1

The Bullet-IN

Inside this issue

Official Club Business ........... 2

Action Pistol ............................. 3

Bullseye Pistol .......................... 5

Rimfire Benchrest .................. 6

NRA Women on Target ........ 6

2017 Board of Directors Elec-tion, cont. .................................... 8

April Calendar .......................... 13

May Calendar ............................ 14

Classifieds .................................. 15

Range Map ................................. 16

Official Newsletter of River Bend Gun Club

River Bend Gun Club is a club for members, founded in 1958. Issue No. 235 April 2017

River Bend Gun Club’s 2017 annual business meeting will convene at 12:00 PM on

Sunday, May 21, at the club’s Multi-purpose Range #1 (MP1).

For the benefit of new members or others who are not familiar with this important event,

Article VIII of the River Bend Gun Club, Inc. By-Laws requires the annual election of the

club President and three open Director positions at every annual business meeting. In

2017, the president, one Life Director and two Annual Directors will be elected. The five

members who qualified as candidates and are running for election in 2017 are:

President: Steve Hardin (incumbent, unopposed)

Life Director: Mike Upchurch (incumbent, unopposed)

Annual Director: David Norcross (incumbent)

Annual Director: John Norris

Annual Director: Jonathan O’Neal

Annual Director: Mike Zeigler

As stipulated in the club By-Laws, only life and corporate members may vote for the

President and Life Directors and only annual members may vote for Annual Directors. No

other membership classes are entitled to vote.

Official written notification of the annual business meeting will be sent by first class mail

in late April to all members in good standing. Please review the contents of the

notification carefully. The mailing will also include other important information about the

club, the picnic and annual business meeting including a proxy form (life members and

annual members only).

—continued on page 8—

2017 BOARD OF DIRECTORS ELECTION

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Official Club Business

Highlights of February 13, 2017 Board of Directors Meeting

President Steve Hardin presided over a quorum of eight Board members. Also attending

were five club officers, the General Manager, Shotgun Manager, one Assistant Range

Officer, two members and a non-member guest.

A quorum was confirmed, the proposed agenda was adopted, the minutes of the January

2017 Board meeting were approved and the following officer and manager reports were

presented and accepted:

Treasurer Secretary Chief Range Officer Club Manager Shotgun Manager

Board decisions made, actions taken and items of interest:

• Treasurer reported that January 2017 FYTD income was $623,867 (up 4.4%) and FYTD

expenses were $527,415 (up 12.3%). Cash in the bank on 01/31/17 was $259,267

including $70,099 in Capital Reserves.

• Approved 14 new members and one former member reinstated membership.

• Chief Range Officer reported that 6 shooting venues submitted match reports in

January. Total entries were 121 (47 members, 69 non-members and 5 juniors) and

event use fees to the club totaled $185.82.

• Non-competition open range use in December totaled 1,576 (1,290 members and 286

guests).

• The January Range Safety Tour was attended by 30 prospective members and spouses.

• Approved 6 shooting benches on the left side of Mark Skutle Range with target frames

at 50 and 100 Yards.

• Annual water quality tests on ground wells were completed and all three wells passed.

• Shotgun Hill activity for January totaled 1,582 rounds. This included 373 shooters (294

members and 79 guests). Cart rentals totaled 19 and income to the club was $9,866.

• Per By-Laws Article X. C., Mr. Hardin appointed the 2017 Board Applications Review

Committee (BARC) to review applications of candidates for election to the Board of

Directors. Committee members are: Tommy Steadman, Chairman and Life Member;

Ken Smith, Life Member; Will Owensby, Life Member; Bruce Perry, Annual Member;

and Bill Franco, Annual Member. The committee will meet on March 13, 2017 to

review Board member candidates for election at the May 21, 2017 annual business

meeting.

Regular monthly Board meetings are called to order at 7:00 PM on the second Monday of

each month in the Gene Mowell Conference Center. RBGC members and families are

cordially invited to attend.

