Royal Gorge Gun Club

2008 Season

2007 Season

RGGC Annual Meeting Minutes

RGGC President Mark Bunch called the meeting to order at 9 AM on 4/28/07, there were 36 RGGC members in attendance, and 4 current members renewed.

Treasurer’s report

After paying insurance and land taxes, both of which went up, the club has $1035.11 in the checking account. Current membership of 148 members, 20 of which are Life Members, and 128 Annual Members. Membership is down by 66 members over April of 2006, and of the 66 that didn’t renew their membership, 41 of those mailed renewals, came back undeliverable.

Election of Officer’s

All existing club officers agreed to re-enlist/get stuck with their current duties for the upcoming year. Bill Schwiem will continue on as Executive Officer, and Chief Range Officer, John Hudson will continue on as Vice-President and Chief Target Frame Renovator, and Mark Bunch will continue on as club Secretary and President.

Old Business

Executive Officer Bill Schwiem discussed the progress of the long range pits, which are approximately 75% completed. Pits should be completed later this fall. He also talked about the no drinking allowed signs that were damaged when the covered point fell over.

Executive Officer Bill Schwiem discussed a plan to fix up our entry way and re-grade the road. Club member Jerry Klemm suggested that we try using 2 inch rock around that section of our road to see if that might help with our ongoing erosion problem. That suggestion has been adopted and will be put into action.

Also mentioned was our idiot neighbor to the south, Ray Stoner of Stoner Excavating that took it upon himself to steal some of the gun club land in the middle of the night. He has at least put a new fence up along our southern boundary. Club Attorney at Law, Henry Teigen spoke with said idiot and was basically told the gun club could sue if we wanted to, and to talk to his attorney. We had some brief discussion regarding the pending new road, and it was agreed upon that Stoner is living on borrowed time with his land grab.

President Bunch announced that as soon as the county comes in and puts the road thru and takes Stoner’s property away, that the gun club is hosting a barbecue at the very most southern part of the gun club property where we can toast and celebrate to our neighbors misfortune. Members, don’t do business with this weasel.

New Business

The covered point that fell over in January of 2006, was removed successfully by club members in May of 2006. Club member Tom Hart did a lot of leg work and has provided the club with plans to construct some smaller covered sections that will be worked on in 2007, providing we can afford to buy materials.

Club Member Ted Hutton volunteered his services and back hoe to help with some of the dirt work that needs to be finished providing we can transport his equipment.

Club Member Hap Hazard volunteered to take some gun club membership forms to Specialty Sports in Colorado Springs, as he frequents this merchant and had a great idea by suggesting recruiting members from Colorado Springs.

Vice-President John Hudson discussed his plans for constructing some new target frames, and a reserve of frames will be made and kept in the open shed for members.

Club members Rick Angelico and Wes Gowdy suggested and discussed how a swap meet or open house would work and be beneficial for the club, and for the vendors. It was agreed that Rick would spearhead the soliciting for vendors with his contacts. The first such event will be held on June 16^th and the public is welcome to attend. October 6^th is slated for the 2^nd open house/swap meet, and the RANGE WILL BE CLOSED TO SHOOTING ON THESE TWO DATES. Club members who decide to become vendors, can do so for an entrance fee of $5. Non-club members may also vend, with a $10 up front fee. Wes Gowdy has a catering contact and will make the necessary arrangements. He and his son will also donate their portable background checker for vendors that will be selling firearms. Members are encouraged to buy a table and bring what they have to sell. Let’s make this the Yard Sale of the Year, Redneck Style. It was also suggested that each vendor also make a donation to the club at the end of the event as well. The club agreed to help advertise the events. Flyers are being designed by club member Douglas Grigar.

Executive Officer Bill Schwiem discussed the new signs that will be put up around the club on our two scheduled work days, May 19^th, and May 23^rd. The list of volunteers among those in attendance broke down as follows.

May 19^th May 23rd

Bill Bonnar Jerry Klemm Bill Bonnar Ray Stephens

Tom Hart Jack Disher Tom Hart Al Nichols

Mark Bunch Kim Meek Mark Bunch Walter Wallis

John Hudson Al Nichols John Hudson Al Nelson

Bill Schwiem Henry Teigen Bill Schwiem A.M. Long

Bill Herlth Ted Hutton Bill Herlth Tommy Copeland

Chuck Overton Rick Angelico Toby Goudeau

007 Jerry Sullivan John Culwell

Marvin Mangham

2005 Season

Who we are

On behalf of the returning executive board, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the fine members of the Royal Gorge Gun Club for your continued support and patience thru our time of range improvement and growth.

