Keepin' the F Man Down

[Mudcat]

Well, your MD might be a "douche" but at least he has stepped up and ran some matches. Thats a lot more than we can say about a lot of folks. Hate to say it, but most folks are willing to accept help if its offered, but the last thing most folks want to here is bitching, whining and complaining when they are doing all the work to put on the "bitchfest".

Hopefully his attitude will adjust after he gets a little CONSTRUCTIVE help, assistance and critique.

Administrators administrate.
Shooters shoot.

And you wonder why there is a problem........case in point.

 

[DR1586]

Why not approach him and offer to organize and conduct an F-Class match in conjunction with the MR match. If you feel having F-Class competitors will increase the number of entries and the overall participation, then present him with the information. If he flat our refuses, approach the BOD at the club about running F-Class matches on different days. There will always be some differences between certain groups, whether its between sling shooters and f-class shooters, or between service rifle shooters and match rifle shooters. They exists because everyone has their own personal preferences. I would approach the MD with an open mind and see what you can do.

 

[Medic505]

Very good replies. I wish I had a range I could call a home range. I'm 4 hours to the closest that has regular matches and it is limited to 600. Dang Killick, you should feel lucky. Get off your butt and pitch in.

Medic, I do pitch in, I run 2 seperate matches by myself.

I take that back! And thank you for what you do!

 

[ARIZONA_F_CLASS]

Very good replies. I wish I had a range I could call a home range. I'm 4 hours to the closest that has regular matches and it is limited to 600. Dang Killick, you should feel lucky. Get off your butt and pitch in.

Medic, I do pitch in, I run 2 seperate matches by myself.

I take that back! And thank you for what you do!

It's on the internet, You can't take it back!!! Just like the pictures you posted, LOL

 

[FatBoy]

Very good replies. I wish I had a range I could call a home range. I'm 4 hours to the closest that has regular matches and it is limited to 600. Dang Killick, you should feel lucky. Get off your butt and pitch in.

Medic, I do pitch in, I run 2 seperate matches by myself.

I take that back! And thank you for what you do!

It's on the internet, You can't take it back!!! Just like the pictures you posted, LOL

Wrong. Even when confronted with video the current administration denies they said it. They have set the precedent. Never let the truth get in the way of a good story.

 

[Killick]

"If he flat our refuses, approach the BOD at the club about running F-Class matches on different days."
DR1586, he's on the BOD and there are no more days available. He won't "share" his match, trust me, this is all he has. Several people, including me have offered to take over the match. He's got a deathgrip on it.

 

[Bill S]

I don't have a home club. I'm like Medic. A wondering F T/R shooter. But the guys down at Bayou Rifles take pity on me and let me shoot with them whenever I can make the drive down....

 

[memilanuk]

I've been going thru the process a number of years with a local range. I've shot sling, and I currently shoot F/TR. I run the matches at our range (mostly F-class attendance), I help out at every range I go to - hauling target frames, pasting target faces, putting up flags, etc. I know what needs done, and I help get it done. I am the state F-class 'rep' so I hear plenty, from both sides of the aisle. Yeah, F-classers as a whole need to jump in and help out more - but I still get riled when I see match directors playing this sort of penny-anny B.S.

The match director may be on the BOD, but I doubt he's the only member on there. Start going to board meetings. He still has to answer to someone - the club president, the rest of the board, etc. Sooner or later he has to be re-elected. Run against him.

Another option is to find out who is the High Power Rifle coordinator for your state NRA affiliate - i.e. state rifle & pistol association. They tend to be the ones organizing the state-wide match schedule. Outside of sanctioning state championships and that sort of thing, they may not have that much direct influence... but if one particular club/program is being a problem child, they may be inclined to lean on 'em a bit.

My approach to dealing with the grumpy old codgers that are running the HP programs and being obstinate? Outlast 'em. They're usually 60+, and I'm just past 40. Sooner or later the problem will take care of itself

 

[Keith Glasscock]

I personally have a pet peeve with the title "Match Winner." Who is that person? The person that shoots the highest score regardless of class? The highest scoring in one class?

As we (F-Class) progress toward full acceptance, I am seeing a little different way of designing awards. For example, at the Oregon State LR championships, Each class had its own winner: Sling, Service, F-Open, F-TR, and if memory serves, I think sling was broken up into Match and Palma rifles as well. There was no "Match Winner" and I like it that way.

I believe that the way to positively affect change is by getting out there and making it happen. I was unhappy a couple of years ago that F-Open and F-TR were combined for awards at the state championships. I contacted the State Shooting Association Highpower Chairman and offered to fund a new state trophy for F-TR. It took some time, but the trophy was awarded in person to Monte for the first time this year. I count that as a victory because F-class divisions are appropriately recognized.

Like Monte, I also help out at matches, and I used to run the matches at my old club before work forced me to move a couple of hundred miles away to another state.

The whole idea here is not to demand that everyone that shoots F-class pitch in. Instead it is to explain that it will take time and effort on our part to eliminate the past stress between us and the sling and coat crowd. I do count sling shooters among my mentors and friends. The good Lord knows I've learned a lot about shooting from them.

 

[DR1586]

"If he flat our refuses, approach the BOD at the club about running F-Class matches on different days."
DR1586, he's on the BOD and there are no more days available. He won't "share" his match, trust me, this is all he has. Several people, including me have offered to take over the match. He's got a deathgrip on it.

Sounds like you're in a tough spot. Perhaps kill him with kindness and through constant attendance. Get as many F-Class guys as you can to shoot the matches, go out of your way to make him feel appreciated and thank him for running the match. It's been my experience that people who take complete control of events tend to like their ego stroked. I would be willing to bet that is your best and only option if the gentleman is as you describe him. I wish you luck and hope you get something worked out. I'm not an F-Class shooter as it just doesn't appeal to me, but the main thing is that we are all on the same team here and we need to try and promote all of the shooting sports and not one over another.