Former Members Reinstated

Weston P. Tompkins

New members approved

Jeffrey A. (Jeff) Arkema, Cumming

John F. (Jack) Calhoun, Alpharetta

Todd M. Chapman, Canton

William M. (Bill) Floyd, Marietta

Robert M. (Mike) Hiser, Marietta

David E. (Dave) Irvin, Alpharetta

Lucas J. Jacklett, Alpharetta

Michael F. (Mike) Latino, Cumming

Thomas E. McGill, Marietta

Bryan K. (Keith) Smith, Marietta

Sason S. Sobczak, Atlanta

Jeremy S. (Scott) Steiner, Cumming

Michael J. (Mike) Sutkus, Roswell

Robert W. (Bob) Tullis, Gainesville

Membership Statistics

FEB JAN FEB

2017 2017 2016

Senior Members 95 95 153

Total Members: 1,762 1,743 1,788

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Even though Gaston Glock tried to influence our turnout (sound like a parallel universe?), fifty great Action Pistol shooters

came to celebrate the last Saturday of Winter 2017 at River Bend. Another amazing turnout of ten New-to-Action-Pistol

competitors came out to find how we run a River Bend old school run-and-gun action pistol match. Our number of lady

competitors continues to flourish including three new ladies from the previous week's Women On Target class, two of

whom had never fired a gun before that excellent class. One week later, Kathy H. and Kathy D. are rocking the .22 class

and Debbie is running her Glock 19 in Ladies Limited. Outstanding performances by all !

The Courses of Fire got quite a few comments. Some of them could even be printed here.

Bay One got everyone acquainted with the fun of ringing steel, but the hostages at Position 2 were not so happy with

some of the "rescuers".

Bay Two brought back a modified oldie but goodie (maybe) when Undercover Brothers and Sisters showed up on our

range. Red Hat, White Hat, Blue Hat, which one is the good guy or gal? Multi-tasking and memory don't always pair well.

To change things up a little bit Bay Three arrived with shooting thru the ports, shooting left and right, stopping then

starting, and then left and right again. If we don't make you run, then it's not Action Pistol.

The March Action Pistol match wrapped up with our traditional grilled lunch and door prizes with ammo and cleaning gear

plus a Veterans 3 Gun shotgun raffle courtesy of Josh Thornton at City Pawn in Dawsonville, Paul van Oudheusden and the

V3G Team 100 crew. Congratulation to Larry Caldwell and his new shotgun. Thank you Josh!

Mark your calendars now for our April 15th Action Pistol Match and we’ll see you on the AP Bays.

ACTION PISTOL - PRE-VERNAL EQUINOX EVENT

MARCH 18, 2017

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ACTION PISTOL - PRE-VERNAL EQUINOX EVENT

MARCH 18, 2017

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Ladies and Gents,

Thanks to all 27 shooters who came out Sunday and helped to make our first match of the season (a 2700 Short Course) a

big success. We enjoyed having six Army Marksmanship Unit shooters join us. They included Greg Markowski, James

Henderson, Michael Gasser, Joshua Kingery, Anthony Heinauer and Katie Bahten.

Congratulations to:

Match Winner Greg Markowski 2663-162x

First High Master James Henderson 2650-114x

First Master Jim Good 2560-91x

First Expert Joshua Kingery 2528-82

First Sharpshooter Mark Jimenez 2301-30x

First Marksman Jimmy Glenn 2214-23x

Greg Markowski’s score is only 10 points below the National Record for a 2700 Short Course!

Our next match will be Sunday, April 23, 2017 at 10:00a.m.

Again, thanks for your participation and support for our bullseye program at River Bend Gun Club. We look forward to

seeing you in the near future.

