June 15, 2007

Dear Members,

The end of the membership year is rapidly approaching and membership renewal is once again upon us. By the time you read this News Letter, you should have received your membership renewal forms via snail mail. You can make the club secretary, that’s me, very happy by returning your completed membership renewal form and membership dues before the end of June. I will make every effort to send your new membership cards out within a week of receiving your membership dues.

We have had a very exciting year at Mid-Del Archers. We have been privileged to host the ASA Federation Delaware State Qualifiers and Championship competitions, The Delaware Senior Olympic Archery Qualifications, The Delaware Bay Tournament, and a Youth shoot in addition to our regular monthly 3-D shoots.

We have initiated a club sponsored archery competition called "Shoot for The Loot". This competition runs for the full year. Archers must shoot in 10 shoots throughout the year, including the ASA Federation shoots and Delaware Bay Tournament, to be eligible for the "Loot". The Loot is a check for $250.00. There are in excess of 30 archers signed up for the competition.

Due to the logging operations we have reinvented our 3-D course. This is not a bad thing as we were able to eliminate some undesirable conditions on some shooting lanes and extend the length of other shooting lanes. We have also changed the normal course route so that shooters are not looking into the sun to shoot targets along the ditch bank to the first deer stand. Our 3-D shoots now start at the target storage building.

Our target storage building and leanto are visible to the road, since the woods have been removed. A concern that our mower and Gator were not secure was voiced by a member. The subject was discussed and the membership agreed that the club needed to secure its rolling equipment in addition to its 3-D targets. As a result, a gate has been purchased and will be installed across the front of the leanto to secure the mower and Gator.

Our NFAA target range is also a victim of logging operations and needs membership assistance to return the range to a usable condition. Some activities needed are: Clearing shooting lanes, verifying target range markers are in proper position, installation of bow hangers at each end of each target lane, Fabrication and installation of benches at each target lane, fabrication and installation of backstops at some targets, etc. Please contact the Range Captain or Secretary and let us know when you can be available to provide assistance for this effort. Reconstruction of the target range provides an opportunity to improve the safety and shoot ability of the entire range.

We are looking for members willing to become trained as archery instructors in order to support a youth archery program that is in the discussion stage. Send us your comments, pro or con, related to the start of a youth training archery program. Better yet come to the monthly membership meeting and voice your opinion.

David Slack

Secretary/Treasurer