ATA Membership 60,000 or ATA Membership 30,000 Which One?

Somewhere in cyberland our wannabe future ATA president (layer of pipe) claims the ATA now has 60,000 members. Unfortunately, the book of averages shows around 30,000 participating members. It sure seems like a bit of exaggeration, a play on numbers or like a politician encouraging voters to vote and vote often. I understand in IL people who've been dead for years are still voting and sometimes more than once. Does this mean almost half our membership quit shooting, just join because a membership is exciting, are dead life members or just dead?

 

If Pipe Layers ATA membership number of 61,153 is correct, then yes, you are correct in saying that approximately half of the ATA membership has quit shooting ATA targets for one reason or another.

The ATA website states: "The ATA has 30,000 active members annually that are dedicated to trapshooting".

Scanning through the annual ATA Averages Book, a member needs to shoot at a minimum of 100 ATA targets during the target year to get their name in the Averages Book. Is the ATA definition of an active shooter also a member who shoots at minimum of 100 ATA during the target year ? My guess is yes, the definitions are the same.

Dawg, I agree with your count of approximately 30,000 names in the averages book which also agrees with the 30,000 active member number on the ATA website.

 

So why would 30,000 members belong to a shooting organization that don't shoot? Let's see "layer of pipe" explain that one.

 

Oleolliedawg,
Are you sure you are ready for the bull shit pipelier can produce? Put on your hip boots. Roger C.

 

I'm sure he got those numbers from our bs'r at the top. To think some people would defend those figures.

 

Does he mean the ATA has 60,000 dues paying members? Somehow, I don't believe his figures. We're missing 30,000 supposed members somewhere.

 

Are there 60,000+ dues paying members and only 30,000+ actual shooters? Could be? Check the books before you make assumptions.

 

As I can recall the ATA's biggest complaint was member retention. My guess is they've come up with a strange way of computing actual membership-like counting everyone who signed up in the last 20 years but haven't heard from since.

By the way, I have the books-every average book from 1975 until the present.

 

Maybe they're using the term "unpaid for the current year" and deceased life members to inflate those numbers. Heck, I just punched in one annual member's name who hasn't shot a target since 1996 and she's listed as an "unpaid for the current year" member.

 

Dawg, I think you are on to something. Because of Agent Orange and injures I suffered during my 7 years in the Army, the pain is too great for me to shoot ATA targets and I have not been a paid ATA member since the late 70's. I just punched in my name into the shooter information center and they have me listed as "unpaid for the current year" and they also display my old ATA number.

 

Yup, I'd say I am. I just had a visitor from NJ leave here. He joined as a life member in 1990, shot 100 targets and hasn't shot any since. I'll bet he's one helping inflate those numbers.

 

MSN had an article from Time magazine that..... Trap Shooting is one of The Fastest growing Sports.
Wasn't too badly written and gave a good look at the State of Minnesota and their HS programs.
They seem to be doing a good job. Maybe there is hope.

Regards Gerald

 

My #1 son shot on 4 ATA sub-junior and junior teams in the early to mid 90's. I know of only one who returned to active shooting since then and he's currently on suspension. All those kids are now in their 40's. I'm still waiting.

 

Dawg,
Perhaps its just an optical illusion or maybe they are using thinner paper these days, but the average books in your photo appear to be getting thinner as the years progress (exactly the opposite of my waist line). Wait, I know what it must be...less advertisements in the more current books so that makes the book thinner. Yup that must be it!

 

Pipe Layer was (is) a target claimer so why would anyone be surprised he is claiming ATA members today. Back in the day when I was shooting his squad of Kentucky shooters were always known for cheating and claiming each others targets. A fact that I am happy to share with you all. Don't believe a thing he says.

Brad Dysinger

 

A target claimer lacking math skills too. Sounds like the ATA's headed in a fantastic direction with him at the helm. Well, at least I overheard one retired ATA EC member called him a useful idiot. He must be graduating soon.

 

I know there are some SCTP teams that require all members to join the ATA regardless of whether they participate in a registered event (their SCTP State Shoot). This helps add to the inaccurate number.

 

Figures on total ATA membership simply cannot be substantiated which is why the ATA stopped reporting them in the Average Book after the 1994 target year. In 1995 the ATA reported active members shooting at least 100 registered targets which provides a more accurate benchmark. Members participating in registered shooting which is the major funding source for the association.

Is President Terry Dean trying to resurrect the old-time bogus reporting?

Mr. Dean reported the ATA’s total membership in 2017 was 60,120 and in 2018, 61,153, an increase of 1,033 total members in one year.


