Ponoka IDPA shoots shut down by 13 members at a club meeting, I need your support

R

robpad

Regular
Rating - 100%
22   0   0
Location
Surrey, BC
I run the IDPA shoots at Ponoka Fish and Game Association in Alberta. For three years I have been running a couple of IDPA shoots and IDPA 3-gun Shoots to create interest in the sport in Northern and Central Alberta. I was unable to attend the last club meeting but I submitted the financials for the IDPA shoots in September and requested two days for the 2014 season. The club meeting had approximately 13 members in attendance. They past a motion not to have any more IDPA shoots. They did not even have the curiosity to table the motion so that I could speak at it or address the allegations made against me. They also do not want to affiliate with IDPA when our club memberships runs out next year.

I have just finished talking to the Club President and he is willing to put the issue back on the agenda for the December 5 meeting. If you are a Ponoka Fish and Game member who supports IDPA shooting I need you at that meeting. If you cannot attend send me an email and I will get it read at the meeting.

I look forward to your support.
 
They just don't want organized pistol shooting at Ponoka. I can travel to Spruce Grove and that would be more acceptable to them. Well the archery guys should then have to go to Pipestone creek to shoot and the trap guys should go to Edmonton Gun Club. I am not sure if it is just a personal attack against me, a fear of change, lack of knowledge or bias against handgun owner. Hopefully in December I will get my answer.
 
This hasn't come up in GP, but it could we have 2 hand gunners out of 200 that come to meetings so that's 1% of the handgunners. There are about 120 shot gunners out of which 20 show up that's 15% plus of the sihotgunners. I keep telling people that complain about how the club is run, that the people that show up at the meetings run the place, that's why the sihotgunners run the club.
 
My 2 cents
Under the bylaws of the club, do they have enough member a Quorum (prob. wrong spelling) to do it
Most of the clubs I have been to have 5-7 board members

Most of the meeting I have been to have been the Yearly club meeting where agendas are published and new board members are voted in and all the big topics come up that need a quorum to vote on stuff is discussed

13 people sounds to me like a Monthly meeting to do monthly stuff (pay the phone and hydro bill)

Far from a expert on this topic
But fighting a board is almost a loosing battle-- you have to change if from inside

I was a member 25 or so years ago of a club that all they wanted to do was trap and have a rifle range to sight in there moose and deer rifles
not accepting new members, no weekly events other than trap-- I shot trap to improve my hunting Skills
No Ladies at all and no kids
At other clubs I shot IPSC / action pistol interested in Cowboy shoots & Archery--> NO We Can't do any of That here

5 years later where that club was, is vacant, unused, berms flattened going back to nature

Good luck on what you want to do
 
Last edited:
regular monthly meetings, so long as a quorum is reached, can do pretty much anything other than Bylaw and Constitutional changes, those need either to be done at Special Meetings with advance notice of proposals/motions, or at AGMs. So unless his club was protected in the constitution of the club all he can do is revisit the issue at a later meeting. Any motion can be brought up again as new business and things changed. So one month you could vote to create a club and the next month someone else could motion and have a vote to get rid of it (2nders needed etc). Nothing is sacred unless it's in the bylaws or constitution and even then it's only safe for a limited time.
 
Rob I will be there to advocate for IDPA. I am interested in IDPA and was kindly invited for one of your sessions at Pofianga when I arrived to shoot pistol one night and enjoyed it very much. I have not been able to attend meetings previously but will endeavor to attend Dec 5.
Scott
 
I had no idea IDPA was running there! If it keeps going, I will join the Ponoka club and come shoot with you!!

Ben

Edited to add;

Letter sent to club President;

Ponoka Fish & Game Association
Box 4175
Ponoka AB
T4J 1R6

20 Nov 2013

Re; IDPA

Dear Executive, Ponoka Fish and Game;

I was excited to learn that IDPA was being run at your range, only to discover that you have decided to prohibit this sport.

Consider two things;
1. Dynamic shooting is an attractant amongst younger people. It is a gateway into other outdoor activities. More than once I personally have invited 3-gun shooters to come try the (slower) challenge of long range precision, and hunting.
2. Money. “Range Shooters” fund other environmental activities. I was Range improvement chair for the Edmonton Fish and Game Association in the late 1990’s. 81% of our membership dues came from shooters who only used the range. The club failed to properly fund improvements to the range, lost the range, and experienced a corresponding drop in income. This obviously impacted habitat improvement, outdoor education and other worthy club projects.

Should you wisely choose to continue IDPA, my children and I look forward to being contributing members of your Association.

Please contact me if you have any questions.

Ben Klick
 
Last edited:
This is almost the same crap that happened to Rocky Mtn. House.
Cannot attend but letter of support to follow.

As a side note,.... There is no law that says a bunch of guys simply can't happen to show up at the same day and time and throw up some targets and take turns. Membership is cheap, No "fee's" collected but donations to targets and BBQ fund always welcome.

get your contact list together and work around other scheduled stuff. Screw the fudds
 
For a heckler you have some great ideas. Look forward to meeting yourself and the others interested in this sport and unofficial "barbeques"! Scott
 
How much is a membership out there?
I am in Red Deer, but have been wanting to get into the IDPA, I have heard Great things from a guy I work with,
I'll sign up as a member just to show up and support keeping it
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom