Well it looks like no one from the WTA Board wanted to write anything so I will again. As most of you all know I did not run for reelection this year and am stepping back a bit from the BOD. I'm old and need the rest.
Ok. Anyways. For the most part I would give the complete shoot either a A- or B+. I see things that a lot of shooters don't and some shooters see things I don't .
Here are some of the things that I saw as a problem.
We, and when I say we I mean the shooters of Wisconsin, are in need of a couple of things. First we need a sound system to reach more people on the grounds. This year I rented a big sound system to make the morning announcements and play the National anthem. It worked fairly well but we need something better. I think a system like the one at the Grand with speakers mounted on the shade shelters would be wonderful.
Golf carts are still a problem. The dust wasn't a issue but there needs to be some kind of cart path installed. There was discussion about one from wood chips. I really think that would help. Then there is the issue of to many people on the sidewalk. Most were people that could be there but. I personally don't understand why people have to just drive up and down the side walk. They all carry radio's. Why not just sit and wait until there is a problem. Most of the time if you are just joy riding you will be on one end and the problem is on the other side. So with three line supervisors why not split the fields in thirds and wait for a problem to arise. Don't just drive around to look important.
Dust in the parking lot. It wasn't real bad I didn't think. Someone arranged for a water truck mid week and that helped out. And the rain helped with that too.
Water in water jugs. Had a few complaints about no water the first day or two. My thoughts. First it wasn't that hot that anyone dropped over. Second we had tried something new this year. We had some nice young ladies driving up and down the main sidewalk with bottled water and other soft drinks. Priced fairly and they split the profits with the WTA 50/50. They also doubled as score sheet runners so the WTA saved some more due to not needing to hire someone to pick up the score sheets.
Some people complained that we started the next events to soon. That is a lose, lose situation. If we don't start as soon as most traps are ready or clear then people complain we wasted to much time in between events. If when we call people to their traps then would go to their traps that would help a lot. But it normally take shooters 15 - 20 minutes to arrive after they are called. So we tried to be somewhere in the middle. Some traps weren't quite ready but most were when we called the next events. Another part of the problem is when people presquad on the last squads of the first event and first squad of the next event. Not smart.
There are a few other things that need to be taken care of differently next year but I won't go into all of them.
Now for the positives.
WOW did the new building work out great. I really came in handy when the tents blew down for the second time in 5 days. We put them up on Sunday, They blew down on Sunday night. Put them back up on Monday and they blew down again on Friday night. Mother nature was testing us. Thanks to John Madson and the guys for the tents and for helping put them up again this year. The new building held up perfectly. It was used during the day to meet and eat. It was used Thursday night for the meet and greet, Friday morning for the annual meeting, Friday night for the fish fry and fund raiser, Sat night for the special event, Sunday for the gathering of the youth shooters and families. Thank you Recob's.
And yes the Friday Perch fry and fund raiser put together really quickly by Paul Becker. Fantastic job Paul. The number I heard was they raised somewhere around, now get this, $25,000. Thanks to all that donated. I am not going to put the names out there because I will miss some and I don't want to do that, but Kolar Arms donated a Kolar single, Mark Zauhar (even though he is from Mn and a Vikqueens fan) for a pistol, Bill Simonar for a pistol, all the people and clubs that donated over 70 flats of shells, the Oconto Falls High school group (I think it was the FFA) they had raffles going all week and we selling food and drinks. They were splitting the profits 50/50 with the WTA. And Paul who put this whole thing together. He came to the WTA with the idea about three weeks before the shoot. Unbelievable. He said he will do it again next year. So anyone that wants to help please contact Paul. Also if you have something you would like to donate contact him also. I heard from a little bird that Melinda Mittag has another one of a kind quilt in the works. In the past she has raised over $6000 for the WTA with her quilts. And to all the people that did all the bidding. It was amazing to watch. ( I have no money to bid) Especially, Sam, Rick, Jeff Mainland and Recob, Mark and a lot of others that were so generous. THANK YOU.
Then there was the Kolar Raffle. Not sure exactly how much was raised but I know it was a lot. Thanks Kolar. I heard something is in the works for next year already. Watch for more information coming up.
Well this may very well be my last blog post unless we can't get a volunteer to take over. As I said I am not a WTA Director anymore. But in closing I just want to add something that isn't said offen enough. Thank you to all the volunteers that make this event happen. And yes the vast majority of things that make YOUR state shoot happen are done by people that put in hundreds of hours, before, during and after the shoot. Think about it. People are there several days before the shoot to get it ready. During the shoot the average Director puts in 8-10 hours a day and then tries to shoot to. After the shoot is over you shooters just go home. Well some of us are there to take things down. Return things. Clean things like the campgrounds. Empty a couple hundred trash cans. And the list goes on. So I will say it. Thanks Bruce Stiteley, Bill Simonar, Glenn Hamerly, Adam LePine, Dave Wehmeier, Dewey Farnsworth, Kevin Doerring, Dwight Paulin, Gary Fechter, Theresa Howland Jim Kroeplien and Fritz Thistle for all your hours of dedication. I know I have probably forgotten a few people that have volunteered and donated their time, money and efforts again this year.
