And how do you do that? I can't find a way to join.
If I do join, what good is it to me if I don't travel internationally? There is no classification system, so non-NSCA shoots just become lewis class if you want to award prize money.
I am an NSCA member because I shoot all winter in Florida in registered shoots, I've shot the US Open 3 times, and the Nationals twice.
I was the first Canadian delegate to NSCA before RJ and Barry.
I'll join anything that will advance the sport.
You can join online at cnsca.ca
What good does it do you? First of all, the CNSCA tracks the scores of all its members and provides national ranking of those members with a classification system based on averages. It may or may not be better than a punch system, but it is a system. And for the most part, the members are happy with it. You are classed based on your level of skill compared to the rest of the Canada. If you are in the top 10% of shooters in Canada then you are classed as Masters. The next 15% are AA. Then next 15% are A, etc.
The CNSCA also provides medals for all registered shoots.
Also, half of all revenues (from both membership and target fees) generated in a province go back to that provincial association to help them promote the sport in that province. Currently there are provincial associations in BC, Alberta and Saskatchewan. Manitoba has said their provincial association will be up by the end of the year.
If you shoot regularly in the US then you absolutely should remain an active member of the NSCA. You should support the association in the country you shoot. When I start to shoot in the US I will join the NSCA. But to help grow the sport in Canada, a Canadian association that uses target fees and membership fees for the benefit of Canadians is needed.
The NSCA will not spend money in Canada. All of the money Canadians give to the NSCA by way of target fees and memberships go to help support the American association and fund the American team.
The Canadian Association is made up of volunteers. Unlike the NSCA, no one in the CNSCA collects a paycheck and no one is benefiting financially. The efforts they put in are solely for the love of the game and for the belief that they can make it better.
The Canadian Association attempts to put together an annual schedule of registered events in Canada that allows shooters to participate across the country. It maintains a shoot calendar and provides clubs with online registration for their events.
The CNSCA isn't perfect but it is only 6 years old. The NSCA started in 1990? I would like to compare the CNSCA to the NSCA in 1996. I would like to think that the CNSCA is farther ahead at 6 years old than the NSCA was at that age. And I look forward to seeing the CNSCA mature to what I believe it is capable of becoming - an organization of Canadian shooters across the country - for Canadian shooters across the country.