McHenry Sportsman’s Club Newsletter (December 10, 2001)
Dear Members and Families:
The year 2001 is ending as any other year.
No worry about whether or not your microwave oven or your telephone will work.
If it is a normal New Year’s eve, you can count on your electricity being on when you wake up in the morning.
That is if you went to bed at all on New Years eve.
The events of the latter part of this year will have an everlasting effect on all of our lives.
Things will never be the same.
Being too young to remember the last act of terrorism that was in the same league, (the attack on Pearl Harbor),
I really did not have an idea how bad it must have been.
We who grew up after the attack knew it was bad, but never really understood it until now.
America, and the rest of the world reeled in the shock, we mourned the deaths of our fellow Americans who were killed by the event,
and now have gotten back on our feet and became united and strong.
Nothing can be done to make up for the loss, but we can all come together and stand up for what America is all about.
One can even feel some of our long forgotten values creeping back into our lives.
Last year at a glance:
General Improvements at McHenry Sportsmen’s Club:
Getting back in focus, year/2001 once again offered us many challenges and accomplishments for your club.
We accomplished our goal of reducing our cost of operations in an effort to improve our club and keep the club affordable.
We have learned how to adjust our automatic trap machines and keep them in good working order.
We purchased a Pat-Trap.
This machine is one of the finest trap machines in production today.
The machine was installed in Trap Field one and is used to provide singles, doubles and wobble.
Fields two through five all have Remington 4100 trap machines.
These turned out to be great machines, after we spent the better part of a year learning how to adjust and maintain them.
The only reason to upgrade off of them is these machines can only provide singles trap.
No doubles and no wobble.
The other disadvantage is the 4100 only hold 150 targets and require loading after each round.
The PAT traps hold enough for four rounds.
This brings up to the Voice Call Units.
These little devils are causing us more grief than the trap machines did.
Are we happy with them?
The answer to that is both yes and no.
We gain a lot, but we loose some too.
For the club to really make use of this equipment and keep the shooters happy is a major priority and is currently being addressed by the trap committee.
We have learned how this equipment works and are making modifications to improve their operation and performance.
We have replaced our troublesome pop machine with a newer model.
I am sure we will find a whole new set of issues with it,
but so far it looks good.The new machine has more selections and holds more pop for each selection.
We have acquired an air conditioner.
A very generous member donated the components.
The club has installed the unit and is awaiting the donating member to connect the refrigeration lines and charge the unit with refrigerant.
This will make the system operational.
We will electronically control its operation so it only runs when we are present and is needed.
If all goes well, we will have a nice cool clubhouse next summer.
We asked…you gave:
Last winter, one can recall when it snowed, some of us got to shoot, and others got to workout.
The workout was great.
Shoveling snow can be great exercise, but when you come to the club, you have already done your workout and you are there to shoot.
The club owned one very small snow thrower, and we took it apart last winter and fixed it.
It was simply too small to clear the trap fields.
Knowing we would need to clear trap field one because of it being where the PAT trap is, we knew we needed something better.
On a lark, we asked in the last newsletter if anyone had a line on a two-stage snow thrower that they could lend, sell or donate to the club.
We now have another small snow thrower just like the one we already have plus two good size two stage snow throwers.
Thank you very much.
This certainly will not be forgotten by the guys (and gals) who have to clear the snow off the fields in the wintertime so we all can shoot.
The Jackrabbit program:
We got beat again by Woodstock.
Are we mad?
NO, but it is better to win.
And the answer is YES… we will have a Jackrabbit Shoot this year.
For a while everyone was wondering.
We get to try to beat the Woodstock guys again.
Maybe we can get lucky and some of them will shoot for McHenry this year.
Maybe McHenry will beat them this year anyway.
The shooters at McHenry keep getting better all the time.
It seems like it will be our turn this year.
The ATA Registered Shoot program:
We hosted three ATA registered shoots.
We know people “ran” the program by hitting all 100 targets in a particular event, but the names are not on the wall yet so we will have to wait to post the names in the newsletter.
The 2001 Family Picnic:
The 2001 McHenry family was a success.
We roasted a pig this year and there was not too much (if any) left over.
That must mean it was either good or the pig was too small.
We like to think it was that good and everyone stayed off the scales for a week or two afterwards.
Again, special thanks to Rich and Chris Weeks, and many others that organized and provided for this event.
Very special thanks to Matt Wood for staying at the club all night watching and basting the pig.
