Thursday, March 12, 2015

The Homegrounds on TV

Folks: We have finally scheduled the four segments we shot with you and the youth trapshooters last June at the new WTA complex. The first date listed for each is a Thursday and the second is a Saturday. Milwaukee Public TV airs Outdoor Wisconsin Thursday night at 9 and Saturday morning at 9 on Channel 10.1. Wisconsin Public TV airs the show ONLY on Saturday morning at 11:30 on the Wisconsin Digital Channel (21.2, 38.2, etc.). The shows will also be posted online shortly after each air date at www.mptv.org. Simply click on "Watch Episodes," then scroll down to "Outdoor Wisconsin" and look for the show by number.

As always, please check local listings to be sure, but here is the schedule:

Show 3111 April 2 and 4: Scholastic Clay Target Competition

Show 3116 May 14 and 16: WTA Bunker Trap Grand Opening

Show 3121 June 25 and 27: Jr. Olympic Tryouts and Dan's Bunker Trap lesson with Meredith Bernau


I will have several copies of each program made when the programs are edited and share them with you. Please tell others who were at the event that this is the schedule. If you have any questions, please let me know and I'll do my best to answer them.

Thanks to all for your help in producing these segments and for your patience as we worked on getting them edited and scheduled.


Dan

Dan Small Outdoors, LLC

Thursday, March 5, 2015

Why we are asking for help.

There seems to be some confusion on the other web site regarding WTA activities, so I thought I would try to explain what the WTA is trying to do.

Here is the situation.   During this time of the year, we do not have much income.  Let’s face it, there isn’t much shooting going on and we don’t have a building that we can work out of during cold weather.  Last year our campgrounds weren’t open so we had little income other than the state shoot.  Without the campgrounds making money we fall short of our business plan projected profit.  But bills keep coming in -  Like property taxes, salaries, loan payments and $6000+ for workman’s comp. ins.  I believe, as of March 1st , all but one of our bills have been paid.  But now we have depleted the small profits made last year. 

The next step in our long range plan is to put up a building.  We plan to start with a small storage building.  It will be built to accommodate additions when we need more space.  The current plan is for a 40X80 building.  The building addition presents opportunities for both revenue generation and cost avoidance.  If we build in some office space, the manager can use it to run both campground and shooting events for the rest of the year and forward.  We have several organizations that want to use the Homegrounds, but they require a building.  Without the building we won’t get their business – a missed revenue opportunity.  During the state shoot the building would be used instead of renting pods for classifying, squading and cashiering - saving the WTA more than a thousand dollars.  

Now a couple of naysayers on the other web site might ask “how can you afford a building if you are out of money?”  It’s a valid question and honestly, we are in a difficult position.   So, we are asking for the help of shooters from around the state and even around the country.  The building will cost approx. $40,000.   No, it’s not a small amount, but the building is essential to keep the development/growth plan moving forward. 

As of right now we have 10 different shooting events scheduled – spanning almost every weekend between the first weekend of May until the state shoot and at least two different events after the state shoot.  These events will generate not only shooting revenue, but camping revenue as well.  You can go to the Homegrounds website calendar and see which events are already scheduled.   I will also post them here.
                                                                                           
Events scheduled for WTA Homegrounds 2015
                                                                            
May 2-3 WTA Registered Shoot
May 8-10 USAS Wisconsin Junior Olympic Championship
May 16 Kettle Moraine Youth Conference State Shoot
May 24 SCTP Midwest High School Regional
May 29-31 USAS Wisconsin SCTP International Trap State Championship
June 6 Wisconsin State High School Clay Target League State Shoot
June 27-28 Wisconsin SCTP State Trap Championship
July 4-5 WTA Registered Shoot
July 14-19 Wisconsin State Trapshoot 116th Annual
Oct 10-11 WTA Registered National Trapshooting Day Weekend

For all of you that have asked if we will be hosting any events besides the state shoot, as you can see answer is YES!  And the list will grow.  Plus, the campgrounds will be opening in April this year, so there will be added income from camping unlike last year.  If you have any ideas for an event please let a Director know and then get involved to make it happen.  Talk is cheap.  We all have ideas about things that could be held there at the Homegrounds but we also need people to run them.  The Manager and the BOD cannot do all the work.  GET INVOLVED.

So, this is why we need the building and your help.  We have about $10k that people have donated towards the building now.  We also have a shooter from out of state that said they would donate another $5k - A non resident!  We have someone that said they would make a low interest loan of $25k.  All this gives us a good start.  But we need more cash for operating expenses and cover over runs for the building (which always happen no matter how well you plan the project).  I think  it takes about $22k a month this time of the year for the basics plus other things that come up from time to time .

In closing I have tried to explain both our current needs and some of our future plans.  If it still doesn’t make sense call me or any director and we will try to explain things better.  If there is anything you can do to help out your organization and your home grounds please, please contact a director or our Treasurer Jim Kroeplien and we will be happy to accept your donation.    Think about ways you personally or as a shooting club can raise money – hold a fundraiser, pass the hat, heck – have a bakesale!  Even if it is $50 it will help.  There is a donation form on our website that you can print out.  And yes, we are working on updating the donation list that is on the web site now.  You can ask that your donation go toward things like traps, shelters benches, gun racks and so on.  But please help any way you can and soon.  Spring is coming and we need to quickly get started on the building.

Don  

    

Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Now is the time to step up

As most of you should know in June at the zone shoots your Directors are elected.  This year there will be 3 Directors that will NOT be running for that position.  In the NE Dave Wehmeier will not be running, in the SW Adam LePine will not be running and in the SE I will not be running.  So that means we will need new people in the SW, NE and the SE zones to run for director.  The Board hears continually about how things should be done differently.  Well now is the time for you to change things.  Make a difference.  Put some effort into making a difference.  It is your organization.  It is your Homegrounds.

I have heard the complaints about asking for money.  Well.   I'm not asking for money this time.  I am asking for some of your time and knowledge.  New ideas and views are great.  I have heard all the reasons for people not to run.  The one I hear the most is "I don't know how to run a shoot"  You don't need to.  Most of the people on the BOD never had any experience with the ATA or WTA other than shooting.  But they learned.  There are still several very experienced people that will be on the WTA board.  They will help you with any questions you may have.  I'm not moving to my desert island yet.  I will be more that happy to help anyone that wishes to run with anything they need.  I am sure Adam and Dave feel the same.

We don't need a answer right now.  But think about it.  If you have any questions give me a call.  262 470 2708.  If you would like to run let me know and we will have your name printed on the ballots for your zone.

So again.  Please help.  Questions?  Call me.


Don Mittag