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
