Newsletter

September – 2019 Newsletter

Message from Our Club President

Just like our famous California weather these past few weeks have been a great example 83 one day, 102 the next and then high winds and high 60’s. Got to love it, never predictable. Be safe. Please dress accordingly when visiting the range.

 

Rifle/Pistol: 
As some of you may have noticed some activity at the rifle/pistol range.
Walnut Creek has had the USI President speak at our meetings on a few occasions. The first time we were promised the range would be completed and running by November 2018. Recently we were told we were just $100,000.00 short of completing the range, (read further to understand), again false. If it were up to the board of a year ago, it would have been completed and running for about a year and a half, and would have been on budget at $1.4 to 1.8 million with operating capital in the bank. The USI Board of Directors was replaced in 2018 and we now find the range project in a worse situation. We have yet to have a firm date for completing and opening the range, and the projected cost has recently risen from ~2.6M to $2,735,962M. What is more concerning is that not all aspects of the range have not been finalized, such as items and materials to complete and outfit the range shack, so the budget remains in a state of flux.
To date, $1,588,617.79 has been spent, excluding the previous plans, demolition, etc. which the BOD does not which to account for as part of the latest iteration of this project. Over $500,000.00 is to be paid to contractors within the next 30-60 days for completed work and USI has approximately $1.114M on hand at present. There is currently an approximate shortfall of $700,000.00 to finish and open the range. USI is presently losing approximately $18,000.00, which has been ongoing since the range was closed.

The USI BOD has voted to sell the cell tower leases for $910,000.00 while maintaining ownership of the associated land. The cell towers provide USI monthly income of approximately $5,200 per month. At the current monthly payment it would take USI approximately 17 years to earn the $910,000 that we can realize today.

Assuming the BOD is able to control costs from this point forward so the project budget does not continue to swell, these funds will allow USI to complete the range and have a additional operating capital to support business while the range comes online and shooters return in numbers that will replace the revenue currently being lost on a monthly basis.

This is a critical time for USI, the five clubs, and the range project. If the BOD is unable to exercise fiscal responsibility going forward–and to date they have demonstrated an unwillingness or inability to do so–there is a very real possibility that the range will not open because use permits cannot be secured from the county because the project is not completed per the approved plans. If so, USI will then find itself with little in terms of cash reserves for operating capital while continuing to lose ~$18,000 per month, as well as the loss of the cell tower revenue of ~$5,200 per month.

It is incumbent upon our membership to hold the USI BOD accountable and drive this project to completion. Failing to do so could realistically mean the loss of USI entirely.

Shoots:
Walnut Creek is proud to announce that Mr. Wayne Tooker has accepted the Shoot Chairmen position and will be in charge of all shoots run by Walnut Creek. He has helped us for years and we are happy to have him on board. Walnut Creek Skeet shoot was Sunday 8/11. 100 birds. The Winner was Walnut Creek member GGG (Gregg Morse) followed up by Non members Mark Willson and John Benson and members Terry Seymour and Wayne Tooker. Great jog guys. As always Terry, Garst, Wayne, Serg helped with the shoot. Got doubles in Stockton August 17-18, that was as usual a good time. Great time to see the WORLD FAMOUS Brad Young who got his first 100 straight in doubles. Could not have happened to a better man. Great accomplishment Mr. Young. Our own Junior World Champion Nick Balletine was the HOA (high over all).

Coming up next for us is 5 stand on 9/22. We had our skeet doubles shot on 9/1 with a small turnout. We had a lot of shooters in Oregon for their shoot which kept our numbers low. Our
Walnut Creek member winner is Mr. GGG Gregg Morse with a 96 followed up closely by the dynamic Lana
Stefanac with a 94 and Wayne Tooker shooting in the 90’s. Thanks to Wayne and Terry for their dedication to our shoots.

News:
By the time this newsletter gets to you your membership fees you are LATE and have become dropped from the roster as members.

Social/Meeting:
Pot luck! Bring your entrée and a dish to share. Desserts are always plentiful so please bring a dinner dish to share. There will be shooting before the meeting. Make sure you bring your tokens and ammo as USI is closed on Tuesdays
As a reminder when purchasing anything from the USI window you will need to show your membership card to prove you are still a member. This goes for all clubs. USI has no information about club members so you need to show your membership. In order to show your membership cards at the window remember to renew your membership.
Don’t forget to clean up after yourselves and help the #1 kitchen staff clean up and put all the supplies away.

Shoot well & be safe

Steve O

Social Chairman Mike Accardi Says:

“When will the rifle and pistol ranges open?”

Walnut Creek Sportsmen’s Club
2019 Shoot Schedule

Month	Date	Day	Event	Time	Location
TBD	TBD	TBD	Rifle Pistol Trophy Shoot	10:00 AM - 1:00 PM	U.S.I. MPR Range
September	09/01/2019	Sunday	Doubles Skeet Shoot	10:00 AM - 1:00 PM	U.S.I. Range
September	09/22/2019	Sunday	Five Stand & Flurry	10:00 AM - 1:00 PM	U.S.I. Range
October	10/05/2019	Saturday	Wobbles Trap Shoot	10:00 AM - 1:00 PM	U.S.I. Range
October	10/06/2019	Sunday	Sporting Clays "B"	10:00 AM - 1:00 PM	Birds Landing
October	10/20/2019	Sunday	October Pumpkin Skeet Shoot	10:00 AM - 1:00 PM	U.S.I. Range
November	11/10/2019	Sunday	Fun Skeet - 50 birds	10:00 AM - 1:00 PM	U.S.I. Range