The shooting portion, as last year, was conducted with Belt Buckles for prizes instead of trophies.
It appeared last year the shooters were happy with the prizes, so we repeated it this year.
That helped make the 2001 picnic a success.
The doubles portion took a long time.
This was because we only have one doubles capable trap field.
This will be addressed this year, as we will have two fields capable of doubles.
The following shooters took home prizes from the picnic shoot:<
Sixteen-yard winners were: Tad Horton, Rick VanEtten, Harvey Scharlau, George Strode, Jeanne Nicholson
Tim Kraus won the long yardage handicap while Rich Weeks won the short yardage.
Doubles winners were: ???, Rick VanEtten and John Lindquist
Lyle (Denny) Denistonwas the High veteran.
Judy Wegner was the High Lady.
The Louis Pitzen handicap was won by Tad Horton.
High Overall Champion was Jim Christie.
The Club Champion was Tad Horton.
We want to thank all who participated in the Picnic Shoot.
New Members:
In 2001 we again gained many new members and we did loose several of our valued members.
We want to welcome our new members to our club.
Some are new shooters while others have been shooting for years.
Please make them welcome at the club.
As for the few we lost, some moved away while others are shooting at other clubs.
We wish them well and hope to see them soon, either at McHenry or atother clubs.
Year/2002 goals:
Members actually shooting:
The following was published last year in his newsletter and still stands today:
This was on our list last year.
Maybe when we look at it again we may realize the logic here.
You joined the club, and unless you joined simply to support the club, (and there are some who have),
you should come out and shoot.
We want you to shoot.
We like you to shoot.
You really want to shoot.
It is fun to shoot.
We made improvements here.
There are still some members who joined the club and have never come out to shoot.
If you are one of these, come on out.
If you want to shoot with someone, feel free to call someone, or come out and just get to know people.
You can meet people that can become your future “shooting buddies” and come out and shoot with them.
Membership enrichment:
Keep doing what we are doing.
Get people interest in this sport.
Whether they shoot at McHenry or join other clubs is not as important as getting new people to start shooting.
Just think back, someone introduced you to the sport and you thought
enough of it to buy a shotgun and join a club and make an effort to become a better shooter.
The type of shooting done at McHenry is clean fun, and it still is our duty to make sure our sport enjoys new participants, whether they join our club or not.
Monthly membership meetings:
The club conducts open membership meetings on the first Thursday of each month at 8:00 PM.
These meetings are provided as a means to steer the operation of the club.
Issues such as facility improvements, shooting events, and a complete accounting of all money raised and how it was spent are discussed openly.
We would like to see more members present at these meetings.
The meeting is a much better place to discuss issues, contribute your thoughts on the club’s operations and air out possible discontents.
If you would like to attend, we want you to do and would be grateful if you did.
If you have ideas, suggestions or other comments and cannot attend, please write then down and give them to a club officer.
They will be opened and discussed during the meeting.
Counter help:
This is till a problem.
We need someone to coordinate the counter operations.
We have learned that there are many members who would help out but no one asks them.
You know the old principle… do not ask… do not get.
We have been looking at the problem with the wrong prospective.
We need someone to coordinate the counter.
This means making sure someone is there by contacting and scheduling.
I know this is a big project, but somehow it has to be done.
We start by asking, (just like the snow thrower).
Hopefully, someone who likes that type of work will stand up and do it.
We have a list of people who actually told us they would like to run the counter from time to time.
All we need is someone who would match names to dates and verify the people will be there when they say they will.
It is not a selling or begging operation, just coordinate what people already said they would do.
Building and Grounds:
We want to continue maintaining the clubhouse and our grounds.
There are many things that need to be done.
We will get the air conditioning system working before next
summer.
Trap Machines… the next step:
This spring we want to purchase and install a second PAT-trap machine configured exactly like the one we now have.
We do not know which field it will go into, but that will be decided based on the potential of flooding.
This will give us two machines capable of throwing singles, doubles and wobble.
Because they will be exact duplicates, we can assure each of the three events will be available
anytime we are open, (unless both machines are down at the same time).
Additionally, the doubles shooting events held during registered shoots and the picnic will run twice as fast as they are presently.
Membership and line fees:
The McHenry Sportsman’s Club is a not for profit operation.
The only paid personnel are the Trap Field personnel, consisting mainly of local teenagers.
Club members on a voluntary basis currently perform actual club operations.
