next match will be on March 11, one week later than first scheduled due to the Club Work Day on March 4. If you'd like to shoot, give Caton McBride ([email protected]) a heads up so he can plan.
WNC Junior Hunter Competition (March 18)
This year's Junior Hunter competition will be on Saturday, March 18 with Friday, March 17 as a prep day. All ranges will be closed both days. On Friday, March 17, while the State DNR guys are setting up ranges, Club members will do prep work getting the rifle range fields ready for parking. If you can volunteer on Friday, please let me know. We could use a half dozen or so folks. On Saturday morning, starting about 6am, we will be parking the 300 or so vehicles that will be coming. It's crazy but fun--in the dark! If you want to help with this, let me know you are coming and make sure you have fresh batteries in your flashlight. It's all over by 9am but some of us hang around to help with RSO duties.
Terry Lynch
PCGC Secretary
January 2023
Shooting at the Number Boards on the Rifle Ranges is a Violation
ASI Pistol Matches Rescheduled (Caton McBride)
Long Range Handgun (Dan Henk, Shawn Risdon)
WNC Junior Hunter Competition March 18
Spring Clean Up Day March 4
Update on Website Classified Ads
New Trap Machine
Keys to the Trap and Skeet Houses
Club to Purchase an AED Device for Club House
Mike Murph to Retire from Clay Busters Leadership
Murph has announced his intention to retire from his position taking care of the Clay Busters. All of us on the Board and in the Club who have benefitted from Murph's leadership and unselfish coaching will be sad to see him leave. He has spent many, many hours coaching our youth with many of them going on to great success in state and national competitions. It's a great legacy! While we are confirming a replacement, we hope Murph will be around to offer assistance as needed.
Secretary
December 2022
Christmas is coming . . .
Check the PCGC Classified Ads section for gifts for your family or favorite shooters! https://polkcountygunclub.com/classifieds/ It's also a good time to post anything you want to sell. We've had good movement of items recently.
New Members
At the November meeting, Lindsay Bagwell, Justin Nelson, and Mike Lovelace were approved as new members.
Trap House completion
Glover McMurray and a few buddies completed the trap house on the new (third) trap/skeet range. They did an outstanding job. Check out the photo attached. Now they are making some repairs on the other two houses. Both of these houses need some paint. If you want to volunteer to do it, let me know but go ahead and do it. The club will reimburse for the paint if you will supply the labor.
Jack Arcularious Way
The sign naming the entrance drive for Gunny is now installed! As you drive into the Club, please remember Jack and the many years of service he gave to Country and to our Club.
Upcoming Events
Saturday, Dec 31, 8am Buffalo Rimfire New Year's Eve Match
ASI Action Pistol Matches Coming in January, February, and March
PCGC, led by Caton McBride is introducing an ASI (Action Shooting International) pistol match for the first time in January. The first three test matches will be on the first Saturdays of January, February, and March. Dates are on the calendar and full information is under the News heading on the website.
Each match will start at 1200. Registration, depending on weather, will be in the clubhouse or at the pavilion at the pistol range and starts at 1100. New shooter briefing at 1145am. Cost per shooter is $20.00 and ALL shooters must register.
Any caliber handgun may be used. A holster is preferred but not required but the handgun must be in either a holster or bag, UNLOADED, and VISIBLY LOCKED OPEN if a semi-automatic. Shooters will need at least 50 rounds of ammunition, extra mags if available, and hearing and eye protection.
If you are interested in participating in the match, please email Caton at [email protected] or call 8282201778. He would like to have an idea of the attendance.
Here is a link to a sample of what one of these matches might look like. Obviously, each "session" would need to be adapted to the available range geometry. That is what Caton is planning.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZjtA9NSd3Q&authuser=0
Reminder to Sign In When Using Each Range
Please remember to sign the logs whenever you use one of the ranges. I personally witnessed a couple guys leaving the rifle range who had apparently forgotten. We need a record in case of any problems encountered on each range.
Hold Harmless Guest Release Forms
Every guest, adult or minor, who shoots at the Club is required to complete a Hold Harmless Form. No exceptions. We have separate forms for adults and minors. Each signed form is good for a calendar year. At the end of this month, all of the 2022 forms become invalid and every guest needs to sign a new form for 2023. The blank forms go quickly so if you use the last one, please make and leave a few copies for others on the printer right there. Let me know if there are no more forms and I can get some more there pretty quickly too.
