2013NSCA US Open Advisory Council Meeting Minutes
Friday May 17, 2013 – Backwoods Quail Club
The meeting was called to order by Tim Miles at 7:15 PM on Friday, May 17, 2013.Tim Milesthanked everyone for attending the meeting. Tim recognized all of the guests attending the meeting. Roll call was done by Glynne Moseley.
Those present:
Industry
Thomas Bryant – Cabela’sHeyward Cunningham – Promatic, Inc.
Scott Grange – BrowningJim Greenwood – Greenwood Custom Stocks
Betty Krieghoff – Krieghoff InternationalAnthony Matarese, Jr. – AIM Shooting School
John “Mo” Parsons – BlaserSteve Schultz – Target Line Shooting School
Zach Snow – NSSFPatrick Thomas – Rio Ammunition, Inc.
Range Owners/Managers
David Kelley – David Kelley’s Elk Creek Hunt ClubFrieda Lancaster – Claythorne Lodge
Tim Miles – Coyote Springs SportingScott Robertson – Elm Fork Shotgun Sports Randy Voss – Caribou Gun Club
Shooters
Vance Barnes – Hondo, TXAndy Duffy – Polson, MT
John Hackethorn – Polson, MTChip Hutchison – Lakemont, GA
Zachary Kienbaum – Houston, TXRobert Lepor – Cape May, NJ
Ted Sapoznik – Vancouver, WABrett Seibert – Lake Forest, IL
Louise K Terry – Vero Beach, FL
Those absent;
Industry
John Calandro, III – Clay Shooters SupplyDavid Clifford – iClays
Mike McAlpine – Clay Target AcademyPhil Murray – White Flyer Targets
Andrew Perkins – Show Me Sports Corp.
Range Owners/Managers
David Fiedler –Battleborn S/C & Shooting SchoolJeff Foster – Capitol City Trap & Skeet
Martin Jones – Llano County ClaybustersRichard Lanzilotta – Mid Hudson Sporting Clays Anthony Matarese, Sr. – M & M Sporting Clays Jason Miller – The Shooting Academy
Michael Mohr – Seven Springs Mountain ResortJim Montgomery – Cajun Elite Shooting Club
David Rippetoe – Silverleaf Shotgun SportsDan Twitchell – Ben Avery Clay Target Center
Shooters
Dr. Paula Benbow – Sobieski, WISteve Edmondson – Philadelphia, PA
Don Henderson – Marco Island, FLTodd Kemmerer – Columbus, OH
Derek Moore – Chester, NJMary O Pitts – Smyrna, GA
Guests Present were:
Jay and Linda Delphey – Shooteres John Commerford – Krieghoff, INC.
Josh Haygood – Bandito FilmsSam Lancaster – Claythorne Lodge
Ann Mauro – ShooterJudy Morris – Team USA Manager
Jim Muller – Muller ChokesCarlton Nether – Beretta USA
Wendy Robertson – Scott Robertson’s WifeScott Williams – NSCA Chief FITASC Referee
Staff present:
Robert Crow – NSCA DirectorGlynne Moseley – NSCA Assistant Director
Nichole Martin – Marketing Coordinator
Tim asked if there were any changes to be made to the minutes of the 2013 January meeting. There were no changes to be made, so the minutes were approved.
Tim recognized Ted Sapoznik as the next speaker. Ted Sapoznik stated that at the January Advisory Council meeting he asked to look into developing a standard or a code of conduct to follow during the meetings. He has put together an action plan and sent it to the Executive Council, which they approved. The Steps are as follows: Step one - Develop a code of conduct for the Advisory Board, Step 2 - Definethe steps on how to effectively run a meeting, Step 3 – Find and develop simple to understand and use of Roberts Rules of Order to guide our Chairman, Step Four – Develop low end applications for future Chairmen and Vice Chairmen of the organizations and Step Five – Set up training materials for the Advisory Council members to use.
The first step Ted took was to put together a draft of a code of conduct; a code of conduct is basically a set of behavioral norms that an organizational team would use to interact with one another. This is a draft; the thought here was that the organization would spend time consenting and agreeing to use this at the next Advisory Council annual meeting, which would then consist of the new Advisory Council members. They can review it and provide input to what is here. Briefly here are the basics of the code of conduct:
- I will treat other with respect
- I will work collaboratively with others
- I will be constructive with my comments
- I will be honest with myself and others
- I will follow the rules of the organization
- I will be responsive and actively participate in the work of the organization
- I will allow others to express their opinion, because everyone’s input is valuable to the organization
- My silence means I consent
- I will use facts to help the organization address issues and opportunities
- I will make decision solely based upon what is in the best interest of the organization
This is not meant for discussion at this time. Please review it and send any comments to me. What I would like to do is be able to finalize this by the Nationals Advisory Council meeting. I could have an updated draft prepared for you to look at and we can pass it on to the Advisory Council members at the January meeting. At that point we can work on formalizing and agreeing to it. This covers step 1.
