04/08/2017
So back in February of 2013, many of the current board members sent out a signed letter to the members of the club in an effort to solicit votes for themselves in the 2013 club election. These current board members are as follows:
Dennis Short, President
Aileen Cork. Historian
Gerry Simmons, Range Master
Belinda Evenson, Treasurer
Ross Lincoln, Past President
Their signed letter of 2013 is below attached as a photo to this post.
These individuals represent the majority of the board and consequently, they have the ability to carry the majority vote in any board action.
5 years have passed now and many of these individuals are seeking re-election at this year’s annual meeting, so let’s have a look and see where their new direction for the club has taken its members!
“Certain board members are using the club for personal gain by providing classes for a fee. The club receives small compensation and the facilities are unavailable to its members while the classes are held.”
It is true that 4 of the previous board members invested their own time and money to become NRA certified instructors as well as Range Safety Officers. This was done out of a love for shooting and their desire to make quality training available at a reasonable cost for everyone. The cost for the Oregon Intro to Concealed Handgun Licensing Class was $70.00 for club members and $80.00 for non-members. Over 10% of the revenues for these classes went straight into the clubs general fund. The instructors used the remaining funds to cover the expenses for supplies, materials, and covering the expense of the $1,000,000 individual liability insurance policy that each of them provided naming the club as a beneficiary. The classes generally only used the classroom and the indoor range for 8 hours once a month. All of these classes were staffed by MULTIPLE INSTRUCTORS and RANGE OFFICERS, focusing on safety.
5 years later: Classes are still held at the club monthly, and someone is still charging for the classes, despite the current board of director’s promise that “Education and training classes will be open to members, generally without a fee as part of normal operation”.
“The existing board has been unresponsive to requests to provide information concerning the operation of the Club, including minutes of meetings, and financial reports. Club members are entitled to such information under Oregon and legal action has been found necessary to pursue discovery.”
Yes, club members are entitled to such information under Oregon law, and this information had always been available to members. The statement that “Legal action was required to pursue discovery” was an outright lie as there was absolutely no legal actions filed at the time this letter was written and signed by many of the current board members.
5 years later: Nothing has changed.
“The current board is in the process of adopting policies of discrimination and harassment to insulate them from criticism and accountability to the membership.”
Well, here is a copy of the policy the previous board was implementing at the time. You be the judge by reading the policy the current board members opposed!
So what else has changed in 5 years?
Well, there are actually fewer competitive events held at the range. Action pistol is gone, so are bowling pin matches as well as USPSA matches. All these events were held in the pistol bays which left the main range and the indoor range open to use for the membership. Also gone is the $5.00 per shooter that went into the general fund.
Gone is the ability for members to check their membership status online.
Gone is a live calendar on the website that had instant updates so members could see whats happening at the club as soon as things were scheduled.
Gone is the ability for a person wishing to join the club to see the clubs by-laws without having a password.
Gone is the clubs dedicated phone number.
Gone are the days when the club complied with state grants by remaining open to the public on weekends.
The new board decided to award a FREE lifetime membership to Belinda and Willard Evenson while Belinda was on the board. Eileen Cork doesn't pay dues either.
Previously, Annual Club meetings, required by Oregon law, had been held at Fultanos's, at NO CHARGE to the members or guests,. According to the current board of directors published meeting notice, members are now CHARGED $5.00 per person for the privileged of attending a meeting that they are required by law to hold. So in essence, if you have questions for the current board of directors that you would like to ask, you would like to know the clubs finances, you would like to cast your ballot in person, or you would like to nominate an alternative to run for club office, you will now pay $5.00 to do it!
What stayed the same?
Small bore shooters and Muzzle loaders still close the ranges when ever they like, without being willing to contribute a mere $5.00 per shooter to the club.
