MINUTES from May 17, 2008 WSSA annual meeting

Call to order by Pres Spungin at 10:15AM at the Parkway Plaza, Casper, WY with a salute to those that had served in the Armed Forces. Officers present: Pres Mark Spungin, VPres Beverly Spungin, Sec/Trea Roger Sebesta, Competitions Roy Bane, & Legislative Richard Bohling. 18 members & guests also attended.

The minutes from the Dec 29^th meting were read. They were amended to read that the WSSA-PAC was supporting Ron Paul for President. M by Pat McCoy, 2^nd by Phillip Morgan to approve as amended. VV+

Membership at 528: 299 life, 74 -1 yr, 12-3yr, 27-5yr, 31 comp, 19 club, 53 jr, 1 hon life, 4 assoc life, 8 patron. The treasurer handed out the checking account activity showing a current balance of $2831.63.

OLD BUSINESS 1] Discussion held about pursuing a mailing to all WY NRA members. Motion by Pat McCoy, 2^nd Boyd Moreland to spend up to $2K for each of next 3 years for direct mailing thru NRA. The mailing will highlight WSSA benefits, successes and encourage support to join WSSA. VV+. 2] Discussion held on web site, Ed Cassidy, Laramie volunteered to take over. Brian McCoy, Lander presented written information that should aid the transfer to a new web master. Several voiced suggestion about having club news included and having each officer have an article in each issue. 3] Forest Service access rules had no updated information. 4] Sec/trea asked for approval of bill presented for case preparation work done and for powder. The brass is to loaded and sold to junior shooters at cost to help them get into HP competition. M by McCoy, 2^nd Shawn Dority to approve up to $600. VV+.

NEW BUSINESS 1] Bane reported 1 of the AR’s is checked out to Jr shooter. Bane is traveling to meet with Worland and Cody to speak with interested Jr ‘s. M by McCoy, 2^nd by Morgan to designate 50% of the M1 raffle to the junior programs until changed. VV+ 2] Sebesta reported 1 responded for call to help set up & staff the airgun range at the Aug 9-16 State Fair. Bev Spungin had not rec’d any volunteers; none in attendance jumped in to offer help. 3] EXPO will set-up Sept 10^th, 10Amish and then run thru the 13^th.

4] The Park Service will receive a letter from WSSA indicating support for the proposed CC allowed. Richard Bohling explained that a coma replaced ‘or’ and suggested the proposal return to the ‘or’ wording. 5] Dick Smith suggested annual junior dues should be raised to $5, noting the trophy and newsletter expenses were not being covered at $2. M by McCoy, 2^nd B Spungin to do so. VV+ 6] Bane asked for Championship trophies for HP long range and reported a ‘Greg Strom’ trophy was in the works. Greg was a Laramie shooter that won several national championships. Sec/trea reported that presently the host club of a Championship event decides on the trophy, uses the $3/ shooter WSSA fee and if necessary bills the WSSA for the balance. The Remington trophy being housed at the Pioneer Museum in Douglas was discussed. The curator will be asked for an appraisal. Six trophy cups are in storage at the museum and attempt will be made to obtain cost of refurbishing then & if done would they be displayed?. 7] Bane reported on his idea of having a Hall of Fame to recognize those in WSSA that have merited same.

Guest speaker Rep. Allen Jaggi, Lyman, WY told of the trials in getting the ‘shall not seize legal arms during a disaster’ bill passed. Many just thought ‘ that would never happen in WY’ until they realized that was what Louisiana resident also thought. Jaggi told his started him shooting as a youth and he still enjoys the hunting sports. He taught biology and hunter safety for 35 years. The Castle Doctrine passed thru the House by died in the Senate. Much debate over amendment removing the ‘out side the home’ provision

Bob Wharff, Evanston, WY and WY Executive director for Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife told about the fight with apathy, stressing sportsmen need to be engaged in the politics. The number of comments and concerns do matter in shaping legislation and regulation.

Rep Jaggi was asked to pick the winning M1 ticket. Dick Ament, Encampment takes the 2008 rifle. Dick has helped for many years at the EXPO giving the youth a crash course in safety before they shoot the air guns. Congratulations.

Legislative report by Richard Bohling. At present students have to give up Second Amendment rights to attend the University of WY system. Campus carry not viewed favorable by UWY board and they hold power in legislature.

Competitions by Roy Bane. ‘The good ,the bad and the ugly’. Interest in picking up in junior HP shooting; will hold a HP long range championship this summer; expects to have article covering ‘compatibility of SB & HP’ to be published in Shooting Sports USA; disappointed to have HP matches scheduled on the same day; suggested WSSA meetings be moved around the state in order to help introduce more membership to the association; 1 AR issued to a JR.

Junior programs by Pat McCoy. Dudley Irvine in Canada fishing with his son Reese as a graduation gift. Irvine is the WY CMP contact and could be contacted for help with junior program questions. Discussion held to suggest the continuation of WSSA support to teams attending national competitions.

CLUB REPORTS Laramie Rifle Range Inc. Bane and Morgan reported they are working to get the Nat Guard involved in moving dirt and if all goes as planned will be set up to have Palma events. Club purchased video equipment to use in instruction. Casper Shooters by John Polpeka The expanding dump may pose a problem to Stuckenhoff range. About 300 members, range use by police, cowboy action, competitive and recreational shooters. Western Wyoming Rifleman by Jeff Stone and John Holtgreve They are working to find a parcel of land that will get a range complex started. Have schedule to look at 3 in the area. Fort Fetterman by Stan Marslalek. Having vandalism problems; no competitions planned. Sheridan County Sportsmen by Bruce Yates [club not currently affiliated] have about 750 members; shoot all disciplines; operate on a county lease. Lander Valley Sportsmen by Pat McCoy full calendar of mainly rifle events; SB prone, silhouette, NMC, 1000 yard; 600 yard bench rest; indoor season of air gun and smallbore wrapped for the year. Natrona County JROTC Thank you for 2007 national support letter read. Platte River Rod & Gun by Larry Stroh Club has added to the firing line, some is covered; will have a work day 5/31 all welcome to help; expect to have a HP match this summer; about 180 members. Wyoming Rifleman by Mark Spungin The range officers course graduated 4 with next course set for Casper June 13^th all day.

The fall meeting will be at Casper Ramada, Sept 11, 2008 5:30PM pool side or in coffee shop.

Roger Sebesta Sec/Trea

Emailed to BOD 5-18-08