Step two was to find materials to effectively run a meeting. There is a lot of material out there. I actually found some Roberts Rules of Order materials.
Step three was to find Roberts Rules of Order, which is a huge burdensome document. They do have a condensed version, which in it talks a about the rules of the officers and the Chairman and how to conduct a meeting. We purchased 12 copies of this book to give to the Executive Council and other who want to take advantage of this book. We may want to buy a copy for all of the Advisory Council members. The same organization has written parliamentary procedures cheat sheet. We need to condense this information and have it available for the next meeting. This material would be given to anyone who wants to be on the Advisory Council and to future Executive Council members and Chairmen.
Tim Miles thanked Ted and asked if there was any discussion; there was none. Tim turned to floor over to Robert Crow to go over the binder material.
Robert Crow – Section 4 of the binder has the membership and target statistics. As of April 30th NSCA membership is up 8% compared to last year at this time. This equates out to 1,500 new members. If you exclude CLMs we are still up 3% from this time last year. Our marketing efforts are still gaining paid members as well as members brought in from promotions.
From the target standpoint, we are up 11% from this time last year. This equates to about 600,000 targets. This does not include the World English Sporting Clays Championship.
Clubs are up 17 clubs from this time last year as well as 35 additional shoots. There are several sheets in the binder for you to review for other stats. If you have any questions, please see me through-out the weekend. In this section, you will also find the rules change ballot which was approved by the National Delegates. There was only 1 rule change, which changed how we address ties during an election for National Delegate and Advisory Council. It was decided to hold a run-off election instead of breaking the tie alphabetically by last name. This rule passed and was made effective May 1, 2013.
The NSCA policy on measures by ballot is also in section 4 of the binder, as well as the National Delegate voting record.
At this time Robert asked Judy Morris to give the Team USA update. Judy said that we have taken in just short of $200,000 in revenues; this puts us on track for meeting our goals for this year. We signed 1 new honorary Team Captain, we had 2 Team USA Super School that were sold out, with a waiting list for the next super school available.
Matador Ranch gave us several hunts this year, so we took in an addition $24,000 that we did not have in our budget for this year.
Team USA took gold in every category of the World English Sporting Clays Championship, which was really good. Anthony helped us out with a new event the DuPont Cup; we got a lot of really good feed-back on this event.
We are getting ready to go to Spain and we had our team meeting last night. We have 18 out of 22 people that will be traveling together on the same flight going over to Spain. We will arrive 1 day early, July 3, in order to shoot the Grand Prix, which is held at the same club as the World FITASC. We will return on July 5.
Robert Crow thanked Judy and talked about the World English Sporting Clays Championship, held in San Antonio, a few weeks ago and was a huge success. There 619 in the Main event, with over 700 total entries. Total registered targets were up 50,000 additional targets over the 2011 World English.
This year’s National Championship is shaping up really good with 1,049 entries at this time. We already have 971 in the Main event out of the 1,049 entries.
The 2013 Hall of Fame inductees are: in the Shooters Category, Vance Barnes and in the Hal DuPont Service Award, Martin Jones. The Hall of Fame Banquet will be held the evening of Thursday, October 24, 2013 at the Courtyard Marriott. Dinner and cocktails will be at 6:30 with the awards following. Tickets are available for $45.
Robert introduced Frieda Lancaster to give an update on the 2014 US Open to be held at Claythorne Lodge. Frieda said that registration is open online at . Please register as soon as possible, FITASC is one third full already. It looks like it will be a sell-out. There is a lot to do with a year left to do it in. We will have ice cream available.
Robert Crow said that FITASC Committee has approved Caribou Gun Club to be the host of the 2015 World FITASC Championship. The proposal has been sent to FITASC and we are awaiting the final approval pending the decision of FITASC. FITASC will send a representative to meet with Caribou Gun Club as well as Joe Cantey, this summer. We didn’t know we would be getting the World FITASC Championship again so quickly, so this is very exciting.
The 2015 World English Sporting Clays Championship will be held at some other club. This is the first year that the World English will start traveling around the US, every other time that it is held here. Clubs that want to host the World English will go through a bid process. Those bids are out and due back September 1, 2013.
Bob Lepor asked When the World FITASC would be held at Caribou Gun Club. Randy Voss said it would be sometime in July.
Section 5 of the binder contains the 2015 US Open bids. The bids were due April 15 and we received 4 bids for you to review. Those clubs that bid on the 2015 US Open are Hopkins Game Farm in Maryland, M&M Sporting Clays, in New Jersey, Northbrook Sports Club in Illinois and World Shooting and Recreation Complex in Illinois. The clubs will make their presentations at theNationals Advisory Council meeting where voting will take place.
Tim Miles called for the committees to make their reports.
