current weblog

Cherokee IDPA -- IDPA.com -- USPSA.org -- more --- GADPA/ACM -- Pickens

December 8, 2007: Financial routine: mail our $100 donation for the annual Cherokee Gun Club banquet, deposit the match proceeds of $218 at CB&T, leave a $48 check for range fees in the CGC treasurer's mailbox along with the updated spreadsheet, and shoot Cherokee IPSC. Total club funds: $1176.

Quarterly summary: To date, the club has collected $2 improvement fees totaling $782 (and a like sum for the Club's range/maintenance fees), $200 of which has been spent on improving the pistol ranges; and we still have Cherokee IPSC's $500 in seed money. So the $1176 breaks down as $582 earmarked for range improvements and $500 to pass along -- leaving $94 toward a major match.

December 2, 2007: scores Twenty-four shooters compete on a cloudy afternoon. The club collects $218 from the 15 IDPA members, 7 CGC members (12 total), and 2 new shooters. My thanks to all the Safety Officers (without you not); to Chester for moving the steel; to Carl for smoothly registering everyone (even though he couldn't stay for the match); and to the shooters for setting up the stages and leaving the range even better than we found it.

Lessons learned: Get more targets and pasters. The stages required lengthy set-up time; after reviewing our 2006 matches, these stages (and 8 more) seemed to have design elements interesting enough to revisit now and perhaps reuse in future stages, which could in turn comprise a major match.

November 21, 2007: Financial routine: deposit the match proceeds of $285 at CB&T and leave a $66 check for range fees and our $200 contribution to pit 7's new, $1800 plate rack in the CGC treasurer's mailbox along with the updated spreadsheet. Total club funds: $1133.

And submit our property values to the Club (for insurance purposes):

• $520 timers
• $100 tools (staplers, pliers, scissors, hammer)
• $50 targets, pasters
• $50 garment bags (raincover for targets)
• $30 brass buckets

Total club property: $750 (replacement value).

November 4, 2007: scores Thirty-three shooters compete on a pleasant autumn afternoon. The club collects $285 from the 24 IDPA members, 7 CGC members (12 total), and 2 new shooters. Congratulations to Justin and Sean for classifying as the club's first Master shooters! My thanks to all the Safety Officers (without you not); to the setup crew (Carl, David, Jim, and Stan); to Carl again for smoothly registering everyone; and to the shooters for leaving the range even better than we found it.

Classified shooters: Your info is online, and I can sign your classification card at a future match.

Lessons learned: Get more staples and pasters; return one timer for repair (and find out where the IPSC folks have squirreled away their new timers in the meantime).

October 24, 2007: Financial musings: The club's funds total $1160. Cherokee IPSC contributed $500 to this, and I'll likely pass it on to CGC's nascent bullseye club because my policy is to use the funds for improving pistol shooting at Cherokee Gun Club. That will leave $660, which is nearly the $668 total we've paid in range fees of $2 per shooter. In other words, out of each shooter's match fees, $2 has gone to the Club and another $2 to the club, after expenses. These $2 "profits" then go to maintenance and improvement.

October 7, 2007: Utah and Arizona aren't far, so again I head west, this time on U.S. 160. The shrubs on the mountains are changing color while the trees remain evergreen. It's hunting season, and Cortez has rolled out the red-camo carpet for hunters. Colorado 41, with Utah on the horizon:

Utah 163 turns into U.S. 163, which takes me into Monument Valley, where John Ford reinvented the western, beginning with Stagecoach in 1939. I take only one picture because Hollywood has done it so much bigger:

On the other side in Arizona, I pick up U.S. 160 at Kayenta and head east. It feels like I'm going the wrong way. Near the road, a cowboy skillfully maneuvers his horse, rounding up a herd of cattle and a stray horse.

October 6, 2007: New Mexico State Championship: The temperature plunges, the wind kicks up, -- the long-range prediction, surprisingly -- and I dig out my bag of warm clothes. I'm late for the shooters meeting, but so is everybody else: Apparently, time is not important out here. The match eventually runs without a hitch, some stages leave me breathless, the people are super nice, and the storm edges by. I reach my goal of being down about 25% (31 points down, 132 round count).