Over the past 3 years the executive board has sought to make sound range improvements that enhance our range and the opportunity to engage in our shooting sports. At times this has proved very challenging, but we have tried to include a little something for everyone, no matter what your shooting discipline, or interest.

Some of the recent range improvements of this past winter, include new bench rests at the 100 yd, 200yd, 600 yd, and 1000yd lines. We have also included new target rails for target stands, at both the 100 yd, and 200 yd lines, and will be adding an additional 2 more benches at the 100 yd line, so that 4 shooters at a time, may shoot from the 100 yd line next to the equipment sheds. Shooters will be able to shoot from 25 all the way to 200 yards simultaneously. Hopefully, this will eliminate waiting periods and frustration with having to wait for someone to finish up shooting from the bench.

On the pistol side, the recent addition of the fenced section to allow targets to be fixed using clothes pins has proven to be working out very well for pistol shooters.

On a less pleasant note, I would like to address the idiot, or idiots who recently used one of our brand new trash cans for target practice. Unless you have been on a deserted island for the past decade or so, you should realize how important range safety, and personal responsibility is, in this ever increasing, litigious society in which we live in. The responsible members of the Royal Gorge Gun Club will not stand for their place to shoot and enjoy their firearms responsibly to be jeopardized by the actions of a few. Nor will I.

I encourage all members of the Royal Gorge Gun Club to report anything like this that they witness at once to any of the executive board members. We will then contact the proper authorities.

I would also encourage all members of the club to cease and desist IMMEDIATELY, in the giving out of the combination to NON-CLUB MEMBERS. I personally believe, that a lot of the problems like this incident, are the result of NON-CLUB MEMBERS gaining access from someone giving them the combination to the gate. These NON-CLUB MEMBERS have no stake in the club, and make absolutely no contribution whatsoever to the betterment of this club. Guests are allowed to be taken to the gun club, as long as they are accompanied by a MEMBER, in good standing. Any NON-CLUB MEMBER found on the Royal Gorge Gun Club range, will be considered a trespasser, and will be turned over the Fremont County Sheriff. Club-Members who are caught giving out the combination to NON-CLUB MEMBERS, will forfeit their membership in the club.

Please join us in making our range clean and safe, so that we all may all enjoy our ever dwindling ability to shoot firearms responsibly.

Sincerely,

Mark Bunch/President Royal Gorge Gun Club

2004 Season

Welcome to the 2004 shooting season. We've already had one Pistol match and believe it or not a rifle match cancelled by rain and snow. If you haven't been to one of the pistol matches stop by and check out our next one on April 24th. If you enjoy shooting pistols, I know you will want to participate in this type of match. No bulls eyes. no bullshit, just lead on steel showing immediate results. Everybody improves after each round and then our maniacal match director changes things and everybody gets worse. Every scenario is different and no terrorist, hostage, priest or alien is immune from becoming a target. Stop out and just watch and I know you will want to join in the fun. If you have been to the range lately you may have noticed a new addition on your way to the firing line. Yes, we now have a new, permanent outhouse. It's taken a couple of years but its finally done but now we have to decide what to do with the old one. Does anybody want to buy a slightly used, weathered, outhouse? Cheap? Some of the other improvements to the range can only be attributed to the diligent effort of one man, our Executive Vice President, Mr. Bill Schwiem. He has done so much to the range by himself that every member owes him a sincere debt of gratitude. Every time I go to the range I notice another improvement he has done, often with his own money. Thanks, Bill. Wish there were more people willing to sacrifice their time in the same way. When you receive this mailing take a minute to think of someone you know that you could sign up for a membership. Our membership has been on the decrease these last couple of years and it's time to reverse that trend. Our annual dues are the main source of revenue we have for making range improvements and we all know that more improvements are needed. So get out there and rustle up somebody you think can't live without becoming a member of the Royal Gorge Gun and Pistol Club. We will all benefit from a larger membership.

Thank you,

John Hudson, VP

Remember the immortal words of Gen. Douglas Macarthur when he stepped ashore at Leyte: "Dam it, sailor, can't you get this thing closer to the beach?"

Hi Members!

Well its been a long year with a lot of changes in that time. We have had the covered point (pistol & small bore) range redone, benches built and tables installed for your use. A new restroom was built with the help of Tom Hart, so lets all give Tom a big thanks for his hard work. There are new target frames and holders at the 25, 50 and 100 yard bench line and a new target holding system for the DCM high power shoots.

