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Post by Danny Creasy on Aug 18, 2012 12:42:46 GMT -6
A member told me today that several present NASA members said they were not going to join the new club and pay any sort of membership fee because they will be able to shoot in our matches for free anyway.
Well, it has not been written before but please be aware that only dues paying members will be able to shoot in the club matches (50/25 Sporter, Raptor, 25/25 Pistol, Sporter Master, and CMP Sporter) free at the new range. Guests will have to pay fees as to be determined at a later date.
We were in a unique position here in Sheffield. With our small occupancy expense, we had the luxury of not charging match fees. With the tremendous expense of a new shooting range, we simply must start charging match fees - just like every other shooting club that I have ever shot at in Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi, Ohio, etc.
We hope to bring the rimfire benchrest matches, the defensive pistol matches, and the cowboy action matches back under the direction of the new club as well with a similar fee structure.
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Post by Danny Creasy on Aug 19, 2012 18:05:07 GMT -6
A member PMd me today with the following comment. Out of respect for his decision to use a private massage channel, I will not reveal his name, but he wrote:
I will try to at least get the $500 if not the $1000 by the deadline.
Things are a little tight right now but I want to support the club.
You all have done a great job. I wish I was able to participate more. I haven't even been able to shoot for quite a while due to work and watching over my parents.
Thanks for all of the hard work the board has done. I know it's not an easy job and that you all have made a lot of your own sacrifices along the way.
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Post by Raymond Barron on Aug 20, 2012 14:39:03 GMT -6
Just a notice to Officers. I have been working my day shifts since the Escrow account was set up. I will get my payment over to the attorney when my off days come around.
Raymond Barron
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Post by Danny Creasy on Aug 22, 2012 17:46:56 GMT -6
As of August 22nd, there is $16,500.00 in the range escrow account.
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Post by Danny Creasy on Aug 23, 2012 11:33:03 GMT -6
We are knocking the door of $20,000.00.
I just went by and wrote my check for $1,000.00 giving us a new total of $19,500.00 in the escrow account.
18 @ $1,000.00
and
3 @ $500.00
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Post by Danny Creasy on Aug 24, 2012 16:29:03 GMT -6
Up to $21,500.00 on 8-24-12.
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Post by Danny Creasy on Aug 25, 2012 20:42:25 GMT -6
James, Reece, and I are meeting at the range at 3:00 PM tomorrow (Sunday, August 26th). We are going to view a very promising prospective range site down on 247 in Colbert County. Anyone interested in convoying down to look it over are more than welcome to join us.
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Post by Danny Creasy on Aug 26, 2012 19:23:48 GMT -6
Reece Stewart, James Day, Andrew Butler, David Malone, Monty Shelton, Randy King, Jim Watson, and myself met at the Sheffield range at 3 PM today and drove to the latest prospective site. Dave Hollimon drove directly there from Muscle Shoals. The site is the most promising that we have inspected year to date. It would be difficult to find a more remote and less populated area in either Lauderdale or Colbert County. It is 23.5 miles from the Sheffield range. David Hollimon said that it took him 30 minutes to drive to it from his residence in Muscle Shoals. One simply drives west on Highway 72 and then turns south on 247. Just under 9 miles one turns left on 33 and then 1 mile later, left on Jones Road for four miles, and finally a left on a gravel road brings one to the prospective range site after about a mile. It runs for just under half a mile along the left side of the gravel road. It is 40 acres with rolling pasture land, some timber, two ponds, a 300 yard hollow, and a 40 foot high ridge running through half of it. With ample funds we could build three 50 yard and one 100 yard range firing into the ridge. A 300 yard plus rifle range could be located in at least three different areas with the best balance of cost, favoring light, and safety being the deciding factors. An archery field course could be set up in one of the wooded areas as a bonus . The acquisition and ridge ranges may cost as little as $100,000. With the 300 yard rifle range, the archery field course, and even a shotgun range being added later as regular annual memberships and match fee revenue accumulate. I'm excited about it. I think everyone else was as well. Can't do nuthin without money though.
