26-081208 - ICSI NEWSLETTER (Spring/Summer 2008)
Motto “Docendo Discimus” “We learn by teaching”
2008 AGM
Our AGM was held at The Clumber Park Hotel on Monday 10th March 2008, with our final Council meeting of the year taking place just before it.
COUNCIL MEETINGThe Chairman opened the meeting stating his intention to spend most of the limited time available on finalizing outstanding matters on the new website.
Game Fair: Confirmed we were still pursuing contacts to have a presence at the CLA and West Midlands Game Fairs.
Seminar: Confirmed to move it forward in September to accommodate members who had problems with a later date.
Website Update & Launch Date: Sue Hart advised on progress to date and reported that only a few minor adjustments were required and the website would be ready to launch within a couple of weeks.
It was agreed that
a) Members discounts would be shown in the Members section only
b) Retailers offering discount will be approached to ask if they would like links to their sites
c) We will continue the policy of not showing member status.
It was agreed that no charge would be made for members having their profiles on the website, however in order to standardize information a new proforma would be prepared and sent out with the next newsletter. It was also agreed that members could have links to their own websites from their profile page.
The idea of a Forum section on the site will be an item for discussion at the next Council meeting.
Compulsory Testing: The Chairman confirmed the ICSI position, that of pro-training but against compulsory testing.
BSSC: Roger Hill & Mike Alldis had attended the Westminster Fair and reported that they had spoken to very few politicians. The majority of politicians were attending the House for an important vote. It was agreed that we should be seen to be supporting BSSC and will make a decision on attending further Fairs at our next meeting. Roger reported that in any case BSSC are considering moving the date of the Fair to try to improve attendances.
BASC: It was agreed we should approach BASC for another mailshot.
Applications/Transfers: Two applications for transfer to Member grade were accepted with six new applications for Associate.
The Council meeting was closed. Next meeting on Monday 18th August.
AGM
The Chairman opened the AGM at 10.30 and welcomed the 23 members present and then went on to read out a list of 17 apologies for absence.
The minutes of the previous meeting were covered and with an amendment made to Item 9 in any other business they were accepted.
CHAIRMAN'S REPORT
The Chairman reported that 2007 had been another very successful year. Membership numbers had increased to approximately 150 following our mailshot activity through the CPSA and BASC.
The Council has continued to progress the strategic direction that the membership have requested and will continue our professional development by marketing the benefits of membership of a recognized authority on professional standards recognized by the Institute’s designation letters of qualification.
We will continue to provide access to more advanced workshops, seminars and presentations along with our support of shooting sports via our participation in the BSSC.
We will continue to support Institute trade supporters.
Looking at last years activities, the visit to the Birmingham Proof House was very well received by the participants. Bill Harding, the guide and curator of the Proof House museum is an absolute mine of information. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Institute lunch was provided in the Georgian boardroom.
The 10th Workshop day was held in September. The morning focused on diet and fuelling performance and was presented by SportsCoach UK. The afternoon was provided by an expert in the Sports Vision world, Alastair Wade, who has worked with athletes, county cricket teams and golfers.
From the publicity point of view, the photos and reports of the proof house visit received very good coverage in the shooting press.
Continuing with promotional activities. The website receives between 7000 and 9000 hits per month, with the highest in the past year being 12,800 last June. Presumably this might have been associated with the National Shooting Week. These hits turn into so called visits at a rate of about 500 to 800 per month. This is where visitors are browsing around looking for information or a coach.
It is worth remembering that one lesson from a member coach, provided by a website visit more or less pays for membership for a year.
Since we introduced the County listing, rather than Regional listing, we get fewer e-mail enquiries asking for ‘someone near me’.
The new website, which is more modern and less busy, will come on line within the next two to three weeks. It has a ‘News’ area and a ‘Members’ area. We hope you, the membership will make contributions to the library.
Last year the Council made approaches to a number of Game Fair stand holders to try to secure a presence at one or two major Fairs. As it happened we could not find a partner to work with, possibly lucky as the Harewood CLA was cancelled. We have had more success this year and we will certainly be at the West Midlands Fair at WestonPark and certainly (yet to be confirmed) at Blenheim for the CLA Game Fair.
We send a representative, Roger Hill, to BSSC Council meetings, and have attended the Houses of Parliament open days since it started (Roger Hill & Mike Alldis). The Council provides feedback when required, on issues surrounding shotgun sports. Although at times it seems that political activities grind exceedingly slowly, the influence of the BSSC should not be underestimated. David Penn, the Secretary, is a very effective co-ordinator.
