President's Corner

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hello all of you readers.

 

Can you believe that it is time for election of officers and two Board of Director members! Wow, the world does move on so quickly when you are old! My time as President is about finished. As of today, I only have 3 meetings that I am required to attend. But honestly, I’ll likely be around even after my term has expired. You were afraid of that, weren’t you.

 

Speaking of being around, since I have had the opportunity these past 21 months to be able to write these dissertations, I have mentioned that volunteers are always needed.  We have had some additional participation and that has been great! Thanks to all that help every day, week and month.  It is noticed and appreciated!

 

Something else that has come up on a couple of occasions is the question of Life Memberships. I am including a perspective on that in the remaining paragraphs. A life member opportunity is a chance to attempt to reward someone for service to the Association, not just a payment for having been around and been using the ranges for entertainment. From what I have observed, the Association doesn’t gain anything from a payment for life memberships. It actually loses in the long run because that member’s annual dues goes away. As I said, life memberships should be a means to thank someone for their service to the group.

 

As you may have seen on our website, “Life memberships are available only to those who have been a yearly member in good standing for the previous five years.”

 

“Good Standing” is generally accepted to be:

 

A member that has demonstrated a special, steady and active interest in the Association, the activities that it offers and providing for the betterment of the Association.

 

How might this happen?  The following are ways to assist in determining the above.

 

  1. Attendance at the monthly meetings of the Association so that an up-to-date knowledge of the activities, needs and how-I-can help, becomes a relevant part of the person’s routine.
  2. Assisting the current volunteers as they actively operate the Association’s disciplines, care for the property maintenance and assist with new projects.
  3. Provide ideas for bettering the Association’s current discipline offerings and perhaps becoming a Chairperson of one or more of these 13 + activities that we offer on a routine basis.
  4. Lending your specific expertise to the many areas of needed help such as; Assisting with preparing meals for the disciplines, pre-preparation for any weekly, monthly or yearly event, clean-up help for these events. Helping with maintenance, repairs or construction at the Association property.
  5. If the skill and talent exists, help with membership, or as an assistant treasurer, or another capacity such as a technology assistant. I mentioned above that it will soon be time for our elections.

 

The above are items that require someone to be on-site, offering to assist, be visibly active in a discipline and show a concern for what is needed, no matter which area of the work load and is agreeable to contribute to the best of that person’s ability.

 

For consideration as a Life Member, please submit your specific history of membership and activities with TCSA as it pertains to the noted items above, along with a copy of your driver’s license. Mail it to the attention of the President, at the Association’s address.

 

 

We are all volunteers and as with volunteer organizations, a very small group is the heart of the activity.  Most of our active group are older adults and can use assistance. Again, thanks to the recent members that have stepped up to help!

 

New news! I am happy to leave you with this information:

A group of students from Owego Senior High School has been approved and will be using our grounds for an archery club! Their schedule will be posted on our calendar and they will be using the archery course, (across from our main entrance) the target alley next to the storage garage, the indoor range when the weather is not conducive to outdoor shooting and one of the upper range pistol pits. As mentioned, they are going to provide a schedule for their activities for our calendar. In addition, any of the indoor Certified Range Officers are requested to let me know if they can be available for oversight of this group as they “start-up”.

 

Thank you for your attention to this long essay. Stay well.

 

Mark Dedrick

President

 

 

As always, thank you for your help. If you need to contact me, send an e-mail, (presidenttcsa@gmail.com).