Bob Lepor had no comments to report for the Rules and Governance Committee. Tim Miles called for any questions or discussion. Ted Sapoznik said that under our NSCA current rules the US Open bid votes must be done in person by the Advisory Council members in attendance at the Advisory Council meeting. It goes on to say that all US Open ballots will be pre-printed with Advisory Council member’s names and are the only ballots that will be counted. So, in effect when the ballots go in the envelope and the Executive Council members count them, the Executive Council members are privileged to know who voted and how they voted. Normally, when you vote by ballot it is a secret ballot. Some folks may be uncomfortable counting ballots when they know who voted and how they voted. Some people may be uncomfortable voting when they know others will know how they voted. Ted proposed that the language in paragraph 1, gets changed by getting struck in entirety and replaced with wording describing a secret ballot. There are many ways to do that and still have the Advisory Council members who voted on record that they voted once and only once. You can offer an envelope within an envelope; you can vote by mail where you mark your ballot, put it in and envelope that doesn’t have anyone’s name on it. You put it in an envelope that has your signature on it, so when it is received at Headquarters the handlers can record that you voted. They remove the envelope containing the ballot and put it in a ballot box for the vote counters to count. That’s one way it can be used. There is another way where you mark your ballot; walk up to the ballot box, drop your ballot in the ballot box and someone appointed can write your name down that you voted. Your name is not on your ballot for anyone to see when the ballot counters count the votes.
Ted made a motion that the delegates vote on changing the wording for rule IV-B-5-a-1 on page 25 of the 2013 NSCA Rule Book as I just suggested.
Scott Robertson said that in the past, if you weren’t at the meeting, you did not get to vote. Ted said that’s correct, that doesn’t change. We are not changing that part of the rule. Scott said, if we are going to change the wording of the rule, why don’t we also let those who cannot attend the meeting to vote by secret ballot, as well? Ted said how would it be an anonymous vote if you were not there to put your secret ballot in the ballot box? Scott said that in the past when Advisory Council members were not in attendance at the meeting, the votes count was very close or tied where there was a run-off. Scott felt it would be fairer to let everyone on the Advisory Council vote by secret ballot. Those that can’t come to the Advisory Council meeting will get a ballot mailed to them, they make their vote and put the ballot in an envelope and place that envelope in another envelope that they mail to Headquarters. Glynne Moseley can check that the person sent their ballot in and then put the envelope containing the ballot in the ballot box for the Executive Council to count. There should be a deadline to have the ballot sent in to Headquarters. Andy Duffy said that the Advisory Council members should be at the meeting to see and hear the proposals.
Tim said there is a motion on the floor that has not been seconded and asked, do you want to amend the motion? The motion is; Strike the wording presently in the NSCA rule book,IV-B-5-a-1 on page 25 and replace the wording stating that the voting for the US Open will be done by secret ballot. Nothing else will be changed. Steve Schultz seconded the motion. Tim asked if there is any other discussion; there was none. Tim called for a vote to change the rule to a secret ballot. There were 22 votes to send the rule change to the Delegates, 2 against and 0 abstained.
Scott made a motion to let those who have been excused from attending the meeting, vote as well, by secret ballot. John Hackethorn seconded the motion. Tim asked if there was any other discussion. Steve Schultz made the point that if you are in attendance you can see and hear the proposals, which may make a difference in someone’s vote. Steve feels that we are not giving the respect to the clubs that they should get; they have made the effort to attend the meeting to make their presentations. Scott said that it is not fair not to let someone vote if they have been excused from attending the meeting; they can make their minds up without hearing and seeing the proposals. Tim asked Scott to repeat the motion which was:let those Advisory Council members who have been excused from attending the meeting, vote as well, by secret ballot, prior to the meeting. Bob Lepor made the point that there should be two different items for the delegates to vote on. Tim called for a vote for Scott’s motion. There were 17 supporting Scott’s motion, 7 against and 0abstained. Both items will be sent to the delegates to vote on.
Tim Miles said the next discussion item is the seven man FITASC Squads. Tim recognized Andy Duffy. Andy said that last year he shot 5 different squads, at FITASC events, with 7 man squads. The FITASC rules states that squads should only be 6 man squads. Seven people on a FITASC Squad, takes way too long to shoot. I understand the clubs do not want to turn people away; however, there is a rule in the FITASC rulebook and we should follow the rule book and not have seven man squads. Scott Williams said that if he is on the shooting grounds and a seven man squad shows up, he scratches the seventh man and sends him to registration for re-squadding. We need to quit letting seven man squads happen at any shoot in the future. Steve Schultz stated the problem originates at registration; we need to let the referees and squadders know we will not allow 7 man squads at FITASC events. Frieda Lancaster said the problem is also with the range owners who tell the squadders to allow seven man squads. Tim asked Robert Crow for his opinion from the NSCA stand point. Robert Crow said, if it is a FITASC rule we should follow it. NSCA should send a letter out to all of the clubs stating that there should never be a sever man squad in a FITASC event.