New Members

The July - September quarter of 2005 was a great one for FCS. We had 137 total participants, which was our best ever for this quarter (beating the record that was set in 1996 by two). This was despite our poorest attended Fall Dove Retreat ever (10 participants, due mainly to Hurricane Rita concerns and the high price of gas). If we had had 57 participants at the Dove Retreat (like last year) we would have had 184 for the quarter! We blew away what was our average for this quarter (72). We had higher attendance for this quarter than we did for the entire year for 2000! We had 12 events for this quarter – a new record (beating 1996 by four). This quarter saw more events than 1988, 1989, and 1990 combined! We pulled off six dove hunts during this quarter (counting the Dove Retreat) and two new events (the 8/4/05- 8/5/05 Bay Fishing Trip and the 7/23/05 Hunting and Gathering Trip to Cabela’s). We had three men join the Club during this quarter and eight members renewed their memberships.

We had three active Club members votes, four Executive Decisions, one officers poll, and one members poll during the third quarter of 2005.

On 7/29/05, by a vote of 14 to 0, the active Club members approved the Fiscal Year 2006 budget.

On 7/30/05, by a vote of 10 to 0, the active Club members approved adding a 8/20/05 Sporting Clays and Skeet Shoot to the 2005 Calendar.

On 8/3/05 a poll was sent out to the FCS officers regarding whether button down shirts should be made available to former FCS officers as long as they pay up front. Three officers responded in the affirmative. None were opposed. These shirts will not be bought with Club funds.

On 8/24/05 a poll was sent out to the FCS members to determine if we had enough interest to have an FCS only Beyond the Basics: Pistol class with KR Training near Elgin in 2006. We would have to pay for the class in advance ($60). Six members showed interest in the class, which is the minimum number that we need.

On 8/28/05, by a vote of 3 to 0, the officers decided to make button down shirts available to any Club member, as long as he/she pays up front. These shirts will not be bought with Club funds.

On 8/31/05, by a vote of 4 to 0, the officers made an Executive Decision to move the 11/4/05 - 11/5/05 Goose Hunt to 11/11/05 - 11/12/05. 11/5/05 was all booked up. As it was no longer an option and we did not have time for a one week discussion followed by a one week vote (as called for by our Bylaws) we (the officers) made an Executive decision.

On 9/7/05, by a vote of 3 to 0, the officers made an Executive Decision to add a 9/16/05 - 9/18/05 Dove Hunt (Woodson) to the 2005 Calendar). We did not have time for a one week discussion followed by a one week vote, therefore, the officers made an Executive decision.

On 9/7/05, by a vote of 7 to 1, the active Club members decided to change the start time for the Sporting Clays and Skeet Shoots to start at the time that Capitol City Trap & Skeet Club opens (which is presently around sunrise).

On 9/12/05, by a vote of 3 to 0, the officers made an Executive Decision to change the date of the Fall Dove Retreat to 9/22/05 - 9/24/05. For many years we have had men arrive on Thursday at Dove Retreats. Men typically start hunting on Friday (opening day) and go home after the Sunday morning hunt. During the past few years at Mr. Ewald's we have seen more and more men leaving Saturday night. The last two years we have seen 95% + leave. The trend is excellent - great hunting on Friday's, very good - fair hunting on Saturdays, and poor - terrible hunting on Sundays. Most members have opted not to pay $25 - $30 to hunt on Sundays and only get a couple of birds. We have been trying to promote the Dove Retreat at Great Hills and Hyde Park Baptist churches, out two largest churches. Both of these churches maintain the position that they will not promote anything that takes men away from church on Sundays. We had two choices. One was to keep everything as it was (end the Retreat on 9/25/05), including not being able to pass out literature at Hype Park or put it in the Sunday School Directors boxes at Great Hills for the sake of saying that it goes through Sunday. The other was to officially end the retreat on Saturday, which is when most of our members have ended it. If we choose this option members would not be discouraged from staying beyond the end of the retreat. We did not have time for a one week discussion followed by a one week vote, therefore, we made an Executive Decision.

The next quarter promises to be an exciting one for FCS members and guests. We have seven events planned. We’ll have a shrimp boil at the 10/6/05 Club Meeting and deep fried turkeys at the 12/15/05 Club Meeting. We’ll have Sporting Clays and Skeet Shoots on 10/22/05 and 12/10/05. We’ll have a Deer/turkey/hog hunt on 11/5/05 – 11/7/05, at least a Duck Hunt on 11/11/05 – 11/12/05 (possibly a goose hunt as well), and an Upland Game Hunt on 12/16/05 – 12/17/05. We have postponed the 10/15/05 Beyond the Basics: Pistol course until next year (when we will have an FCS only class).

All the spots for the Deer/Turkey/Hog hunt have been taken. We have five confirmed hunters for the Duck Hunt. We can take at least three more. We need at least two more goose hunters to pull off a Goose Hunt. The waterfowl trips require payment in full ($165.00). Mail your check to me ASAP at 11612 Birchbark Trail, Austin, TX, 78750 in order to secure your spot. Make your checks out to W.S. Sherrill Waterfowl.

The place where we were going to go on an Upland Game Hunt (Flying Feathers) is located near Winnie (221 miles SE of Austin, 27 miles west of Beaumont, and 20 miles north of the Gulf of Mexico). Their Webpage is presently down and they do not answer their phone. I’m sure that Hurricane Rita hit them hard. If they suffered extensive damage (loss of habitat and birds) then Plan B will probably be the Hart Lion's Club (where we hunted the last two years) on 12/26/05 - 12/29/05 (Tim Price and his sons are going there on those dates). Here are our other 2005 Upland Game Hunt Options.

Year	January - March	April – June	July - September	October - December	Total	Quarter Average
2005	79	80	137		296	99
2004	86	74	118	83	361	90
2003	45	16	117	113	291	73
2002	30	30	81	50	191	48
2001	34	13	59	40	146	37
2000	30	27	14	52	123	31
1999	27	48	95	31	201	50
1998	73	29	70	9	181	45
1997	43	53	130	54	280	70
1996	96	111	135	53	395	99
1995	96	59	104	20	279	70
1994	113	62	56	39	270	67
1993	74	45	41	69	229	57
1992	76	59	75	23	233	56
1991	54	21	42	27	144	36
1990	0	9	12	0	21	5
1989	15	5	6	10	36	9
1988	N/A	N/A	N/A	9	9	9
Total	971	741	1292	682	3686
Averages	57	44	76	40	217	54

10/1/05