Best regards,

David Donley

BULLSEYE PISTOL

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March 2017 Smallbore Benchrest Match Simon Bailey Despite dire predictions of rain and possible storms, the rain passed by in the early morning hours of Sunday March 26th, leaving just cloudy and humid conditions with moderate temperatures and absolutely no rain – not even a shower. Four contestants were on hand with one new shooter trying his luck with a highly modified Ruger 10/22. The match format for this month was two 50 yard stages fired on an RBA target followed by and one 100 yard stage fired at an IBS-H/2 target. The first stage was fired under almost completely still conditions that proved deceptive. At the end of the stage, Grant Toman, shooting his new since last season Anschutz 54/Shilen Barrel/ Eley Match combination finished ahead by a single X, at 246-11X, while Bailey shooting a Hall/Shilen/Tenex combination fired a 246-10X. Jonathon Moore shooting a Shul/SK match combo turned in a 229-3X and Shaun Fargacs, with his Ruger suffering from misfires which broke his rhythm, fired a 217-2X. All competitors agreed that the still conditions were not as still as they appeared!

During the second stage the wind decided to make its presence felt with rapidly switching gusts and a few deceptive lulls trying to raise havoc. Interestingly, most shooters reported that, while challenging, the wind seemed to actually help as there were sufficient steady conditions to get off strings of reliable shots. Toman ended the stage with a very solid 249-17X, while Bailey had a disastrous stage by “saving a shot” and dropping a total of 13 points. Bailey made a careless mistake caused by firing a sighting shot and then not returning to the correct bull to resume record shots – a very painful error leaving one bull with no record shot, dropping 10 points and saving a round best not saved! Both Moore (234-9X) and Fargacs (226-4X) improved in this stage.

RIMFIRE BENCHREST

Continued on next page.

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Next up was the 100 yard stage. The winds dropped and had some brief calm conditions. The shooting experience at 100 yards was unusual. With only a few exceptions the shots seemed to go exactly where they were aimed with multiple center shots taking out the exact target center. In addition several shooters fired multiple shots through ragged holes well inside the 10 ring. At 100 yards, Bailey bested Toman by one point firing a 247-3X against Toman’s 246-3X – nowhere close to making up for his “saved round”, but at least providing a momentary reprieve. Moore improved on his 50 yard scores by posting a 235-0X, as did Fargacs, who despite continued misfires, posted a 231-2X with a perfect center shot. Congratulations to Match Winner Grant Toman who took home the first prize cash by firing a 741-31X Aggregate. Please see the website scores page or the RBGC Forum for the full match bulletin. The next match will be on April 23rd. If you have an accurate rimfire rifle and a bipod or rest, come on out and join us for the fun.

RIMFIRE BENCHREST

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(Continued from page 1)

Members eligible to vote will be given official ballots at sign-in before the meeting. Members who do not attend the annual meeting may assign a proxy to vote on their behalf by executing a proxy form. Proxy forms will be sent with the annual meeting notice and will also be available for download on the club website. Properly completed and signed proxy forms must be returned to the Club Secretary no later than 5:00 PM on Wednesday, May 17. Proxies received after that date and time will be rejected. Please remember that, if you assign your voting rights to a proxy, he or she must be present and signed-in at the annual meeting to vote your proxy so please be sure that your assigned proxy is going to attend. Also, to be valid, your proxy must be assigned to a specific individual by name. Proxies left blank or assigned to “Board of Directors” or anything other than an individual name will be disallowed.

Questions about the annual meeting or election of the president and directors should be directed to the Corporate Secretary, Linda Steadman, at sec@rbgc.org or 770-518-5871.

Steve Hardin, candidate for President (Incumbent, Unopposed)

Average number of monthly visits to River Bend GC: Four or five

In what shooting disciplines are you active? High Power rifle, Smallbore prone and High Power Silouette

Summarize your previous service to RBGC: Incumbent RBGC President (completing fourth term, Life Director, Facilities Committee Chairman, High Power Range Officer, Staff Volunteer for Young Shooters Challenge and Women on Target.

Describe your short-term goals for the club if elected: Short term goals for my fifth term are the continuation of the efforts of my first four terms to ensure that club leadership and management are fiscally responsible and member-oriented. Additional short term goals include:

• Relocate Bullseye Pistol range to Action Complex in 2017.

• Continue to refine and implement plans to improve existing ranges. (Put bathroom on Silhouette Range in 2017.

