September 2023
Sep 11, 2023 - General Membership Meeting
Oct 2, 2023 - General Membership Meeting (Gun Drawing)
Oct 21, 2023 – Fall Dinner
Nov 6, 2023 - General Membership Meeting (Elections)
President's Message
September already... look back, summer is gone! Our September membership meeting is this coming Monday the 11th, pushed back due to the Holiday. And a reminder to the trustees and officers, we will meet on Wednesday the 13th, not the following Monday as we usually do.
Our Fall Dinner is on for Saturday October 21st at the Wellington Fair Grounds. This will be a catered event including meal, beer and beverages cost $35. Tickets will be available at the September and October membership meetings as well as online or through your officers and trustees. All dinner tickets include entry into a drawing to win a Henry Golden Big Boy Rifle! There will be the usual gun raffles, 50/50 boards, Booze Cooler, Chinese Raffles and more. Please get your tickets early to help us better plan forthe event.
Looking forward to seeing you there, and THANK YOU for supporting "your" club.Regards, Kevn
Club Grounds – Weather DamageAs many of you are already aware, the club grounds took a huge sucker punch from the recent weather. In particular, the clay range was severely worked over. 3 Stanchions, 1 Clay Thrower, 3 picnic tables, 3 benches, 2 gun racks, and the dumpster were all washed away, along with several of the mats recently installed. Thanks to the old trailer frame dredged from the creek a few years ago, most of these were caught before entering the creek.HUGE THANKS to ERIC BROUD and JOEL KRISTOFF for taking the initiative of retrieving these and returning them to the grounds.
Membership Bulletin
Most of you have been considerate and have gotten your 2023 dues in already. A big thank you to thosemembers as this makes my job considerably easier. As a reward, your 2023 badges are in the mail!For those of you yet to re-up, it’s not too late, although your access to the ranges will probably be curtailed for a small period of time – the combinations to the locks change on April 1st and I do not think I can have your 2023 badges to you by then. But, get those dues in and I will get them made and in the mail within a few days.
Regular Members (under age 65 at the beginning of 2023):Total = $175.00, comprising of dues of $125.00 plus $50.00 gun raffle tickets.
Senior Members* (age 65 and over at the beginning of 2023):Total = $150.00, comprising of dues of $100.00 plus $50.00 gun raffle tickets.
*There will be a one-time exemption for those current members who are 75 years old or older. Those current members who were born in 1947 or earlier will not see a raise in their dues – they will remain at $110.00.
There are three different methods of renewal:
1. Website: (LaGrangeHuntClub.org > Membership > Membership Application / Renewal.)
2. In person at a General Membership Meeting (See 2023 Calendar)
3. By U.S. Mail. Please mail a check or money order with the appropriate amount to:LHFCP.O. Box 131LaGrange, OH 44050
As always, you have all of 2023 to renew. However, the gate lock combinations will change on April 1st, 2023 and if you have not renewed before then, you will not have your 2023 badge and therefore will not have the new combination. So please, get your renewal in before the middle of March 2023 to avoid interruption in your access to the club grounds.
Also, if you know of someone who may be interested in joining, the application for membership is available on the new website (https://lagrangehuntclub.org/membership-info/membership-form/.) They can either join directly online, or they can print the Application and Waiver and send via email (LaGrangeHuntClub@gmail.com) or via USPS to the address above.
Regards, Rick
Junior Membership
The Junior Members Fund will provide a sponsorship to help cover the camp fees for The Lake & Trails – Youth Hunting / Shooting Camp again in 2023. Our Junior Members President, Jace Walters himself has attended all four years of this camp. Jace wants kids to go to this camp because it is a really good learning experience because you get to learn how to shoot many types of guns; including rifles, pistols, air guns, black powder and some archery items as well. You will also get the chance to throw axes, make a knife and even make primitive items. You will also learn about wildlife, how to trap, and even get your Ohio Boaters License and Hunter Safety Course if you need to. And most importantly, you get to hangout with other kids who like the outdoors like you do.
To qualify for the sponsorship you need to help out at a couple general memberhsip meetings and do a work party. Attend a general membership meeting and talk to the Junior Members President, Jace Walters for complete details and to sign up. If you would like to contact Jace email him at Recreation@JaceWalters.com
When you patronize supporters of JaceWaltersRecreation and the Junior Membership please remember to tell their management THANK YOU for their SUPPORT!
Firearms Range News
Hours of operation: 10:00am-dusk, Mon.- Sat.; 12:00pm-5:00pm, Sun.Work Parties: Will be scheduled on a weather-permitting basis. If you are able to help or contribute in some way, please contact Mike Beckwith or Roger Maynard and leave a message.
Remember to lock the gate behind you when leaving. The locks must have the combination dialed in to close, then roll the dials to lock.Make sure you review and adhere to the rules: SAFETY FIRST!! Always, Always, Always, Always! We have never had an accident at our range – don’t be the first to break this 90-year-old record! Remember your badge. Without it, you will be considered to be trespassing on club grounds and asked to leave! Sign in and sign out. Review the rules before each use of the range. They are posted on the boards. Pick up after yourselves. Police your brass and trash. Be courteous to fellow members. If you have any questions, or find a deficiency, please contact your 2021/2022 Range Marshal Mike Beckwith or Roger Maynard.
