NRA Club Connection

Do you know what it is? It is a publication of the NRA Clubs and Associations Division. A copy is mailed to all NRA Affiliate clubs to provide timely up-to-date information on services provided to you through the Division.

Information provided in the Club Connection should be included in your local club newsletters. This is a great way to keep your club members informed on a variety of topics that affect the shooting sports locally and nationwide. If you, as an individual member, want to access this document you can do so on-line. Go to: www.nrahq.org/clubs/index.asp This will bring you to the NRA Clubs and Associations website and you can download newsletters that are in the archive.

The article from Summer 2005 contains an excellet article written by John A. Joines who is the NRA Range Technical Team Leader. The article is titled: "WHERE HAVE ALL THE RANGES GONE?" The first paragraph sets the tone of the entire article which includes a checklist of how to keep from losing your range.

"Why does a club or range fail? Poor management! That's right, I said poor management."

Mr. Joines gives these recommendations on "How to Keep Your Range Open":

  • Come to an NRA Range Development and Operations Conference with Business Planning. Learn what to do, when to do it, how to do it, and what may happen to you if yo don't
  • Do you have a copy of the NRA Range Source Book? It is available as a three-inch binder for $49.95, or as a CD for $19.95. You can print the CD and save some money for the club.
  • Start being proactive. Support the Institute of Legislative Action to help you enact legislation to keep people from suing the range for any type of noise issue. Ensure that each state enforces existing "following the nuisance" laws.
  • Support legislation that protects the range from frivolous law suits and guarantees the range will be reimbursed for all legal expenses if the opposing side loses in court
  • Educate range owners and operators on how to deal with the public. Make it a true business and start making money. Take marketing and business classes to help you get started.
  • Educate the general public, sponsor Eddie Eagle in the grade school system. Do things for the community to get your name around town. Be a positive asset to the community
  • Open the club to the public. Invite the general public to come and use the range facility one or two days a week. Charge a nominal fee for range use.
  • Start training programs in rifle, pistol, shotgun, etc. This will help get some money into the club.
  • Start a Women on Target program.
  • Start a junior program. Get involved with 4-H, Boy and Girl Scouts, etc.
  • If you have a good clubhouse, rent it out at a low cost for community programs. After all, you are trying to get people to know about your facility.
  • Don't forget law enforcement. They need a place to shoot. They can provide money to keep the range operating and for making range improvements

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