I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year if we don't see you at the Club this month!
September 2022
LONG RANGE PISTOL MATCH--SEPTEMBER 6 (TOMORROW!)
Format of the match remains the same: twenty shots for record on a groundhog target in a time period of fifteen minutes. Rimfire shooters will shoot targets on the 100 yard range. Centerfire shooters will shoot targets on the 300 yard line. Assuming there are more than three shooters in a class (rimfire or centerfire), first-place winners will receive a cash award. Registration fee for the match is $15.
OTHER UPCOMING MATCHES
MONTHLY MEETING
FALL CLUB WORK DAY--SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8, 8AM
CALENDAR AND CLASSIFIEDS
NORA ROSS TRAPSHOOTING CLINIC--MAY 6-7, 2023
What to expect:
Terry
July 2022
It's been a while since I sent a newsletter. I've been doing a lot of traveling. Here goes with a few comments and questions seeking a comment.
At a recent monthly meeting, there was discussion about how difficult it has become to find reloading components of all sorts. If anyone has extra components of any type that they are not using and may wish to sell, or who has found a reliable source, please share the information with me and I will forward it to the whole group. If you know of a good source for reloading supplies, especially powder and (shotgun) shot, please share also.
Ads on the calendar.page, reflecting a negative experience of and comment by one member, are there because we are using a free calendar app. My advice is not to click on any of them. I can't vouch for the security.
QUESTION #1: IS THERE ANY INTEREST IN A CLASSIFIED ADS SECTION ON THE WEBPAGE WHERE FOLKS COULD LIST ITEMS FOR SALE, AS WE DO ON THE BULLETIN BOARDS NOW. WE WOULD HAVE A SEPARATE PAGE ON THE SITE. I THINK I WOULD RECOMMEND SELLERS LIST ONLY AN EMAIL ADDRESS WITH AN ITEM FOR SALE.
QUESTION #2: DAN HENK AND SEAN RISDON ARE PROPOSING A MONTHLY LONG-RANGE PISTOL MATCH ON TUESDAY NIGHTS STARTING IN AUGUST AND CONTINUING THROUGH DAYLIGHT SAVINGS. IT WOULD LAST LESS THAN ONE HOUR. DETAILS IN THE ATTACHED PDF. THE BOARD IS GOING TO CONSIDER THIS IN THE JULY 12 MONTHLY MEETING. WE ARE CHECKING THE RANGE SHEETS FOR "BUSY-NESS" ON THOSE EVENINGS WHICH IS A CONCERN. PLEASE READ OVER THE PDF AND REPLY TO ME WITH COMMENTS AND A EITHER YES OR NO ON THE PROPOSAL. IF YOU YOURSELF WOULD SHOOT AT SUCH A MATCH, PLEASE LET ME KNOW THAT TOO. SUCH DATA FOR THE BOARD WOULD BE HELPFUL.
Finally, from the last survey, here are some key points:
Survey Results
35 people responded which is less than 12%. Not a very good response considering we have 300 members. But most people were appreciative of the opportunity to provide input and I'm guessing the responses were probably fairly representative.
PISTOL RANGE
Q1: 21 shoot both pistol and rifle, 4 shoot pistol only, 1 rifle only
Q2: 17 shoot 1x/month or less, 7 shoot a few times per month, 1 shoots 1x/week
Q3: Pistol distance: 7 yds – 11 shooters, 10 yds – 6 shooters, 15 yds – 7 shooters, 20 yds or more – 8 shooters, 5 yds or less – 24 shooters, 20 yds or more – 8 shooters
Q4: Rifle distance: 50 yds – 17 shooters, 25-30 yds – 3 shooters
SKEET/TRAP RANGE
Q5: 10 admitted to having keys. I won't list them here.
Q6: At least 10 others said they arrived and no one had a key, some many times.
Q7: Sometimes people came with a key and sometimes not.
Q8: Most common day seemed to be Friday but also a few Tuesdays and Saturdays
Thank you to everyone who took the time to respond!! We will use these results to 1) consider improvements/changes to the pistol range and 2) how to better manage key availability.
As always, comments welcome.