Events Some thoughts for match directors or clubs trying to Grow Field Target

Bramezy said:

Ive been saying we need to grill out!! Some hot food would be awesome after shooting.

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As a long-time match director, I suspect almost any MD would happily agree to that suggestion. Although MDs have plenty on their plates already, I also suspect they'd welcome a heaping plate of BBQ after running the show in every other regard.

All it would take is a grill, and volunteer to buy the food, cook, serve and clean up after the picnic.

Volunteers?

Anyone?

Hey... where'd everyone go?

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AirNGasman said:

As a long-time match director, I suspect almost any MD would happily agree to that suggestion. Although MDs have plenty on their plates already, I also suspect they'd welcome a heaping plate of BBQ after running the show in every other regard.

All it would take is a grill, and volunteer to buy the food, cook, serve and clean up after the picnic.

Volunteers?

Anyone?

Hey... where'd everyone go?

.

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People like the concept of "free" until it applies to working for free.

I got one of those little Webber grills for 20 bucks. The pot luck lunch will also bring out the wife and family and shoot all day after the match.

Ezana4CE said:

People like the concept of "free" until it applies to working for free.

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We include the food fee in the entry fee charged at SVFTC monthlies .... we provide refreshments, munchies and a light lunch for all who enter the match .... if or not you choose to eat any of it
* The club has organized a Food handler/provider, News letter / Email sender, Web page administrator and other key helping duties that keep us smoothly operating threw out the year.

A Club is only as strong or successful as its management & members at large want. Good bad or otherwise just keep on keeping on ... until its done & finished.

Iowa Airgunner said:

I got one of those little Webber grills for 20 bucks. The pot luck lunch will also bring out the wife and family and shoot all day after the match.

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That would be nice at our club but everyone is always in such a rush, me included sometimes, to get home. Clean up and get out.
Need more willing volunteers to help with grilling and such. I dont really see an opportunity for more shooting after but I suppose it could happen. Be nice to do it but the course has to come down at some point.

Bramezy said:

I am one of those "sick" people lol. Myself and a few others travel 4 hours one way twice a month, its about 225 miles one way so 450 miles round trip just to shoot a 2.5hr 60 shot match. Its getting old and I will probably slow down on doing it but I do it for more than just the shooting. Im not sure what else Id be doing if not shooting FT but maybe I should start exploring those options or not. I love it, but hate the driving.
Ohio is structured to where there is a FT shoot basically every Sunday. From me, 1 is 225 miles, another is 215 miles, another is 135 miles, and the closest is 25min.

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That is a lot of driving for a one day match!! I save my driving up and go to four or five GP events a year (occasionally driving 40+ hours each way to a Nats). If I had a match within a half hour drive i'd be there every time, practice is critical and 'practicing' during a GP event is not the best way to do it... lol

I lived in a place a bunch of years ago where I could sit in the living room and range out from 10 to 55yards at apples on the tree (I was on the second floor) and dry fire as many times as I wanted. Its not real practice (no wind, clicks etc) but it definitely helped.

Someday i'll be in a spot where I can either have a match on my property or be close enough to the Canyon to practice whenever I want.

Bramezy said:

That would be nice at our club but everyone is always in such a rush, me included sometimes, to get home. Clean up and get out.
Need more willing volunteers

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FWIW, many (most) of my posts and responses are purposely designed to stimulate thought, B; hence why many include . That confessed, few readers nowadays 'read between the lines'.

Please don't consider it criticism that I use your quote in this response as an example that folks 'want their cake, and eat it too', and/or 'eat, and run!'

Motorhead's post above is a good example how some shooting clubs can have $$$ and volunteers enough to distribute the work load enough to offer after-match lunch and/or other niceties without heaping more work on the MD. As to be expected, such niceties are often reflected in match entry fees, even "if or not you choose to eat any of it". Translation- every shooter pays for lunch, including those too under the gun to get back on the road back home to eat what they paid for.

Not having to answer to family myself, I assume those choosing to extend their 'kitchen pass' pay for doing so on arrival home (and sometimes for "some time" later).

None of this is criticism, only observations. And an opportunity to confess additional responsibilities can be detrimental to (my) MD performance.

Think of a tossing a live cat into a juggler's routine ... or TWO.

I'll stop whining now.

Happy Shooting,
R

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Iowa Airgunner said:

At the DIFTA group they had a great cookout after the match. The cooking would start towards the end of the match. Then everyone would pitch in cleaning up the course. By the time the score was tabulated we had sausage and burgers chips and soda. No one had to run off to get lunch . And you could all talk about the day.

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Sadly, After Paolo stepped down as MD we have not had any cookouts at DIFTA for the past few years. I agree that these were very enjoyable post match activities that added a lot to the enjoyment of the match, and I miss this. One note is the shooters from 'out of town' with a few hours drive ahead of them rarely participated, for obvious reasons; while towards then end, even local shooters had better things to do, so BBQ attendance dropped to the point it was not worth the effort.

I am trying to recreate that atmosphere.

Iowa Airgunner, I have watched your progress setting up Field Target in Iowa. I applaud your efforts and I wish you success!
I read all of your posts on this endeavor. I seem to recall that some new shooters came with open site Airguns, is that correct?
This brings me to my comment;
Would an open site division welcome new shooters? It could use the same course setup as pistol. I think 35 yard maximum with 1/2 to 2 inch kill zones might be a good fit for open sites.

Hunter

I would love to add an open sight class. But for now I am just trying to get anyone to shoot anything. I am amazed at the progress I have made and very grateful to the WLGC for helping me.

The only open sight story I know of is when I was preparing for the Maryland state championship. I read a regular competitor from New York finished in tenth place. I was very excited because I figured he was having problem. Maybe he shot his eye out and I had a chance. When he showed up at the Maryland state championship I was listening to him explain his performance in New York. He shot the state championships without a scope. Just open sight for fun and still finished in the top ten.

Iowa Airgunner, I guess I wasn’t very clear. I wished to say two things, first congratulation on your efforts.
Second, knowing that some people may be able to participate using open sites may invite a new audience that is eager to get involved. Not just for Iowa but for everywhere. U.S.A., Britain, Italy, anywhere.
I would think that it wouldn’t be much of a burden to match directors if this could use the pistol course.

I am very happy that Ron has introduced TEXtreme that allows more powerful rigs.
Yet another choice.

Hunter

I understood, and think it would be a fun class. I am also adding bench rest. I want to get into extreme field target. I am even planning a Red Ryder challenge at Christmas.
My over all goal is to bring airgun awareness to Iowa.

I think if I just keep at it and be consistent.