PERHAPS A NEW FEE IS NEEDED

With the uncertainty facing The ATA's future regarding the shooting facility in Sparta rumor has it a backup plan is being formulated to allow for the purchase of the Sparta property expressly as the ATA homegrounds. As with any new plan the ability to achieve the predetermined goal depends on adequate financial resources. This coupled with the ATA's inability to achieve membership growth means that the collection plate must be passed but given the current low esteem the ATA suffers in Ohio, Pennsylvania and surrounding states they'll have to depend on the newer well heeled shooters from Illinois. With the vested interest they have in Sparta I'm confident they'll immediately assume the role of stalwart financial backers and quickly not only secure the necessary funding to purchase Sparta but also increase the shooter base by thousands in just a couple short months. Pretty impressive backup plan. Grntitan, hunter44, and the rest come from the pedigree of longtime impressive and famous shooters known throughout several counties.

 

If the weather is good and the crops are good, money is freer but
A lot of the Illinois shooters depend on mother nature.
This idea (above) could go a few ways.
Interesting theory!

Greta c

 

The locals don't support trapshooting much. Better off kissin the PA and OH boys butts. Nahh .....just kidding. They got their own shoots.

You could always imposed a corruption tax on 2012 orgs.

 

Or maybe a moving fee????

 

With the corrupt 2012PLL in the past, no fair price could be negotiated, plus you have the Union workers that could go on strike and shut it down, I am not in favor of the ATA owning any ground after all the debacles the past presidents, EC and BOD have done. Just hold the Grand at different locations, like even years on the West of the Mississippi River and the ODD years East of the Mississippi River, gives equal access to each Coast, only fair way to have the GAH. And the MOST Economical.

Absolutely no more fees are needed, shooters have enough as it is.

Gary Bryant..........................Dr.longshot

 

You are correct, we shooters have more than enough and every year
More and more.
Motels, restaurants, etc. are high dollar amounts, but I still say
There has to be a cap on some expenses, so shooters are
Not entering as many events and I don't blame them.
But, let's not bash, let's just find ways to change and improve.
I for one would love to shoot the Odd years.
With ATA targets of course!!

Greta c

 

More fees will only drive more shooters away , if those fees are to purchase a dead horse it will do it even faster ... If the ATA EC and some of the Bod drive enough shooters away they will be free to use the money that is on hand any way they see fit , which might very well be the plan ... The ATA could not possibly pay the fees related with owning a facility such as the WSRC , the cost to maintain it would break the bank (eliminate investments) in a very short period of time based on the figures the State pays for same (3 Million annually), plus the place is going to be needing major renovation and repairs now that it getting older ... I seriously doubt even all of the Sparta Pros would set still for additional fees to shoot at such a fine facility and have an experience of a life time ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

The only possible salvation of the WSRC would be if the Martin Family took possession of it, based on the attendance they get in Vernal, Utah and the way they host shoots this place would be a gold mine even sitting in the middle of No Place, Illinois like it does ...That's if the State and ATA would leave them alone and not try to micro manage the place, open up the option of buying ammo at WalMart rather than create a monopoly for sales on site ... The games, the food, the entertainment, and atmosphere creates more enticement and interest than anything the ATA has done in the over 40 years that I have been a Life Member ... I think its salvageable if and only if things start happening without the black cloud hanging over it ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

WPT, The ATA only requires new shells for Handicap events and you can bring your own, or purchase them on site. The days of mandatory ATA supplied shells ceased when the Grand moved to Sparta.

 

Iowa guy,
The State of Illinois relaxed a provision of the States laws and then put it back into effect this past year so people could not go and purchase shells at the local WalMart there by making it a monopoly ( of sorts) for many shooters who could not bring ammo with them for what ever reason (mode of travel) ... The days of Mandatory shells may or may not be over so far as the grand is concerned , that can be changed , altered,. or modified at the whim on the ATA at any time just like it was changed to try and attract more shooters (but failed miserably) ... Try flying from anyplace (unless you own the plane) with enough ammunition for 3 days let alone the entire program and tell me how that works for you ... No need to thank me for pointing that out for you ... We Love you man ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

Why should ATA shooters pay full price for their shells at any shoot. Shell mfgrs want the ATA Shooters to use their shells, look what Winchester did when the started Mfgring the 2 piece hull, they were the leader in Sales w/AA Amunition, that put a distinct advantage to Remington with their STS and Nitro-27s. Winchester should go back to their original HULL design.

But enough of that, the Mfgrs could offer discounts to the ATA Shooters at the Shell House through the Shell House management. Hell enough shells were stolen from the ATA Managed Shell House in the past. Do not charge for shells at entry, shooters buy them at Walmart, Shell House, or dealers on site at terrific savings.

We had the Paul Tackett debacle w/ stolen stamp and shell pads in the 1970s I believe, that brought out an arrest and lifetime/forever lost Permanent suspension of membership from the ATA.

Gary Bryant.....................Dr.longshot

 

But I will. Thanks WPT. Was there a significant price difference from what you could buy them for at Wally World vs at the shell house? Was the ATA skimming any of the money or did it all stay with the vendor?

 

Skimming and skinning sounds similar so how may ways are there to skim or skin a cat? Fees for providing shells, building rental fees or other compensation for doing business at that address?

Your question will never be answered regardless of whether or not any of the alluding question is true or false.

HAP

 

I don't have a problem with the ATA being a part time renter (Temporary) but sincerely feel that those who attend the grand should be the ones who pay the differential (increase) in cost to make up any deficits realized by who ever the host (sponsor) is going to be (ATA, or the Martins), that would only be right ... The grand is obviously something that is part of a Tradition and must continue at any and all costs, those costs should be assumed to be part of the experience of a life time ... The State of Illinois has showed how honorable they are regarding doing business with an outside vendor (ATA) that has a lease in hand but yet bows to them begging them to let the Show Go On by accepting altered conditions, ready to compromise the members investment in the ATA rather than just walk away and move on ... I have been a Life Member of the ATA for over 40 years an do not recall ever seeing anything that stipulated and or guaranteed there would be a grand American Championship Tournament on an annual basis ... The turn out is pitiful at best even based on the amount of members in the ATA, active or not ... What does it take for someone, anyone to realize and admit it was a mistake to relocate to the State of Illinois and move on down the road ..? The residents of Sparta should have to assume some of the cost (Special annual assessment of say $500 per house hold) being as they are the benefactor with all of the millions spent in the general area ... This was the year everything was going to start to happen and money would be pouring into the region from every "Fantastic Direction" ... If you want to eat steak do not expect to pay for hamburger (wants fries with that .? ) so get ready people and watch this ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

The ATA claims that the facility generates 10 plus million dollars annually and some people have said you can see the improvements to the local area as you drive though ... They interviewed one resident who said talking about those improvements, most of them were done by the last tornado to hit the area, it obviously did a million dollars in improvements ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

Do not be surprised to see the IDNR impose a daily gun tax.

An Illinois lawmaker wants gun owners to shell out extra taxes in order to finance a new grant program for trauma centers, a move firearms advocacy groups say amounts to a "sin tax" on law-abiding hunters and target shooters.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/201...y-proposed-surtax-on-illinois-ammo-sales.html