Curious about volunteerism in clubs.

New to the forum. Been shooting trap for a few years now, thoroughly enjoy it. I migrated from the sporting and skeet end of the range.

I would be interested in how clubs encourage/require member volunteer help. Any pointing to club web pages that have successful policies appreciated. I'm curious.

Thank you.

 

http://www.canandaiguasportsmensclub.com/membership/

My old club in upstate NY gives a 50% discount in membership fees if you put in 5 work hours a year.

This Works for a lot of clubs.

Then there are people like us who used to be there all the time anyway and did whatever necessary to keep the doors open.

 

We don't have any policy that would discount membership fee. When we have a work day, we have enough people show up to get the job done. We do serve lunch on such days maybe its the food that brings them in.

 

Maywood Sportsman Club in Elmhurst, Ill had a policy that if you did not serve on a Committee or show up for one of the many work day details (get involved ) the board would notify you to appear and state your case and the reasons you are not getting involved ... This was a very old traditional club that had been and still is in existence so they know what to and how to get it done ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

Seems that we have a great membership. Whenever something needs doing, someone steps up, and it's not always the same people. Great club. "North Jersey Clay Target Club" Check out their website.
Ed Yanchok

 

• Discount on membership fees.
• Discount on new shells.
• Discount on practice targets.

 

Amen Brother

Two of us pushed for an eight machine 5 stand layout back in 1995. Some members fought the idea, some welcomed it. The club spent somewhere north of $14000.00
NONE helped when it came time to run it. Two of us, the two big mouths that pushed for it, spent EVERY FRIDAY FOR 5 YEARS from 3:00-4:00 to 11:00 pm setting up, signing people up, loading and pulling, tearing down, counting the money, and anything else that needed done.

It was a great success and we paid it off in a little over 2 years. It's still running but I had to give it to someone else after the 5 years serving my time. I mean helping out the club.

 

Thank you for the information so far.

 

Clubs in my area are all small........ basically 4 or 5 folks do the "volunteer" stuff and everything else....... just the way it is. 4 or 5 work, rest bitch while setting on their ass. We have had two years of High School team shooting at 3 of the area clubs, now there is a great bunch of eager young people wanting to shoot and will help with ANYTHING. But school is out for the summer, back to the same 4 or 5...... average age of those 4 or 5 is 66.......... Larry

 

I belong to a 60-member trap club. ...Members are required to perform 4 range duties per year. ....An un-excused absence from range duty is a $40 fine per occurrence. ....Repeat offences are grounds for revoking membership.

Work days are scheduled once or twice a year, on a volunteer basis. ...Usually a good turn-out.

Additional jobs are done on a volunteer basis.

 

cwtech........ The smallest club in this region has (as a guess) about 100 members, the rest are probably about 150 each. A large percentage are retired, another large percentage are nearing retirement...... the clubs are all self owned with no caretakers or hired staff. One club has hired one of its High School shooters to mow the grass, at another two retired members have taken it upon themselves to keep the grass short, the other two clubs have no grass due to the help from deer and elk...... at shoots the same folks do the scoring, setting up of speakers and traps and loading of the trap houses.. It all seems to get done but not on a formal basis but relying on a small number of people doing it for "the good of the club" and because they are accustomed to doing what needs be done. I suspect a close examination of memberships might find that many are members of all 4 clubs. We have one young lady, Katie, that takes it upon herself to keep computers updated, set at the desk at shoots and handicap, enter data, print, etc at events upon request...... she loves to shoot but dedicates herself to the role of taking care of the rest of us....... as with all groups in any activity there are a few that go overboard to make sure things get done........ Larry

 

Maywood Sportmans Club (Elmhurst, Ill) actually had an agreement included in the application for membership that members would participate and be involved in the Club (committees and work details) ... There was a waiting list of 300 (maybe more) and the membership roster as I recall was 500 so they were not short of people, you also need members (2) to sponsor you before you will be considered for a membership ... The dues were not cheap and if need be they assess you for repairs that had to be done beyond normal wear and ageing ... The club was very well run, well taken care of and operated like a well oiled machine because every one knew the rules and played by them to the letter, or got taken in front of the Board ... The Club had a "Club " dinner in the main club house once a month and the place (list) was always full, always good food and a great time ... The club also sold shooting memberships which they had a waiting list for being as there was a limited number of them ... Maywood Sportmans Club is probably one of the best run and best operated Clubs in existence ... Weds and Sundays games (annies and protections ) had shooters shoulder to should well beyond the pavement right in front of the "Shooters Shack" so you had to get there early or not get a spot ... If there is anything I miss about the State of Illinois this club would be it in "Spades" ... The club had 2 ponds stocked for fishing, indoor pistol range, archery range, a beach, shooters shack, Main club house, and a house on site for the clubs custodian (caretaker) ... You want to talk about done right this place was (probably still is ) it ... WPT ... (YAC) ...


GOOGLE it and enjoy, you will be glad you did ...

 

I posted earlier on our old club's policy.

This was in the newsletter today:

Buildings & Grounds – Reporting :

- Spring cleanup day 36 members participated, a record number.

 

Lots to admire there, thanks for sharing.