Contact us with your Questions/Comments using our online form
 

 TSCA Board of Directors Meeting
Minutes
November 1, 2007
National Sporting Clays Association Building
San Antonio, Texas

 
Meeting was called to order by President, Jeff Foster at 6:07 PM.

1.     Reading of Minutes – Minutes from previous meeting will be emailed to Board, and a vote taken.

2.     Public Forum:  those present were:

     Lonnie Mears
     Tony Monzingo
     Charlie Wilson
     Jack Bauman
     Johnny Meitzen

3.     Reports of Officers

a.      President – Jeff introduced new Board members, Nadim Nasir, Jimmy Dickson and Doug Kuykendall.

b.     Vice–President – Nadim Nasir-no report at this time

c.     Secretary – Barbara Garney-no report

d.     Treasurer –Kathryn Sweeny-no report

4.     Reports of Committees: none

5.     Old Business

a.      Presentation & finalization of “Bob Brister Youth Program with TP & W. Jeff:  TSCA started working with TP&W on a youth program-we got started-and we got side tracked.  We think the youth program is important.  At State, we created a new committee to study the program and bring back something we can run with. Scott was to spearhead the committee. Hopefully, all committee members had input.

     Scott:  We took Charlie Wilson’s plan Texas Junior Clays Program and Youth Program and Youth Program II and tweaked it some.  Lonnie Mears and Tony Monzingo did 95 % of the work.

#1.TP&W proposal is each club hold a shoot in conjunction with one already scheduled for the shoot year.  We agree.  Problems arise with age of participants.  TP&W is changing age groups in to 3 age classes.  Our proposal is to keep age groups consistent with NSCA.  There is talk to Hunter Class and registered targets in the original program.  New proposal is eligibility is extended, no Hunter Class.  Original program – Kids winning a shoot and getting into a drawing.  New proposal is trying to get every kid in program to the State Shoot.  Every Jr and Sub Jr shoots for free at their first State Shoot, and ½ price after that.  We can also continue scholarships.  We need to focus on the conclusion:  administrative burden of some things in original proposal is a problem.  Figuring out ages is a problem.  We think we should make it with what we already have.  We want to see all kids involved.  This program does not solve all problems but it is a start.  We need develop a grass roots program.  We recommend some of the other sporting clays associations help with the youth.  Each club can put in 600.00 we originally cane up with.  Amount could be matched by sponsors and/or TP&W.  It would give us enough money to start.  We can still get private donations.  The best thing would be for new kids to attend the State Shoot.  This proposal does not bridge the gap from kid never shooting to his first time at State.  We want to make the program less restrictive-a kid can qualify by just saying they want to shoot.  And it is our job to raise the money and make sure all kids that are eligible for first time get their entry paid, and other kids get ½ price.  At lease we can help the kids that are interested in competition while we develop a new grass roots feeder program.  I have not talked to Charlie.  I do not know what he thinks of our recommendation or what can be done.  If we get a lot of entries, and do not have the funding, we can reevaluate.

Jeff:  who will administer this program?? Who will make sure we have the money?

Charlie Wilson:  I can have nothing to do with money by agency rules and state law.

Jeff:  Jim Harris previously was main support person.

Jim:  Each of the 8 points has had input but I don’t not see a conclusion.  I am not prepared to take any kind of vote on what I see here if this is the bottom line.

Jeff:  Let’s open the floor for discussion.  Our goal was to have something to run with by January 1.

Jim Harris:  What gets changed from original proposal to new one?

Scott:  Well, first if shooter has more than 300 targets or did not shoot in Hunter class, shooter is ineligible.  New program would not have that restriction at all.  If any kid wants to be eligible, he is as long as he fits into age category.  We do not agree with separate age categories because there is no one to administer it.

Jim:  one of the keys in the original program was the 4 H group.  It was one of the keys to success.

Jeff:  If TSCA is going to administer this, are we prepared to deal with 3 different age groups?

Nadim:  His understanding is to get more kids to participate in NSCA sponsored events and the State Shoot.  There are feeder organizations, 4 H and SCTP.  We don’t need to invent another one.  His recap:

·        Keep age groups consistent with NSCA

·        Open program to all kids

·        Let’s raise the money for 1^st time attendees, pay their discounted fee for Main Event at State, and all others supplement them with ½ price entry fees.

Scott:  We believe we can do enough to get a large group of kids with paid entry fees.

Lonnie:  Once program is in place, committee members will go to clubs and help start the youth programs

Jeff:  Why can’t we get the range owners to come to a major club for a meeting?

Scott:  We can.  That is the next step.  The pilot program for grass roots shooting and TSCA are not the same.  We have the option to do something and then allow others to feed into it.

Lonnie:  Let’s go to Elm Fork or ASC and conduct a range owner’s seminar on how to start a youth program.  There is a training manual in existence.  We do not need to write one.

Charlie Wilson:  throwing new kids in with seasoned competitors defeats the whole purpose of getting more kids involved.  TSCA cannot raise enough money.  He can send a lot of kids to State.

