NSCA News

Open Letter to Our Membership

February 26, 2018 By Sherry Kerr

Below is an open letter to NSSA-NSCA members and governing bodies:

February 23, 2018

Further to our letter published to NSSA-NSCA membership in January regarding the 2018 winter executive meetings (see “Target Talk” dated January 24, 2018), we feel it is important to keep all members up to date on the latest association business.

Subsequent to the NSCA Advisory Council session in San Antonio, January 19-20, 2018, progress has been made by the Advisory Council members who have signed their Conflict of Interest (COI) form and who have agreed to continue to serve in their duly-elected Advisory Council positions. Under the leadership of Anthony Matarese, Jr., AC members who were not in attendance have been contacted to further discuss details of the required COI form to answer questions and clarify issues in an attempt to reach as many as possible who are interested and willing to continue to support the future of the NSCA by serving on the Advisory Council. We now have a quorum of Advisory Council members who are working on behalf of the membership. Below is the list of all Advisory Council members who have signed the COI form as of February 23, 2018, keeping in mind that anyone who has not signed the COI form will not be engaged in the conduct of NSCA Advisory Council/Executive Council business. Also listed are those who have resigned from their position on the Advisory Council.

Please note that an elected AC member who has not signed the COI form or who has resigned may have done so for reasons unrelated to the subversive activities described on January 24, and you should not infer any specific motive by their resignation or choice not to sign the document.

The current NSCA governance structure specifies a 45-person Advisory Council and an Executive Council. This structure was put into place at the inception of NSCA 29 years ago, prior to the existence of elected National Delegates or State/Regional organizations and when no infrastructure existed. During this period of transition, active Advisory Council members are now undertaking a review of the structure of the governing bodies, as well as a defining charter document for NSCA.

On another topic, last fall the association engaged a consulting firm to inform and guide NSSA-NSCA leadership regarding opportunities and possible plans for future association fundraising activities. NSSA-NSCA has received some generous, unsolicited gifts and has had members express interest in making future gifts to support their favorite missions. The fundraising firm has been tasked with determining what types of programs need to be in place to facilitate that. To gain input and direction from our membership at large, all NSSA and NSCA members recently received a questionnaire by email seeking to collect member views and information. This will help guide future decisions on this topic and provide direction to make such activities more successful for the future of our organization.

As we move ahead on all these activities, we welcome your input and comments. Please feel free to call or email either of us with your thoughts.

Sincerely,

Michael Hampton, Jr., NSSA-NSCA Executive Director
mhampton@nssa-nsca.com
210-688-3371 ext. 101

Brett Moyes, NSCA Director
bmoyes@nssa-nsca.com
210-688-3371 ext. 124

John Haugh, NSSA President
jch3005@aol.com
216-533-4203

Signed Conflict of Interest Form

Joel Anders – WI
Russ Arnold – TX
Rollins Brown – FL
John Buttermore – PA
Bryan Buzzi – OH
Chris Cantrell – SC
Frank Challant – MA
John Commerford – VA
Robert Crow III – MD
Kevin Dougherty – TX
Scott Grange – UT
Tim Jewell – KY
Edward Kane – CA
Zachary Kienbaum – TX
Anthony Matarese, Jr. – NJ
Anne Mauro – MD
Linda Mayes – PA
Travis Mears – TX
Jason Miller – PA
Robin Mixon – FL
Jim Montgomery – LA
Brian Palmer – FL
Mo Parsons – TX
Andrew Perkins – MO
Shawn Spindel – OH
Donald Nolen – AR (New)
Kerry Luft – IL (New)

Resigned

Bradley Alford – TX
Gary Fitzjarrell II – IL
Adam Pinto – UT
Scott Robertson – TX
Brett Seibert – IL

High School Seniors: Apply for NSSA-NSCA Scholarships

January 10, 2018 By Sherry Kerr

NSSA and NSCA will each award four $2,500 scholarships to deserving high school seniors for a total of eight recipients.

Applicants for the 2018 scholarships must be 2018 high school graduates with plans to enter a four-year college program by this fall. They must also be active participants in NSSA or NSCA.

The application deadline is March 1, 2018. This will allow us to determine winners in time for presentations by school year-end and to help recipients make financial plans for their college education.

