It would cost me less per match to NOT to be the match director.

Jay

Ain't that the truth jbolt. I was one for about 15 years and now I just help at TRC. That is expensive too. I don't even want to count the times I have driven the 70 miles to the range to work on the target stands in the past year. The new design we had was made out of too light of steel and had to be stiffened and reworked many times. I'm not even a member there.

Match Directors do what they do b/c they want to keep the sport alive with the NRA and they may like to do for SELF satisfaction. I know the shooters that attend our weekly club practices and monthly tournaments, appreciate what the Match Director does. It is not a thankless job, by any means. It is working with different people/backgrounds and we adjust or NOT.

I'm 72 and had a super time and experience the past 6 years being the club and state director. I had some great helpers and I will now be one of those volunteers to do what I can to keep the NRA competitiveness alive. I might even be a better ambassador with a little more time on my hands to recruit.

Recently, I worked on alternatives for changing our type of award giving with ones that might be more meaning full. We were due for change or thought process in this area. Also, to have some fun awards. Two weeks ago, I talked to two fellows that run the TN State Championship and they sent me all kinds of ideas.[THANK YOU!] I discussed my findings with a few other club Silhouette shooters and received a warm reception. It is now in the hands of our new 2016 Director to decide what he wants to do next year. [Thank you Mary for your direction[s] ]

I will always be there to support our new director and promote our sport in every way possible. I remain positive in what I do and think of others, which to have fun. We always have complainers...........when leaving any job.

I am NOT one to accept any fee for volunteering in the Directors position, when I have the same people setting up, painting animals, take turns calling, sweeping up the casing, continue to volunteer to set and remove targets......etc. If something is damaged or needs renovating on our Silhouette range, we have a club maintenance crew......they DON'T get a FEE for doing so. . They do out of the kindness of their heart! Thank you to all that do what they do for others, not expecting anything in return.
Jon

Jon,

I'm not complaining or whining. I knew what I was getting into when I took over the matches. I was responding to the comments about match directors should pay like everyone else and not get a break. There is (at least in my case) a financial implication to being a match director other than just volunteer hours.

We are an all volunteer club (member owners), no paid staff, range officers, maintenance etc. As a typical member I would be obligated to about 40 hours a year of volunteer work to support the club. As match director for two silhouette matches on different days I put it around 200 hours a year.

Our silhouette matches are self funded, no help or budget from the club, only what we collect in match fees. We charge $5 for the match and non-members pay a reduced fee to the range. The match fee has not changed in over 10 years, maybe more. We don't charge junior shooters and first timers get to shoot one time for free. We have kept the fees where they are to be in line with other silhouette matches in the area.

I recently ran the stats for the last five years. On average we took in $900 a year in match fees. Half of that is paid out in prizes. Our annual Thanksgiving match costs about $300 which leaves about $150 for target repair/ replacement, admin supplies, award pins etc. Not much head room for capitol improvements.

After taking over as MD I have personally funded many $$$ in upgrades and improvements which I may eventually get reimbursed for if I continue as MD for some time to come.

I also moved the smallbore cowboy match from after the smallbore match to a different day to increase attendance and add hunter's pistol. This costs me 2 hours a month in billable work time because I work 2 hours away and have to leave early to get there in time to run the match.

I didn't have to take this position. I do this because I enjoy it and don't want to see it disappear from our club but if anyone thinks I'm getting an unfair break because I don't crack open my wallet at every match I run is welcome to do it for a year and then come talk to me.

Jay

jbolt wrote: I didn't have to take this position. I do this because I enjoy it and don't want to see it disappear from our club but if anyone thinks I'm getting an unfair break because I don't crack open my wallet at every match I run is welcome to do it for a year and then come talk to me.

You shouldn't let this concern you. Who cares if you pay an entry fee or not? Who cares if anyone pays an entry fee or not? If the funds are there to support the match and someone is willing to be the match director and make it happen, then it's all good and no one's business whether match directors do or should pay an entry fee.

Match directors are what keeps this game going. If you're the match director, do it your way and roll on!

Dustin