1/1/06

The October - December quarter of 2005 was another great one for FCS!  We had 111 total participants, which was our second best for this quarter ever!  It was surpassed only by 2003.  It also blew away what was our average for this quarter (40).  We also had 14 events for this quarter - a new record (our old record, set in 2004, was nine).  In addition we had three hunters join the Club during this quarter.

2005 was the best year to date for FCS events attendance!  We had 407 total participants, which finally beat our old record of 395, set in 1996, and finally eclipsed the 400 attendance mark.  We also set a record with 41 events in 2006!

As was noted in the 2005 State of the Club Report, we had our highest Big Game Hunt yearly total attendance (32 participants, the old mark was 17), our highest Sporting Clays Shoot yearly total attendance (119 participants, the old mark was 76), and our highest Duck Hunt yearly total attendance (18 participants, the old mark was 15).  Our Dove Hunt yearly total attendance (37 participants) was our second best year ever.  Sporting Clay and Skeet Shoot attendance was up 57% over last year!  We set eight attendance records for 2005.  We had our highest attendance at a Delivery of FCS contributions to Operation Orphans (three participants on 12/31/05), a Scouting Trip to an Upland Game Preserve (four participants on 11/19/05), a Deer, Turkey, and Hog Hunt (eight participants on 11/4/05 - 11/6/05), a Bay Fishing Trip (15 participants on 8/4/05 – 8/5/05), a Hunting and Gathering Trip to Cabela's (nine participants on 7/23/05), a Concealed Handgun License class (six participants on 5/14/05), a 24 Hour Clay Target Shoot (10 participants on 4/23/05), and a White Bass Fishing Trip (10 participants on 2/26/05).  We tied our highest total attendance for a Shooting Range Shoot (12 participants on 12/31/05).

We ended the year with our third highest number of active members ever (47).  In addition we had 9 men and one woman (10 total) join the Club during 2005.  This was far from my goal of 25 (which was torpedoed primarily by Hurricane Rita).  Regarding my other 2005 goals we had a White Bass Fishing Trip on 2/26/05 and a Bay Fishing Trip on 8/4/05 – 8/5/05.  We were not able to pull off a Quail Hunt this year but we did have our Annual Pheasant Hunt on 12/18/05 – 12/22/05 and an Upland Game Hunt is scheduled for 2/25/06.

Also as was noted in the 2005 State of the Club Report, the most significant category of events that was down for 2005 was Club Meetings.  We averaged 3.33 fewer participants at meetings this year than last year.  Waterfowl Hunts was also down (18 for this years three hunts compared to 22 for last years three hunts).  Hurricane Rita hurt us in several areas - Fall Dove Retreat Attendance, New Members, Membership Renewals, First Time Guests, Active Members, and the Club Treasury.

We had six Club votes, seven Officer votes, and two surveys during the fourth quarter of 2005.  In an effort to shorten this column I've included them here.

The next quarter promises to be an exciting one for FCS members and guests.  We have nine events planned.  We’ll have our 13^th Annual Winter Dove Retreat on 1/5/06 – 1/7/06, a Sporting Clays and Skeet Shoot on 1/14/06, a Kayak Duck Hunt on 1/27/06 – 1/29/06, a Club Meeting on 2/2/06 that will feature homemade chili, another Sporting Clays and Skeet Shoot on 2/4/06, a Hog Hunt on 2/10/06 – 2/12/06, an Annual Upland Bird Hunt on 2/25/06, another Hog Hunt on 3/10/06 – 3/12/06, and the FCS Classic (Sporting Clays and Skeet Shoot and Cookout) on 3/25/06.

We purchased 24 more T-shirts and 48 more caps.  See the Apparel page for our present inventory. They are available now and will be available at the 1/5/06 - 1/7/06 Winter Dove Retreat.

On 12/31/05 FCS lost the services of Warren Hoke and David Chalmers, as their officer terms expired.  Warren served as South Austin Chapter (SAC) President from 2004 to 2006 and SAC Vice President from 2000 to 2004.  David served as SAC President from 2000 to 2004 and SAC Vice President from 2004 to 2006.  I want to extend my appreciation to these two men for their years of service. 

Beginning today (1/1/06) the Club officers for the next two years will be:

President                           Me (Randy Rowley)

Vice President (Events)        Mark Dillow

Vice President (Ministries)    Derrich Pollock

Treasurer                           Ron Denison

I am excited about adding Mark Dillow to the officer’s ranks.  Mark has already presented some great ideas and started working on projects, such as Operation Orphans, even before he officially became an officer.  He’ll be doing the “legwork” for events that I was doing before (making arrangements with outfitters, motels, and car pools, collecting deposits, and communicating to members who have signed up for events).  This will free me up to work on other projects.  I’m also excited about Derrich’s new position.  Derrich has a heart for ministry and I’m anticipating great things from him.  Ron continues in the position that he has held faithfully since 4/4/02.

For 2006 I have 12 goals:

1. Gain 25 new members.
2. Have 427 participants.
3. Implement a Non-Chartered Blast and Cast (Duck Hunt and Bay Fishing Trip), scheduled for 1/27/06 - 1/29/06.

4. Implement a Upland Bird Hunt, scheduled for 2/25/06.

5. Implement the FCS Classic (Sporting Clays and Skeet Shoots and cookout), scheduled for 3/25/06.

6. Implement a Beyond the Basics: Pistol class, scheduled for 5/27/06.

7. Implement a FCS Banquet, scheduled for 6/10/06.

8. Implement a Hybrid Bass Fishing Trip, scheduled for 10/7/06.

9. Implement a Chartered Blast and Cast (Duck Hunt and Bay Fishing Trip), scheduled for 12/15/06 - 12/16/06.

10. Implement a Kid’s Fish with the Austin Christian Bass Club.

11. Implement a Sporting Clays Shoot for teenagers at a local church.

12. Implement a FCS shrimp boil (or similar) for a Men’s Ministry at a local church, which will include a big name speaker.

Following His trail,

Randy Rowley

FCS President