Dakota co. Gun club

View · by **dleong** on Thu May 15, 2014 8:13 am

Just a quick update: I was at the DCGC's monthly meeting last night. The membership renewal deadline has passed and it was announced that there were 38 non-renewals for 2014. Membership invitations will shorty be sent to the 38 people at the top of the waiting list. If you're among them, congrats!

View · by **Ron Burgundy** on Thu May 15, 2014 12:33 pm

Thanks for the update. Did they mention opening the waiting list? I've heard "June" but that's it. I'd love to get on that list!

View · by **dleong** on Thu May 15, 2014 12:45 pm

Ron Burgundy wrote:Thanks for the update. Did they mention opening the waiting list? I've heard "June" but that's it. I'd love to get on that list!

I don't recall that question being asked at the meeting. I'll e-mail one of the board members to find out. Stay tuned!

View · by **tator2k** on Thu May 15, 2014 1:53 pm

The waiting list will be opened after the June meeting. Once everyone that 'forgot' to pay their dues beg for forgiveness, and they see what the real remaining non-renewal count is. Then invites sent out for new members and this list opened.

View · by **Bessy** on Thu May 15, 2014 2:08 pm

LePetomane wrote:If that is the prevailing attitude of these clubs then they can all go pound salt. What is so bad about shooting with a bunch of "yokels" as long as they are respecting the rules of the club.

That being said, I have always been treated very well by the staff anytime I have shot at OGC or Hudson.

As some who spends quite a bit of time volunteering doing range improvements, and teaching orientation classes at PI I probably have a little different perspective.

I have absolutely no issues sharing a range with anyone provided they follow basic safety rules, and clean up after themselves. Here's the deal if your club has 1700+ members none of them seem to take ownership. They aren't members, they are visitors. Trash cans need to be emptied... that's someone else's problem I'll just leave all my **** next to it. Backers are shot out... screw replacing them...i'll just shoot the uprights... or better yet drag your trash can out to 50 yards and shoot at that.

Limited membership can actually be a good thing, something that is scare or costly is highly valued, and cherished, it's not abused. Instead of "club" property it's "their clubs's" property.

If you have someone who's full time job is to police the range and work as an RO, you can police the members much better. When you don't have that everyone needs to pitch in and work together. It's really hard to cultivate that sense of ownership with a huge member base where no one knows anyone else. There is also the issue of safety. We have a mandatory orientation class where we go over everything safety and cleanup wise, and I still go out and see folks doing some pretty dumb stuff they shouldn't. A little bit of member vetting can go a long way toward preventing rounds from leaving your range, and keep you from being shut down.
It's a hard balance to strike, on one hand new members mean fresh blood, and potential volunteers with good new ideas. On the other hand you don't know much about them, and they could also be a potential safety hazard, or just not give a crap about club property.

We are lucky we have shooting and league activities 4+ nights a week and on most weekends. This really helps us build a sense of community and group responsibility. I feel like if we grew much larger than we are today, our facilities would be over utilized and we would loose a lot of that. Of course our range is far from empty on a nice day. It's busy nearly all the time.

View · by **dleong** on Fri May 16, 2014 4:55 am

tator2k wrote:The waiting list will be opened after the June meeting. Once everyone that 'forgot' to pay their dues beg for forgiveness, and they see what the real remaining non-renewal count is. Then invites sent out for new members and this list opened.

Just got an e-mail back from a board member, and he confirms that the waiting list will be opened up in late June.

View · by **brado** on Fri May 16, 2014 5:42 am

How do we get on the waiting list?

View · by **Erud** on Fri May 16, 2014 6:35 am

brado wrote:How do we get on the waiting list?

You can't currently. Check the web page in a month or so:

http://www.dakotacountygunclub.org/Home.html

View · by **LePetomane** on Fri May 16, 2014 7:46 am

brado wrote:How do we get on the waiting list?

My guess is that there is a waiting list that you need to get on for the real waiting list.

View · by **Ron Burgundy** on Fri May 16, 2014 7:51 am

Thanks for checking, Delong

View · by **tator2k** on Tue May 20, 2014 7:15 am

Not really. The waiting list is either open or closed. When open, which will be shortly. Only then when you call in, can you get on the waiting list to join. Once that list is full again. You must wait until next year at about the same time....

Timing is everything. I know folks that tell me they've tried for five years and I keep trying to explain to them, 'You're doing it wrong.' Don't call during or after deer rifle sight-in in Nov.

View · by **samginko** on Fri Jun 20, 2014 9:54 am

I made in! Thank you .

View · by **Ron Burgundy** on Fri Jun 20, 2014 10:52 am

samginko wrote:I made in! Thank you .

Nice! I have my application in and now the real wait begins.

Mind sharing how long you were on the list?

View · by **hard h2o** on Fri Jun 20, 2014 1:32 pm

LePetomane wrote:What is the deal with the long waiting lists at some of these clubs? The few times I have been to OGC and the Hudson club as a guest I have found that some ranges were completely empty. And these underutilized facilities have waiting lists? Maybe Groucho Marx was right when he said that he wouldn't join a club that would have him as a member.

It gives the appearance that these places are run by the "good old boys" and they are granting the privilege of being on their waiting list. You won't find me on any of them.

I was not "granted the privilege" by any "good old boys". I signed up and when my time came I joined.

I am not exactly sure what you are trying to say. It is a club. It is by invitation. Anyone can get an invite if they get on the waiting list.

Appearance and reality might be two different things. If you are not a member and are not willing to step up, get on the list, pay your fees, do your required service hours then why should you care how the members use or don't use the ranges?

Those times when the ranges seem empty are some of the best times to go and shoot. You can take your time. No hassles, no fees, shoot around my schedule rather than around the public hours. That is one of the most inviting things about being a member. I have shot for many years at OGC before I became a member. I stood in line many times waiting for a bench to open and then worry if I was monopolizing the space so I would rush to shoot so someone else could have a turn. Now i go when I want and do not worry. i can bring targets that non-members can't. I can bring guests.

Sign up and join and see what you are missing. The members I have encountered are some of the nicest people. It is great to be a member of a club that shares the same pro-gun ideology that I do.

i look forward to seeing you there when I am on range duty July 12th.

View · by **samginko** on Fri Jun 20, 2014 1:34 pm

Three years, I am told its a great club.

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