Nadim:  My points:

#1 If we have the welcome problem of too many kids, then we go the competitive aspect.

#2 We cannot become the grass roots organization.  We do not have the authority to mandate shoots.

#3 Kids are resilient – if they like it, they will come back.

Jeff:  How long can kids get ½ price entry?

Scott:  As long as they are junior shooters.  Right now, we do not need to go with the competitive aspect.  If we have too many kids in the future, we re-evaluate. 

Kathryn:  What about Nationals in the original proposal.

Scott:  We can look at Nationals.

Tony:  Key to getting program to the club level.

Doug:  If we have more kids than money, we can get the money from the private sector.

Nadim:  His motion is:

·        Keep age groups consistent with NSCA

·        Open program to all Texas residents that have not attended a State Shoot in the past

·        Main Event entry fee would be no charge for 1^st time attendees.  Returning attendees, including regular shooters, Main Event entry fee will be ½ price.

              Motion seconded by John Ryan and Doug Kuykendall.  Motion carried.

b. Jeff:  target thieving, chip begging, whatever you want to call it appears to have gotten at an all time high.  As the sport progresses, it will be part of the issue. We do not want to take any vote tonight. We want Nadim to talk about his Code of Conduct and his vision for the program. Preface and  Code of Conduct When we meet in January, agree on a 2-3 part plan to stop this sort of stuff.  We have a couple of very high profile shooters that have had numerous incidents.  This stuff has got to stop.  Cheating to win and bullying is not right. 

Nadim:  No reason why we cannot elevate the image of the sport not only to the public but to our own shooters by merely requesting proper behavior and adequate decorum. 

3 step program:

1.  Have TSCA Code of Conduct letters at registered shoots.  Have shooters sign and acknowledge that they have read it and will follow the rules.

2.  Develop a cadre of shooters that are referee’s that have taken the test.  They would be empowered to make rulings.

3.  To develop a Sportsman of the Year program.  Could help raise awareness of sportsmanlike conduct.

Nadim:  What we trying to do is create a better environment at every shoot we attend and make shooters behave themselves.

Scott:  We need to have guidelines on shoots that are self pull.

Nadim:  Move that Nadim, Scott and Jimmy come up with guidelines to discuss at January meeting.  Kathryn seconded.

Motion carried.

c. Finalize how money will be split between State Sporting and State FITASC:  Jeff: In past, gave host club 17,500 for State Shoot.  Now we have added State FITASC. Break up money into 3 specific events, prelim, main and 5 stand for Sporting.  Exclude small gauge.

Proposal is:

State Sporting

$6,500 for 6 place through 10

$6,500 for trophies

Total $13,000

State FITASC

HOA  $1,000

RU     $  750

Each class winner $200 including concurrent

Trophies $1,000 for HOA, RU, 1-3 in class, 1-2 concurrent

Total $4,500.  

Scott:  suggested a different way to spend money to help kids attend State instead of pay out.

Scott moved that we keep the trophies for Sporting the same at 7,500 and give 4,500 for FITASC.  Hold 5,000 in reserve for kids attending State.  Cash payouts are gone.

Nadim second.  Motion carried.

6.     New Business

a.      Establish committee to create documents for Board of Director elections.  Documents are to be:

                              i.      One page bio on shooter including qualifications

                              ii.      One page synopsis on what candidate wants to improve and accomplish while serving TSCA

          Jeff:  asking 2 Board of Directors to take project.  John Ryan and        Mark Faggard to take project. 

          b.  Jeff:  calendar update. To have all ad’s sold and artwork in by Nov 15.  get calendar printed and mailed to shooters by mid/late January.

c.  Set date for 2008 Board meetings:  Jan 12, 2008

b.     Board of Director pictures.  I can take whenever I can.  Will try to get State delegates too.

Executive Session: none

Adjourn:  meeting adjourned at 8:05 PM
 

Board of Directors Meeting
February 10, 2007
LaQuinta Inn & Suites
Austin, Texas

 Meeting called to order by President Jeff Foster at 9:00 AM.
Roll call:

Reading of minutes. 
Motion made by Phil Hechler to accept minutes as posted on TSCA website.
Second by Mark Faggard.  Motion carried.

Public Forum:

Jeff met with Steve Hall and Terry Erwin of Texas Parks and Wildlife.

Charlie Wilson from TP&W was present.  He passed out a one page sparkle sheet. He reported that the program is ready to move forward.  Next step is to notify the ranges.  Jeff will ask each range to commit to one Texas Junior Clays Program shoot and sponsor shooter of each of the age groups.

Browning will donate 3 guns as prizes and will buy trophies for Champion and 1^st and 2^nd Runner up.

Various fundraising methods for the junior clays program were discussed.

Jeff had 2 questions:

1.  Who is going to keep the master list of scores?      

Charlie Wilson will keep the list of scores.  He requested that scores be sent to him in hard copy and Jeff requested scores kept electronically as a back up.