The Institute draws its membership principally from CPSA and BASC qualified coaches. Together with some USA and European routes.
Andrew Kirkland and I visited BASC last Spring to exchange mutual objectives. We met Richard Thorne, director of Shooting Standards and Jane Matthews, Training Manager. Richard Thorne has now been replaced by Dr Peter Marshall. Our President, Mike Alldis, sits on a number of BASC committees. Essentially the BASC focus is to encourage newcomers into the shotgun sports (and indeed other shooting). To fulfill this objective BASC’s shotgun coaching focus is the training of Level 1 coaches.
In the area of shotgun and rifle target sports, we are potentially entering a period of quite significant change. The concept of unifying the home nation shotgun organizations into a co-ordinated stronger voice and then merging with the already UK based NRA and NSRA is an organizational challenge. In the shotgun area the unification of home nation organizations, with pan British structures and selection systems, is also a challenge.
On the broader rifle and shotgun front, how coaching activities will develop in any new structures remains to be seen. The Institutes Council supports the concept of the English CPSA’s integrated bottom to top coaching structure. The concept that a teenager could enter clay shooting coached by a qualified instructor or coach, move through club and higher level competitive clay shooting, undertake coach training and end up as a British coach must be worthwhile. Particularly, if this could happen in any of the home nations.
On a personal level, I do regret some of the divisions that have crept in during this period of development.
New gunshop trade supporters have been added to our retail list during the year and we now have quite good geographical coverage.
And finally people. Could I remind everyone that the Council members all give considerable amounts of their time free. The highest workload is actually borne by the Membership Secretary, Pat Stoker, who does receive a small honorarium, which in no way reflects the amount of effort that Pat puts in. Keith Stoker also puts in a great deal of time as Registrar – it’s amazing the number of people who think it’s a good idea to become a member of the Institute at 10.30 on a Friday evening.
Could I also thank Roger Hill for his BSSC commitments. It is very useful to have both Roger and Mike Alldis within low cost travelling distance of London, to cover the political scene.
Sue Hart was coerced to join the Council last year to re-invigorate our website update and has put a lot of effort into this project. Many thanks Sue.
But again let me stress, all the Council participate free.
To conclude, we believe that member retention demonstrates that members value the Institute’s ethos and activities. We will continue recruitment efforts. In terms of the offerings to membership in workshops, members benefits, etc. we are open to requests and suggestions. The Council will continue to monitor developments in the coaching marketplace and bring forward educational activities to complement what is available.
Thanks very much.
TREASURERS REPORT
On behalf of the Treasurer, Ray Carnall, the Chairman gave details of income and expenditure. The report was approved and accepted.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS
It was proposed and accepted that the existing Council be elected en bloc.
Pat Stoker agreed to continue as Membership Secretary and John Fletcher agreed to continue as Auditor. Both were duly re-elected.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
No items had been received for the agenda and so the Chairman took items from members present for discussion.
A very wide ranging discussion ensued on the CPSA’s Academy, the venue for the Olympic Games and can the Institute get government funding? Plus an update from BSSC meetings about certain police forces going beyond the guidelines by asking for evidence of lessons prior to the issue of a licence.
Before the Chairman closed the meeting for lunch he proposed that in order to offset some of the ever increasing costs involved, in future a £10 charge will be made for lunch. This was accepted by the members present.
After lunch we re-convened for a presentation by member John Robinson, on his view of the ISSF ‘C’ licence award and preparation for competition.
John has been in the UK Olympic Skeet team for 5 years and has 50 caps.
He started by stating that of the 45 who attended the final residential course in Finland only 8 coaches successfully obtained a ‘C’ licence.
A one year research study which accounts for 75% of the marks has to be undertaken in order to get on the final residential fortnight. Completion of a 20,000 word thesis on your study subject has to be submitted in order to reach the final part of the process. The final part of the course has candidates from all the shooting disciplines and consists of common element subjects and discipline specific workshops that they attend.
The Instructors are mostly eastern bloc coaches who are forceful and in your face. They believe that the better you are, the more coaching you need. John used an example, he asked us how long we thought we would spend if a shooter came to us with problems on station 5. After receiving a range of answers, all at variance to the way they would work, he told us "5 days - work on it until it ceases to be a problem"!
John gave us a very good insight into the ISSF coaching course and the substance and philosophy left us with much food for thought.
