My report to you this month is about the rapid pace of developments at our Club, some positive, some not so.
Financially, our Club has received its largest lump sum payment in living memory. A check was received in mid August, from Kaiban Construction, LLC, for our Club’s share of the lead harvested earlier this Summer. After reviewing the calculations and supporting documentation accompanying the payment, your executive officers have determined the tendered payment is in accordance with the terms of our contract, and is the correct amount. Reflecting the apparent consensus of your Board of Directors, your executive officers, and the Membership, all the proceeds have been deposited in a restricted-access, interest bearing account until a final program for how they should be used can be finalized. I cannot overlook the welcome participation of Members in providing input about what should be done with the lead money. 9 of you contacted me directly, and another 16 attended a Special Board of Directors meeting on August 15 (I will prepare the minutes of this meeting and post them to the Member Information Binder in the Clubhouse shortly). Now that the lead money has arrived, the conversation can begin in earnest.
Payment on the insurance claim for the damage to the general purpose room roof has also been received. After subtracting the $500.00 deductible (which our carrier, Auto-Owners, would not waive), our Club’s claim was paid in full. Not an item in our claim was disputed. Consistent with my announced intention, these funds have been deposited in a Club account with restricted access separate from the lead money. I hope it will become the seed money for an operating/emergency reserve. As our Club lacks an endowment, such a fund is important.
As we come into the traditionally slowest months of activity for the shotgun shooting sports at our Club, culminating in the end of our fiscal and calendar year, we are running a deficit. Changes in operations have been considered and approved by our Board of Directors (Board) for the fourth quarter. Please check the notice elsewhere in this newsletter for details. I ask for your patience, but also your opinion about the changes. Buttonhole me when you see me at our Club, leave me note at the Clubhouse, or email me at markhwelch@yedahoo.com.
Our Outdoor Range, site of the Art Zimmerman Memorial Muzzleloading Shoot, the Action Pistol Shoots, and Sight-In Days, is receiving a major facelift. The Outdoor Range Committee is undertaking a replacement of the shooting benches, rifle racks, and repair of the existing overhead cover. Outdoor Range Committee Co-Chair Karl French secured an excellent deal on the needed materials from one of our favorite vendors, Rycenga’s, so construction on the first batch of replacement furniture is, initiated by Michael Knes and Roger Thomas has already started. This is strictly an Outdoor Range Committee initiative, and all involved are to be commended for their commitment and hard work in transforming the Outdoor range just in time
for Sight-In Days.
The redesigned Annual Corn Roast was held on August 18, and was a resounding success. Dozens of people of all ages attended on a perfect summer evening, and feasted on the perfect summer food, Michigan sweet corn. The highlight of the evening was the raffle prize, an upgraded Ruger 10/22, which Director Terry Westedt won. In a gesture consistent with the
lifetime of good works Terry has performed for our Club, Terry donated his prize back to our Club, so it could be featured in another fund raiser. Many thanks to Event Chair Karl French, Event Chair Emeritus Don Koopman, and everyone else Karl has already recognized. The money raised for our Club is most welcome at this time of year. Well done.
Our Club was also well-represented at the annual Sportsmen For Youth Day at the Muskegon County Fairgrounds on September 10. The weather was perfect, and thousands of parents and children attended. Event Chair Thom Poel and his crew staffed our Club’s skeet chalet that hosted (at my count) about 325 young Hunter Safety Class graduates. May thanks to
all in advance of the individual recognition you each shall receive. This event showcases our Club at its best.
Heartfelt thanks goes to our Building & Grounds Committee Chair Jim Fellows, and Rebecca Oneka for finishing the painting in the Clubroom. This completes the basic redecoration started earlier this summer, and the results speak for themselves. Thanks to Jim for all of his efforts in conceiving and directing this effort.
Now, to less positive developments. By now, all of you have probably heard about the training incident that occurred on September 29 at the Outdoor Range involving the Grand Valley State University Public Safety Department. Rounds apparently left the Outdoor Range, striking at least a couple of homes in Cutter Park, and worse, wounding a person outdoors.
Thankfully, he was not seriously wounded, and appears to be recovering after surgery to remove the bullet.
In response, the Board closed the Outdoor Range, which will remain closed until further notice to all users. All relevant officers have fully cooperated with the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Department in its investigation of what occurred. The Board also suspended skeet and trap shooting October 1 and 2, out of respect for our neighbors. There was a regular monthly meeting of the Board on October 3, which some of you attended (which was greatly appreciated). The Board decided to advance the Open Forum part of its agenda, allowing our neighbors (about 50 of them), to have an unrestricted opportunity to fully express their concerns, which they did for about 1 3/4 hours. Undersheriff Steigenga attended as well, and was as helpful in answering
our neighbors’ questions as he could be, as the investigation had not been completed. This is obviously a serious situation, and requires a serious response. It has gravely disrupted our operations at the worst possible time. I cannot tell you what I think our response should be, beyond what the Board has already done. We do not even have the investigation’s results to consider yet, and I do not know when they will be available. When it is, a copy will be available for your review at the Clubhouse. I can tell you that I do not intend to act rashly, to suggest any dramatic changes in operations, or ask for any radical action by the Board in the immediate future. I do anticipate holding a meeting for the benefit of the Membership in the near future (probably after the investigation is available), so you can give your input into what our Club’s response should be, both now and for the longer term.
A lot is going on right now, even during our slowest time of the year (excepting Sight-In Days). Please acquaint yourselves with all the facts about the Outdoor Range incident that you can, think about it carefully, and be prepared to share what you think. Ask the Board candidates and Jeff Strauss they think about our present situation before you vote. There will be time
enough to act; now is the time to consider what those actions should be.
See you on the firing line.
Mark H. Welch, President
