Club Chronicles:
Cheshire County Fish and Game Club, Inc.

The Youth Shooting Sports Alliance (YSSA) helps to identify and support the needs of successful and safe youth programs that create measurable improvements in youth participation.  The YSSA also provides leadership in the development and promotion of family-friendly shooting range facilities to increase active involvement in the shooting sports.
   The YSSA believes that an effective tactic to promote development of family-friendly shooting facilities to clubs across the nation would be to chronicle the steps that an established club initiates to progress from its current operational status to that of a true model for other clubs to emulate.
   The YSSA approached the Cheshire County Fish and Game Club, Inc., in Keene, New Hampshire, to enlist its participation in this version of a "reality show" for gun clubs.  The club officers, currently involved in a comprehensive review of their club’s facilities and operations, agreed to serve in the spotlight of this rather unique initiative.
   The YSSA will maintain a running chronicle of the club’s efforts on our website www.youthshootingsa.com, complete with photos, testimonials, and the peaks and valleys of discussions associated with this comprehensive review undertaken by a club with a long, proud tenure.  We hope that this chronicle will motivate other gun clubs to undertake similar reviews of their respective operations, as well as share their experiences in addressing similar issues by writing to shootforthefuture@charter.net.

NEW UPDATE:Club Chronicles:  July, 2008!

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The Cheshire County Fish and Game Club, Inc.

   Nestled within the peaceful valleys of the southwestern corner of New Hampshire, the Cheshire County Fish and Game Club, Inc. has provided opportunities to enjoy the shooting sports since 1936.  The club offers a 100-, 200- and 300-yard rifle range; a separate 100-yard small-bore rifle range under covered firing points; a pistol range under covered firing points; two trap fields; an archery range and a clubhouse.  A complete overview of the club facilities can be seen at their website www.ccfandg.org.
   The shooting sports are an everyday part of the members’ lives and, as such, are traditions that they feel must be passed on to future generations.  The club members sincerely feel that they have an individual and collective obligation to ensure that these traditions remain intact, thus preserving our shooting sports heritage forever.
   Based on the club’s activities over the past few years, the Board obviously has adopted a philosophy that educating our youth about fish and wildlife conservation and introducing them to the shooting sports at our facilities is one of its most important tasks.  Concurrent with their focus on youth, the club also advocates shooting sports activities as opportunities for family interaction.  The club wishes to be innovative in developing opportunities for a broad spectrum of new constituents in its community – children, women and families – to experience the joy of shooting.  The club members know that, by cultivating our youth and their families, they could significantly increase participation and acceptance of the shooting sports and, hence, secure our traditions.  It helps that two of the 16 Board members are women – and also moms.
   The objectives of the Cheshire County Fish and Game Club have always been consistent with gun clubs across the nation that are considered as true leaders in club relations within their community.  The current bylaws specifically address the following objectives:

   With such a long tenure of operations, the club obviously has done a lot of things right in the past.  However, the membership has a vision for the future, as well.
   Joe Greathouse, the new President of the Cheshire County Fish and Game Club, states “In my first month as the club’s President, I have seen an incredible amount of enthusiasm from our membership related to new ideas for growing the club.  My belief is that, with the right plan in place and the dedication of a core group, we can greatly expand the offerings at the club and double our membership in the next five years."

Input of Club Members

   In late 2007, a Club Improvements Committee was formed to compile ideas after reviewing input received by the Board from club members.   The Board asked itself the basic question, “What type of club do we want to be?"  Survey responses ranged from “keep things the way they are" to the desire to advance beyond the current levels of operations to upgrade and expand range facilities, improve administrative and advertising practices, and aggressively expand club membership through club outreach programs. 
   Members want to construct fully-accessible heated restrooms in the clubhouse and upgrade the interior of the facility. They expressed a need to install card access for members to the facilities, accompanied by security motion lights and video surveillance throughout the club grounds.  This latter is important in that there is no paid staff on duty at this rural club.
   Regarding range upgrades, the members want improved range signage, target stands and shooting benches.  They also suggested that concessions and/or vending services be provided for ear plugs, safety glasses, targets, sun block and insect repellant.
   Although the club currently offers a diverse array of range facilities to accommodate a variety of shooting disciplines, the members recognized opportunities to expand the club’s range facilities.  Most notably is their desire to construct an indoor range complete with a store, firearm rentals and opportunities to conduct year-round archery, air rifle, and small-bore rifle and pistol activities.
   Membership drives were encouraged to be conducted, with outreach programs for 4-H clubs and Boy Scouts and an expansion of current offerings such as Women on Target programs and Republican shoots.
   Promotion of the club’s role in the community was suggested to include highway signs, radio and local TV commercials, production and display of shooting venue brochures, partnerships with other community groups, and community service projects.

Development of a Master Plan

   Following the Club Improvement Committee’s review of the responses to the Board brainstorming session, the Board of Directors was presented with a list of short-term goals which were considered to be vital to the future growth of the club.  The Board decided to update its master plan for growth, with specific goals over the next five years, accompanied by additional long-range goals. 
   As a leader in the development and promotion of family-friendly shooting range facilities, the Youth Shooting Sports Alliance (YSSA) believed that an effective tactic to promote development of family-friendly shooting facilities to clubs across the nation would be to chronicle the steps that this club initiates to progress from their current operational status to that of a true model for other clubs to emulate.  The YSSA asked the club to include the following objectives, affecting all gun clubs today, in its master plan:

   Most Board members are excited that the club is moving forward, and it has been observed that attendance at meetings has improved the last few months, with new people stepping up to contribute in key areas.  The Board also is trying to involve more general members is new efforts.  According to Vice President Jim Flanders, “I can’t see anything but good from partnering with the YSSA and exchanging ideas with other clubs."
   Stay tuned on the YSSA website www.youthshootingsa.com for progress on the development of the club’s master plan.