John finished his presentation detailing the type of preparation now being used by team GB Shooters – the use of a Performance Journal, Training Schedules and pre-Competition to Competition Training Plans.
John detailed his particular training routine/schedule and the work he does with his coach – fifteen minutes dry mounting every day, along with a strict fitness regime (john is also in the GB Triathlon team).
The presentation finished with a question and answer session.
NEW MEMBERS AND TRANSFERS
Membership applications and transfers received since our last Newsletter were considered by council. The following have accepted membership grades offered:-
New ASSOCIATES:
Nicol Murray
Noel Graham Taylor
Richard Charles Large
David Batty
John William Schreck
Luke Worsley
Hendrick Strothmann
Andrew Howat
Alfred Peter Slade
Graham Raymond Long
Duncan Bailey Greaves
David Allum
Transfers ASSOCIATE/ MEMBER:
David Geoffrey Whitehead
Nigel Hurst
I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of the Council to welcome the new members listed to The Institute. The Institute was set up on 1987 to provide an organisation of qualified Clay Shooting Instructors to promote and set standards of qualifications for the art and sport of clay shooting instruction.
Please remember you the members are The Institute and you are out there to set the standards. Please make the effort and be proactive, and if you have any ideas, suggestions, or questions, please phone Keith Stoker, Registrar, on 01913-842499. Your ideas and/or suggestions will be put before the council at the next council meeting. (You will be given their response).
Please read our "Articles of Constitution" and "Codes of Conduct". Any queries regarding their content or interpretation ring the Registrar for clarification.
DISCOUNT FOR MEMBERS
The council has organised with the following well known retailers preferential discount for members. The discounts quoted on guns assumes that they will be used for "Coaching".
Avalon Guns
Tel: 01458-447505/841504
Accessories:- 20% off the retail price
Guns:- Members will receive a favourable deal on guns
To obtain discount ask for "Andy".
Brown's Lock Stock & Barrel
Tel:0114-2346222
Accessories:- 25% off the retail price
Guns:- Trade plus VAT
To obtain discount ask for "John".
Chris Potter Guns
Tel: 01892-522208
Accessories:- 20% off the retail price
Clothing:- 25% off the retail price
Guns:- Members will receive a favourable deal on guns
To obtain discount ask for "Chris".
Swillington Shooting Supplies
Tel: 01132-864097
Accessories:- 20% off the retail price
Clothing:- 25% off the retail price
Guns:- Trade price plus VAT
To obtain discount ask for "Chris".
The Shotgun Store
Tel: 08005-872823
Accessories - 10-25% discount + VAT
Guns - trade price (25% discount + VAT)
10% discount available on-line, against promotional code of ICSI
25% discount not available on-line, requires telephone confirmation
To obtain discount ask for Jerry.
Members will be asked to produce their current membership card to obtain the above discounts.
If you know of other retailers who might be willing to offer discounts to our members please contact the Registrar on with a contact name and telephone number, so that they may be officially approached to set up the facility.
SHOP ITEMS
ICSI items are available from our Membership Secretary as follows:
Single Motif Ties / £12.00(Blue/Green/Brown)
Metal Bullion Badge / £15.00
(9.5cms sq.) Badge
Small Enamel Badge / £2.00
Woven Cloth Badge / £5.00
(9.5cms sq.)
Woven Cloth Badge / £4.00
(Small Shield)
Baseball caps, price £12, are available in navy, green, and burgundy.
We have obtained professional quality plastic lapel badges for council members to wear on official Institute business. The badge has our logo and initials die printed in black on a cream base with name engraved underneath through to the brown base colour. As we now have the tooling we can provide lapel badges for individual members. We have a minimum order quantity of six with the manufacturer, and the price is £7.00 per badge. We are taking orders now and will charge only when we have order quantity numbers.
All prices include post and packing.
CHAIRMANS COLUMN
The Northern workshop of the 'NATSS' project was held at Easingwold Rifle Club, North Yorkshire on the 19th March and I attended on behalf of the Institute. The co-ordinators and facilitators for the project are the consultants Performance Matters.
Representatives of the full-bore and small-bore rifle associations were present, together with a number of the CPSA Northern region committee. Other country sports organisations were also in attendance.
The lead question for discussion was the possible organisational merger of the three principle target shooting disciplines, full and small-bore rifle and clay target.
The format of the day was based on round table discussion in small groups, with a cross-section of each shooting discipline at each table. The groups addressed the vision and the challenges that the shooting sports face in the future and tried to address what type of shooting organisation or organisations would be appropriate to best represent our interests.