How did the membership increase when the ATA minutes state:

“Total active shooters in the ATA decreased from 28,309 in 2017 to 27,920 in 2018 which represents a 1% drop.”

So, we lost 389 active members and by some unexplained miracle, the ATA increased its total membership by 1422.

I haven’t received my 2018 Average Book yet to verify the ATA’s total target count by President Dean reported the ATA recorded 56,560,460 registered targets in 2018. That’s 788,540 less targets than the previous year.

He also gave the 2017 target total as 57,394,025 while the 2017 Average Book reported 57,349,000. Perhaps his 45,025 target error was a typo.


ATA minutes report:

“Total registered targets shot in 2017 were 57.3 million as compared to 56.7 million in 2016.

A good question for President Dean to answer would be:

How did the ATA increase total membership in 2018 when the association reported:

1. Active “memberships decreased from 28,309 in 2017 to 27,920 in 2018 representing a 1% drop.”

2. Total ATA registered targets totaled 56,560,460, a decrease of 788,540 from 2017.

What significance does the ATA place on reporting 33,233 inactive members?

The don’t shoot.

They don’t pay dues.

They don’t pay daily fees.

They don’t add to the recorded number of total registered targets.

They only serve to inflate the associations membership, giving the appearance that the ATA has twice as many members as Sporting Clays and is 6-times larger than the Skeet Association.

In summary, using President Terry Dean’s total ATA membership numbers, we can deduce the total number of “inactive” members.

2018 Target Year

61,153 Total membership
– 27,920 Active members
33,233 Inactive members


2017 Target Year

60,120 Total membership
– 28,309 Active members
31,811 Inactive members


Perhaps President Dean will provide a list of names to prove there were 61,153 ATA members in 2018.

A word of advice for Mr. Dean. Pay attention to the more important and accurate figures i.e. active members; total registered targets; and those ever-decreasing number of registered gun clubs throwing registered targets.

HB

 

All I know is if I didn't pay my dues to any organization when they were due I would no longer be listed as a member. The ATA must have different rules.

 

Maybe the current Prez is just regurgitating the figure provided by the ED. Was/was not the 60k figure given to the Illinois reporter by the ED in an article posted by one of our HOF inductees?

 

Terry Dean and I got into a discussion once, that was enough for me ... I came to the conclusion he is not the Brightest Bulb in the Box ... Math was probably not his best or favorite subject when he was in school, that is if he was ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

He does have good eye sight though, he always manages to SEE A PIECE.

 

He must have shot a few targets with "Charlie Chip" from PA too.

 

The ATA is about as transparent as a sealed lead box, they do not feel the members (General Membership ) are entitled to know anything that is or will be happening soon with in the confines of the Organization ... This started to change about 25 years age and has continually gotten worse as time goes by ... The way things have been changed, altered, or modified over the years the ATA can tell the Members to kiss their ass and there is nothing the members can do about it other than shoot less, shoot none at all, try to find and hope the PITA expands its reaches so it can and will include people who want to shoot but won't for obvious reasons ... The ATA is sitting on a considerable amount of money that has increased over the years thanks to the participation of the members, they treat it like their account and spend freely to advance their shooting which includes a new gun and a check for $20,000 plus expenses for the presidents year in office doing nothing ... The CASH Cow grows ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

@wpt

I hope the EC starts to save some of that money. I think relocation is just a matter of when and not if.

The new burdens on gun vendors, unless exempted by future legislation, insures the presence of fewer purveyors of firearms. Fewer gun vendors will impact the already dismal shooter numbers. The try before you buy magnet will dry up.

 

You ain't seen nuttin yet. Wait until this new pres get done using the piggy bank. Roger C.

 

Maybe, there counting everyone that signed up in the last 30 years or so. Then of course, they could include the deceased from 1900. Just guessing.....

 

I am hoping someone in the line to the throne will take the obligation to be a caretaker of the organization seriously. Somehow, I do not think much in the way of ethics can be expected from the current top office holder.

 

Using his name and the word ethics in the same sentence should never but allowed. But maybe with his perfect vision he will see the light and be an honorable leader. Roger C.

 

@Roger Coveleskie

A guy told me a leopard does not change its spots.

 

Does the finantial report how much was collected in dues. This should help in the tally of registered shooters. Roger C.

 

Check out the ATA Financial forum on this website. The 2017 ATA financial audit shows $53,500 for earn life memberships and $502,564 for annual dues.

 

Sure doesn't add up to 61,000 members, does it ?

Annual would be around $1,220,000 at 20 bucks per