Hours of Operation
(Open to the Public)
503.792.3431

Letter to the 2008-2009 NSCA State Delegates

Thank you for electing me as your Zone 7 Coordinator. Using my experience of 42 years in the shotgun shooting world, my goal is to bring you new ideas to help our clubs and to build excitement into our sport. With the cost of everything rising at a faster rate than we are used to, adjustments for our recreational dollar will need to be made.

I will have a web page designated for NSCA delegates on my web site at www.mitchellsclaytargetsports.com. I am planning to post an informative letter to the state delegates on roughly a bi-monthly basis. I am sending you a copy of this letter via e-mail and will also be posting it to my site. I welcome input or questions from the Zone 7 members on any subject at any time. I will reply to you as soon as I have a response or answer to your question. My site will also have all Zone 7 state shoot dates along with the location of the zone shoot. This and additional shoot information and scores can be found on www.shotgunscores.us. Adam Pinto’s web site will also contain information and shoot dates.

Speaking of the zone shoot, you will find an application to host a Zone 7 shoot on Mitchell’s website after the first of the year. I would like gun clubs to submit the application to me. This information will be sent to the state delegates on a timely basis so that sites for future zone shoots can be named at the current year’s zone shoot.

On the application you will notice a request for 2009 or 2010. If a club does not get selected in 2009 they will be asked if they would like to bid for the 2010 zone shoot. You as the state delegates should confer with your members before placing your vote for the location of the Zone 7 shoot. I would like your vote on whether or not you approve of a 2-year program that would allow the zone shoot site to be selected 2 years in advance as soon as possible as I plan to post the application to my web page no later than the 20th of January. Please email me at mitchellsclaytargets@yahoo.com or call me at (503) 930-5450 and let me know your vote.

I was very disappointed to discover that only 18% of the national state membership voted for their state delegates. I realize delegates cannot do anything about shooter complaints about club prices, target setting or location; however, you can keep your shooters updated and stay upbeat about the game. It is important to keep the shooters abreast of new rules and rule changes being discussed and the reasons for them. You can also include the members in the decision of the location of future state and zone shoots and let them know once the decision has been made. State delegates can offer to help organize shoot dates with the state association, or work with the clubs directly when no state association exists. Hopefully, you can assist with knowledge and information when problems arise and otherwise provide help. I believe this is an area that I can be of assistance by using the knowledge I gained through running or owning ranges and working in the industry for over 40 years. Finally, I would also like you to talk with your state NSCA members to find out either why they choose to stay in the game or why they are leaving.

Speaking of votes, 22 of 28 state delegates voted for the Zone 7 Coordinator position. If you went to the NSCA web page, I won by one vote. If all delegates voted it is possible that things would have turned out differently. Why would you want to be a state delegate and not vote? I ask all state delegates to please vote on rules or any other items that come up for a vote.

Many of you probably wonder why I ran for this position after keeping out of politics for the past few years. Sometimes I wonder myself, but I hope in the next few years I can work with you on new ideas to ensure the future of our sport. I also hope to pass on some of the knowledge I gained through my experience to help clubs with business plans to help keep their doors open. Even though I have been criticized for some things I have done, I am still in the game after 42 years, while most of the critics are gone. Please call me if I can help in any way.

Respectfully,
Dan Mitchell
Zone 7 Coordinator

Cell:    (503) 930-5450
Email:  mitchellsclaytargets@yahoo.com