Club Projects

Updated October 23, 2011

The Fall work day went well.  Lots of painting got done before the old weather.  Fences were repaired, posts straightened or replaced, and signs were updated.  New grass was planted along the new wall, chain fence, and maintenance shed, and covered with straw.  Lots of heavy-duty brush and deadwood cutting was accomplished as usual.  Shelving was installed in the skeet houses for clay bird storage.  New 100 yard plywood, a new 50 yard post, mats and boards, and a couple zillion staples removed from 200 yards.  Several outdoor portable frames were put out of their misery and new ones made from any good pieces.  A special thanks to the incoming new members who showed up early before their orientation and worked hard all morning!

There is a new maintenance shed out behind the indoor range building.  The same combination that gets us in the gate opens the lock on the doors.  It is being stocked with lumber, nails, screws & hardware for members to have access and for the routine maintenance and repair sub-committees.  All of the fence wire, wire clips and signs are out there, along with the stretching and post tools.  (The posts are mostly in the end-storage of the range building.)  The weed trimmers and small push mower is in there, as well as some landscaping tools.  Painting equipment, furnace filters, tape, spare portable frames and materials, and a wheelbarrel are inside.  As the winter months go by, we hope to accumulate hand tools and garden tools that members might not use around the house anymore.  There’s an old toolbox in there to fill up, guys.  Paint will be put in there in the Spring.  The plan is to free up space in the tractor/mower shed, and give all members access to the stuff needed to perform volunteer work at any time.  Check it out, and help maintain the Club.

The indoor range  will be undergoing safety improvements to enhance protection from shots penetrating the building.  A raised firing line bench project has already been started and additional baffling down range is proposed.  The roof will probably need to be repaired and the trusses strengthened to accommodate the baffle work.  The minor work will be started now, with the major work coming in the Spring when shooters will have the option to shoot outside during the work.  Concerning the constant clean up required to maintain a safe backstop, a perforated shovel has been placed in the range along with a couple of plastic buckets and dust masks, to sift debris from the backstop sand pit.  Members who frequent the indoor range are encouraged to clean some of their bullet debris at every opportunity.  Accumulation of metal in the pit results in much of it being kicked out and back up range.  Club officers will see to it that the buckets are emptied as needed. Remember to use the exhaust fans and keep the dust at a minimum whenever cleaning in there.  A mop and bucket, along with concentrated cleaners are kept in the restroom for damp mopping. 

The “honey do” list on the white board under the range flag will be continued.  Last year several members asked for a list of odd jobs that they can do while out at the club.  We will try to keep it simple and current, with a minimum of tools required.  Feel free to spend some time helping out.  Every helping hand is appreciated.   No one is paid to maintain the Club.  All of the benefits of a great facility we enjoy out there are because some member before us cleaned it up, fixed it up, or improved it.  We were all volunteers in the upkeep for our own vested interest.

There is still an opportunity to sign up for one of the maintenance sub-committees to provide year-long upkeep to your preferred part of the club.    Several minor but necessary tasks always need doing at the club.  Feel free to spend a few spare minutes making the facility better or cleaner than you found it.

 Whatever skills or equipment you may have will probably be needed at the club on a work day or any other time you have to offer it.  Contact any officer about project ideas, skills, materials, or equipment the club may need.

 A couple of members have offered to move the flag pole out to the end of the covered firing line, and mount a storage box to keep the flags in.  Now that’s a great idea that just needed suggesting and doing!

Future Projects:   Safety enhancements will get priority treatment this year and next.  After the construction of the club house and the barrier wall, our normal maintenance, utilities, taxes, and insurance costs should settle down to a more predictable level.  Several safety recommendations have been suggested and will be considered.  Overall, the club looks good and continues to improve.  Thanks to all members who have worked hard to make it happen.

P.S.  We now have several rolls of 24” wide rubber belting to be used for target matting, thanks to  members who offered to haul it out from an old gravel pit.  Anybody got several truck loads of dirt to bring out???