• Continue development of a comprehensive curriculum of firearms-related training by certified instructors to improve the enjoyment and safe handling of firearms and marksmanship skills of club members, their families and their guests.

• Continue to explore and implement special programs designed to attract women and youth to RBGC and its organized shooting activities. The objective is to stimulate interest and growth within the shooting sports in general and to promote the importance of active citizen engagement in efforts to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment.

My longer term goals for my fourth term include:

• Acquire surrounding property if it becomes available to shield the club from encroachment by housing developments that may threaten the viability of RBGC.

• Continue to explore creative means to stimulate a higher level of involvement by younger members in the club’s management and leadership and ultimately to increase the number of talented and motivated individuals willing to contribute their time, talent and skills to become the future leaders of the club.

(Continued on page 9)

2017 BOARD OF DIRECTORS ELECTION

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Mike Upchurch, candidate for Life Director (Incumbent, Unopposed)

Average number of monthly visits to River Bend GC: Five

In what shooting disciplines are you active? High Power Rifle, NRA Smallbore Prone and 200 Yard Smallbore Prone

Summarize your previous service to RBGC: Being a member of the club is an important part of my life. I have a long history of service to the club. Being awarded “Member of the Year” in 2014 is something I am very proud of. From 2007 to 2017, I’ve been the HP RO and before that I gave the new member range tours for 2 years. I served for 2 years on the Long Range planning committee and the Elections committee. I helped get the “Hunter Rifle” and “HP Silhouette” programs up and running. I ran the old “600 yard sight in day” venue for 5 years and helped run the “100 yards reduced” match for two years. I have been heavily involved in the “Young Shooters Challenge” since the first one.

My short term goals are:

Work to get a new Bullseye Pistol range completed to free up the old range.

Develop and construct an action complex for action pistol and 3-gun that is safe and large enough for these growing sports.

Work to support the CRO, the RO’s, and all the other volunteers that make River Bend such a great club.

My long term goals are:

Keeping the club fiscally strong.

Buying adjacent property to buffer the club from future development in the area.

Making the club more inviting to women and youth by having programs geared toward their interest.

I think the Board of Directors has been doing a great job of running the club for the last few years. The club is fiscally stronger than ever before. The Board goes out of their way to prove they are there for the entire club and not just one venue. There is no “hard feeling” between the different shooting disciplines like there has been in the past. I am honored to be a part of such a great Board and I hope that you can vote for me. Thank you.

David Norcross, candidate for Annual Director (Incumbent, Unopposed)

Average number of monthly visits to River Bend GC: Four or five

In what shooting disciplines are you active? Action Pistol, 3-Gun, USPSA, Sporting Clays, FAL Match, .22 Rimfire Plinking

Summarize your previous service to RBGC: Annual Director since May, 2015. Action Pistol Match Director since December 2013. Currently on the Action Shooting Planning Committee (Chairman), Range Rules Revision Committee and the Training Committee. I volunteer my time for “Women-On-Target” and the RBGC Glock Ballistic Challenge.

(Continued from page 8)

(Continued on page 10)

2017 BOARD OF DIRECTORS ELECTION

CANDIDATE STATEMENTS

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My short term goals are: My goals include continued representation of the more than 1,600 annual members, whose dues and volunteer efforts keep River Bend Gun Club functioning, growing and continuing to be the premier shooting facility in Georgia and arguably, the Southeast.

My long term goals are: I will strive to ensure that the annual membership’s concerns are heard by the Board of Directors and that their shooting venues are consistent with their popularity and usage.

John Norris, candidate for Annual Director

Average number of monthly visits to River Bend GC: three to four times

In what shooting disciplines are you active? Bullseye Pistol

Summarize your previous service to RBGC: Assistant Range Officer on Bullseye Pistol Range. Managing design & construction of new Bullseye Range.

My short term goals are: Successful completion of the new Bullseye Range.

My long term goals are: To utilize my management, construction, and civic engineering skills to assist in a consistent and successful growth of River Bend Gun Club. To work toward marketing RBGC as the finest shooting venue in the S.E. USA. To always keep safety as one of the most important aspects of operating RBGC. Work to get more members involved in the successful operation of RBGC. Send out a questionnaire to members to get their specific skill sets in order to utilize more resources from our members.