2.  The master sponsor spread sheet must be accessible to the shooting public.  There must be 1 person responsible for managing the Jr. Clays Program from the record keeping aspect.  Jim Harris volunteered for the project.

John Ryan moved that Jim Harris be the TSCA Board of Director that will oversee the record keeping portion of the Junior Clays Program.  Kathryn Sweeny second.  Motion carried.

Charlie pointed out that this program as asking for 2 things:

            Scholarship money       

            State Shoot entry fees

Jeff responded that if the program fails to raise needed entry fees, TSCA will raise and disperse the money.

Jim asked what are the criteria for the State Shoot entry fee.

Charlie said 1 entry fee per junior shooter, regardless of number of wins.

Jim requested checks to made payable to:

                        TSCA
                        c/o Jim Harris
                        American Shooting Centers
                        16500 Westheimer Parkway
                        Houston, TX  77082

                        Reference the Bob Brister Memorial Junior Clays Program.

Jeff:  Let’s get the program off the ground, and get it going.

Report of Officers:

President Jeff Foster: 

Successfully implemented the 2007 calendar.   As of 2-1-’07, profit from calendar is $1K.

Vice President-Phil Hechler: 

TSCA Hall of Fame nominations.  Will post a note on ShootersPages, directing members to TSCA website for nominations.

Secretary-Barbara Garney:  no report

Treasurer-Kathryn Sweeny:

All reports complete.  Checking account balance around $14K.

John Ryan moved we accept the Treasurer’s report.  Brad Thompson second.  Motion carried.

Reports of Committees:

Phil Hechler:

150 mile rule committee is on back burner.  Phil needs physical addresses of ranges.

Review of Action Item list;

Status of Action Items discussed.

Old Business:

John Ryan:

State Shoot Bid process complete. 

Instructions and Directions complete.

Bid Form complete.

Range owners meeting @ Browning/Briley will show range owners interested in bidding on State Shoot how to use forms.  Meeting will be Friday, 6:00 PM in the upstairs café area close to Browning/Briley Hall at ASC.

Each Board member will get a copy of the bid for review and voting process.

At the next Board meeting, the only agenda item will be the 2008 State Shoot vote.  Meeting is scheduled for Saturday, June 16, 2007.  Time and Place to be announced.

Goal is to post bid form on TSCA website so Range Owners can download, study instructions and directions, complete and return to TSCA Secretary.  Bid must be included with State Shoot contract and signed by a person with authority to sign a binding contract.

Jeff:  State Shoot squadding format proposal.

That we adopt a squadding format to include the top 30 shooters with All American Points at end of 2006 regardless of concurrents.  We designate a rotation that all of those shooters would be randomly squadded together. 

Jim feels that it could be implemented for the 2007 State Shoot at ASC.  This proposal can attract extensive media coverage, possibly nationwide as well as local coverage.

Mark Faggard moved the TSCA Board move forward with random squadding.  This applies to the State Shoot and State FITASC. Kathryn Sweeny second motion.  Motion carried.   We will notify shooters with multiple forms of communication.  Run a trial at ASC=then implement best practices for squadding in 2008.

Update on Dustin Buttler

The Buttlers have been informed that suspension is now nation wide. 

Requirements for State FITASC are on hold.

Texas Challenge Series update.

Reformat-move to 5 biggest shoots in the state and take points from them. 

5 open spots and one representative from AA-E class

Record keeping will be a format like old Texas Challenge Series.  Best 4 out of 5 scores.

Upcoming Board of Director elections:

Positions up for re-election:

Vice President-currently held on appointee basis by Phil Hechler

Secretary-Barbara Garney

Board of Directors:

Martha Holt                   J.T. Dolle

Jim Harris                      John Ryan

As President, Jeff intends to push the TSCA Board harder in ’08 than in’ 07 and accomplish more things.  We need to utilize each Board members strength.  Mark suggested committee chairmen that would be taken from the membership in addition to Board members.  John Ryan suggested those committee chairs report to a Board member. Per Jeff, possible some of the members could attend our next Board meeting.

New Business:

Review of NSCA/TSCA membership numbers=Phil

            Good year-2024 members as of 2-1-’07.

Jeff would like to see shooter=# of targets shot

@ 5,000

@ 2,500

@ 1,000

Less than 1,000

Benefit Tournament = proceeds going into trust fund or scholarship endowment.

Money would go into a separate account.  Jeff suggested picking 4 shoots a year, with a small amount added to the entry fee, with profits going to the Scholarship Fund. 

Jeff suggested we table the discussion until the next meeting and bring Mark C. in to discuss becoming the Scholarship Administrator/Fundraiser.

Executive Session:

John Ryan:  TSCA getting larger and there are many things we want to do.  We need to look at where our support comes from and also begin to look outside the shooting community for other sources of support.

Review of TSCA minimum requirements before document goes to the attorneys.

Next meeting will be after the Browning/Briley on June 16, 2007 specifically to vote on the 2008 State Shoot.

Mark Faggard moved meeting to adjourn.

Phil Hechler second.

Motion carried.

Meeting adjourned at 1:50 PM.