ATA/Email

FWIW. This may be old news, but just got an email from ATA notifying that the 2016 Grand will be in Sparta.

 

So did I. I wonder how the email knows that!

 

You would think the ATA's web site would of been updated before they sent out any notifications via E Mail or what ever means they would choose to use ... There is nothing on the ATA's site with the exception of:


As I’m sure you are aware shooting of all types has been suspended at the World Shooting and Recreational Complex effective October 1, until the Illinois legislature and Governor come to terms on a state budget. The Event Center and Restaurant remain open, as do the year-round vendors on the grounds. In addition, shoot dates and activities are being scheduled for 2016. Throughout the budget stalemate, the state has never indicated any plan to permanently close the facility, but unfortunately state officials are unable to give us any clear indication of when the suspension of shooting will be lifted.

Planning by the ATA staff for the Grand American begins in the fall each year. Our initial focus is on the development of sponsor commitments for the coming Grand American. Sponsors typically determine their budgets for marketing and promotion in the fall and direct the funds no later than January. These commitments are vital to the financial success of the Grand American. Obviously, when we approach sponsors for their commitment we need to be able to tell the them where the tournament will be held and what we will be able to do to promote their name and products. Furthermore, camping reservations and vendor building commitments need to be made by December 31. Planning out your shooting “season”, and determination of shoots to attend by travelling vendors is usually done at this time of the year also.


The Executive Committee remains confident that the suspension of shooting at the Complex will be lifted long before the 2016 Grand American; however we believe that it is in the best interest of the Association and our Championship Tournament to have a contingency plan in place should circumstances require it to be put in motion. It is the opinion of our legal representatives that by suspending shooting with no indication of resumption, the State has defaulted on our Lease Agreement for the use of the facility for the Grand American. The lease provides that a defaulting party be given 60 days to remedy an alleged default. The party alleging default may extend this time period if desired. We will be notifying the State in the next few days of their default on the agreement and will begin exploring possible contingency options, should the need arise, for the 2016 Grand American.

We have made it abundantly clear to state officials that we feel that Sparta is our home. Moving the Championship Tournament, world headquarters, employing a local staff and most recently the privately funded construction of the Trapshooting Hall of Fame and Museum at the WSRC reflect the tremendous commitment and economic impact that our sport has made to this region. It would be tragic to have to move the Tournament; however we feel that we must take whatever steps necessary to protect our National Championship tournament, our members, our supporters and the history and traditions of this great American sport.


Lynn Gipson Executive Director

 

The banner across the top has the info for the 2016 Grand.

 

The "Grand" is just one shoot that is two weeks of the year, the "ATA" is milking the bank account fifty two weeks a year. What a shame that the two things get lumped together making the year-round milking look less important.

The "Grand" in a location I do not like is one thing, I can go or not ..... but keep in mind it is only one small bucket of water sinking the ship.

 

Finally an answer !

Now we can all go forward, and the Trapshooting Hall of Fame can begin to fill the new museum next month as scheduled...

Yee haaaaa

 

Nothing posted on the ATA's web site ... They must of forgot to notify the members ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

Rep. Welch Legislative Update Highlights Proposed Rauner Cuts
Posted on June 15, 2015 by MROMAIN2 Comments
Monday, June 15, 2015 || OFFICE OF REP. CHRIS WELCH || PRESS RELEASE

Westchester, Ill. – Late Friday, June 12, 2015, Governor Bruce Rauner announced that he will be making several cuts effective July 1, 2015, many targeted at hurting middle class families.

The Governor is proposing cutting medical care for the elderly and the disabled, and emergency shelters for homeless families and children. Before the Governor cuts services that will impact people all across Illinois, Rep. Chris Welch, D-7th, is urging Governor Rauner to come to the table and negotiate with the General Assembly.

“There are real names and faces behind every cut the Governor proposes,” Welch said. “We cannot cut our way to a balanced budget. We must take a balanced approach to deal with the challenges we face.”

Representative Welch serves all or parts of Bellwood, Berkeley, Broadview, Forest Park, Hillside, La Grange Park, Northlake, Maywood, Melrose Park, Westchester, Western Springs, and River Forest. For more information, please contact Welch’s constituent service office at 708-450-1000, email repwelch@emanuelchriswelch.com or click here.

Below is a list of cuts the Governor announced on Friday, June 12, 2015:

Statewide Action Initiated

• Notify all State of Illinois vendors to prepare for the potential of a longer delay in receiving payments for goods and services provided to the State.

Effective July 1, 2015

• Suspend capital projects, including construction at state facilities, schools and colleges.
• Suspend all capital grants for legislators’ earmarks and non-bonded or “pay as you go” capital projects.
• This freeze does not include road and other Department of Transportation projects.
• Significantly reduce use of outside legal counsel by eliminating and/or reducing legal contracts.
• Department of Healthcare and Family Services Action Initiated
• Reinstate timely re-determinations of Medicaid eligibility.
• Roll back rates for ambulance services and renal care services to SMART-Act levels.
• Reduce managed care capitation rates.
• Discontinue special Medicaid payments to some hospitals.
• Increase eligibility threshold (Determination of Need Score) to a level more consistent with national eligibility levels.
• Achieve cost savings using new procurement strategy for purchasing durable medical equipment.

Department of Natural Resources

Effective September 1, 2015

• Suspend operations at the World Shooting Recreational Complex (WSRC) near Sparta. The site will become closed to the public and not available for events. All events scheduled through August 2015, including the Grand American, will not be impacted by this action.