The San Juan Wildlife Federation is an excellent club, similar to Cherokee in some ways. It's owned by its 600 members, who elect a board of directors, work on the ranges, and run the matches. The pistol pits are better than the Whittington's (which seemed an afterthought), one rifle range goes out to 1000 yards, and the club still has their own gun show.

I head north on U.S. 550 toward Durango, Colorado. The view is like New Mexico's -- until, just beyond two typical mountains, a massive peak emerges, dwarfs the other two, and holds up the sky.

October 5, 2007: The Santa Fe Trail goes through the NRA's Whittington Center off U.S. 64 outside Raton, New Mexico. Its many ranges are spacious yet take up only a fraction of the property. Their mountainous backdrop is stunning:

It's open to the public, so I try out a pistol pit. The shots crackle against the Sangre de Cristo portion of the Rockies. I double-check that I'm wearing ear protection; even the wind sounds different here.

Eventually, I continue on U.S. 64, through Taos and Tierra Amarilla, climbing another mile, then descending and climbing again. The last of the purples fade from the mountains as I cross the continental divide and enter the Jicarilla Apache reservation. (Hmm, traveling through Apache country at night; this can't be good.) I find a room in Bloomfield, just down 64 from the match.

October 4, 2007: Route 66 is long gone, but you can still get your kicks on U.S. 64, from Nags Head to Farmington, which is where I'm headed for the New Mexico State Championship. The Oklahoma Panhandle doesn't look very big on a map, yet its blue-green ocean of rolling prairie seems endless. My camera can only capture a drop:

North of the Fort Supply stagecoach line, the USDA's windfarm begins its stretch across 4300 acres.

Listening to Cities of the Plain: "Being out, seeing new country -- there's nothing like it in the world; there never will be." In Cimarron county, Oklahoma 325 crosses the Santa Fe Trail on the High Plains piedmont of the Rocky Mountains. Looking southwest toward Kit Carson's Fort Nichols:

September 25, 2007: Last week at the CGC board meeting, I learned that the match proceeds were deposited in the CGC general account rather than the IDPA account. So the CGC treasurer cut a check to the club for $246 (the errant deposit less $76 for range fees). Today, I deposit the check (less $20 for petty cash) at CB&T and update the spreadsheet. Total club funds: $1160.

September 4, 2007: At the CGC membership meeting, I give the treasurer our $500 contribution toward the construction of the new pistol pit.

Earlier, I test out the changes to my revolver by CGC/IDPA member Myron P.: replace the rebound spring, which seemed too slow; chamfer and polish the cylinder, and check the timing and barrel gap; and hone the forcing cone 11 degrees. Everything functioned nicely (except my snapcaps, which have worn out). Myron delivered as promised. As with any gunsmith, just be specific with your wants and set a delivery date.

September 2, 2007: scores A near-record 38 shooters compete on a near-perfect afternoon. My thanks to Claude for running the match and to everyone for helping.

Special note: The October match is canceled because of the GADPA State Championship. The next match will be November 4th.

August 21, 2007: Financial routine: deposit the match proceeds of $210 at CB&T and leave a $58 check for range fees in the CGC treasurer's mailbox along with the updated spreadsheet. Total club funds: $1427.

August 5, 2007: scores Twenty-nine shooters compete on a hot afternoon. The club collects $210 from the 24 IDPA members, 2 CGC members (8 total), and 3 new shooters. It's a long day for the 4 who shoot the match then, after a rain delay, the Classifier. My thanks to all the Safety Officers (without you not); to the setup crew (Chester, Manny, Myron, Robert, and Will); to Carl for smoothly registering everyone; and to the shooters for leaving the range even better than we found it.

Classified shooters: I can sign your classification card at a future match.

Special note: Claude W. will be the match director September 2nd. I've attended his matches (more than I can count) over the years, and the experience has improved my shooting and influenced my approach to running Cherokee IDPA. Expect a challenging match.

July 9, 2007: Financial routine: deposit the match proceeds of $170 at CB&T and leave a $38 check for range fees in the CGC treasurer's mailbox along with the updated spreadsheet. Total club funds: $1372.

July 1, 2007: scores Nineteen shooters dodge lightning and outlast a cloudburst to compete on a rain-cooled afternoon. The club collects $170 from the 17 IDPA members, 1 CGC member (7 total), and 1 new shooter. The match gets off to a late start but lasts the usual 3 hours. My thanks to all the Safety Officers (without you not); to the setup crew (Chester, Mike of New Hampshire, and Will); to Bill for registering everyone; and to the shooters for leaving the range even better than we found it.

Lessons learned: Get more targets and pasters.

June 13, 2007: Financial routine: deposit the match proceeds of $230 at CB&T, leave a $52 check for range fees in the CGC treasurer's mailbox along with the updated spreadsheet, and help Cherokee IPSC set up the State Championship. Total club funds: $1239.

June 3, 2007: scores Twenty-six shooters compete on a warm, summer's day. The club collects $230 from the 16 IDPA members, 7 CGC members (13 total), and 3 new shooters. The match lasts too long for one squad of 11 which twice runs into another squad rotating the wrong way. My thanks to all the Safety Officers (without you not); to the setup crew (Horace, Stan, and Chester); to Carl for registering everyone; and to the shooters for leaving the range even better than we found it.

Lessons learned: The mini-truck was very useful. I need to write up a bill of materials to facilitate setup, especially for matches with many props. (You don't have to be a certified Safety Officer to collect the $5 discount. You just have to sign up as an S.O. and volunteer your services.)

May 12, 2007: I deposit the match proceeds of $205 at CB&T. The Cherokee IPSC folks insist they don't need our $500 contribution because their purchase of a Suzuki mini-truck was well under budget. However, at the IPSC match they give me a key to the mini-truck, so we can use it for setup & teardown and in courses of fire.

In light of this extra money, Cherokee IDPA will no longer charge women shooters a match fee, as suggested in the Tactical Journal by Julie Goloski, who shot Cherokee IPSC matches when she lived in Georgia.

At the CGC board meeting on the 15th, I'll give the treasurer a $56 check for range fees along with the updated spreadsheet and ask him when he would like our contribution toward the construction of another large pistol pit, which the CGC membership approved earlier this month. Total club funds: $1132.

May 6, 2007: scores Twenty-eight shooters compete on a temperate day. The club collects $205 from the 19 IDPA members, 6 CGC members (11 total), and 3 new shooters. Average squad size is 8, and the match lasts just over 3 hours; one group shoots the Classifier. My thanks to all the Safety Officers (without you not); to the setup crew (Will, Jim, and Kyle); to Beecher for registering everyone; and to two squads for leaving the range even better than we found it.

Classified shooters: I can sign your classification card at a future match.

Lessons learned: The Armed Citizen scenarios (loosely based on the NRA's August 2006 installment) facilitated the design of three stages and the overall match. Some minor reminders:

• no shooting before the match, please;
• be sure to include your IDPA and/or CGC numbers on your scoresheet (and fill out the legalese on the back);
• make checks payable to "Cherokee Gun Club -- IDPA";
• please paste as many holes as you shoot and pick up as much brass, too;
• "understand that this is a volunteer sport and volunteers do the work necessary for you to shoot matches and become classified; the more you offer to assist, the better the system works; be an active shooter by contributing your time and talents"; CGC members are Hosts, non-members are Guests, both are volunteers;
• non-members may shoot after the match -- only if accompanied by a CGC member. (See me if you can't find one.)

If you're on the CGC Waiting List, your match fee is now $10.

April 17, 2007: The CGC board votes to put two funding issues relevant to Cherokee IDPA before the Club's membership: to fund construction of a large pistol pit next to pit 6, and to allow Cherokee IPSC to purchase an off-road mini-truck. Our club pledges $500 to each. If you're at the general meeting on May 1st, please support both issues.

Pact repairs one of the Club timers for a total of $10 (to cover shipping).

April 9, 2007: Financial routine: deposit the match proceeds of $90 at CB&T, and leave an $18 check for range fees in the CGC treasurer's mailbox along with the updated spreadsheet. Total club funds: $987.

Considering that we were spotted $500 each by CGC and Cherokee IPSC, this puts the club virtually at the break-even point after 8 matches. There are two ways pending to give back these monies: contribute $500 to the construction of additional pistol pits, which CGC is planning to flank pits 6 and 8; and contribute $500 to Cherokee IPSC's eventual purchase of an ATV, which we can use for setup & teardown and in courses of fire.

