It’s pistol matches, rifle matches, etc. it’s 3 days a week now and weekends mostly tied up with them. open range days are only 2-3x yr. otherwise I would.
When do you walk away?
- Thread starter Axis II
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No BLM land around here. They have all these public pistol, ar, Benchrest, etc shoots to bring money in. Bank account with savings is close to $100k
It’s funny because each year we get 3-6 names for people running and because it’s the same 40 guys who show to the meetings they vote the same people in. IMO the entire membership should have say so not 25 guys who say yes. Most the committees are 3-5yr too before you can be voted out. I tried getting on and was voted no.
That’s the current plan.
LiveLife
Member
Dang.
They do it each year and read the treasure report each month. One guy asked 2-3yrs ago where all the money goes too and several people got pretty mad at him. I say someone is fudging the books because it doesn’t cost $300 month to clean porta potty’s or $150 month for electric when the club
House should barely be used. It’s the guys using it as their coffee shop for 3-4hrs a day. Lights, AC, etc. $400 in stamps to send mailed news letters. I’ve yet to get a mailed letter.
Archie
Member
Being on the board of directors of my shooting club, I am keenly aware of the absolute nightmare of getting club members to show up and do anything, other than maybe participate in a club shoot or when they want.
The club puts on two gun shows a year and that provides a good deal of the operating budget. Can we count on any more than 'the usual suspects' to help? Not much.
Once a year we do a 'Clean Up Day' to do the not so often jobs. It varies, sometimes some target fixtures need repair, the inside range bullet traps need emptied, firing lines need repainted and so on. The board and a few interested others show up. On on a good day, we'll have twenty people. Usually shooters (and they are ALL members, it's a private club) won't even pick up their trash and non-reloadable cases.
This is my club, and I've always considered it so, even before I was elected to the board. (By the way, board members are elected once a year and one can 'nominate' themself.
So far, we've managed to keep operating for some really fortuitous circumstances. (We're a non-profit, land was cheap when obtained, lower utility bills.)
If one is a non productive member, one should not be surprised when the system doesn't work. I suggest members take some real interest in the club instead of pitying themselves. Become a member of the board. Find out what needs fixing and fix the stuff you can.
The baby shower? We do allow things like that. They are posted monthly in the newsletter sent out to the emails members have submitted. I suspect many members do not read them.
The club puts on two gun shows a year and that provides a good deal of the operating budget. Can we count on any more than 'the usual suspects' to help? Not much.
Once a year we do a 'Clean Up Day' to do the not so often jobs. It varies, sometimes some target fixtures need repair, the inside range bullet traps need emptied, firing lines need repainted and so on. The board and a few interested others show up. On on a good day, we'll have twenty people. Usually shooters (and they are ALL members, it's a private club) won't even pick up their trash and non-reloadable cases.
This is my club, and I've always considered it so, even before I was elected to the board. (By the way, board members are elected once a year and one can 'nominate' themself.
So far, we've managed to keep operating for some really fortuitous circumstances. (We're a non-profit, land was cheap when obtained, lower utility bills.)
If one is a non productive member, one should not be surprised when the system doesn't work. I suggest members take some real interest in the club instead of pitying themselves. Become a member of the board. Find out what needs fixing and fix the stuff you can.
The baby shower? We do allow things like that. They are posted monthly in the newsletter sent out to the emails members have submitted. I suspect many members do not read them.
I check the landowner records and it’s listed as an LLC with the club name. The clubs been there since the 50s or earlier.
JCooperfan1911
member
- Joined
- Oct 8, 2020
- Messages
- 2,709
Gross.
When I want to shoot, I drive 15 min outside of town into the desert all by myself, no rules, no BS, just me, my guns, and nature.
When I want to shoot, I drive 15 min outside of town into the desert all by myself, no rules, no BS, just me, my guns, and nature.
Old Dog
Member
OP, I feel your pain.
I've watched two formerly good gun clubs die, one because it was led by a hothead who couldn't figure out how to fight frivolous litigation from surrounding housing developments that sprung up long after the club had been operating successfully for years (and let his personal vendetta with the county prosecutor become media fodder), another because the old guys in charge ran the club around their personal desires and schedules and couldn't keep up with the changes in the gun culture, to the point where it's not fun for anyone to shoot there now; even new shooters visit once and exit saying, "never again."
An hour and a half drive to do a little shooting is not optimal, for sure. But I think that's becoming the reality for many of us these days. Where we can shoot has become, after the political stupidities of the day, has become another real problem for many of us.
