Drew, if memory serves me correctly, you have shot many many IPSC matches at PoCo since not renewing your IPSCBC membership and they have never told you that you needed to take a range user course over and above the BB you previously had.
Am I mistaken? Has something happened recently where they told you that you were not qualified to shoot their club matches?
Beagle,
After attempting to re-new my PoCo membership upon 'getting back on my feet' after expensive divorce forced me to sell many of my prized guns to pay lawyers fees, I was told, after frequent e-mails, by the 'Range Master' or whatever he wants to call himself, that because my membership was slightly over 2 years expired I would have to pay to take a 'range familiarisation' course, and 'holster course'. He knows darn well that I am perfectly 'familiar' with PCDHFC (ya think, after decades of membership ? ) and perfectly capable with any holsters. Blatant, petty, cash grab, nothing new.
So I joined TMSA, guess what, NO 'range familiarisation', NO 'holster course', NO 'extra fees', just 'Welcome back', go shoot, which I did, slow, but lots of 'A's' as usual, nothing new.
As many of you know, since breaking my back and hip and generally getting old, I'm not as fast as I used to be (was I EVER ?), neither can I do ALL THE WORK INVOLVED IN BEING A MATCH DIRECTOR OR MUCH ELSE . Most of the matches I put on, I put a hell of a lot of physical work into or spend 24 straight hours setting up a match like the 'Miller Match' at POCO. I told the 'match committee', who promised me help, if I didn't get any, I'd never do that again. I help out with what I can, but that's not much anymore.
Re: IPSC, I got 'fed-up' with all the 'you HAVE to join BC Fed', you HAVE to go here, you HAVE to go there, you HAVE to have you RO card signed, you HAVE to re-qualify as a VOLUNTEER RO, at the infamous KAMLOOPS (or Kelowna ?) IPSC/BC AGM and the 'We'll keep taking the vote until we get it OUR way fiasco', I turned in my IPSC membership in disgust at the lack of 'democratic voting procedure' and came out labelled as a "Dissident Element", darn right, ONE VOTE and done is correct, NOT 3 or 4 votes 'til we get it OUR way, I'll dissent on that any day ! Since then I've only shot "Club IPSC Matches", and yes, a lot, which is fine with me, no HAVE to's, and a lot less traveling !
Re: 'Black Badge'. Was shooting IPSC, Trap/Skeet, Metallic (pistol) Silhouette, PPC, Black Powder, Military Rifle, 3-Gun, Tactical(like IDPA), etc., LONG before BB was even invented and LONG after. NEVER was asked for one, NEVER NEEDED one, still don't have/NEED one. Even after it's invention nobody ever asked ex- if she had one, and she started after it's invention, WAY after. Since then added a couple of 'End of Trail' s to the experience, now THAT'S 'different' - Cowboy Action Shooting and the big Championship 'End of Trail' ! Yet NOBODY EVER asked us for any 'Black Badges', strange, huh ? Guess it was too OBVIUOS, BB was NOT needed.
Re: PCDHFC . I would like to renew my decades of membership. One primary reason is it's relatively FLAT as compared to TMSA and thusly much easier on back and pinned hip. Another is there's more going on there and if IDPA went in as well, so much the better. It's also closer, drive wise. I also, like many other clubs, have many good friends there, and fond memories of PoCo.
HOWEVER, I was told that I'd have to pay $20/30/40, whatever, to take this 'range familiarisation and holster course' because I was a non-member for over 2 years, which to me is ridiculous and nothing but a cash grab, again. I've 'Day-carded' at PoCo a couple of times since, even gave new wife a 'guided-tour', looks exactly FAMILIAR to me ! Still haven't had a gun fall out of any of my holsters EVER yet either, nor have I shot myself in the foot when 'drawing' either, so I guess THAT still works ! So, to pay money to be told something both he and I know , I know , is pretty ridiculous , except HE gets MY money.
Now, if I can buy a regular priced, single membership, and for some reason they want me to show up and show me where the backstop's are, and which way is still as 'downrange' as it always was, not to climb on the backstops (as if I COULD !), and see if my pistols trigger is covered by the holster (they ARE) and that I can't 'load' other than on command, or shoot other than when the range is 'hot', etc., etc., I WILL . The PROBLEM is PAYING for what I already KNOW ! I mean do YOU buy the same 'American Handgunner' you just bought yesterday ? Unless you LOST it, no. I may be "Dissident", but I haven't LOST it .
And YES, EVERY province/country/nation/continent/whatever, "NEEDS ONE", the "Voice in the Wilderness", the 'spitter into the wind', the rebel, the Lech Walesa , the Cesar Chavez , the "Dissident Element", to say ENOUGH ! I don't liken myself to them, I just wish there were MORE who would say enough, I'm sick of paying this, paying that, all to do the same thing that I already paid for and know perfectly well .
If WE weren't rebellious by nature , we wouldn't own guns , now would we ?
That answer your question, Beag. ?