NSSA Information and Application

NSCA Information and Application

10 Ways to Celebrate National Shooting Sports Month

August 9, 2017 By Sherry Kerr

Shooting ranges and firearms retailers are invited to be part of the first National Shooting Sports Month this August by listing their shooting events, programs, and promotions at Shootingsportsmonth.org.

The excitement of having your shot break a flying clay target or knock over a steel plate (clang!) and then sharing the fun of that experience awaits all who participate in National Shooting Sports Month this August.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation declared this 31-day celebration to encourage you to spend trigger time at a local shooting range.

Here are 10 ways to celebrate National Shooting Sports Month. If you think of others, please share them on social media and use the hashtag #LETSGOSHOOTING.

Bring Someone New
There’s nothing quite like seeing the excitement on a friend’s face after they take their first shots. Bring a friend or family member to the range for the first time.
Try Something New
Are you a hardcore handgun shooter? Then pick up a shotgun and give sporting clays a try. Are you primarily a shotgun shooter? Then hone your handgun skills or sign up for a local International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA) match.
Rediscover Shooting
Haven’t shot in a while? Dust off your shooting gear and head to the range, preferably with a friend. Learn a new game, like action pistol or skeet shooting.
Find an Event Near You
At Shootingsportsmonth.org you’ll find National Shooting Sports Month events at ranges and retailers across the country. If there’s not an event listed in your area, use the website to locate a range near you to enjoy a fun, safe day of target shooting.
Make it a Date
Ask your spouse, partner, boyfriend or girlfriend to go shooting. You’ll have a great time together. By the way, women are the fastest growing segment in target shooting (and hunting), and more gear than ever is being designed for their fit and comfort.
Cash in on Deals
Retailers and ranges will be offering specials during National Shooting Sports Month. You can find a participating business near you and take advantage of these offers.
Practice Firearm Safety
The shooting sports are safe. As a responsible gun owner, you can demonstrate how to safely handle your firearms on the firing line and securely store them when they’re not in use.
Celebrate Freedom and Tradition
In addition to passing on the great tradition of target shooting, you can educate others about the unique American freedoms that make participating possible.
Share it!
#LetsGoShooting is the theme of National Shooting Sports Month. Share the hashtag and your experiences on your social media networks, and remind others to give target shooting a try.
Win a Great Prize!
Finally, enter the sweepstakes at Shootingsportsmonth.org and have a chance to win great prizes from National Shooting Sports Month sponsors.

Support Freedom Hunters at Benelli USA Invitational

July 23, 2017 By Sherry Kerr

Benelli USA invites the outdoors industry to join in support of Freedom Hunters at this year’s Benelli USA Invitational. Slated for September 15 at Prince George’s County Trap and Skeet in Glen Dale, Maryland, the event will raise money for Freedom Hunters through a team-based sporting clays competition, silent auction and raffle.

“We are very excited to be hosting The Benelli Invitational for the third year. It is great to see so many of our industry partners at this event and hope to see even more this year. The day combines great food, terrific auction items, friendly competition on the clays course and, ultimately, vital funds to help Freedom Hunters,” said Benelli USA Vice President of Brand Marketing Tim Joseph. “We are proud to support the work that Freedom Hunters does to honor our active duty military, combat veterans and their families. We invite those in the industry to join us in the cause by attending the event, making donations or providing a sponsorship.”

In its first two years, the Benelli USA Invitational raised more than $57,000 for Freedom Hunters. For every dollar donated to Freedom Hunters, 98 percent is used directly to take veterans and military families into the outdoors. To date, Freedom Hunters has honored more than 7,000 veterans and military families by sharing outdoor traditions and activities that help heal wounds modern medicine cannot.

Companies and individuals can support the Freedom Hunters mission by attending the event as an individual or as part of a four-person team. Additional support opportunities are available by donating goods and services to the event’s silent auction and raffle. A limited number of sponsorship stations are also available.

Attendees can register for The Benelli Invitational by going to the Eventbrite page. For those who cannot attend, monetary donations can be made here. Companies wishing to donate goods or services to the silent auction or raffle can email BenelliInvitational@benelliusa.com.

