Andover
Sportsmens Club, Inc.
Newsletter
March, 2009 - Vol 1, Issue 1
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March 1:
Basic Pistol Class
March 15:
Range Officers Training
April 9:
Pistol Auction begins
April 12:
Basic Pistol Class
April 18 & 19: 3rd GSB/IBO Archery Shoot
April 25:
Annual Fishing Derby
May 3:
Basic Pistol Class
June 6:
Beginners Archery course
June 13:
Beginners Archery course - rain date
June 7:
Basic Pistol Class
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| PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE |
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Let me take this opportunity to thank all of you, the membership, for a
banner year in 2008. Without you there would be no Andover
Sportsmen's Club.
Special thanks go to the Officers and Board of Directors for their
untiring efforts; all departments completed the year under budget; to
Holli Marrs who has resurrected our newsletter; to Mark Klove who has
significantly upgraded our kitchen; to Dick Reichter and Frank
Bleszinski who volunteer regularly to cook on Sundays; to Frank also
for leading our Youth Program. I have appointed Frank to the
Board of Directors for 2009. Ken Hartman also deserves a great thank
you for his several years on the Board. Ken has decided to
step down from the Board but will continue to help us with the Raffle
table after the meetings and also with the Fishing
Derby.
Thanks to Brian Madden and Steve Hartell and all the instructors for
continuing to provide excellent Basic Pistol training courses; to Al
Niebrzydowski for bringing in 70 new members in 2008; to Jimmy Lumbard
who always seems to be available to help, whether it's in the kitchen,
on the Archery range, or in the Youth Program. And to Dave Paradise for
his role as club secretary.
I'm sure there are many I have overlooked; but please accept my
heartfelt thanks for all the work all of you do. It makes ASC
what it is today. In my 43 years as a member I have not been
more proud of our organization and of the work we do for our community.
Keep up the good work; see you at the club.
Louis LoPresti, President
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| Fishing Derby |
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| Trap Results |
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Email
Listing - Board of Directors
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PLEASE WEAR YOUR BADGE ON THE GROUNDS AT ALL
TIMES!
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| Gun Auction |
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The club, via silent auction at the April,
May and June membership meetings, will sell two pistols, a Browning
Buckmark and Ruger Mark I originally purchased for youth shoots. Silent
auction bids can only be submitted in person. The silent auction will
be closed at the end of the June membership meeting at which time the
winner/s will be announced. The highest prevailing bids for each gun
will be announced at each meeting. You may bid more than once and of
course, you must have a valid Massachusetts FID card to take possession
in the event you win. All Massachusetts rules and laws will be followed.
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| Treasurer's Report - As of January
31, 2009 |
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The Club had total
assets of $678,655 of which the total cash
was $230,341. The Club's total cash consists of
Operating Funds, Capital Improvement Funds and Emergency Funds.
The
Operating Fund The twelve month 2009 Operating
Budget is $115,000; the portion of this budget available through
January 31st was $20,475. The actual amount spent was
$1,938. Therefore, Operations are under-budget by
$18,536. The $50,000 Line of Credit is available &
unused.
The
Capital Improvement Fund Capital Improvements
are funded from non-dues income. Capital improvements are
defined as any physical addition, improvement or upgrade having a
useful life of more than one year. At the
start of the year the Capital Improvement Fund balance was
$40,229. The sum of $2,943 in
non-dues income has been collected so far this
year. Projects underway representing $14,062
include a Trap Range Shelter, Indoor Range Moving Targets, Kitchen
Upgrades and a Trap Range Gun Rack. With respect to the Trap
Range Shelter, the Club has applied to GOAL, the National Shooting
Sports Foundation and Massachusetts Fisheries & Wildlife
Foundation for partial reimbursement. The
unencumbered Capital Improvement Fund balance is $29,110.
Emergency
Fund At the start of 2008, the Emergency Fund balance
was $44,358. At the end of 2008, an operating savings of $6,825
resulted from a budget of $114,765 and actual amounts spent of
$107,940. This savings was added to the Emergency
Fund. Also during 2008, $4,720 was deducted from the fund for
lighting damages. The current Emergency Fund balance is $46,463.
Other
Year end financial information has
been provided to the club's accountant for preparation of our 2008
Federal & State Tax Returns.
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| Department Reports |
Archery: On April 18
& 19, 2009, we are hosting our 3rd GSB/IBO shoot. The fee will
be $30.00 for IBO $9.00 for members, $10.00 for non-members.
Shooting dates for GSB will be April 18 & 19, 2009, August 30,
2009, October 25, 2009, and March 13, 2010.
Indoor Range: There is very little to report this time of
year. I am looking for help or advice on new flooring for the
indoor range. If any member is in the flooring business his
or her input would be greatly appreciated. Again they may
call Al Croteau at 978-475-7094.
Outdoor Range: Reminders: Please be sure to read new Range Rules.
Shooters should be back of the yellow Safe Line when the range
is clear. No Armor Piercing Ammo can be used on any range.
Training: There will be
a Range Officers Training session at the clubhouse on March 15 from
9:30 am to 11:00 am. All current range officers and those wishing to
become range officers need to attend to receive your 2009 stickers. The
club has purchased Range Officer hats which you will be asked to wear
when you are at the club so that others can recognize you should
problems or questions arise. We will be distributing the hats at the
March 15 meeting. Attendance at the youth shooting program has slowed
down significantly. Hopefully this is due to the cold weather. If you
have children or grandchildren 12 years of age or older that would like
to participate, please contact Frank Bleszinski or Brian Madden.