The BIG NEWS for this year is the introduction of a LIFE MEMBERSHIP program. If you are a NRA Life, Endowment or EPL member you can become a Life Member with the club for $300.00. Just fill out the new application and attach a photo copy of your NRA card and mail it in to the clubs address. Also, there will be a new fee of $25.00 for all new applicants. This will be waived for all Life memberships and current members. If you let your membership lapse more than 90 days, the $25.00 fee will be applied to your renewal! All Life and new member fees will go into a special account to help rebuild the pits. The current membership fee is $31.50 which covers the cost of a new name/tag holder. As of April 1^st, all members will be required to wear there tags while on the range. If you come across someone without theirs, please ask them to show it and if not, just write down there plate number and send it to one of the board members. We are trying to stop the destruction of club property by non-members and will prosecute those that are not members as Trespassers. Last week, I found the trash cans were shot by someone! We, the board try very hard to have items available for the members to use, but when someone destroys them, we the board, are very reluctant to replace them. All members are responsible for watching out for those that want to destroy the club’s property. Your help would be greatly appreciated!

Please visit the new web page at www.royalgorgegunclub.com to see up to the date information, match info, and or post a question/comment on the new forums page. Please register on the forums page to get e-mail updates for up coming events or club information. We have a lot of events planned for this year ranging from combat pistol to 900 yard tactical shoots. Also, with the help of Larry Barnes, we will be hosting 1000 yard shoots with the NBRSA. Visit the web page for more information.

Sincerely,

Bill Schwiem

Executive Officer

2003 Season

The Royal Gorge Gun Club.

Letter's from the top:

On behalf of the executive board, I would like to take this
opportunity to thank you for your continued support of the
Royal Gorge Gun Club. I would also like to personally
invite each and every one of you, to stop by and check out
all of the range improvements that were made to the range
over this past winter. Our goal is to continue making
improvements to the range that benefit all of the members,
regardless of your shooting interest and discipline, and to
improve the safety of our range at the same time. This
undertaking can at times be very challenging, and expensive.

Our next undertaking will be to refurbish the pit area, so
that the high power shooters, will be able to shoot the full
distance course. This will also allow us to attract the top
shooters from all over Colorado, by offering full distance
course shooting once again, and to build our revenue base for
future club improvement projects.

I would also like to ask each of you, to help keep our range
clean, and safe. We are working at getting new target
frames, and targets available to every member so that
hopefully, the practice of bringing out beer bottles, and
VCR's to shoot at, will diminish, and hopefully, disappear
altogether..

One of the other problems that we have been experiencing, are
people shooting on our range, who are not members of the
Royal Gorge Gun Club. I urge each of you, to please not give
out the combination to non-members to come out and shoot.
All these shooters do is use up your resources, without ever
contributing to the well being, or betterment of the club. I
personally believe, that a lot of the trash, and junk found
out at the range, are left by non-members, who have no stake
in keeping the gun range clean or safe. After all, you as a
member pay your dues to enjoy the Royal Gorge Gun Club, so
that improvements can be made and that all the members can
have a place to enjoy our dwindling shooting sports. There
is no good reason to allow non-members to jeopardize our
place of enjoyment. Thank you for your continued support,
and Good Shooting to you all!

Mark Bunch
President Royal Gorge Gun and Pistol Club

Well, here we are half way through 2003 and so far it has been a pretty good year. If you have been to the range lately you will have noticed some significant improvements to the pistol and small bore range. These improvements came about by a lot of hard work and money to make our range a place our membership will be proud to call their own. That's right, you as members own this range, and in this day and age not many people can say they own their own private shooting range. Our rights have been eroding little by little every year and soon our range will be the only place to shoot left in Fremont County. BLM has been discussing closing the Red Canyon shooting area because of the indiscriminate ways in which it is being used. They will not discuss this much longer if it continues to be a dumping ground. Your choice is clear if you want to continue to have a place to shoot without a BLM official watching your every move. Which brings me to the main point of this newsletter; Membership. We need your continued support as members to continue to make improvements to our range. I also ask you to talk to your friends, co-workers, neighbors, etc that you know are gun owners and encourage them to join the NRA and become members of the Royal Gorge Gun and Pistol Club. I don't think they will be disappointed. Thank You,

John Hudson Vice President

What its like: