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Last year our operating cost was $32,557.35. This year we are on track to expend around $34-35,000.
Where does the Clubs revenue come from? Well we average about 50 paying members so next year we should have an income of $7,500 so subtracting that from the budget leaves $25,000 the Club must generate to stay open. This equals about $2100 per month must be generated by the Club. Targets cost approximately $0.09 each which means the round of Skeet/Trap shot by you the member generates $2.25 profit for the Club. If you divide the $2084 by $2.25 you can see that it takes a lot of shooting to generate the revenue necessary to stay open. If my math is correct that about 930 rounds which is about 16 rounds per member per month when we factor in the Life Members. Not very many members shoot that much, only about 5 or 6.
On the average we generate around $12,000 in shoot revenue. If we have a good year and make $12K and add it to the $7.5K in membership we will generate approximately $20 of the $32K budget we have.
So we must augment the revenue if we are to stay open. That's why we have Registered Shoots, Leagues and Fun Shoots but most years we still fall short and must rely on the generous donations of some of our Club Members. Even with all this in most years we don't generate enough cash to pay the bills and one or two members have had to dig into their pockets at the end of the year to keep the Club open. If we want to keep a place to shoot we cant count on those members to keep bailing the Club out. If they ever start saying its not worth it we will no longer have a place to shoot.
How can this reliance on two or three people to keep the Club open be alleviated? Well, one way is to cut operating cost. Many of you donated generously to help start building a warehouse which will give the Club storage space to order targets in a more economically order quantity. More needs to be raised to finish the project. Another way to cut cost is for members to donate their labors. Right now we are going out of grass cutting season but next summer if volunteers would come out and cut the grass we could easily save over $1000-$1500. Right now there is a lot of housekeeping maintenance that needs to be done and we will end up having to pay to get it done. What if you cant get off to work or working isn't your thing then what can you do to help? Simple, come out and use the Club. The more you shoot the better off the Club is. For example, if every member would come out and shoot 16 rounds per month we would be financially solvent (then no one would have to work). Its an easy and simple way to have fun and keep your Club solvent.
A Second way to help is to support the Registered Shoots, Leagues and Fun Shoots because these are good sources of revenue for your Club. Don't shoot registered target, then think about getting involved or if not participating then help the 5 or 6 people who have for years been doing all the work . Don't worry about not knowing how, well gladly teach you. Next year we will need referees, someone to work the registration computer and someone to handle the meals plus people to do the physical labor of setting up the fields and then cleaning them up. Next year we can expect to generate about $5,000-$7000 from Registered Shoots.
Third, bring in more members because more members bring revenue from membership fees and increases shooting. Talk to organizations and get them to utilize the Club for special events. One such event mentioned earlier brought over $900 into the Club (that went a long way in helping meet the months budget requirement).
Fourth, donate a little something when ever you can, e.g., round off the cost of you're shooting to the whole dollar or donate a dollar extra. These donations add up over time. Naturally large donations are gladly accepted. Remember, we still need donations for the building of our warehouse.
Fifth and most importantly when you renew your membership this next year dig a little deeper and become a Club Sponsor. The cost is only $300. This added revenue will go far in helping resolve the financial problems. As a way of saying thanks to you for becoming a Sponsor the Club has a special price for Sponsors to shoot.
See you around the Club and good shooting. Remember; just because you don't want to shoot don't mean you cant come to the Club. Not only are we a shooting club we are also a social club. Many members come out and sit around to talk. Granted we talk mostly about shooting or guns but occasionally we settle some of the worlds problems. So, don't be a stranger, come on out, grab a Coke and join in on the conversation and get to know your fellow club members.
On a historical note the Club used to be a much bigger social organization. On Sunday mornings we would all meet at 8 A.M. and have breakfast together and then go out and shoot. When the weather turned cold we still met but played cards instead. I can remember many Sunday morning showing up at the Club and not even bringing a gun. Personally, Id like to see those day come back to the Club. If I could get 8 or 9 people I could count on to show up every Sunday or Saturday morning I would gladly open the Club and get it going again. If this is something that interest you talk to me about it.
If you have any questions or comments about your Club just ask me. I ‘am usually around.
May all your options be low 8s
Norm
Norman Lindsey
bagginlane@mindspring.com
The Second Amendment Protects the other Nine
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