I expressed in my editorial in the Winter 2001 issues of Hunting His Way that I had two immediate goals for The Fellowship of Christian Sportsmen. They were:
As 2001 is over it is time to examine the progress that we made on these two goals. Let's look at the membership goal first. We picked up our first new member, Jim Gault, on 3/2/01. T.J. Lubina joined on 4/5/01. John Partridge signed up on 8/10/01. At the 2001 Fall Dove Hunt/Retreat we picked up Rusty Atkinson, Buddy Boudloche, Jim Curran, Edward Hanna, Kenny Hill, Bill Hutcheson, Blaine Lindeman, Blake Lindeman, Jim Martinez, Kurt Naugle, Jim Patterson, Cade Roberson, Gary Schriber, Harold Walker, and Scott Whitaker. This was a total of 18 new members for 2001, which exceeded the goal of 14. The 18 new members set a new record and far exceeded the three new members for 2000.
Unfortunately the Dove Retreat goal did not reach expectations. We had 35 attendees at the 2001 Fall Dove Hunt/Retreat, far short of the goal of 50. This was a disappointment to me as we heavily promoted the event. Also at our last hunt at Mr. Ewald's we had 62 participants. I knew that we were going to be down because we had to cancel the 2000 Fall Dove Hunt/Retreat (due to a lack of dove) but I felt that the mail outs, e-mails, and phone calls would generate at least 50 attendees. On the bright side we did have a safe hunt and great shooting. Almost everyone limited out on the first two days. Sunday was a little tougher because the storm on Saturday scattered the birds. I also had several members tell me that they liked the smaller group because it was safer, they knew everyone, and we didn't have to spread out as much. Maybe my goal was ill advised.
For 2002 growth remains my top priority. I believe that we can top the number of new members that we gathered in 2001. My primary goal for 2002 is 20 new members. An organization is either growing or it's dying, and I want us to grow. I also want to implement two new events:
In addition I would like the Club to add small trophies or plaques for our quarterly Sporting Clays Shoots for first, second, and third place finishers. This is something that the Austin Christian Bass Club (ACBC) has done for their fishing tournaments for over 20 years. It is very popular with the ACBC members. At each meeting the winners from the last tournament receive their trophies and get to tell their tales on how they caught their fish. This would involve either a small trophy entree fee from each shooter or we could purchase the trophies from Club funds. I will put it up for discussion and a vote. I will not issue a goal for a number for the Dove Retreat(s) this year. To summarize my goals for 2002 are as follows:
On 12/16/01 I delivered a 68 quart ice chest completely full of frozen wild game (with no ice) to the Dr. Ross Houston family. We accepted game donations for Mrs. Houston at the 2001 Fall Dove Hunt/Retreat. Mrs. Houston was involved in a car wreck that damaged her liver. Her doctor ordered her not to eat meat that has artificial hormones in it, but she can eat wild game. FCS members donated the game. Specifically David Chalmers, Warren Hoke, Hubert Jarc, Jim Martinez, and Scott Whitaker each donated a limit of dove. I added to that the 32 dove that I shot for a total of 92. Mike Hardcastle donated a medium sized ice chest full of venison and hog meat. I added to that 49 more dove breasts, 10 goose breasts, and several venison steaks. The Houston's were very appreciative and asked me to thank the FCS members. If you are interested in donating extra deer or hogs you can do so at no cost to you. Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry (FHFH) has a local chapter (in Cedar Park) that donates venison and pork to needy families in Cedar Park and Leander through Hill Country Community Ministries. All you need to do is take the field dresses deer or hog that you wish to donate to Cedar Park Meat Market and tell them that it is for Texas Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry. There is no cost to you. Contact Clint Bennett, FHFH State Coordinator, at 979-966-0796 (Home) or 512-740-8155 (Mobile) for more information. Cedar Park Meat Market is only open on Wednesdays through Saturdays from 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM. They have extended hours during deer hunting season. The Hunters for the Hungry program is sponsored by state agencies, state associations, and others. Many deer processing plants participate in this program. Simply bring your field dressed deer to a participating processing plant, tell the clerk that the animal is for the Hunters for the Hungry program and pay the approximate $20.00 processing fee. The meat will be given to low income people. Participating processing plants in the Austin area include: Johnny G's Butcher Block, Texas Beef and Sausage, and Hudson's Meat Market. For more information e-mail them or call them at 1-800-992-9767 ext. 506. They do not take hogs unless an inspector inspects it before and after you shoot it!
I added an Articles page to the website. The page includes a recently received article on Hunting Ethics by Brian Tompkins. I also added a E-mails and letters to the President page. Dick Geoffroy and Eddy Chance are two of the contributors on this page. As I receive several e-mails a week from FCS members I will post only those that I believe are of interest to the entire Club membership. Requests for directions, event updates, newsletters, etc. will not be posted on this page.
Serving you and Him,
Randy Rowley
FCS President and Webmaster