xd ED wrote:The mandatory service hours is an excellent idea, assuming there is work to be found( I have no idea the number of members at BeaverBrook/ hours of work needed annually)
Mandated service hours keeps the 'less-than-enthusiastic' out of Oakdale. And while that wouldn't keep out the trespassers, name tag/ assess cards visibly worn would help.
If the last newsletter is indication (the "apathy" issue) there are a few doing most of the heavy lifting when it comes to volunteer time investment in the club but no practical changes planned to address the issue. There's more work to do than people volunteering to do it at the moment (target repair, range cleanup), and jobs that need to be done that haven't before (range safety officer on the rifle-pistol side, random security patrols)...
For comparison, here is a quick summary of the initial fees, ongoing membership dues and work requirements for other clubs on the north side of town that have shotgun, rifle (100 yard or longer range) and a pistol-rimfire range.. forgive any errors, working off of what's available on their public websites:
Elk River charges $150 to join, plus $150 in dues the first year - and then $150 per year, minus $50 with an 8 hour work credit. All members are required to work *2* Range Attendant shifts (clubhouse or safety patrols) which do not count toward the 8 hour discount work credit. No public hours beyond rifle sight-in and events.
Forest Lake requires a $526 investment to become a member which gets you a share of stock each in the two corporations that own the club, plus $175 a year in membership dues minus $100 if you work 16 hours in the year. No public hours beyond rifle sight-in and events/classes.
Oakdale Gun Club is $190 the first year, $90 thereafter with a 16 work hour requirement each year. Regular public hours Saturday and Sundays during the summer plus rifle sight-in & events.
Bald Eagle Sportsmans (Hugo) is $100 for a new member, plus $75 a year in dues and an 8 hour work requirement per member/year. They also have public hours on Saturdays April through October.
Beaverbrook is $40 to join, plus $130 per year with an optional $50 work credit toward the following year's dues, but no work requirement for each member. $1 fee per trip to use the rifle range ($5 for guests, up to 2 guest per member per trip). No public hours beyond rifle sight-in or events.
Most of the other ranges require a larger up-front membership investment stake, an ongoing work requirement, or both... So far it doesn't sound like OGC has the same sort of vandalism issues, I'm curious if members of the other clubs identified above have noted a similar absence of blown up targets & coffee makers?