Range Volunteering

dennishoddy · Mar 30, 2015

Are you a giver or a taker?

Most ranges rely on their volunteers to help with maintaining and improving the ranges. Most ranges wouldn't be where they are now without volunteers.

At our range, there is a core of volunteers that show up. 50 years old and up to the 70 year olds.
We don't offer a discount on membership to volunteer as it would be a slap in the face of those that put in hundreds of hours a year volunteering because they want the range to be better.

We have one or two younger folks show up but basically the rest are takers.

We get responses that say "I have my kids this weekend" can't do it.

What a great time to teach kids that volunteering can be a positive learning experience.
Great learning tool!

jtischauser · Mar 30, 2015

Retired guys that love guns are the heartbeat of every range. Time is money and they have plenty of both usually.

I just hope when I'm retired and have time to volunteer im not one of the grumpy ones that bosses all the young new guys around making them wish I didn't have time to volunteer.

mike cyrwus · Mar 30, 2015

dennishoddy said:
We don't offer a discount on membership to volunteer as it would be a slap in the face of those that put in hundreds of hours a year volunteering because they want the range to be better.

this is the reason I am kind of phasing out the "setup on Friday, shoot the match free" thing.

Mike Rush just basically spent HOURS and Days fixing up that plate rack for the okc club, we cant possibly repay him in anything other than in thanks.

Jesse Tischauser said:
Retired guys that love guns are the heartbeat of every range. Time is money and they have plenty of both usually.

I just hope when I'm retired and have time to volunteer im not one of the grumpy ones that bosses all the young new guys around making them wish I didn't have time to volunteer.

Youll be on a white sand beach

Steve Moneypenny · Mar 30, 2015

I have worked tons of matches, over the years, when I was younger i had free time, Now I really don't have time to work the match, I'll help RO or keeps score when shooting a local match but the prices of some of the major matches now. ( $100 and more for a level 2 Uspsa match) is a little high.

Voulenteers run our sport, if it isn't for them, we would not be. Give a hand if you can, Thank those that have done so if you can't!

Troy · Mar 30, 2015

First of all, before I get flamed, I just want to say how much I appreciate all of those who go above and beyond what is asked of them to put on these matches and help out or donate their time so the rest of us can have a place to shoot in the best environment possible, especially that plate rack, I would have sworn that was a new plate rack.

I realize I may get some likes taken away for my response here, but seriously, "takers"? I guess now I should feel like a second class citizen if I show up to shoot a match and only pay for the entry fee? Maybe I'm only speaking for myself here, but shooting isn't my number one priority and I actually have a hard time trying not to make it feel that way. I started helping setup for the 3-Gun matches last year which was my third year shooting these matches, I thought I would start helping out because it was needed and it would be a great way to get to know some of the people I shoot with a little better which I have enjoyed doing, but now I find out that I'm being selfish if I might expect a little in return as in maybe shooting the match for free for me taking a half day off and making the 45 minute drive using more than 15 dollars in gas. Maybe that's my fault for having a day job and living far from the range I don't know.

I thought most people helped put on these matches so we could all shoot and have fun, and not just so they can talk about all of those who didn't help put on the match or help mow the grass. Now I might also be thought of as selfish if I show up for a workday and get an $80 credit towards my annual membership.

jtischauser · Mar 30, 2015

Personally I think range staff should get paid. Volunteers only go so far before they quit volunteering.

wgm2011 · Mar 30, 2015

Jesse Tischauser said:
Personally I think range staff should get paid. Volunteers only go so far before they quit volunteering.

Its a nice idea but I don't think match economics will allow it long term.

We had a local club that gave it a try and it lasted most of a season but the pay was not enough to cover the attitude they got from some others at the range. For some the pay barely covered gas money.

Despite what some thought, paid to come out Friday to setup the stages did not mean they were also required to do the majority of the taping and setting steel and then tear down stages after the match.

Jeff T. · Mar 30, 2015

I volunteer to help setup and tape and reset and tear down, because it needs to be done. I like to shoot, I have seen other volunteer based things fail for lack of volunteers. I like to shoot in matches. I volunteer so what needs to be done, gets done, so I can shoot in matches, as opposed to just targets on the range.

Live Simply, Love Generously, Care Deeply, Speak Kindly, Shoot Well, Leave the Rest to God.

Wall · Mar 30, 2015

Troy, don't put too much thought into buddy.
I'm not sure exactly what Dennis meant but I didn't read it as people that come to shoot matches are selfish.
I think he was simply trying to encourage people to get involved & help out at their local range whether it be match setup or cleaning trash or mowing grass etc. I read it as just an observation that the bulk of those that do are the older members rather than the younger crowd. I agree with you 100% that it's difficult to get out & volunteer when you have an 8-5 mon-fri & a family. Just do what you can when you can, even if it's just picking up the target or ammo boxes the dumbass left in the bay before you got there.

dennishoddy · Mar 30, 2015

TroyDB said:
First of all, before I get flamed, I just want to say how much I appreciate all of those who go above and beyond what is asked of them to put on these matches and help out or donate their time so the rest of us can have a place to shoot in the best environment possible, especially that plate rack, I would have sworn that was a new plate rack.

