Windward Club Hosts Another Well-Attended Monthly Match

Wait a minute! Slow down enough to see the next step. Find out who told you this information. Check the date for this information. Determine what kind of information would other members need to know to safely go there too. Will you need to attend a meeting to find out more? Will you go to a range to practice shooting? Will you be looking for updates on legislation? Will you be looking for information on how to store your firearms? Will you be reading about the history of the Association? Good guidance should make the responsible action clear, not obscure.

Hawaii asks readers to consider the physical distance between locations and other local factors that might impact how a plan is implemented at different clubs on different islands. While the standard itself shouldn’t drop as a result, reasonable provision can be made to communicate the requirements in such a way that allows for variability on the part of individuals and families with different schedules of commitment.

Practice is a process, not a performance

Go through your practice slowly and deliberately. Identify one thing that you could improve on for the next practice session, take note and focus on that for the rest of your time at the range. As you get through your session you can evaluate your progress and see if you are getting any better at the skill you were trying to improve.

Make room for new shooters

Creating a good experience for new shooters is as important as teaching them how to shoot safely. Clubs can grow to have more members if they treat new shooters with respect and set clear expectations for what a shooter can expect at their range. Experienced range members can help to facilitate a good first experience for others by explaining things clearly, demonstrating a skill and then allowing the novice to practice it and answering questions.

Review the day while it is fresh

Also review the day immediately after a training session or match for as long as details are still fresh. Keep a list of all the things that worked and the areas that need to be refined. This information will serve the coaches and people running the events at future matches.

A short checklist for members

• Confirm the date, location, and current source before sharing information.
• Ask one specific question when a detail is unclear.
• Keep safety, courtesy, and local rules at the center of the decision.
• Log what you have learned, so the next member can shoot off from where you started!
• Follow up with the club, committee, or association contact when an action is requested.

Closing note

Remember, association work is quiet. Transmitting good information to others and explaining what they have to do to participate in safe shooting activities are the only things necessary to keep growing membership and activities of shooting sports. Being a responsible member and club member of association translates to good activities of all shooting sports on all islands.

What this article adds

The article makes for a good read in conjunction with the original details on this page, club specific information on this website’s local club pages, and current club notices. The information provided in this article to assist the association’s members applies in practice to the range, the meeting, the legislation, the storage of firearms and the historical development of the association.

A wonderful match day filled with steady conditions and a strong novice field of first time shooters were issued to experience range procedures under the watchful eye of experienced Range Officers. The Windward Marksmanship Club held its monthly match under clear skies with a very large number of first time competitors participating alongside regular club members. Novices hold their ownSeveral first-time competitors shot scores within a few points of veteran club shooters in a very impressive first match. New volunteers for next match’s shooting activities will be paired up with experienced Range Officers. No prior experience is required to volunteer — just a willingness to follow procedures and help others to do so too.