BLUE AND GRAY RIFLE AND PISTOL CLUB
MEMBER INFORMATION
Revised August 28, 2006
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of the following information is to acquaint members with the club organization, the benefits available to the membership, and the responsibilities of each member which go along with these benefits.
CLUB HISTORY
The Blue and Gray Rifle and Pistol Club was formed in early 1961 by a group of 15 shooters,
most of who were employed by Chrysler. The club received its NRA charter in March 1961.
The first organized club shooting activities were held at the TVA Guntersville Dam 50 yd. pistol range.
Various other shooting places were used until 1963 at which time a lease was obtained from the TVA
for the use of the Guntersville Dam range. A range improvement plan was initiated which expanded
the pistol range to the existing facility. The club affiliated with the U.S. Army Director of
Civilian Marksmanship in 1963 and was incorporated in 1964. In 1965, the club sponsored the
Alabama State High Power Rifle Championship at Fort McClellan, Ala. As a result of that match,
Alabama sent it's first civilian high power rifle team in more than 20 years to the National Matches
at Camp Perry, Ohio. In 1967, the club began sponsoring the Pot Shots, a junior club started by an
Explorer Boy Scout Post. The Pot Shots are now wholly sponsored by the club and is open to any boy
or girl between 12 and 17 years of age. By 1967, the club had improved the range as much as the TVA
would permit, and the club has been trying since then to locate land on which to construct its own range facility.
The club is non-discriminatory and presently has a membership in excess of 200 with all major Huntsville employers being represented. The club policy is to promote the shooting sports as broadly as possible, and make membership as widely available as possible. The club range is the most complete private rifle
and pistol range in north Alabama.
MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS
Membership is open to any citizen 17 years of age or over who subscribes to the NRA pledge. NRA membership is required. New members are required to attend a range orientation session before using the range. Failure to obey range rules is grounds for expulsion. Admission or expulsion is decided by the Executive committee. Members desiring to resign should notify the secretary in writing, or so indicate on his yearly dues notice and return it to the treasurer.
Potential members must submit a completed
application.
ANNUAL DUES
The annual dues for the club year, which runs from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, have been set at $50 per year
[as of January 2006]. A six week grace period is allowed at the beginning of the year to allow time to renew memberships. Annual dues notices are printed in the January club bulletin and are payable by February 15. Dues which have not been paid by Feb. 15 will be considered delinquent and can result in the member being dropped from the active roster, with the resultant loss of club privileges. Individuals who have been inactive for more than one year will be considered new applicants, except that they will be responsible for anything owed to the club at the time they discontinued membership.
For those that join in the second half of the year, prorated dues apply.
Please see the Dues and Work Time Proration section below.
ANNUAL WORK TIME REQUIREMENTS
In addition to the annual dues described above, each club member is required to contribute five hours of his or her time to the club each year. This time will be used for work on club activities, range construction, home projects, officiating at matches, instruction, assisting in the preparation and mailing of bulletins or other work items deemed necessary by the executive committee. Some of these jobs will be published in the monthly bulletin. In general, the members must take the initiative to volunteer for jobs to do. For some jobs, members may be contacted by phone for individual work assignments. When work is done it should be reported to the Range Maintenance Coordinator, who is responsible for the records of work time. It shall be the individual members responsibility to report the number of hours worked, date, and job performed to the range maintenance coordinator.
Those members who find it impossible (not inconvenient) to satisfy their annual work requirements must pay the treasurer $10 per hour
[as of January 2006] for the unworked portion of that members annual requirement. This amount is to be paid at the same time the member pays annual dues for the next year. This amount is considered an obligation of the member whether or not he renews his membership. Individuals who apply for membership after being inactive will be required to pay this amount if they did not do so when resigning.
DUES AND WORK TIME PRORATION
New members who join after the first half of the year, the following prorated
dues apply:
After July 1st the prorated rate is 50% = $25
(+ 3hours of work time for the remainder of the year)
After Oct 1st the prorated rate is 30% = $15
(no work time for remainder of the year)
OTHER CLASSES AND MEMBERSHIP
Senior members who have spouses or dependent children (under 18 or full-time students) who use the range may enroll them as dependent members. These members are covered by the clubs liability insurance. A dependent member's dues are $8.50 per year and they can only use the range when accompanied by the senior member.
Senior members who move more than 50 miles from Huntsville and wish to keep informed of club activities may elect to become corresponding members. Dues are $5.00 per year and the only benefit is the receipt of the bulletin.
The executive committee may name honorary members each year. Customarily these memberships are given to individuals who assist the club or the Pot Shot programs.
OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
The six elected officers of the club are president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, executive officer, and chief instructor. These officers each serve a one year term and are elected by the membership at the annual meeting held in January. In addition to the above, three advisors are elected by the membership to the executive committee. Each advisor serves a term of three years with the terms staggered such that one advisor position comes up for election at the annual election. The six officers and three advisors comprise the executive committee which is also the board of directors. This committee meets once a month and has the responsibility for directing all club activities and financial matters. Each member of the committee has one vote. All motions, resolutions, financial appropriations, etc. passed by the committee can be overruled by a majority of the club membership. Committee members' work requirements are fulfilled by committee work. The executive meetings are announced in the bulletin and any interested club member is welcome to attend.
INSURANCE
The club, the TVA, senior members, dependent members, honorary members, and members of the Pot Shots are covered by liability insurance. Guests are not covered.
CMP (DCM) PROGRAM
The Director of Civilian Marksmanship (DCM) Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) has had many changes in the past 20 years due mostly to changes in congressional funding and policies. The Civilian Marksmanship Program was created by the U.S. Congress. The original purpose was to provide civilians an opportunity to learn and practice marksmanship skills so they would be skilled marksman if later called on to serve the U.S. military. Over the years the emphasis of the program shifted to focus on youth development through marksmanship. From 1916 until 1996 the CMP was administered by the U.S. Army. The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1996 (TITLE XVI) created the Corporation for the Promotion of Rifle Practice & Firearms Safety,Inc.(CPRPFS) to take over administration and promotion of the CMP. The CPRPFS is a tax exempt not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization that derives its mission from public law.
The public law authorizes the Corporation to continue to sell all M1 Garand rifles. The CMP is authorized to provide support and encouragement to clubs and state associations with emphasis on strong junior programs. These programs will include instruction in the basics of marksmanship, firearms and range safety, competitive marksmanship and subjects related to firearms safety.
MONTHLY BULLETIN
A club bulletin is published and mailed to each member once each month. This bulletin is the primary means of keeping the members informed of club activities, work parties, scheduled competitive matches, etc. Advertisements are run in the bulletin free of charge to members. It is important that members keep the Secretary informed of changes of address, phone numbers, etc.
ANNUAL MEETING
The club holds an annual business meeting, the time and place of which are published in the bulletin. At this meeting, club business is transacted, forthcoming club activities are discussed, a financial report is given, officers are elected, and item brought up by individual members are handled.
COMPETITIVE SHOOTING PROGRAM
The club generally schedules one or more competitive matches per month at the Blue and Gray range at Guntersville Dam. The dates, type of match, etc. are set by the executive officer and are published in the monthly bulletin. All members, novice or expert, are invited, as are non-members.
In past years, the club has sponsored high power rifle matches at Fort McClellan, AL. Due to circumstances beyond the clubs control these matches have been suspended. It is likely in the near future that we will again be sponsoring full course matches as well as the Alabama State High Power Rifle Championship. A new 200/300/600 yard range is currently being constructed for the Alabama National Guard near Pelam. It is scheduled for completion in August 1998.
INSTRUCTION COURSES
All club instruction is under the direction of the chief instructor. The type of courses and the number of times per year they are repeated are determined by the interest shown by the membership.
Pot Shot training sessions are usually held two Saturday mornings a month during the school year at the Guntersville Dam range, and are open to adult members as well as juniors as long as space is available.
RANGE FACILITIES
The Blue and Gray range is located near Guntersville Dam on land leased from the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). The facility consist essentially of three individual ranges. These are:
- Pistol Range
- Fifteen covered firing points with target frame holders at 25 and 50 yrds.
- Plinking Range Target frame holders at 25 and 50 yrds.
- 100 yrd Range
- 14 points for rifle shooting at 100 yrds.
- Several bench rests
- 200 yrd Range
- 12 points for rifle shooting at 200 yrds
- One bench rest
These facilities are open for use by club members, their guest, and TVA personnel only. The only stipulation on when the range is open to club members is that scheduled club activities, such as matches and instruction, will take precedence on use of facilities. There are no range fees.
RANGE LOCKS
Entrance to the range facility is through a gate which blocks the road leading to the range. The combination each member receives will open the lock on this gate as well as to the locks on the two houses used to store target frames. The gate will be locked both after entering and leaving the range. Be sure to remove the combination from the lock immediately after opening it so that it will not be seen by non-members.
RANGE RULES
A copy of the club range rules is located at:
http://www.bgrpc.org/rules.html OBEY THEM. Deliberate violation of these rules or careless handling of weapons can result in expulsion from the club.
INTERNET RESOURCES
The Blue & Gray is on the Web at:
http://www.bgrpc.org
Club match schedules as well as information about other Alabama and Tennessee shooting events are located on this site.
The Blue & Gray has an electronic discussion group. For more information go to
http://www.bgrpc.org/forum
OTHER INFORMATION
If the foregoing information has not answered all your questions, do not hesitate to contact one of the club officers.
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