Still looking for a club :( this is getting silly

[Chuck]

Hi Charlotte Silly question but WHY would / should a club have a waiting list, it's not as if every member turns up to shoot every club night is it?

[billgatese30]

Hi Charlotte Silly question but WHY would / should a club have a waiting list, it's not as if every member turns up to shoot every club night is it?

If there is a huge influx of probationers though, it becomes difficult at club nights when there are more probationers than full members in order to give 1-1 tuition etc. Not to mention keeping the balance between lane availability for 1-1 tuition and members who just want to turn up, shoot and go home.

[DaveT]

I've tried calling John at Offas Dyke. I spoke to him once a while ago but he has never picked up the phone ever since! Not sure why it was quite a friendly chat, he offered for me to come down soon and said he'd get back to me with dates etc.

Will try Minsterley although its a 2.5 hour drive from my place!!

Thanks

Taha...I have received (today) a reply from John Masefield of Offas Dyke and he has apologised for the delay in replying...to be fair he has a heavy admin workload for the club.

He is willing to take you on as a probationer (there is a specific process) if you send him details such as name, postal address etc ....you should be able to get his contact details from the ODRC website....if you get stuck then I will try again to get you both together....hope this helps.

Dave Thain

[Sixshot6]

This reminds me of a club I shall not mention. Couldn't get back to me and then wanted me and my dad when the needed money. You need to find a club that has bought their land with a BASC loan and needs new members to pay for it. Also keep badgering until they get back, some just forget.

[M99]

Look at it from a club's perspective.

Most clubs will, as mentioned above, have a limited number of spaces for probationers. It is easy to see why, once you understand what is actually required of the club.

Each probationer needs to be supervised 1:1 whilst they undergo their probationary period and obtain their SCC. In order to do this in line with the NRA syllabus (Adapted by the club and approved by the NRA)

This means that whilst that new probationer is shooting an experienced full member who has been given the role of training/supervising that probationer cannot be shooting. Even as a large club we find it difficult to find enough suitable willing people to take on the role of supervision/training. On top of this there is also the theory to be delivered to the probationer.

The number of people willing to take on this role and sacrifice their shooting on that day or at least part of it, dictates the number of probationers we are able to take on.

Whilst we as a club have an approved structured training program in place, we do not have an endless supply of suitable trainers.

Mike

[Taha]

Yeh I can completely see it from a club's perspective.

I think firearms need to be taught and regulated properly. Without wanting to offend any of my American members of the forum, I don't agree with unregulated weapons and thus any nutcase being able to use a firearm. I like living in a country where things like school shootings are essentially unheard of.

It just seems to be that finding the balance between appropriately difficult to access shooting and too difficult seems to be hard to maintain. In some ways I suppose this is unavoidable unless more people start shooting so there are more trainers.

Thanks again everyone, I've now had responses from Penarth rifle club who I'll be visiting in a few weeks and a tentative reply via Dave Thain from John at Offas Dyke.

I do really appreciate everyone's help :)

[Charlotte the flyer]

Silly question but WHY would / should a club have a waiting list?

As far as I know it's because the fee for club insurance is usually based on the number of members. If more members join the insurance bill goes up but it's in stages, ie up to 50 people, up to 100 etc. If you have 51 people then you pay for 100 members and the subs go up for everyone hence the limits.

[Zilberbak]

Look up Hereford Breech Loaders as they have a 22 range near Ross on Wye and full bore at Severside every so often just the other side of Newport (have just spent an enjoyable day shooting there).

Trevor is the club secretary and is usually reliable to get a response from.

[Gundoc]

WNSC looked quite good when I visited, sure theres a few members on here too,
Depending where in S Wales you are Tondu is worth a look.

[hitchphil]

Silly question but WHY would / should a club have a waiting list?

As far as I know it's because the fee for club insurance is usually based on the number of members. If more members join the insurance bill goes up but it's in stages, ie up to 50 people, up to 100 etc. If you have 51 people then you pay for 100 members and the subs go up for everyone hence the limits.

Not quite true & there are some other factors:

Probationary members do not incur any NRA or NSRA cost. They pay no NRA capitation fee & are not in the fee structure for NSRA. Remember a majority of probationary members drop put of the sport.

For NRA the club only pays in the following years renewal if they become full members or want an extra cert card & that costs 8 quid (unless they become an individual NRA member).

For 2015 the basic NSRA affiliation fees are:
up to 15 members £120.00
16 to 30 members £155.00
31 to 75 members £220.00
more than 75 £285.00
Junior Clubs up to 15 members £120.00
more than 15 members £150.00

.... so the extra cost for the 1st break point is 2quid/head & in my humble opinion as a club Secretary - any club restricting membership because of affiliation fees needs a new Secretary!

Remember also under HO rules you cant have more probationary than full members (unless you are a Univ or school/cadet club with a dispensation) - so a good reason for all us full members to be in more than one club so those clubs can take on more probationary members! (I am a member of 5 clubs so I facilitate 5 probationary members!) I advise my FLO periodically of the membership status so probationary members who dont come back are removed from our listing, thus allowing more in :-).

Probationary membership cannot be less than 3 months but can be as long as you like - so you can have a member with say a learning difficulty who might not get an FAC but can shoot with club kit & in a supervised environment in perpetuity.You must have more than 10 full members at any time to justify HO approval as an approved shooting club, so you need to keep it above that.

Probationary memberships over 3m are at the discretion of the club, but I suggest if more than 6months then you are really making life hard to novice shooters & inhibiting the sport? ours is greater than 3months & not less than 10 attendances, so if it takes a year fine.

There is no rule a club secretary must provide an FAC reference after probationary membership, its at the discretion of the clubs entry requirements. And you do not have to have an FAC to be a member of a HO approved club either. - it makes life easier having your own kit via an FAC but some clubs like ours provide kit suitable for novices, through to to rifles that will stand alongside any at an NRA Imperial queens final.

There is no rule that a club cannot hold a firearm for a member on the clubs FAC for them to use. They can only use it in club settings or representing the club at events, they cant take it home. It might be unfair to say sole use but the club can make any suitable arrangements it likes & that its members will agree.

& there is no rule says a probationary member cannot hold an SSC? ...if you disagree please quote that rule before slanging off this position..... & SSC is nothing to do with FAC & so a probationary member with a SSC is simply a safe probationary member shooting with club kit only in a club setting & with a level of supervision & one who you would not be able to provide a reference for grant of an FAC as primary club.

Bisley has an age limit if 14, there is no age limit for air or 22, its up to the club & parent to decide what is safe & in the best interest of both the child, the sport & the club.

........... there are a lot of myths about becoming a member of a shooting club but my advice to any new member is enjoy the ride, don't make the journey too short, listen to members they do have years of experience & that will help, be patient you need to know what's good for you & the club needs to see you do that.

The rewards for those that stay are substantial so take it steady & display what it means to be a marksman/woman.