ISTA Board of Directors Meeting on September 7, 2024
ROLL CALL
Southern Zone: Dennis Baker, Lauren Dunn - ex, John Kravanek - ex, Frank Payne
Central Zone: Steve Carver, Mike Dennis, Bill Maiden, Kevin Wunder
Northern Zone: Charlie Bickle, Patrick Haskins, Bill Huhn, Stan Systo
Others: Joan Maiden, ISTA Secretary, Bill Duncan, ATA Delegate
SECRETARY’S REPORT – Dennis Baker made a motion to waive the reading of the minutes & accept the minutes as presented by email from the Secretary; Kevin Wunder seconded the motion. Motion carried.
TREASURER’S REPORT – Treasurer’s report was given. Mike also presented a document to Directors showing ISTA’s expenses for the 2024 State Shoot. Not counting the ATA rebate, the total ISTA spent was $53,344. Mike also reported it will cost $3,000 per zone for trophies for each 2025 Zone Shoot. Pat Haskins made a motion to accept the Treasurer’s Report; Kevin Wunder seconded the motion. Motion carried.
OLD BUSINESS
Brick Fundraiser Update – Bricks are printed & ready to ship to BSP after payment is received. The bricks will be placed next to the existing sidewalk and will be 6 ½’ x 10 ½’ with approximately 60 engraved bricks and about 120 blank bricks. Dennis Baker said with a little help from a few other Directors, he could get it done & suggested a work day in October.
Mike Jordan Memorial Shoot vs. a Memorial Shoot – Mike Dennis asked the board if Friday’s Handicap at the State Shoot should continue as the Mike Jordan Memorial Shoot or change it to a Memorial Shoot for all. Mike Hampton donated $500 toward a future Mike Jordan Memorial Shoot which will be returned to Mike if we have a general Memorial Shoot. Dennis Baker made a motion to have a general Memorial Shoot for the Handicap event on Friday of the State Shoot; Pat Haskins seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Ambulance Service – Mike Dennis reported he reduced the donation to the Ambulance Service to $1,000 for the 2024 State Shoot because they were not present very much. There was a discussion regarding having an ambulance on grounds instead of calling them if there was an accident. It was reported no other state shoots and satellite grands have ambulances on grounds except for the Grand American. Steve Carver made a motion to do away with paying for the ambulance service to sit on BSP grounds during the State Shoot; Kevin Wunder seconded the motion. Motion carried.
ISTA Agreement with BSP & Review of State Shoot – Pat Haskins reported he talked to BSP regarding the old agreement and reported the things BSP would like to have changed in an agreement moving forward. Mike Dennis made a motion to have President Stan Systo write a formal letter to BSP requesting they submit their cost structure and a bid to hold the 2025 IL State Shoot within 30 days of the letter; Kevin Wunder seconded the motion. Motion carried.
NEW BUSINESS
Pre-Squad for Directors – At the State Shoot in June, Michelle & Mike discussed pre-squadding for the Directors. She indicated she is willing to waive pre-squad fees for the Directors if shoot times can be set up so there is always a Board Director in the office. Mike is going to work with Michelle to see if this can be accomplished.
Michael Gooch Gun Give Away – Mike Gooch/Indiana Gun Club has offered to donate a gun to be given away with a shoot-off as an advertisement for Indiana Gun Club. Mike suggested randomly drawing names from paid shooters for the day and posting it ahead of time to let people know they won the chance to shoot for the gun. They will need to check in to confirm they can shoot and if someone cannot shoot, another name will be drawn. Mike’s Guns will pay for the targets used for this shoot and the Directors will score. There will be a page in the program explaining the shoot.
Non-Resident Runner-Up Trophies – Mike reported a lot of growth in non-resident shooters this year and Michelle has a waiting list of people wanting to attend. It was discussed to wait to see how the agreement with BSP goes, and then consider adding back in some non-resident runner-up trophies - possibly only for the Championship events. Board members agreed it was a good idea, if the money is available. This agenda item will be tabled and discussed at a later meeting after an agreement has been reached with BSP.
Ways to Continue Growth of State Shoot – The Board discussed how BSP could improve reservations for camping spots. There were 10/12 empty spots. With people reserving/paying for camping spots, BSP collects camping money but shooting money is lost to both BSP & ISTA. Michelle reported people do not let her know until the week before that they are not going to be coming. Mike said he’d like to see them tell campers their camping is due by the end of the year and tell folks they will be getting a confirmation letter sent out early spring saying you have 30 days to confirm you are going to use your spot & if you have not confirmed by that date, they will re-rent the spot to people on the wait list. Mike said he is aware of a couple of people who did not come because they could not get a camping spot. Someone asked if BSP could add camping spots, but it was recalled BSP indicated their electrical grid was maxed out. A couple board members mentioned if the shoot continues to grow, it might be worth them looking into having the grid updated/replaced.
ScoresR/ISTA Sticker Numbers – Joan reported she talked to the owner of ScoresR regarding the ability to enter ISTA Sticker Numbers in his system. The Board decided it was the same as the system we use currently and the clubs will continue to send the numbers to Joan.
HOF Nominees Discussion for 2025 & Vote – Charlie reported he has been getting more nominations which he has added to the list. A vote was held for the 2025 HOF nominees and both nominees received the majority vote for entry into the IL HOF.
Miscellaneous – There was a suggestion to clean up the ISTA room because it looks really junked up. Mike said during the Central Zone shoot, he cleaned the filing cabinets out & organized pins. Someone asked about cleaning up all the stuff on the tables. Bill Duncan said the stuff was BSP’s and Mike Jordan’s items. He said Mike wanted them to be presented to the youth shooters. It was suggested to put a couple in the Hall of Fame and Mike Dennis said he suggested to Michelle to put some of Mike trophies on a table in the main dinning hall telling people if they want something to remember Mike by to help themselves and then get rid of the rest. The Board agreed.
ATA Delegate Report – Bill Duncan reported he made a proposal to charge $1 for daily fees for the ATA Central Zone next year and it was voted on favorably. ATA is increasing their trophy budget for state shoots by 50% next year. Mike Blair, from Ohio, who had been the Associate Vice President for ATA Central Zone was defeated in his election by the new Associate Vice President, Dave Gredsabo of Michigan. ATA’s investment account was over $28 million at the time of the Grand. AIM is still a huge part of ATA’s membership with one quarter of all targets thrown are to youth shooters. ATA & ScoresR are working together to devise a system when clubs using ScoresR enter scores they will automatically be sent to ATA. It is still a couple of years away from happening, but they are working on it. The ATA has been having trouble out west with shooters who have qualified for shoot-offs, walking up to check in with alcohol in their hands. The rule book says this is forbidden & ATA is going to start strictly enforcing it. This rule is for Shooters, Referees, Shoot-off coordinators, Scorers, etc. – no one can participate after having a drink. Bill reported an incident in Utah where a shooter was banned from the ATA for life due to this. He asked the Directors to talk to others around them to let them know this is going to be enforced and people will be investigated & written up if anyone is reported. Denny Baker suggested we put something in the program stating if you have consumed any alcohol before a shoot-off and are called to check-in for a shoot-off, you cannot participate.
NEXT MEETING DATE – Saturday, October 19, 2024, at 11:00 am at Downers Grove Sportsmen’s Club, Morris, IL.
ADJOURNMENT – Motion to adjourn was made by Charlie Bickle; Pat Haskins seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Respectfully submitted by Joan Maiden, ISTA Secretary