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davh
Sharp Shooter
Posts: 79
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Post by davh on Aug 26, 2012 20:29:30 GMT -6
This property looked very suitable especially from an isolation and sound buffeting standpoint. There seems to be plenty of earth that can be moved to make the berms and barriers that we would require. With planning, the potential is there.
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Post by davidmalone on Aug 27, 2012 22:08:19 GMT -6
Danny I have a couple things I would like to ask. How much of the membership do you think we will loose due to increased travel time and dues increase. The biggest part of our membership live in florence. How close to freedom hills is the land off 247? How manypeople do you think will travel a few min futher to free range vs paying for a membership. If we are able to raise the money for the land will there be enough of a membership left for the up keep?
Not trying to step on any toes just pitching around thing I think we will all have to look at.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Aug 28, 2012 6:43:40 GMT -6
Having a range that is under our club's control is worth a lot to me. We have seen what can happen to any range that is under the control of any government agency. I will drive where ever I have to to support it.
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Post by tyler on Aug 28, 2012 15:08:06 GMT -6
While I definitely see the benefits in a private range, in that the government can't take it away as easily as the did this last time, and I'm even selling some pieces right now to help pay for my share of it, I think Mr. Malone makes good points.... it will take me about an hour to drive from Killen, to there I think (estimate). That's quite a bit of gas and time... Just putting my .02 in Thanks
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Post by Danny Creasy on Aug 28, 2012 19:05:08 GMT -6
Not necessarily the farthest away site that we have considered, this site is the most remotely situated site that we have considered. I think it is an excellent compromise.
I hate that this is such a difficult decision for many of you. I respect this. But, there are no easy solutions to our problem. We have to stick by are original location variables and find the best property. Any site we pick will be more convenient to some than others.
One way or the other, folks are voting with their dollars everyday. There was $25,000.00 in the escrow account after I dropped off Dwight Pilkilton's $1,000.00 check this afternoon.
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Post by tyler on Aug 28, 2012 19:30:49 GMT -6
Not necessarily the farthest away site that we have considered, this site is the most remotely situated site that we have considered. I think it is an excellent compromise. I hate that this is such a difficult decision for many of you. I respect this. But, there are no easy solutions to our problem. We have to stick by are original location variables and find the best property. Any site we pick will be more convenient to some than others. One way or the other, folks are voting with their dollars everyday. There was $25,000.00 in the escrow account after I dropped off Dwight Pilkilton's $1,000.00 check this afternoon. Yes, I'm sure the land opportunities (either available or reasonably priced land) are difficult to come by, especially those fit enough for a new range in such a short amount of time, and I hate to sound "picky," I just thought the distance factor should at least be mentioned for those of us who live in Lauderdale just in case there was another option. Sadly, I know ranges just don't pop up magically. Even if I had to drive an hour, I would, probably not as often as I'd like to, but I still would, as it would be nice to have a range who's destiny isn't controlled by anti-gun influences. It's important for American men to know how to use a long rifle, and if that means driving an hour to practice, so be it. Thanks for what y'all are doing to keep the club alive.
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Post by davidmalone on Aug 29, 2012 7:08:56 GMT -6
I plan to be a member and continue to shoot matches as much as possible. I am just pointing out thing that need to be addressed. There needs to be an eastiment on each possible site. In cost to buy and build as well as the cost to the membership. It's great if every one that is willing steps up and pays the $1000 but if we loose too much of the membership there will be no money to keep it up and all we have done is jump out of the pan and into the fire. I am as proud to be a member of this club as anyone els. There is absolutely no way for me to buy in. I don't have that kind of money and the 30 day limit killed any chance that I might have to do it. It's was said that maybe members could sell off a gun or two to come up with the money, but for people like me who don't have a collection, isn't viable. If sell off my guns to get in the club I would no longer have a reason to be in the club. Like I said I am going to keep paying my membership.
All I am trying to say is there is a lot more to look at than just cost of land and cost of berm.
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