I've watched two formerly good gun clubs die, one because it was led by a hothead who couldn't figure out how to fight frivolous litigation from surrounding housing developments that sprung up long after the club had been operating successfully for years (and let his personal vendetta with the county prosecutor become media fodder), another because the old guys in charge ran the club around their personal desires and schedules and couldn't keep up with the changes in the gun culture, to the point where it's not fun for anyone to shoot there now; even new shooters visit once and exit saying, "never again."
An hour and a half drive to do a little shooting is not optimal, for sure. But I think that's becoming the reality for many of us these days. Where we can shoot has become, after the political stupidities of the day, has become another real problem for many of us.
stonebuster
Member
Are your committee members elected by the general membership? Do you have meetings where the general membership votes on proposals ect? I belong to a private non profit boat club which is often run by the same board members for years because no one else wants or has the time or inclination to do it. We require 10 work hours/annually or fine of $300 but work hours are available and we have a board member designated who can be contacted for work party info. The membership has a right to present gripes and proposals at monthly general meetings. Don't know if your club works the same way. I'd try to get like minded members together to present your gripes to the committee at your club or vote them out if it's an option. A three hour round trip for a range day wouldn't be my choice.
stonebuster
Member
Our yacht club was in the red losing money every year for years. About 400 members and multi million annual budget We finally kicked out the entire board and officers last year and went from in the red to $250K in the black in one year. For years the membership talked about an outside audit but didn't follow through so we cleaned house. We had the foxes running the hen house.
We had a similar problem at our club here in London. There were three senior members who were running the club how they wanted, since they had been there for years. There was financial chicanery also.
The club was losing members because of a few bad apples right at the top.
It eventually got sorted out in a kind of coup, where every other committee member banded together and booted 5 seniors out of the club.
It is a very different club now!
The key is to get a majority of committee members together and boot the bad apples. Until that happens you will have no relief because those bad apples will not change their ways.
The club was losing members because of a few bad apples right at the top.
It eventually got sorted out in a kind of coup, where every other committee member banded together and booted 5 seniors out of the club.
It is a very different club now!
The key is to get a majority of committee members together and boot the bad apples. Until that happens you will have no relief because those bad apples will not change their ways.
I belonged to an outdoor range years ago, only requirement was yearly dues.
Then I owned my own land (place to shoot) for 16 years.
I've moved to town and have been going to an indoor range, pay when you go, simple.
Annual dues? OK
NRA membership? (Somebody needs a new suit) I'll choke that one down.
Forced to pay for a dinner I don't want to go to? That is stepping on principle and I aint that social. Not liking that.
Forced labor? No. Heck no. I'll drive further and/or pay more; I'm not doing that.
Thanks for making me appreciate the indoor range this morning.
Then I owned my own land (place to shoot) for 16 years.
I've moved to town and have been going to an indoor range, pay when you go, simple.
Annual dues? OK
NRA membership? (Somebody needs a new suit) I'll choke that one down.
Forced to pay for a dinner I don't want to go to? That is stepping on principle and I aint that social. Not liking that.
Forced labor? No. Heck no. I'll drive further and/or pay more; I'm not doing that.
Thanks for making me appreciate the indoor range this morning.
That's expensive. Where I live the game club is about 3-4 miles from my house if I want to go, used to be $35 a year but in the past few years has jumped to $100 year, which to me is a bit much. They have a 25 yard pistol range, a roughly 200 yard rifle range all with concrete benches under a roof, a shotgun range and a fishing pond. That said, it's not a bad range at all, it's pretty nice but I think the price was raised to keep the less desirable people away. I don't see how many people at all would agree to pay $350+ for membership unless it was super nice and they provided free food and drink, hahaa. Seems to me that they're a greedy bunch.
DTL
Member
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- Feb 20, 2021
- Messages
- 549
The club I shoot at makes it real simple, outdoor rifle/shotgun or indoor pistol/rifle $250/yr unlimited range time. If not crowded, shoot all day, if it is 1-1.5 hrs and make room for someone. I shoot weekday mornings and have never been limited. Combined ranges $400/yr. They also have in&out archery. Just celebrated 8th yr the same rules since day 1, rate increases have been minimal year to year. Class operation.
mmb617
Member
Every time I read a story like this it makes me thankful for the club I belong to. It's a really nice facility that costs me $35/year and is open to members pretty much all the time. They do sometimes have IDPA or black powder shoots or rentals in which the ranges are closed but that's not real often.
There is no range work requirement. In fact when I first joined I volunteered to help with mowing and was told no help was needed as they had a couple members who enjoyed taking care of that. Feeling a bit guilty at using the range a lot for such low dues I took it upon myself to do some maintenance work on some of the target stands on my own dime, for which I was thanked.
There's a couple hundred members but only about 20 or so usually attend meetings and they pretty much run things, but all members are invited to attend the meetings and give input.