RANGE ABUSES – READ CAREFULLY, HIGHLY IMPORTANT
A couple of incidents have occurred at the range that are cause for immediate concern – one violation so severe that if the guilty party is identified, they will be expelled from the club.Someone brought a steel target to the rifle range, and shot it full of holes using armor-piercing ammunition. Foremost, armor-piercing ammo is strictly forbidden on club grounds – it does not have to be fired, simply having it in your possession is against the rules and subjects the violator to expulsion from the club! Secondly, your $175 or $150 annual dues do not provide you with concierge or maid service. There have been a number of incidences of members not cleaning up after themselves that go beyond simple forgetfulness. On July 16th there were several dozen spent shotgun shells (red) scattered all through the grass in front of two of the trap stanchions. There was also an empty clay box, which did have a number of green spent shells in it, laying in the grass near a stanchion. You are provided with trash cans at each stanchion for a reason. When finished using the range, pick up your spent shells and put them in the trash barrel. Then return the trash barrel to where it belongs – up on the stanchion. REMEMBER – TREAT CLUB PROPERTY AS IF YOU OWNED IT... BECAUSE YOU DO!
A couple of incidents have occurred at the range that are cause for immediate concern – one violation so severe that if the guilty party is identified, they will be expelled from the club.Someone brought a steel target to the rifle range, and shot it full of holes using armor-piercing ammunition. Foremost, armor-piercing ammo is strictly forbidden on club grounds – it does not have to be fired, simply having it in your possession is against the rules and subjects the violator to expulsion from the club! Secondly, your $175 or $150 annual dues do not provide you with concierge or maid service. There have been a number of incidences of members not cleaning up after themselves that go beyond simple forgetfulness. On July 16th there were several dozen spent shotgun shells (red) scattered all through the grass in front of two of the trap stanchions. There was also an empty clay box, which did have a number of green spent shells in it, laying in the grass near a stanchion. You are provided with trash cans at each stanchion for a reason. When finished using the range, pick up your spent shells and put them in the trash barrel. Then return the trash barrel to where it belongs – up on the stanchion. REMEMBER – TREAT CLUB PROPERTY AS IF YOU OWNED IT... BECAUSE YOU DO!
Archery Range News
Come spring, one of the first changes you will see will be in the 3D Archery range. More animals will be put out, and in a manner where they will not need to be removed in order to mow the grass. Future plans include creating a walking 3D course in order to help simulate hunting and tournament conditions. After that a slight redesign of the bag target range.
Special Announcements
Dues Increase – Explanation and Rationale
1. The club is in need of funds to maintain grounds and make improvements2. Covid and the corresponding limitations to club activities have strained our revenue3. Mortgage on club grounds is reviewable by Huntington every 5 years. Right or wrong, they look at club finances to judge the financial health. What they are very interested in is a steady stream of income, and we tend to have a large influx of money early in the year and then deplete it as the year proceeds. The bank has the right to call the loan if they feel uncomfortable with our financial situation.4. Our club has not had a dues increase since 1996!!! If we had simply raised the dues $5 every other year since then, currentdues would be $15 higher than they are now and each member would be out an additional $455 over that period.5. Our club is still one of the cheapest around. And, unlike the others, we do not require participation in work parties, we do not charge additional funds for our pheasant release, etc.6. Due to the sparsity of participation in work parties, we are often forced to hire contractors to complete some of the work. A good example is the call to arms for tradesmen to help with the needed repairs and upgrades to the rental house. Despite the request appearing in 4 straight newsletters, we have only received 2 volunteer calls. We are probably going to have to contract some of this work, which will mean significantly higher costs.
2023 Gun Raffle:
The annual 10 gun raffle the club holds every year is typically our largest revenue generator. $50 of the dues you pay goes towards 5 tickets, of which you can either sell (to recoup your $50) or keep for yourself. Given this, Denny Henninger, our illustrious Honorary Trustee who has take responsibility for the raffle for the past few years, has a couple points he would like to make. #1. You or the person you have sold the tickets to cannot win unless their stubs are returned prior to the October, 2023 General Membership meeting, when the drawing is held. Get those stubs in.#2. The five tickets you are required to purchase each year is the BARE MINIMUM. You can help the club raise money and defray expenses by selling more than 5. Please consider selling as many as you can. Additional tickets can be acquired, free of up-front charge.
The annual 10 gun raffle the club holds every year is typically our largest revenue generator. $50 of the dues you pay goes towards 5 tickets, of which you can either sell (to recoup your $50) or keep for yourself. Given this, Denny Henninger, our illustrious Honorary Trustee who has take responsibility for the raffle for the past few years, has a couple points he would like to make. #1. You or the person you have sold the tickets to cannot win unless their stubs are returned prior to the October, 2023 General Membership meeting, when the drawing is held. Get those stubs in.#2. The five tickets you are required to purchase each year is the BARE MINIMUM. You can help the club raise money and defray expenses by selling more than 5. Please consider selling as many as you can. Additional tickets can be acquired, free of up-front charge.
Work Parties
The remaining work parties for 2023 were intended to extend the shooting shed over the additional area and tables added last year, as well as improvements to the signs. While these may still happen, focus has shifted to getting the clay range back intact and anchoring down all items before we go through this again. Next time we may not be lucky enough to get the items back.To that end, Mike Beckwith has scheduled a work party for Sunday, September 17th. Anyone who can make it, please plan on attending. Meet at the blue barn at 9:00am. If you have a chain saw, please bring it, as we will also be trying to clean up some of the fallen trees and branches from the storm.Additional work parties to accomplish the shooting shed expansion & sign improvements will be scheduled soon.
Calling All Tradesmen! Your Club NEEDS you!The rental house the club owns is in need of repairs. The septic system is under repair as I write this, but the house also desperately needs a bathroom remodel. We are hoping to save $$$ on this by appealing to the membership for assistance. Any plumbers, electricians, carpenters, etc. that are willing and able to donate some time or expert advice to the club on this projectbwould be saving us a considerable amount of our finitenfunds.P.S. – The house will also need a roof in the next few years. If you can help with that project, let us know.