Trails End 2016: 18th - 20th March is our annual Cowboy Action showcase event which runs over three days and is a Frontier and Western style event which attracts shooters from many clubs, who compete with firearms or replica firearms of the period. Well worth coming along and having a look. If you can lend a hand for a few hours setting up, running the shoot, in the kitchen or at any time please contact Ben on 027 2751863 or wildbenhickok@gmail.com.

National Three Gun Champs: the club is hosting this event over 28/29/30 April. If you are not involved it is a great opportunity to see some of NZ's best shooters compete at a National level.

New toilet block: the toilet panel partitions should be installed shortly and the finishing touches completed.  MANY thanks to Bill Aitchison & Ben Garrett, & the group of willing volunteers who have give of their time to get it to this stage!

Facility Improvements: members were invited to the last meeting to discuss any ideas or requirements for improvement or up-grade of our facilities. Some good ideas were tabled at the meeting. Draft plans for improvements to the area of range 6 to introduce more ranges is underway and there is a meeting for all section directors and interested parties at 0900 am Saturday 13th February 2016 so if you wish to have an input please attend. Any changes will not effect the use of the existing range. 

Holster Course: please contact either Phil Dunlop, the secretary if you are interested in attending a holster course for any discipline or feel the need to refresh your skills. A date and time will be publicised as available.

Drink vending machine: the committee has approved a 'capped price' purchase for a drink vending machine. This will alleviate the need to leave drinks and cash unsecured as it is at present. Unfortunately the need for a vending machine, and the associated costs has come about because the honesty system has been abused.

Stores and equipment: if you see stocks running low on targets, backing boards, clays, or anything required to keep the club or particular discipline functioning efficiently, please let me know well in advance so it does not effect the operation of the club or shooting events.

'B' endorsement requirements: a reminder to B cat members that in order to retain your endorsement you are required to attend 12 club sanctioned events during the course of the year and use your pistols. Simply turning up and signing your 'B' cat form, or signing when you sight in your rifle, shoot clays or your muzzle loader, is not sufficient. There are plenty of events on the range schedule so if you are slipping behind in attendances you have no excuse. 

If you have a genuine reason you can apply to the committee for a dispensation for a period however you are still required to remain financial with Pistol NZ. 

The secretary will advise PNZ and record your dispensation in the club records. 

The requirements are outlined on a separate page with detail recently obtained from Pistol NZ which outlines the requirements. The committee will discuss B cat attendances at the next meeting.

Club polo shirts with the club emblem are still available. They look great and we encourage members competing at other clubs to acquire one. Alternatively you can have any article of clothing embroidered with the club emblem. Your secretary has the details.

Treasurer: Thank-you Pam Fourie for volunteering for the position of treasurer. Pam was co-opted onto the committee and into the position of treasurer at the committee meeting 27 January. 

Financial: the club account balance as of the 27th January meeting was $46519.77.
Payments: (into the club account) please use your surname, and as a reference explain what the payment is for e.g. subs, ammo, ISSF match etc. This will save the treasurer a lot of time and head- ache and your non-descriptive payment becoming a donation.

Complaints and Issues: some have worked to get the club to the current level. We currently have great morale, team spirit and financial stability. Those few years of toil can erode far quicker than it took to get the club to this level. If you have a problem or issue with the club or a member(s), often the personal approach and a direct question or two will explain, resolve or clarify things before they escalate out of hand. 

Failing that, please express any concerns to a committee member or come to the next committee meeting and discuss rather than cast aspersions and create unfounded rumour within the club. Most go to enjoy their sport and make the most of their allocated range time. Petty bickering, rumor and negativity is detrimental and any serious concerns, complaints, or issue should be handled by the committee and correspondence regarding the same forwarded only by the secretary, president or vice president once the matter has been discussed at committee level.

Furthermore, we have a positive relationship with our landlord who is somewhat more relaxed now the club is 'ship shape', to the extent that in recent times he has relaxed shooting days and hours. This benefits members in more ways than one: it not only gives more range opportunity to members but creates more opportunity for our increasing corporate shoot requirements and range bookings, (which is beneficial to the club financially), and we also gain a few new members. 

Positive publicity and perception of our club and safe firearm use has raised our profile which has a follow on effect for ownership and shooting in general. I have liaised and negotiated with our landlord for the past three years. Positive comment generates positive feedback and generated cooperation and understanding which is great for our landlord/tenant relationship, so lets all strive to keep it that way.

Reloading: We have a wealth of experience within our club and on talking to members, there are many keen to learn more or start reloading. Good advice can save money in the long run when it comes to purchasing reloading tools, components, etc. Please indicate your interest to the secretary or myself and we could put together an evening workshop/demo/discussion and display of reloading gear. 

Leaving the Range: when last leaving the range ensure all fence rails on ranges 1 & 2 are in place, lock/close all doors and gates and electric wires. There is a check-list on the outside wall beside the main door. Unfortunately the electric wire at the range entrance was not replaced earlier this week and rails were left down on range 2 allowing cattle access. Apart from faeces on ranges 1-5, the cattle did considerable damage and destruction to six or more cherry trees on range 5. A member has nurtured these trees for about three years to enhance the aesthetics of our club and that work is all but destroyed. Don't assume all is secure. It doesn't take much time, thought or effort to do a final check prior to leaving.

Club Website: if you haven't visited it yet, please familiarise yourself with the WPSSC Wild Apricot Website. Here you will find the BulletIn, range schedule, club events list and other info. http://wpssc.wildapricot.org

Gary Rawlinson, ph 06 3727116 or skoota5@gmail.com