I can understand only allowing those who attend meetings to vote on policy, but would hope that any member who wishes to attend and vote can do so. If members are allowed to attend the meeting and vote but choose not to do so then I don't think they should complain about policy decisions that are made.
There is no range work requirement. In fact when I first joined I volunteered to help with mowing and was told no help was needed as they had a couple members who enjoyed taking care of that. Feeling a bit guilty at using the range a lot for such low dues I took it upon myself to do some maintenance work on some of the target stands on my own dime, for which I was thanked.
There's a couple hundred members but only about 20 or so usually attend meetings and they pretty much run things, but all members are invited to attend the meetings and give input.
I can understand only allowing those who attend meetings to vote on policy, but would hope that any member who wishes to attend and vote can do so. If members are allowed to attend the meeting and vote but choose not to do so then I don't think they should complain about policy decisions that are made.
Trey Veston
Member
Same here. Exactly 3 miles from my house to a gravel pit surrounded by wheat fields.
It's hard to empathize with fellow gun owners who live in urban/suburban settings who have to pay ridiculous sums of money just to go shoot, when you have grown up free and rural.
And it's hard for them to empathize when we complain about the lack of gun shops or retail choices in our areas.
We all come from different backgrounds and face different challenges. I knew when I decided to return to the area I grew up in after the military that I would make less money, have less entertainment choices, less choices in female companionship, retail, dining, etc.
But, I moved from an area of higher crime, rude drivers, traffic, stress, and other negatives.
I made the choice to trade money and convenience for freedom, low-stress living, and peace of mind. We all make choices based upon what we value more in life.
What the OP is going through is something that would make my choice on where I live an easy one.
Zerodefect
member
Quit. Become one of the public people that pay per range trip. Do no work. Also start taking advantage of the competition days.
I stopped with clubs after only a year into it. I'm not paying, and doing all of the work on your property. Deal with it.
My static range, no movement or draws, is $24/year. 1 hour drive. Only work that I do is "leave no trace", pick up my brass and garbage. All moving ranges in the entire state, are for competition or training classes.
I stopped with clubs after only a year into it. I'm not paying, and doing all of the work on your property. Deal with it.
My static range, no movement or draws, is $24/year. 1 hour drive. Only work that I do is "leave no trace", pick up my brass and garbage. All moving ranges in the entire state, are for competition or training classes.
The December meeting only about 1/3 of the membership shows up and if say 50 guys show and say yes to someone being on the board thats the end of it.
bassjam
Member
It really sounds like there's 3 options here:
1) walk away
2) deal with it
3) actively campaign, run for office, find like minded people to SHOW UP to meetings to vote and also run for office with you.
#3 will take a lot of time and work but if you want the club to change that's what it'll take. Even if you and your friends don't end up becoming board members, it might force the current ones to get up off their @$$ and start doing things differently if they see enough opposition. My local range is "membership owned" and all the board members are elected yearly. I think it's somewhat of a good ol boys club/popularity contest but I've personally heard many of them say "if you don't like what's going on here, show up to meetings and volunteer to be on the board". Luckily I haven't had any issues at my range. I think the current group in charge is actually the result of wanting major change. Seems like they've all been around 4-5 years, all in their 40's and 50's, and since then there's been a lot of money spent adding new ranges and improving existing ones.
1) walk away
2) deal with it
3) actively campaign, run for office, find like minded people to SHOW UP to meetings to vote and also run for office with you.
#3 will take a lot of time and work but if you want the club to change that's what it'll take. Even if you and your friends don't end up becoming board members, it might force the current ones to get up off their @$$ and start doing things differently if they see enough opposition. My local range is "membership owned" and all the board members are elected yearly. I think it's somewhat of a good ol boys club/popularity contest but I've personally heard many of them say "if you don't like what's going on here, show up to meetings and volunteer to be on the board". Luckily I haven't had any issues at my range. I think the current group in charge is actually the result of wanting major change. Seems like they've all been around 4-5 years, all in their 40's and 50's, and since then there's been a lot of money spent adding new ranges and improving existing ones.
Roknstevo
Member
This is why I never join clubs.....never have and never will. I’m an old man, and have always been able to find a place to shoot and/or hunt. I just don’t like people enough to mingle. Necessary evil when I had to work, but I grinned and bore it. Now, I’m able to look out my back window at woods, water, and the occasional critter....and don’t have to negotiate with them.
patmccoy
Member
Attached is a list that has been around a long time. Don't walk away, take control.
Attachments
PWC
Member
Op - you have stated your case succently, do so again at the next business meeting, make sure those that feel the same are there and call for a vote. Be prepared to vote with your feet and wallet. Key is make sure you have the votes before. If the vote goes against you, either live with it, or leave.
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