Department of Agriculture

Effective July 1, 2015

• Suspend funding to county fairs for premiums and fairground rehabilitation projects.
• Suspend funding for agricultural extension and 4-H clubs for premiums at agricultural shows.
• Suspend funding for premiums for Agricultural Education Fairs.
• Suspend funding for the University of Illinois Cooperative Extension Service.
• Suspend funding to the Soil and Water Conservation Districts.

Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority

Effective July 1, 2015

• Suspend funding to Choose Chicago for tourism promotion.

Department of State Police

Effective July 1, 2015

• Suspend FY16 initiative to purchase new forensic equipment.

Office of State Fire Marshal

Effective July 1, 2015

• Suspend funding for the Chicago Fire Department training program.
• Suspend reimbursements for fire department training to other local governments.
• Suspend funding for small fire-fighting and ambulance equipment grants.

Criminal Justice Information Authority

Effective July 1, 2015

• Suspend the following legislative earmarks:
• YouthBuild grants;
• Bullying Prevention grants;
• Franklin County Methamphetamine Pilot Program; and
• South Suburban Major Crimes Taskforce.
• Suspend statewide funding for Operation CeaseFire.
• Suspend funding for Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention grants

Department of Human Services

Effective July 1, 2015

• Suspend funding for Community Services for juvenile delinquency program serving youth and young adults administered by the Chicago Area Project.
• Suspend funding for Immigrant Integration Services. Access to the Department’s programs will continue through local offices.
• Suspend funding for Welcoming Centers. Access to the Department’s programs will continue through local offices.
• Suspend funding for the Youth Employment legislative earmark.

Department of Public Health

Effective July 1, 2015

• Suspend funding for Brothers and Sisters United Against HIV
• Suspend funding to the Tobacco Quitline

Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity

Effective July 1, 2015

• Reduce funding for state-funded job training programs and suspend funding to legislative earmarks for job training. This does not impact the Department’s federal job training funds.
• Suspend funding for all coal programs at the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, including discontinuing subsidies to coal companies.
• Suspend funding for the Renewable Energy Program. This does not impact the Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standards program.
• Suspend funding for the Energy Efficiency Program.

Department of Transportation

Effective July 1, 2015

• Reduce funding for Amtrak
• Suspend state add-on payment to PACE
• Suspend state subsidy for Regional Transportation Authority Reduced Fares grant

Department of Revenue

Effective July 1, 2015

• Reduce funding for the following housing programs administered by the Illinois Housing Development Authority:
  • Multifamily Finance Program;
  • Reduce Homebuyer Acquisition Rehabilitation Program; and
  • Reduce Homeowner Emergency Repair Program

Department of Veteran’s Affairs

Effective July 1, 2015

• Delay opening of Chicago Veterans’ Home

This is what was posted as up dates on the State of Ill Governors Office as of today ... It appears to be from June and July but no changes have been noted or posted ... There are many social services that are being cut so to realistically think that the WSRC will be opened in lieu of the residents of the State getting these services is stretching it quite a bit ... I cannot se any Politician putting a park and funding IDNR when there are many Medical, Educational, housing, transportation, training programs, youth programs, ambulance services, agriculture, Medicaid payments, tourism promotion.

• Suspend capital projects, including construction at state facilities, schools and colleges.
• Suspend all capital grants for legislators’ earmarks and non-bonded or “pay as you go” capital projects.
• This freeze does not include road and other Department of Transportation projects.
• Significantly reduce use of outside legal counsel by eliminating and/or reducing legal contracts.
• Department of Healthcare and Family Services Action Initiated
• Reinstate timely re-determinations of Medicaid eligibility.
• Roll back rates for ambulance services and renal care services to SMART-Act levels.
• Reduce managed care capitation rates.
• Discontinue special Medicaid payments to some hospitals.
• Increase eligibility threshold (Determination of Need Score) to a level more consistent with national eligibility levels.
• Achieve cost savings using new procurement strategy for purchasing durable medical equipment.

I never claimed to be the brightest bulb in the box, but think about it for just one second and then tell me a 2 week shooting event or the WSRC and IDNR is going to be considered more important and funded before the above listed will be ... I'm going out on a limb here, but I doubt it ... I never got an E Mail about it from the ATA and or anyone else either, so if it don't make sense it probably isn't true ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

The ladies who are in charge of the ATA office would not let something as important as confirmation of the dates and location to not post it on the web site, unless directed not to do so ... Its been very quiet, even the talking head isn't saying anything plus or minus again probably by direction ... There is nothing coming out of the Governors Office or the Illinois State Lottery (per the web sites) , here again one would assume anything either way would or should be posted ... The only thing that is really positive is that AmericanTrapshooter.com is alive and well, kind of like those who say they will never shop at WalMart so they do it when no body is looking so they don't get put on double secret probation for visiting this site also ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

The date, time and place for the 2016 Grand is posted on the rotating banner on the home page of the ATA.

 

Gipson's letter brings that into question doesn't it. The notice from the governor disagrees with the location as well. I doubt the ATA will publish their failure with honesty....hence the saying fantastic direction.

 

Speculation, speculation which is all anyone is doing at this time, those in the know ( if anyone is) are not saying just maybe they donot know for sure. In my opinion no one will know whether the WSRC will reopen or not until the budget is passed and only after that will we get to know if and when the WSRC will reopen. Hold off on placing any of our history into the Hall of Fame museum.

 

Well folks, there you have it. It's official. The dates for that "shoot in Sparta" are on the ATA website so that means the fears of the sparta forever crowd can be laid to rest.

Finally, an official announcement that the shoot in sparta will definitely be held THERE next year

 

Thanks Flyers*****

Whew !

Boy, this will be a great relief to those who can attend...

I had all the faith in the ATA that this would all work out...

Thanks for the information !