The club is definitely NOT used as anyone’s career or business.
Unlike normal enterprises, there can be no profits
and we are limited in what we can do with revenues generated under this type of organization.
Even if the membership had no objection to generating large sums of money, we may not be in a legal position to retain it.
The objective is to generate the money required to operate, maintain and improve the club.
(Your board responding to membership comments regarding the club’s past operation).
If in the event too much revenue is generated, it must be
allocated to a project or somehow returned to the membership (in the form of services, events, etc).
One way to properly deal with this type of operation is to set fees a little higher than what is requested initially and
keep them at that level until it becomes almost financially impossible to continue.
Fees are then adjusted and the cycle continues.
Hopefully, the majority of the membership understands this process.
The McHenry Sportsman’s Club currently has a base membership dues of fifty dollars per year and charges its members three dollars and fifty cents to shoot a round of trap.
Other shooting events are hosted with fees set in accordance with operating costs.
These fees became effective the start of 2001.
There are no plans to raise membership fees or line fees this year.
Our regular operating expenses went up this year.
These increases were offset by a reduction in the personnel costs required to operate the club.
This means there is no need to raise any member costs.
The money raised by the increase last year was used to help purchase the new PAT trap.
Next year’s “extra” money will be spend on the second PAT trap.
For your information
Membership renewals:
Your 2001 membership expires January 1, 2002.
There is a one month grace period where you can shoot using your 2001 membership for the month of January 2002.
We have enclosed a pre-printed application (or verification) for your year 2002 membership.
We would appreciate it if you look over the form and make any corrections that may be necessary and return the form with your dues when you renew.
If you are a senior, you may be entitled to a discount.
Seniors, (that is people sixty-five years or older) may RENEW their memberships for one half the current membership price.
If you have already renewed your membership, you will see a membership verification instead of an application.
Its purpose is to insure the information we have about you and your shooting interests are correct.
Please do not send any money if you are already a 2002 member and receive the VERIFICATION form.
Look over the form and make any corrections you feel are appropriate and mail the form back or bring it to the club next time you are in.
This will help us keep our mailing list current so you can receive all kinds of goodies, (like this letter) as well as know the type of shooting activities you are interested in.
Upcoming Events
2002 “Hangover” shoot:
New Year’s Day is on a Tuesday this year.
The normal hangover shoot that occurs at Woodstock is not going to happen this year.
Instead, we will try to pull it off at McHenry instead.
Yes it is on a Tuesday, but we are going to hold it at the McHenry Sportsmen’s Club.
Having only attended one of these shoots, I am not quite sure exactly the format of the shoot.
If memory serves, it is a Jackrabbit style shoot with some sort of prize for the winners.
In any case, it will be fun.
You do not have to be a member of either club to attend this event.
The shoot starts at 10:00 AM, bring a dish to pass and plenty of shells.
We have five trap fields and when they “wake up” on Tuesday, January 1, 2002 we want them ALL to be totally confused.No rest for the wicked.
2002 McHenry ATA Registered Shoot Schedule:
| Date | Information |
| May 19, 2002 |
| June 30, 2002 | (Belt Buckle Shoot) |
| Auguse 4, 2002 | (Marathon) |
2002 Jackrabbit Schedule:
The JACKRABBIT season is coming.
Everyone can come out and have a lot of fun shooting this event.
If you have not participated because you feel that you are not as good of a shooter as you think you have to be,
and are afraid you may hurt the club’s chances of winning, this is the farthest thing from the truth.
The actual “team” which the scores are used are the top five shooters from each club.
If you shoot good and make the team, then you help the club.
If you have a bad day, well, your score does not get used, (unless your bad day is one of the top five scores for your club which is a nice problem to have).
You never know what kind of score is going to win at the Jackrabbit Shoot.
Yes, we know it is very cold this year, but remember: what does not kill you makes you stronger.
| Date | Hosting Club | Date | Hosting CLub |
| January 6, 2002 | Northbrook | February 10, 2002 | Woodstock (at Northbrook) |
| January 13, 2002 | Woodstock (at McHenry) | February 17, 2002 | Glenridge |
| January 20, 2002 | Glenridge | February 24, 2002 | McHenry |
| January 27, 2002 | McHenry | March 3, 2002 | St. Charles |
| February 3, 2002 | St. Charles | March 10, 2002 | Northbrook |
GOOD SHOOTING TO ALL
Sincerely,
Tom Carneal, Club Treasurer