April 1, 2007: scores Nine shooters brave an afternoon of cloudbursts on April Fools' Day. The club collects $90 from the 9 IDPA members (including 3 CGC members). The stages are set up in Pit 5 as we go along, and the match lasts the typical 3 hours. My thanks to the shooters for coming out and leaving the range even better than we found it.

Lessons learned: The timer stayed dry in a plastic baggie (thanks Claude!) while the garment bags protected the targets nicely (and added some visual noise).

March 10, 2007: Financial routine: deposit the match proceeds of $230 at CB&T, leave a $46 check for range fees in the CGC treasurer's mailbox along with the updated spreadsheet, and shoot Cherokee IPSC. Total club funds: $925.

March 4, 2007: scores Twenty-two shooters compete on a crisp, spring day. The club collects $230 from the 15 IDPA members, 3 CGC members (5 total), and 4 new shooters. Average squad size is 8, and the match lasts under 3 hours. One squad apparently skips the Barrel Drill stage (and I'm missing a scoresheet from one of its members). My thanks to all the Safety Officers (without you not); to the setup crew (Howard and Robert); to David for registering everyone; and to the shooters for leaving the range even better than we found it.

Lessons learned: Even if you don't like a stage, you still have to shoot it.

February 12, 2007: Financial routine: deposit the match proceeds of $264 at CB&T and leave a $56 check for range fees in the CGC treasurer's mailbox along with the updated spreadsheet. Total club funds: $850.

February 4, 2007: scores Twenty-eight shooters compete on a blustery day. The club collects $264 from the 22 IDPA members, 3 CGC members (6 total), and 3 new shooters. Average squad size is 9, and the match lasts about 3 hours; one squad shoots the Classifier. My thanks to all the Safety Officers (without you not); to the setup crew (Chester, Carl, and Jim L.); to Richard for registering everyone; and to the shooters for leaving the range even better than we found it.

Classified shooters: I can sign your classification card at a future match.

Lessons learned: Get more targets and pasters (and plastic bags).

January 24, 2007: "Shooting is seeing." While perusing the web to learn ways of improving my sports vision, I find there is more to seeing than 20/20. Their examples with putting have surprising parallels to practical shooting:

• Putting increases your focusing flexibility, which is using a series of eye movements quickly and accurately -- as in sight/target alignment/awareness.
• Depth perception entails making spatial judgments, including how far some object is from you. Both putting and shooting rely on this for estimating yardage (and thus sight-focus type). Error-free reloading depends on depth perception as well.
• Reading the breaks for a putt involves contrast sensitivity, as does seeing your holes on a target.
• Dynamic visual acuity is the ability to clearly see objects which are moving quickly, such as the head of a putter or your sights. Although your vision may be 20/20 when sitting still and reading an eye chart, your acuity could be worse when motion is involved. Clay-target sports also benefit from -- and enhance -- this acuity, as do videogames with twitchy objects which you must target before they disappear -- or target you.
• Central/peripheral awareness helps you focus on the primary target (the golf ball or sights) while at the same time knowing where you want to putt it -- or where the next target is, thus quickening your target acquisition and course-of-fire negotiation.
• Visual memory helps build consistency: learning from past, similar experiences and successfully recalling them in the present situation. (Basketball seems to depend the most on visual memory.)
• Also, the visual noise of a strobe light while practicing improves awareness.

At my local PGA Superstore, which even sells furniture, I buy a left-handed putter to work my right eye a little harder. Putting may not be as glamorous as hockey goaltending, but it may also supplement practical shooting.

January 13, 2007: Financial routine: deposit the match proceeds of $163 at CB&T, leave a $40 check for range fees in the CGC treasurer's mailbox along with the updated spreadsheet, and shoot Cherokee IPSC. Total club funds: $675.

January 7, 2007: scores Twenty shooters compete on a chilly, rainy day. The club collects $163 from the 17 IDPA members, 1 Cherokee Gun Club member (9 total), and 2 new shooters. Average squad size is 6, and the match lasts well over 3 hours. My thanks to all the Safety Officers (without you not); to the setup and teardown crews; to Beecher for registering everyone; and to the shooters for leaving the range almost better than we found it (excepting the uncollected, embedded brass).

Lessons learned: The match format is working well. Get plastic bags for both targets and timers.

Last modified: 12/22/2007