The Peterborough Sportsmen’s Club

Minutes of Meeting Held: June 15, 2006

The Peterborough Sportsman's Club met on June 15, 2006 in the clubhouse on Old Peterborough Road, Dublin. The meeting was called to order at 7:10 p.m. by President Rob Alexander who then led those present in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Officers Present. President Alexander, Vice President Schmidt, Secretary Hartley, Treasurer Howe, Executive Board at Large Whiton. There were 6 other voting members and one Family member present.

Secretary's Report. Motion Thomas 2nd Bannister to accept the minutes of the March 23, 2006 meeting as published in the April 2006 newsletter. m/c.

Treasurer's Report. (The financial information has been removed from the website version. Please contact the club if you require this data. per Jim Schmidt)

Committee and Program Reports.

Membership (Hartley). Voting membership to date is 131; same date last year, 134. One voting and one family member have fulfilled all membership requirements less payment of dues. There are three, perhaps four more potential members at present.

Youth / Novice Program. (Hartley). Six participants are currently on the books, with one potential shooter to be signed up. One of the six has qualified as Marksman First Class; one, as Marksman under the nra Light Rifle Program rules. The remaining four are on the early stages of the marksmanship learning curve. One recent session was devoted to range etiquette and decorum, review of firearms safety, and requiring all shooters to become familiar with open, aperture, telescopic, and red-dot sights. A future session, to be held at the outdoor pistol range, will introduce the novice shooters to the semiautomatic rifle; all have now fired a bolt (single-shot and repeater) rifle and a lever-action rifle. Donations recently received total $23.00; with the start-up donation of $150.00, the cost of the Youth / Novice Program to the club is essentially zero.

Communications Committee. (Schmidt). The committee has now published two newsletters, the bulk of which are sent to the membership via US Mail. An answering machine has been installed in the clubhouse to provide contact information to those requesting club information. A highway-side sign has been investigated, as has the need for a bulletin board at the clubhouse. The committee will investigate the need for and cost effectiveness of a club internet website.

Trap / Skeet. (Schmidt). Registered Trap Shoots will begin on July 2, 2006. During-the-week (Wednesday and Thursday) skeet and trap will continue. The club realizes a profit of approximately $5.00 for each case of birds used. The "white bird" (break the white-painted clay bird, win a free round of trap) program continues.

Facilities Committee. (Alexander). Painting of the remaining clubhouse exterior and the new trap shelter is scheduled for July 5, 2006. Members are encouraged to cut grass or perform other upkeep as may be needed. The tractor has been serviced and is operational. Peter Thomas and others have agreed to replace the target backers at the outdoor pistol range.

Activities Committee. (Alexander, pro tem). A permanent chairman is needed for this committee. A letter from the NH Cooperative Extension Service thanking the club for its support of the recent 4-H shotgun shoot was read; the shoot was supervised by club member Mike Margoulies. A "Balloon" fun shoot will be conducted on June 17, 2006, and a "Shoot the M1 Garand" shoot will be held on July 22, 2006; both are scheduled for noon at the silhouette range shelter. Additional eight-week leagues for pistol and skeet are in the planning stages.

Club Hats Coordinator. (P. Neff). Trap, skeet, and "regular/ plain" club hats are available at $15 each for plain or $20 each for embroidered club hats. Contact and purchase information is to be published in the newsletter.

Indoor Range. (Hartley). The two final removable bench rests have been fabricated and are in use. New target panels have been painted and will be installed shortly. One archery backer has been dismantled; the second will follow after disposing of the debris from the first. Income from indoor range use fees for the eleven-month period ending May 31 totaled $495. Painting sections of the floor will take place over the next several weeks. It was noted that the current (June) sign-in list had been removed from the range book.

Old Business.

Motion Whiton 2d Thomas that the club expend the sum of $5000 for the purpose of upgrading the lower (skeet) shotgun range, the funds to be withdrawn from the club's savings account.

Discussion.

The total funds required are as follows: purchase and re-manufacture/upgrade Pat Trap machine: $3800; site work (grading, drainage work, excavation): $2800; new trap house: $1000; total: $7600.

The club has at present $1500 in earmarked memorial funds, and has received donation pledges in the amount of $1500 to date; total: $3000. (Further donations to be returned to the savings account are solicited. Contact President Alexander or Vice President Schmidt.)

A $5000 appropriation will more than cover the anticipated expense; the additional is a prudent managerial reserve.

When put to a vote, the motion was carried without dissent.

New Business.

Motion Thomas 2d Bannister that the club expend the sum of $125 for fabrication and installation of two (2) white-on-blue "official" directory signs, and agree to a $10 annual license fee for a period of ten years. m/c

Good of the Club.

It was announced that long-time club member Ron Rauer is severely ill and in hospital.

Verbal donation pledges for the shotgun range improvement project were made in the amount of $550.

There being no further business, motion Bannister 2d Thomas to adjourn. m/c. The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m. with 11 voting members and one family member present. The Peterborough Sportsman's Club will next meet on September 21, 2006.