On 7/3/07, the Club officers passed two propositions concerning expenditures.
Proposition 1
One of the things that Mark Dillow and I spoke about at the 6/16/07 Outdoor Explore was the need for a large banner. Our display board just didn’t work well outdoors with the slightest breeze. Neither did my DVD player (nor would my wife's laptop - it was too dark to see the pictures clearly). We agreed that we needed something to draw people to our display table other than decoys, clay targets, a photo album, and the like. As you can see in this picture the Guadalupe River Trout Unlimited has a display table behind Mark. Their banner is readable even though it’s about 40 yards away.
We can get a 3 X 6 banner for $54 and a 4 X 6 for $72. Of course that does not include shipping. I proposed to the officers that we buy a 4 X 6 banner because it's only $18 more than the smaller banner. The proposition passed unanimously (6 votes to 0).
Proposition 2
Another idea that Mark presented was for us to have things at our table that we can give away other than brochures and business cards. Things that we’ve come up with so far are pens, koozies (can coolers), magnets, 6” or 12” long wooden rulers, sticky note pads, and key tags with our name, URL, and phone number on them. I did some research and discovered the following prices:
Can coolers start at .59 (minimum order is 200) = $118 plus shipping.
12” rulers start at .18 each (minimum order is 500) = $90 plus shipping.
Sticky notes pads start at .17/ pad of 25 notes (minimum order is 500) = $85 plus shipping.
Magnets start at .14 each (minimum order is 500) = 70.00 plus shipping.
Stick pens start at .23 each (minimum order is 250) = $57.50 plus shipping.
Custom Key Chains start at .30 each (minimum order is 125) = $37.50 plus shipping.
Although the key chains are the cheapest option I proposed that we buy the pens because we would get twice as many for a little more than 50% more. I also thought that the pens would get more use than the magnets. The proposition passed 5 votes to 1.
Louis has scheduled a sporting clays shoot for his lease members on Friday, 8/10/07, from 5:00 – 8:00 PM. Our August Sporting Clays Shoot is scheduled for the next morning (8/11/07 at 9:00 AM). My concern was that some of our members won’t want to attend our shoot after attending the Drott shoot the night before. I proposed a joint shoot to Louis for Saturday, 8/11/07, but he rejected the offer (it would probably be too large of a group to manage well anyway, as he is expecting 15).
No members plan to attend the Drott shoot on 8/10/07 but will not attend the FCS shoot on 8/11/07 because they are so close together.
One member plans to attend the Dross shoot but not the FCS shoot because of a prior commitment.
Two members plan to only attend the FCS shoot.
One member plans to attend both shoots.
One member wasn't sure if he would attend either shoot.
As no one will be affected by the Drott shoot we will not change our scheduled date.
On 7/29/07 a poll was taken regarding whether we should offer more membership options. I noted that over the last couple of years we have had more and more members decline to receive a cap and/or shirt for membership benefits (caps have been the most prevalent) when they renewed. I noted that I didn’t have a statistical comparison on how many declined caps two years ago and how many declined caps now, but it has definitely increased (Ron, Kenneth, and Joe can verify this). I also noted that it is just as easy for me to deposit a $16 check as it is to deposit a $20 check (for example). It’s also just as easy for me to enter $16 onto our Treasurer’s Report on our website as it is to enter $20.
I proposed that we offer the following.
Option 1 – Shirt and Cap as benefits = $20.00
Option 2 – Shirt only as a benefit = $16.00
Option 3 – Cap only as a benefit = $10.00
Option 4 – No shirt or cap = $6.00
11 members stated that they preferred to keep things as they are. Eight members stated that they preferred to offer membership options.
On 7/30/07 a poll was taken to determine interest in another fall dove hunt at Mr. Ewald's place near Dilley in the south zone. As most of you know we changed our Fall Dove Retreat from there last year (after Mr. Ewald doubled his price from $25/day to $50/day) to our San Angelo day lease with Whitewings Galore. We were still planning on having a hunt with Mr. Ewald until he called me and let me know that he did not have any birds. We hunted on Mr. Ewald’s land during five of our last six Fall Dove Retreats and during our last four Winter Dove Retreats. Usually the hunting is great to excellent on the first day of the season, good on the second day, and poor to fair on the third day. In addition to dove hunting Mr. Ewald allows camping (he has a flushing toilet in his barn), clay target shooting, rifle/handgun shooting when the tank by his house is dry, and riding four wheelers (kids have to have an adult on the four wheeler if they are driving).
Three members stated that they would like to hunt at Mr. Ewald’s again this year on the south zone opening weekend (9/21 – 9/23).
Seventeen members do not plan to hunt at Mr. Ewald’s.
On 8/9/07 the Club officers passed two propositions.
Proposition 1
By a vote of 5 to 0 the 8/4/07 Concealed Handgun License Class was postponed due to the fact that we were unable to get the minimum number of commitments.
Proposition 2
By a vote of 5 to 0 a 9/21/07 - 9/23/07 Dove Hunt (south zone - Dilley) was added to the Club Calendar of Events.
On 8/16/07, by a vote of 4 to 1, the Club officers canceled the 8/18/07 Hunting and Gathering Trip to Bass Pro Shops in San Antonio due to projected poor attendance.
On 8/19/07 the active Club members passed two propositions to change the Bylaws in regards to benefits:
Proposition 1
III. Membership:
D. Current membership benefits include:
The proposition passed by a vote of 14 to 0.
Proposition 2
E. Active members who decline a FCS Gear membership benefit (T-shirt for example) will have the option of whether to designate the portion of their dues that would have been dedicated to cover the cost of the Gear to either go to cover general expenses or to be contributed to a FCS Scholarship Fund that will be used to help active Club members and youths who need help in paying for FCS events. No revenues from the FCS budgets will be dedicated to the Scholarship Fund.
The proposition passed by a vote of 15 to 2.
On 8/30/07, by a vote of 3 to 0, the Club officers canceled the scheduled 8/31/07 - 9/3/07 Dove Hunt (central zone - San Angelo) due to a lack of interest. Last last year their fields were overcrowded and disorganized. None of the men who went last year wanted to return.
On 9/4/07, by a vote of 4 to 0, the Club officers added a 12/1/07 Upland Bird Hunt to the Club Calendar of Events.
On 9/4/07, by a vote of 5 to 0, the Club officers changed the 10/13/07 Sporting Clays and Skeet Shoot to a Five Stand and Skeet Shoot at the Onion Creek Ranch. The event will be a fundraiser for the Christian Women's Job Corps (CWJC) my wife is the Director of the Austin chapter). CWJC is a national organization that was created by the Women's Missionary Union (WMU) of the Southern Baptist Convention. Basically they have classes for women who are trapped in poverty and teach them computer, resume, interview, and life skills. They also have Bible study and prayer. They have had many conversions and Baptisms in each class. After they graduate they pair the graduate with a mentor for continued growth and follow up. All proceeds above cost will go to CWJC.
On 9/7/07, by a vote of 5 to 0, the Club officers added a 10/6/07 - 10/7/07 FCS Promotion at TPWDs EXPO to the Club Calendar of Events.
On 9/12/07, by a vote of 5 to 0, the Club officers changed the 10/13/07 Five Stand and Skeet Shoot will benefit the Christian Women's Job Corps to 10/27/07. As the shoot will benefit Chris Rowley's organization she needs to be there (she has a conflict with the original date).
On 9/23/07, by a vote of 6 to 0, the Club officers approved the Fiscal Year 2008 Budget.