It's hard to believe that our fiscal year for the club is almost over. With that, the election of new board members will be held in April. March is the cutoff to qualify to vote in elections. Please come to this month's general meeting on March 2nd at the VFW hall. The general meeting is your chance, as a member, to express your opinions and ask questions of the board.

The annual installation and picnic has been changed to May 1 from May 8 so that it doesn't impact members that would be traveling to spend time with their family for Mothers Day. Andy Kyne and Mark Jungers will be cooking another fabulous pit BBQ. This year we will not only have beef, but will also have pork on the menu. I thank them and the other volunteers in advance for the work they will be performing to make this a memorable installation. All shooting will be for free and the installation is for members and prospective members.

The club has purchased another trap machine to replace one that is on its last legs. We have also purchased a machine that will easily pickup the shotgun wads - much easier than the raking and vacuuming that we were doing. It has been tested and works great! By picking up the wads at every work party, we ensure that we are environmentally correct by removing a product that doesn't degrade quickly and it also help keep the club looking good.

The club will be signing a contract with a company that will handle all of our lead removal and this will also include removing the bullets from the berms in the pit and at the 50 yard range. By the time you read this, weather permitting, the machines will have arrived and lead removal started. The club will receive a share of the money from the lead. I am hoping that we will see over $20k put into the club coffers for more upgrades.

Our board voted to expend funds for a very nice 10% gift for our members to be given at the annual installation. You must turn in your 10% participant card signed off to our membership chair no later than April 30th, 2010 to be eligible to receive your gift. If your card isn't completed you have the March and April work parties to get your additional signatures of completion on the card.

With elections to be held at the April General Meeting, there are openings that will available for members of at least one year to run for. There are three open board seats as well as the V.P, Treasurer and Sergeant at Arm positions that will need to be filled. I would like to thank JR Tidwell who has served 3 terms and Robert Freed for the dedication and service to the club. Both JR and Robert have informed me that they will not be running for their respective office but will continue to contribute to the club in other ways.

I would like to thank all of the volunteers that go over and above the norm for their dedication to our club and its operation. Without the volunteerism of the few that dedicate so many hours, our club wouldn't be what it is. So when you see one of our Shootmasters, board members, RSO's or our other continual volunteers, please thank them for their service to the club.

The board of directors has voted to make all Rifle and Pistol events held at the club made free to our members. Non-members will continue to pay the gate fee plus event fees.

The board has also voted to make the Fun Shoot a free event for members only. Non-members, including guests of members, will pay a $20.00 gate fee. All targets including the 5 stand, if it is set up, can be shot at no charge. The free fun shoot event will run through 30 April, 2010.

Free trap shooting for members will be available from 9am-1pm the 2nd Saturday of each month. After 12pm, boxes of clay pigeons will be available to the members for $10.00.

To ensure all members have a chance to shoot that during signup, members can only sign up for one round at a time and, after completing that round, can then sign up for another. This gives everybody an equal opportunity to shoot.