Jonathan O’Neill, candidate for Annual Director

Average number of monthly visits to River Bend GC: 10

In what shooting disciplines are you active? High Power rifle.

Summarize your previous service to RBGC: High Power Range Officer

My short and long term goals are: To increase the accessibility, usability and safe conditions of the ranges for all members. To increase participation in all venues and constantly strive to improve the Club to suit the best interest of its membership.

My name is Jonathan O’Neal. I am retired from the Georgia National Guard and Federal Services where I served as a Supervisor, Trainer and Crew Chief for over 20 years. I am an avid competitor and recreational shooter. I have enjoyed being a part of the River Bend Gun Club as a guest during events, and as a member for several years. I would like to be your representative on the board of directors to ensure the Club continues to move forward and provide its members and guests a safe, family friendly environment as it has provided in the past with a focus to improve all venues and range

(Continued from page 9)

(Continued on page 11)

2017 BOARD OF DIRECTORS ELECTION

CANDIDATE STATEMENTS

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facilities when it is in the best interests of the future of the club and its most valuable asset, you, the membership. Thank you for your consideration, and please say hello when I see you on the range!

Mike Zeigler, candidate for Annual Director

Average number of monthly visits to River Bend GC: We average approximately 20 visits per month.

In what shooting disciplines are you active? Shotgun / Pistol / Smallbore

Summarize your previous service to RBGC: Joining RBGC BOD will be my first official arrangement to give back to the club. I always offer my time to be helpful while at the club.

My short term goals are: To understand the clubs mission as it relates to membership and finances and help craft plans for positive future growth.

My long term goals are: Develop strategy to address and improve negative aspects of RBGC to bring these areas into the asset column.

All areas and venues of RBGC should have good and fair representation at BOD level and many feel the shotgun venues have little representation at the board level. My goal is to represent all of RBGC for all members while giving the shotgun community a voice at the Board of Directors table.

Mike Zeigler

Candidate for RBGC BOD

River Bend Gun Club has served my family very well. My son (13) and daughter (10) are avid shotgun / clay target shooters and can be found most any day on Shotgun Hill. RBGC has given my family and children a safe and wholesome place to work on their craft (a rare thing these days).

Because of all that RBGC has given to my family is why I decided it was time to give back and serve on the Board of Directors. I will be offering my time and skills to serve on the Board of Directors to help make this great place even better.

All venues at RBGC should have good and fair representation at the BOD level. I will work diligently to represent all RBGC members and all venues to help create positive growth in the future. I will also be the voice that the shotgun community at RBGC needs at the Board of Directors table.

I look forward to serving and will always have time to communicate with RBGC members who are looking to voice a concern or the like. Please support me for the Annual Member Director position by casting your vote for Mike Zeigler.

Mike Zeigler

claytargetlife@gmail.com

770.841.8232

(Continued from page 10)

2017 BOARD OF DIRECTORS ELECTION

CANDIDATE STATEMENTS

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April 2017 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

Cowboy\SASS(cb)

200 Yard Rimfire(hp)

NRA Light Rifle(rr22)

2

HP Rifle Silhouette(sl)

Skeet Match(sh)

3 4 5

Centerfire

Benchrest(mp1)

6

Centerfire

Benchrest(mp1)

7

Confederate

Nationals(hp)

Centerfire

Benchrest(mp1)

8

Centerfire Benchrest(mp1)

Confederate Nationals(hp)

2-5pm HP Awards Ceremony -CB

Pavilion

ICORE - Revolver(ap)

9

Confederate Nationals

(hp)

Centerfire Benchrest

(mp1)

10

Board Meeting

7pm(cr)

11 12 13

Trap & Skeet

League(sh)

14

MP2 CLOSED at

1:00PM FAL

Match setup

15

Action Pistol(ap)

Hunter Rifle(hp)

Sporting Clays(sp)

FAL Match(smp2)