I realize I may get some likes taken away for my response here, but seriously, "takers"? I guess now I should feel like a second class citizen if I show up to shoot a match and only pay for the entry fee? Maybe I'm only speaking for myself here, but shooting isn't my number one priority and I actually have a hard time trying not to make it feel that way. I started helping setup for the 3-Gun matches last year which was my third year shooting these matches, I thought I would start helping out because it was needed and it would be a great way to get to know some of the people I shoot with a little better which I have enjoyed doing, but now I find out that I'm being selfish if I might expect a little in return as in maybe shooting the match for free for me taking a half day off and making the 45 minute drive using more than 15 dollars in gas. Maybe that's my fault for having a day job and living far from the range I don't know.

I thought most people helped put on these matches so we could all shoot and have fun, and not just so they can talk about all of those who didn't help put on the match or help mow the grass. Now I might also be thought of as selfish if I show up for a workday and get an $80 credit towards my annual membership.

Troy, Taker was probably not the correct word to use in that context, so don't think it was meant to get a guilt trip going. As Tony said, it was meant to give a little awareness to the need for volunteers at our local ranges to help them stay open for all of us. Nothing more.

Without volunteers, there would not be the number of ranges we get to enjoy today.

jtischauser · Mar 30, 2015

I liken this sport to my past addiction, golf. $15-20 for a match is pretty cheap. Even shitty golf courses after twilight cost $30+. Matches are pretty cheap which is why clubs are poor and folks don't get paid to help out.

LuckyDucky · Mar 30, 2015

Jesse Tischauser said:
I liken this sport to my past addiction, golf. $15-20 for a match is pretty cheap. Even shitty golf courses after twilight cost $30+. Matches are pretty cheap which is why clubs are poor and folks don't get paid to help out.

Ammo = $$$

In golf, I could always walk away with more balls than I started with.

poopgiggle · Mar 30, 2015

Also I want to point out that even at fancy "country club" ranges like USSA, it's still totally a volunteer gig.

jtischauser · Mar 30, 2015

weedlord bonerhitler said:
Also I want to point out that even at fancy "country club" ranges like USSA, it's still totally a volunteer gig.

It didnt used to be. Of course we all know how that turned out.

Take a look at Tarheel 3-gun. That's a legitimate business built around running matches. It can work if somebody has enough clientele.

Pete Rensing in Las Vegas runs 4-5 or more 3-gun and USPSA club matches around Las Vegas and makes a good part of his living doing so too. I think the OKC and DFw markets could support someone running matches for profit.

poopgiggle · Mar 30, 2015

USSA figured out that the OSA crowd is more profitable than the BoomerShooter crowd. Which is fine, maybe if they're more profitable they'll quit changing hands.

LuckyDucky · Mar 30, 2015

weedlord bonerhitler said:
USSA figured out that the OSA crowd is more profitable than the BoomerShooter crowd. Which is fine, maybe if they're more profitable they'll quit changing hands.

What do you mean by that?

poopgiggle · Mar 30, 2015

They're more interested in people who pay $25 to shoot 100 rounds and leave in an hour than they are in tying up 6 bays all day for matches.

It's easy to see why. Casual shooters are just less work.

Troy · Mar 30, 2015

Wall said:
Troy, don't put too much thought into buddy.
I'm not sure exactly what Dennis meant but I didn't read it as people that come to shoot matches are selfish.
I think he was simply trying to encourage people to get involved & help out at their local range whether it be match setup or cleaning trash or mowing grass etc. I read it as just an observation that the bulk of those that do are the older members rather than the younger crowd. I agree with you 100% that it's difficult to get out & volunteer when you have an 8-5 mon-fri & a family. Just do what you can when you can, even if it's just picking up the target or ammo boxes the dumbass left in the bay before you got there.

dennishoddy said:
Troy, Taker was probably not the correct word to use in that context, so don't think it was meant to get a guilt trip going. As Tony said, it was meant to give a little awareness to the need for volunteers at our local ranges to help them stay open for all of us. Nothing more.

Without volunteers, there would not be the number of ranges we get to enjoy today.

That's cool, I think I just had a bad weekend or something, I shouldn't have responded the way I did.

mike cyrwus · Mar 30, 2015

1. country clubs (golf) are either municipal or for profit. gun clubs are not.
USSA is not a gun club. OKCGC is.

2. OKCGC exists through the work of a lot of volunteers, and it fills a niche. there is a genuine NEED for a place like OKCGC in the area. If that niche were filled by a profit making venture and is as good or better than OKCGC and takes up less of my time and money (same thing), then I might be the first to say adios to OKCGC.
I have no socialistic urge to give my time and work to the collective. Plus, I-myself, does profit from the existence of shooters in the area. (i use the word profit lightly, and prefer to say, service)

3.This may have come about from a thread on OKCGC on OSA that was started by a guy what was trying to justify paying dues to the club, and doing a cost-benefit analysis. It wasnt from our sort of unofficially phasing out of letting help guys shoot the gun match free.

4. Troy and others, I dont blame you for choosing whatever you guys choose to do, I live 2 left turns and a cup of coffee from the action pistol entrance. I DAMN sure wouldnt be doing a tenth of what you do at the range if I lived where you and a lot of other guys do.

5. I never want to foster any elitism in on or around the gun club or any other shooting venue. that elephant dung is cancer in the shooting community. Whats why I defend against assholes taling elephant dung about IDPA, thats why I play nice with the Cowboy shooters, thats why I usually never badmouth other shooters or instructors (certain cases excepted

)

6. When I ask for help, I never expect it from any specific individual. We are grown ass men, you might have a little league game or a gramdma in the hospital. I dont know whats going on in your world; I dont expect any excuse or judge.
Thats why Im fully prepared to set up a match my myself if I need to. -Luckily Im always pleasantly surprised.