March, 2013

President's Notes       

     The Club Championship will be on March 16-17. This weekend is one of the high points of our year.  As usual the Championship will consist of a 14 target Field Round, a 20 target 3-D Round, and a 20 yard NFAA Indoor Round.  The ranges will be open for competition at nine on Saturday and Sunday. All three rounds can be shot in one day but most will probably want to spread their shooting over two days. Different bows can be used for the three events as long as they are the same style (Free Style; Bowhunter Free Style; Traditional). The Rounds can be shot in any order. There must be a minimum of three to a group and there will be double scoring. The winner in each Round, by style, will receive one point, the runner-up two, etc. The archer with the lowest points in each style will be the Club Champion in that style. The Club Championship is only open to club members but the 3-D range can be shot on Sunday by non members and club members who do not want to shoot the entire Championship.

      The club hosted the State Unmarked 3-D in January. Mike Ball designed difficult but fair courses and we heard nothing but high praise on the range and our super buffet. "The new gold standard for a 3-D Championship"(Ben)

     There have been many additions and improvements recently to the range: a new tree stand on the field course next to target 20, thanks to Pat Hunt and Mark Rodgers and their helpers (Mike Schelph, Gary Kuhn, Gary Demoss, Lee Schefel, and Tom Mathes).  Mark also made the classy bow hangers you see around the range; Bill Ziegler and Tom Mathes made new target stands for our 900 shoots; a group from the FGCU archery club painted our tables and new shooting lines in the pavilion and did a lot of work clearing lanes; of course this is in addition to all the on going projects that keep our club going----John Lackey working with new archers, maintaining equipment, and running the Tuesday 20 yard league---Mike Ball running the Thursday 3-D---Susan Galatz is stocking and maintaining the kitchen.  Other recently completed projects on the range: raising the concrete floor in the storage building and rebuilding and painting that building; building new portable backstops and rebracing existing ones; a concrete sidewalk to the kitchen; 40 tons of gravel were spread by wheelbarrow and shovel; trenching work and fill to help with flooding during the rainy season. A sincere thanks to all the dedicated club members who supported these projects.

     The Board of Directors adopted new, more comprehensive, range rules. Please take the time to read them at your next trip to the range. The Park Regulations, and our insurance, require that dogs are not allowed in the park and our range. Non members must be accompanied by a member on the ranges away from the pavilion, and children must be accompanied by an adult.  Reminder:  This is Florida, watch where you walk.  The black snakes will see you before you see them and leave, they do keep more dangerous snakes away.  We do our best to keep pressure on the fire ants, but pay attention to where you walk or stand, especially if off the beaten path.

     We have a facebook page, it is restricted to members.  Send John.Lackey.5 a request if you would like to be included.