Eagle Cap Shooters Association Newsletter, Dec. 2007

Tom Crooks (432-2580)–Editor

Dues for 2008: It is time to renew your Shooting Association membership. Dues are now due–$55 for an individual, $75 for a couple and $100 for a family. If you have already put in 12 hours of work for the Association during 2007, these figure are reduced by half. Send your check to Doug Batten, ECSA Treasurer, PO Box 928, Joseph, OR 97846.

PLEASE NOTE: YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE A SEPARATE BILL IN THE MAIL. Les Bridges will be sending dues reminders out mid-February to all those who have forgotten to renew.

Access to the Range: The combination of the padlocks on the gate and range shack will be changed on 1 January. If you are a Range Safety Officer and your 2008 dues are paid, call the Treasurer, Doug Batten (426-4639) for the new combination.

Election of Officers: The following new officers were elected at the December meeting: President Lee Grover, Secretary Ali Sullivan, Women’s Activity Director Becky Marino, Range Construction Director Dave Hayworth, and Range Maintenance Director Jesse Snively. Out going President Tom Crooks will assume the Budget and Publicity Director positions. The 2008 Board consists of these new officers, plus carry over officers: Vice President Eric Kozowski, Treasurer Doug Batten, Grants Director Duncan Hunter, Training Director Steve Sharp and Youth Activities Director Bill Oliver.

Third Sunday Monthly Shoot: The Ed Brazelton Annual Shoot was held on the 16^th. I sponsored the shoot with the help of Pete Kirkman in setting up, building a fire in the range shack stove, making coffee and providing cookies and treats for the shooters. Bill Oliver also brought green tea and an assortment of cookies. Meat prizes were donated by Lee Grover, Eric Kozowski and myself. Eleven shooters turned out on a cold but sunny day to go through three simple .22 rimfire rifle target courses. Match 1 winners were: 1^st Duncan Hunter, 2^nd Lee Grover, 3^rd Jack Thompson, 4^th Kai Oliver, 5^th Mel Byers and 6^th Floyd McCadden. Match 2 winners were: 1^st Duncan Hunter, 2^nd Lee Grover, 3^rd Jack Thompson, 4^th Mel Byers, 5^th Kai Oliver and 6^th Bill Oliver. The Poker Match for a turkey was won by "Lucky" Mel Byers. The Association collected $55 in shooting entry fees and the lucky winners went home with meat of their choice: turkeys, hams, beef roasts, bacon, hot dogs, Spam and tinned corned beef. Despite the cool temps, everyone had a great time, winners or not.

The January Third Sunday Shoot is scheduled for 20 January from 1:00 to 4:00 PM.  Duncan Hunter and Mel Byers have volunteered to put on the contest and have lined up an interesting course of fire with .22 rimfire rifles (or pistols–if you are really confident in your marksmanship) and possibly some serious shooting with shotguns. It promises to be interesting. A complete explanation will be forthcoming at the next meeting, 8 January 2008.

The February Third Sunday Shoot is scheduled for 17 February from 1:00 to 4:00 PM. I would like to put together another .22 rimfire shoot, a little different than the December shoot. I have in mind a White Elephant Shoot —if you have a useful item (not junk) that you were given or purchased, and no longer have any need for, place it in a large brown grocery bag and staple the bag shut. The entry fee for the shoot will be $1.00 and a brown bag with an unknown prize. Top score gets first pick and so on. This way, everybody is a winner–you get a "prize" and you get to pass on something to a deserving shooter. At the worst, you can donate your prize to the next White Elephant Shoot. Again, any assistance I can get will be appreciated.

The range is for shooting—let’s do it.

Fall Turkey Season: I was contacted by Vic Coggins, District Wildlife Biologist of the OR Fish and Wildlife Dept., in response to the letter requesting consideration of a hunt. He indicated that the organization is looking at putting together an agricultural lands hunt for the fall. If you want to talk to him about these plans, call him at the Dept. Office 426-3279.

The Spring Sale: No date has been set, primarily because no one has volunteered to organize and coordinate the event yet. At the December meeting is was decided to call it a Gun Show which will focus primarily on guns and shooting accessories, with a lesser emphasis on outdoor gear, including a horse tack sale and swap. The previous Spring Sales were held in April. If the Association wants to have this Gun Show than we need to get the Cloverleaf Hall rented and start advertising. As a Gun Show, I expect we will attract a lot more vendors and paying visitors than any previous sale, but only if we advertise. This has been a good money maker for the Association and helps make the land payment.

The 3^nd Annual Machine Gun Shoot: The event is scheduled for the weekend of 7 and 8 June 2008. Contact Eric Kozowski (432-2214) if you feel you can contribute to the effort of organizing and coordinating this shoot.

Schutzenboomer: There has been some discussion of having this shoot take place this spring but the consensus seems to be that we should try one within the Association before going whole hog and inviting outsiders to pay $ and shoot. At the least, we ought to have things lined up and tried out before getting egg on our faces.

Black Powder Cartridge Shoot: Jack Thompson (577-3214) is working on putting this shoot together and can probably use all the help he can get to set targets and organize prior to any shooting takes place. Again, this should be something the membership gives a go at before making it a public event. If you are a black powder cartridge rifle shooter or want more information on this fast growing popular sport, contact Jack for more information. There is something very satisfying in shooting one of the old guns and hitting a target at 600 yards or beyond with iron sights.

The Newsletter: This December newsletter is the last one unless someone takes over the job. At this point, there has been no indication of interest. The newsletter mailing list, left over postage stamps, and rubber address stamp will be delivered to the new President at the January meeting.

Classes: A NRA Range Safety Officer Course will be scheduled as soon as we have 10 or more individuals committed to take the course. Contact Duncan Hunter at 569-2008 for additional information. Remember, this gives you unlimited access to the range and any time you spend as an RSO counts toward the reduction of the next year’s dues. Twelve hours donated time gives you a reduction of 50% dues.

Advertising: If you have anything you wish to sell, purchase, give away, etc., this is the place for getting the word out to all of the members.