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The Ranger
Membership
Newsletter of the Ramapoo Rifle and Revolver Club, Inc.
In 2005, Ramapoo continued as a strong leader in and
advocate of the shooting sports for
The active support and involvement of Ramapoo members
is absolutely critical for the Club to continue offering quality shooting
programs. Individual sweat equity is essential to sustain Ramapoo operations
and to maintain the extremely modest dues we enjoy. Please join those members
already working to make Ramapoo successful by volunteering a few hours of your
time in 2006 to help out.
This issue of The Ranger brings you a summary of the very
well attended annual meeting conducted on February 7 and other important news.
ANNUAL MEETING SUMMARY
Finances
While our total assets were down slightly year to year
due primarily to infrastructure improvements expense and increased insurance
premiums, our overall financial picture continues to be strong.
Membership
Ramapoo continues as a very friendly, affordable,
well-run shooting club with an excellent facility. We are the best value in
Accomplishments/Projects Completed
Each year we seem to find a list of significant projects
and enhancements to improve the Club and to facilitate enjoyable shooting. This past year was no exception as the
following list will show.
1)The storage shed was erected along the outside wall
of the range and most of the finish work was completed. The folding chairs that
were stacked on the range behind ports 1 and 2 are stored there along with
other materials previously taking up needed inside space.
2)This freed up space for the Ridgefield Police
Department lockable cabinet. Now complete, the beautifully crafted cabinet was made
available to them for use. They are extremely happy with having permanent
storage space instead of transporting targets to the range each time their officer’s
practice.
A very big thank you goes to Tom Falconeri and Joe
Sherman for their shed work. Also, thanks to Mike Gennuso and Joe for the RPD
cabinet.
3) New ceilings and light fixtures were installed in
the ready room and range area behind the ports, tremendously improving the
looks and light level for both areas.
4) A wooden cabinet was installed behind the ports adjacent
to the Range Officer’s desk replacing the old wire shelves. The unsightly
storage from this area is now neatly and invisibly tucked away. Thanks again to
Mike Gennuso and Joe Sherman who made this happen.
5) The on range public address sound system was
upgraded.
6) The electrical service was brought up to code with
the installation of new heavier duty wiring and a new panel box.
7) A new Insurance Provider was engaged in order to
achieve proper coverage.
8) The NRA Range Safety Officer Home Study Course was
made available free of charge to Range Officers/Instructors who did not
previously have this certification.
2006 Objectives
1) Complete trim, install gutters and electrical for
shed
2) Enclose oil tank and install electric dipstick
3) Build a new walk way to rear door with motion
switch lights
4) Continue shooting area beautification by installing
new cabinets/trim/siding
5) Install a new 5 bin used brass container to replace
the numerous center fire receptacles
6) Replace all shooting rests
7) Air condition the ready room
NRA
Certified Handgun Instructor Course
We are planning another course to qualify students as NRA Certified
Handgun Instructors. The course will be
over a weekend (full day Saturday and half day Sunday). A signup sheet is posted on the Range Officer
Bulletin Board. We need about 10 people
and the course will likely cost the student about $150. This will qualify you to train individuals
for basic pistol safety and handling and to qualify them for CT. Pistol Permit
application. Graduates can help the Club as an instructor during our PPA
courses, although this is not a requirement.
New Board of Officers Elected for 2006/07
President Ted
Richards
Vice President Joe
Sherman
Treasurer Bill
White
Secretary Mark
Goldman
Executive Officer Joe
Italiano
Sgt. At Arms Joe
Trench
Chief Instructor Tony
Mortimer
OTHER NEWS
Dues
Annual 2006-2007 dues of $50.00 per member and $25.00
for spouse or second member in a household (we are on a March to March
schedule) are payable as of
Ramapoo.com
Our website was totally redesigned with improved
graphics and functionality including email query and response capability thanks
to Bill Schiffer. It’s now our “online brochure”-a living document,
inexpensive, easy to update/change. We plan to use it as our “bulletin board”,
so check it for news.
Junior Club
The Ramapoo Junior Club encourages all of our members
to invite any youngster interested in safely learning to shoot. Our program offers thorough but relaxed
competitive training for young people aged 10 to 20 which emphasizes safe
handling and operations of firearms. Any
parents of juniors can also actively participate and learn to shoot. We welcome Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts seeking
to earn firearms merit badges. This
program is open to all juniors and parents (club membership
not required). The Junior Club meets
every Friday at
Range Officers/Assistant Range Officers/Instructors
This group is the glue that holds together the
Club. They volunteer their time week
after week throughout the year and what they do to make the range run smoothly
is immeasurable. Without them there would be no Ramapoo. There are never sufficient superlatives to express
our gratitude for their contributions. Job well done! Thanks guys! We have lost a couple Range Officers since
last year to attrition and moves. Also, we need several Instructors to serve as
assistants to Range Officers. Please consider volunteering by contacting Tony
Mortimer or put a note on the Range Officer Bulletin Board.
Practical Pistol Competition-now
entering its 7th year with two types of matches:
"IDPA style" and "Plates". The matches are held twice a
month, usually on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday
evening. Please drop an e-mail to ramapoomatch@hotmail.com
to be included on the mailing list. You will be notified 2 days before the
match, and also in case there's a cancellation.
“Plates” involves shooting at reactive
targets until they are all down or you run out of bullets. The goal for participants is to continually
reduce the time required to knock down all targets. To make it
challenging, movement between shooting stations, reloads and time limits
may be used. We finish with a shooter-on-shooter competition for time and
accuracy.
“IDPA Style” involves IDPA targets and
varied scenarios such as “Bad day to cash a check” and “Terrorists at the Dairy
Queen” to simulate real-world defensive challenges. Emphasis is on drawing,
moving and shooting safely and accurately. This program will be significantly
enhanced once the Ridgefield Police Department’s training equipment becomes
available to us.
Winter Bulls Eye League
Active in a south western
Reminders
As in the past, the Range will be closed on Sundays
during the months of June, July and August because of historically low summer
participation. Sunday hours will resume
Parking in front of the Town Garage doors adjacent to
the range entrance is no longer allowed.
Please remember to pick up your brass behind the
firing line.
Help the Range Officers keep the range and ready room
tidy, clean and well organized. This responsibility belongs to all of us.
Safety continues to be “priority one”. Please remember
that our Range Rules require all targets to be completely down
range. Also, please remember to thoroughly check your firearm before you shoot
to insure it is operationally safe and always keep your firearm pointed in a
safe direction. Please reread the Range Rules periodically. Copies are
available at the check in desk.
Wrap Up
The Board of Officers is committed to ongoing
improvement of the Club and will work in a way to make shooting at Ramapoo the
most positive experience possible. We
welcome your continued active participation in Ramapoo’s programs as well as
your suggestions on how we might improve the Club. Please remember that our
volunteers do almost all of the Club’s work. With your support we will have
another great year.