16 17 18 19 20 21 22

Trap(sh)

100 yd Match/Clinic(smp2)

Buffalo Rifles (sl)

Smallbore Prone(22rr)

23

Range Tour 10-3pm(cr)

Buffalo Rifle(hp)

Rimfire Benchrest (mp1)

Bullseye Pistol(be)

24 25 26 27

Trap & Skeet

League(sh)

28 29

USPSA(cb) rescheduled from

4/22/17

30

Range Legend:

(ac)-Action Complex; (ap)-Action Pistol Bays; (be)- Bullseye Range; (bp)-Black Powder Range; (cb)-Cowboy Range; (CR) - Gene Mowell Conference Room

(hp)-High Power Range;(mp1)-Multipurpose 1; Rimfire Range (22rr); (smp2)-Skutle Multipurpose 2; (sp)-Sporting Clays; (sh)-Shotgun Hill; (sl)-Silhouette

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Range Legend:

(ac)-Action Complex; (ap)-Action Pistol Bays; (be)- Bullseye Range; (bp)-Black Powder Range; (cb)-Cowboy Range; (CR) - Gene Mowell Conference Room

(hp)-High Power Range;(mp1)-Multipurpose 1; Rimfire Range (22rr); (smp2)-Skutle Multipurpose 2; (sp)-Sporting Clays; (sh)-Shotgun Hill; (sl)-Silhouette

May 2017 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 3 4

Trap & Skeet

League(sh)

5 6

NRA Light Rifle(rr22)

Cowboy Action(cb)

Rifleman's Weekend CMP(hp)

Women on Target(cr/am-be/pm)

7

Rifleman's Weekend CMP

(hp)

Skeet Match(sh)

8

Board Meeting

7pm(cr)

9 10 11

Trap & Skeet

League(sh)

12 13

Centerfire Benchrest

HP 80 Shot RMC(hp)

Youth Shoot(be)

ICORE - Revolver(ap)

14 15 16 17 18

Trap & Skeet

League(sh)

19 20

Action Pistol(ap)

Hunter Rifle(sl)

Sporting Clays(sp)

Bullseye Pistol(be)

21

Annual Meeting and Family

Picnic

Annual Swap Meet

22 23 24 25

Trap & Skeet

League(sh)

26 27

USPSA(cb)

100 yd Match/Clinic(smp2)

Buffalo Rifles(sl)

Trap Match(sh)

28

Range Tour 10-3pm(cr)

Rimfire Benchrest (mp1)

Buffalo Rifles(hp)

29 30 31

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Classified Ads

Please submit classified ads to newsletter@rbgc.org no later than April 28, 2017.

Ads appear for a maximum of two issues without additional time requested.

SKB 12 Ga., Model 686 Sporting This is a SKB Model 686 Sporting O/U shotgun in 12 Ga.. with chambering to accommodate up to 3” shells. It has 30” MagnaPorted™ barrels and comes with six (6) Competition Series chokes. The chokes enable the shooter to performance tune the gun to any shooting situation. The gun also comes with both a standard SKB choke wrench, a separate speed wrench, as well as a Browning soft sided sheep skin lined carrying case. The gun is well balanced and is equally at home on the range or in the field. It has about 700 rounds through it and is very well maintained. Lyle Schroeder lylebob@aol.com Price: $1200

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Newsletter Information:

When submitting articles, please remember to include a couple of pictures if possible.

The deadline is April 28, 2017.

Copyright © 2017, River Bend Gun Club, all rights reserved.

Club Hours:

Club hours are from sunrise to sunset (specific times for specific dates are listed on the RBGC and other

weather sites) on all ranges except the shotgun ranges, which are open late on certain days of the week,

light and weather permitting (check the website for scheduled days and hours of operation). Evening

shooting (until 9:00 p.m.) will be scheduled periodically on the lighted field. Check the website or contact

the shotgun Manager for current schedules.

Shotgun Hill Hours:

Thursday - Sunday 10 am - 6 pm last round must begin by 5:30 pm - 4:30 pm for sporting clays

Closed Easter Sunday