Contact information is on the club website. There will be a Beginners
Archery course on Saturday, June 6th with a rain date of June 13th. The
course is open to all club members and their children or grandchildren
10 years of age or older. The club will supply all the archery
equipment as well as classroom instruction. The course will begin in
the clubhouse with a sign in at 9:00 am followed by classroom
instruction and a range session. The class will conclude between 12:00
and 1:00. If you are interested, please contact Brian Madden at the
address on our website. The Spring Basic Pistol classes are
scheduled for March 1, April 12, May 3, and June 7. After that we
resume in September. If you are interested, please email Brian Madden
at the address on our website. The classes have been filling up quickly
to maximum capacity so, if you want to attend one, you should apply
early.
Trap: Surprise!
Surprise! Even though the weather has been against us, we've been
having good turn outs on Wednesday evenings. The shooting has
been limited but the meals have been good and fattening for these cold
winter nights; Our friendly card games continue as well. All
are welcome to join us. The BOD has approved the construction
of a shelter at the trap range. Once the building plan is completed, Al
Croteau will be looking for a contractor or builder to implement the
shelter. Any and all club members who wish to bid on this
please contact (Al) at 978-475-7094 or any board member. If
you have specific questions about the building plan contact Mark Klove.
Youth Program: We offer
members with 10 - 15 year old children, gun safety instruction with
live fire afterward. We usually meet the first Saturday after the
monthly member meeting to continue shooting. For additional information
please contact Frank Bleszinski (FJBASC@aol.com). The 60th ASC Fishing
Derby is currently scheduled for April 25th. We could use help with
setup on the 24th and staffing the derby on the 25th. Anyone
interested in helping out for a few hours please contact Frank
Bleszinski ( FJBASC@aol.com).
Membership: The club has
added 13 new members in January and February: Christopher Ahern
(Melrose, Ma), Robert Devoe (Lynnfield, Ma), Thomas Gilbert (Andover,
Ma), William Hook (N. Reading, Ma), Anthony Pellegrino (Andover, Ma),
Keith Vicari (Peabody, Ma), Paul Cissel (N. Andover, Ma), William
Clements (N. Billerica), Paul Domigan ((Andover, Ma), Ty Sawyer
(Charlestown, Ma), Randy Scuzzarella (Hathorne, Ma), Todd Thornell
(Beverly, Ma) and Joseph Wyman (Methuen, Ma). Welcome aboard!
Community Relations &
Development: 2009 Scholarships: The Andover Sportsmen's
Club will award two $500.00 scholarships to two high school seniors who
are offspring of club members. The application is on the web
site under Club News. Junior Conservation Camp 2009: The Massachusetts
Junior Conservation Camp is a two-week experience allowing youth to
develop skills and confidence that will last a lifetime. The program is
open to boys and girls aged 13 to 17. Currently, it is hosted
at the Chesterfield Scout Reservation on 521 acres near Scout Pond in
Chesterfield, Massachusetts. A large portion of the instruction is
"hands-on," and students will all participate in instruction that
includes firearms of several types, bows, arrows, fishing and camping
equipment and wildlife interaction. Students are expected to understand
the seriousness of handling such equipment and interacting with
wildlife. Every year we sponsor two campers for the two
weeks. The 2009 dates are August 9 -21, 2009. We are
accepting names now for selection in April. Please see Paul
Miller at any meeting.
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| December, 2008 to February, 2009
Member Meeting Reports |
Training
15 students attended December 7th
pistol class. Pistol classes are filling in quickly. Reserve your spot
well in advance if you want to attend - See Brian Madden to sign up.
New Range Safety Officer training will be held March 15, 930am to 11am
at the club house - See Brian Madden to sign up. Youth archery class is
scheduled for June 6th for members, children of members and
grandchildren - Start time 930am - See Frank Blezinski to sign up Frank
can be reached via email at FJBASC@aol.com or 978 685 9768.
Trap & Indoor Pistol Range
10 round cost for trap cards was increased to $35 for non members and
$25 for members. Single rounds of trap were increased to $3 for members
and $4 for non members. Trap fee increases were due to 30% increase in
cost of clays pigeons. A total of 4 automated target return systems
have been installed on the indoor pistol range
Membership New
club members must attend new member orientation or they will NOT
receive their key entry cards. Club membership now totals 879 including
135 life members.
Cooks Need cooks for
Sunday morning breakfast - sign up at calendar at kitchen door or Call
Mark Klove if interested
New shelter for Trap Range
If anyone is interested in bidding on new roof/shelter enclosure at the
trap range, leave a note in the gold mail slot in the clubhouse office
door or leave a message at 978 685 9768.
Outdoor Range Range
rules on outdoor range have changed over the last year and it is
recommended that everyone read the rules again. Please do not shoot at
steel targets with armor piercing ammunition. It damages the targets.
Replacement targets cost hundreds of dollars.
Fishing Derby Fishing
derby publicity was a problem last year. Please see Frank Blezinski if
you have any ideas or means to publicize the event. This is the 60th
straight year ASC will host a fishing derby. Frank can be reached via
email at FJBASC@aol.com
Exhibitions & Raffles
Assembly and maintenance of an AR 15 will follow the March membership
meeting. A raffle will follow the April membership meeting. A slide
presentation by Al Croteau regarding his recent trip to Viet Nam will
follow the May meeting. Silent auction for club pistols will be held at
April meeting
Archery The recent GSB
shoot was a success with have 90 shooters and 27 youth participating.
Next GBO shoot scheduled for April 18th & 19th - all outdoor
ranges will be closed on those dates.
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