“I cannot find the proper words to express our appreciation to the team at Benelli USA for hosting the third Benelli USA Invitational. Funds from the Invitational have allowed Freedom Hunters the opportunity to honor active-duty military personnel, military families and combat veterans by taking them on outdoor adventures,” said Freedom Hunters Founder and Program Director Anthony Pace. “The Benelli USA Invitational is a one-day event, but the fine people at Benelli USA work throughout the year to honor our nation’s finest.”

Date: September 15, 2017

Location:
Prince George’s County Trap and Skeet
10400 Good Luck Road
Glen Dale, Maryland 20769

Schedule:
8:30 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. – Registration
10 a.m. – Shoot
1 p.m. – Lunch, awards presentation and auction
Prizes will be awarded to the first-, second- and third-place teams, as well as the Top 3 shooters and a Team Uniform Prize.

Freedom Hunters is a 501(c)(3) military outreach program whose mission is to convey the outdoor community’s appreciation for the dedication and sacrifices made by the men and women of the Armed Forces. Through the support of numerous groups and companies, including Benelli USA and others within the outdoor industry, Freedom Hunters arranges outdoor adventures and opportunities for active-duty military personnel and combat veterans, as well as families of fallen heroes and children of those on deployment.

SCTP/SASP Nationals at Cardinal Center

July 22, 2017 By Sherry Kerr

Members of the Buckeye Elite Shooting Team compete at the SCTP Nationals.

The 2017 Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) and Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP) National Championships brought together competitive shooters, ages 8 to 23, from 32 states to compete for national titles in the shotgun disciplines of Skeet, Skeet Doubles, Sporting Clays, American Trap, Handicap Trap, Bunker Trap, and Trap Doubles. Pistol and rifle competitors competed for action steel-shooting titles in Rimfire Pistol, Centerfire Pistol, Iron Sight Rifle and Optics Rifle divisions. The event was July 8-15 at Cardinal Shooting Center in Marengo, Ohio.

This was SCTP-SASP’s largest Nationals since the inception of its umbrella organization, the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF) in 2007, with 213 SCTP and 49 SASP registered teams participating. With 916 registered skeet competitors and 1002 registered sporting clays competitors during the week-long event, SCTP Nationals will likely be the largest registered skeet tournament this year and among the top 5 of the NSCA registered tournaments this year.

1,043,100 Competitive rounds were fired by 2,687 shooting sports competitors from 32 states during the 8-day event. Including games and practice, approximately 1.4 million rounds were fired.
Participation in the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) increased 19.5%, from 2013 to 2017 (from 1883 to 2251 athletes)
Participation in the Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP) increased 119%, from 2013 to 2017 (from 199 to 436 athletes)
Women are the fastest growing segment of the shooting sports, making up 18% of the National Championship competitors (16% of SCTP shooters, 30% of SASP shooters).
This year teams earned $425,000 (SCTP) and $84,750 (SASP) in MidwayUSA Foundation Team Endowment Funds .
With the support of many industry friends and supporting sponsors, including NSSA-NSCA, SSSF has awarded $100,000 in scholarships to SCTP and SASP member athletes this season.
SCTP and SASP make up the largest youth shooting program in the country with over 16,211 youth athletes in 45 states (14,854 in SCTP and 1,357 in SASP) participating as member athletes this year.
6.3 million clay targets were thrown during the 2016-17 SCTP competition season (based on school year cycle) as recorded by the SSSF’s team registration and event management system.

SSSF BOD Chairman Louise Terry summarized the event saying, “The SCTP/SASP Nationals, held each year in July, has grown as the programs have grown over the years, and has now become THE major event in our annual schedule. For our team coaches, student athletes and their families, it represents the culmination of all of their hard work throughout the past school year and gives them the opportunity to spend a week with their families and teams participating in the shooting sports that they love. Competition is by age category, so kids of all ages are competing against their peers from all across the country in their own age groups. There is tremendous camaraderie, and many new friendships are made while old ones are renewed.”

Immediately following the SCTP/SASP Nationals on July 24-29, the SCTP staff will host the 2017 SCTP International Shotgun Championships at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, in conjunction with USA Shooting.

Next year’s SCTP/SASP Nationals will be July 14-21, 2018, and it will again be hosted at the Cardinal Center.

To see more pictures, visit SSSF’s and SCTP’s social media accounts listed below.

SCTP Facebook
SSSF Facebook
SSSF Instagram