sponsor wanted for HSC

[lewis e]

I am looking for someone to sponsor me with Harvard Sportsman's Club. Due to my work schedule (I work on a tugboat 2 weeks on, 2 weeks off) the only meeting that I will be able to make for the foreseeable future is the April 1st one. I get off the boat this coming Wednesday and would be willing to meet a potential sponsor at the club anytime prior to the meeting.

Thanks for reading

Lewis

 

[vellnueve]

It sort of defeats the purpose of sponsoring to ask random people to sponsor you. When I came to HSC, my boss sponsored me. Get to know some folks and someone will be happy to do so.

 

[FalArAk]

Partly due to the influx of internet web site sponsored members,HSC now requires that a sponsor actually knows the applicant and has to personally vouch for him/her.

Hopefully this will cut down on the douchbaggery that has been going on the past few years.

 

[WeedWhacker]

It seems that this has been a requirement per the bylaws for quite sometime, quoted from the handbook. I personally am potentially looking forward to less, bullet hits in the 300yard range windmill, indoor range ceiling and floor hits.

HSC now requires that a sponsor actually knows the applicant and has to personally vouch for him/her.

MEMBERSHIP: Any person subscribing to the objectives of the club may apply for membership by submitting an official application endorsed by a member of the club in good standing. New members are required to complete the HSC Safety Course as a part of membership requirements. After completion, the applicant and his/her sponsor shall appear at a scheduled Director's meeting where the applicant will be interviewed by the Directors. The applicant shall become a member will the approval of a majority of the Directors present and payment of prescribed initiation fees and dues. No member shall endorse, nor shall the directors approve, any person whom they cannot recommend as being honest, industrious and of good habits, and of contributing to the furtherance of the club's goals and needs. Upon acceptance, each new member shall be provided with a copy of the Club Bylaws.

 

[jenlynn724]

So, if you don't know someone in the "in" crowd, you are SOL?? That sucks..

 

[WeedWhacker]

HSC has events that do not require membership, these are a great opportunity to meet current members, also evaluate the club to see if it meets your needs prior to spending the yearly membership as well as the new member initiation.

IDPA/IPSC/Appleseeds/Training/Biathlon/Breakfast on sunday twice a month, I could be missing events as well. HSC has around 1,000 members so its rather large "in" crowd.

No doubt once you show up a few times and people get to know you finding someone that will sponsor you will not be a problem. VS.just sponsoring "some dude/dudette on the internet"

So, if you don't know someone in the "in" crowd, you are SOL?? That sucks..

 

[vellnueve]

If you have been to one NES event, you probably have met at least half a dozen HSC members.

 

[lewis e]

I came off the wrong way in my previous post, I guess that posting after my night shift half exhausted wasn't a good idea. Sorry if I came across as some guy that wanted a random sponsor without meeting.

Perhaps I should rephrase it. I am going to try to make the IPSC practice on a Wednesday to check out the club, is anyone going that would be willing to show me around before or after?

 

[terraformer]

I came off the wrong way in my previous post, I guess that posting after my night shift half exhausted wasn't a good idea. Sorry if I came across as some guy that wanted a random sponsor without meeting.

Perhaps I should rephrase it. I am going to try to make the IPSC practice on a Wednesday to check out the club, is anyone going that would be willing to show me around before or after?

That's the best way to find a sponsor. If enough of them see how you shoot and handle yourself for a few weeks, someone will probably sponsor you.

 

[Shark_Cage]

The requirement is perfectly understandable. I can think of one or two clubs that let in any yahoo who wanted to join up. After a short while the BOD started coming up with all sorts of restrictive range rules to control the bad elements in the club.

On the flip side I wonder if rules like this discourage newer shooters from joining. Would they be too self conscious to go to a IPSC practice for fear of looking foolish?

 

[Bill Katt]

The requirement is perfectly understandable. I can think of one or two clubs that let in any yahoo who wanted to join up. After a short while the BOD started coming up with all sorts of restrictive range rules to control the bad elements in the club.

On the flip side I wonder if rules like this discourage newer shooters from joining. Would they be too self conscious to go to a IPSC practice for fear of looking foolish?

Well, there is always the Sunday breakfasts. They're held on the first and third Sundays of each month (The club will be closed on Easter Sunday). Today (March 21) there will be one of those breakfasts (they are open to the public, anyone can go). That would also be a good way to meet members and introduce yourself around.

 

[jenlynn724]

Well, there is always the Sunday breakfasts. They're held on the first and third Sundays of each month (The club will be closed on Easter Sunday). Today (March 21) there will be one of those breakfasts (they are open to the public, anyone can go). That would also be a good way to meet members and introduce yourself around.

If I wanted to join a club that required a sponsor, I probably couldn't. Other than attending a couple dinners, and meeting a few people at IDPA shoots, I haven't met many people at all. I am quiet and shy in person, so just showing up at an event where I don't know anyone is not likely. Just because I am not a social butterfly doesn't mean I am an unsafe shooter, and others like me would be left out..
I understand the clubs point, but I don't agree with it..

 

[terraformer]

On the flip side I wonder if rules like this discourage newer shooters from joining.

They do. I can appreciate the need to not have to "police" the club, thereby having to enforce some "pre-crime" prevention policies. But the down side is that gun clubs are pushing away people who may buy guns, then decide to leave the sport for lack of places to go to shoot them. In MA, clubs are, outside of two places that I know of, the only places one can shoot outside of private land. The other 2 are S&W in springfield and Mikes up on the NH border.

Additionally, PDs are requiring gun club memberships and not being able to walk in and get a membership makes the barrier to entry even bigger. These policies as they are implemented today are bad for the sport in general. We need to figure out a better way of dealing with stupidity at clubs, while not pushing away good people.

Also, some of the problems cited above may have actually been associated with groups who have rented the facility and not members (but no one knows for sure in a lot of the cases), which makes this even worse.

 

[eisenhow]

If I wanted to join a club that required a sponsor, I probably couldn't. Other than attending a couple dinners, and meeting a few people at IDPA shoots, I haven't met many people at all. I am quiet and shy in person, so just showing up at an event where I don't know anyone is not likely. Just because I am not a social butterfly doesn't mean I am an unsafe shooter, and others like me would be left out..
I understand the clubs point, but I don't agree with it..

Maybe there are some online gun clubs you could join.

I understand both sides of this issue. As someone new to shooting (< 2 years licensed) I was anxious to join a club as quickly and easily as possible. Luckily at WSC the process wasn't too difficult, the two instructors who taught my basic pistol course sponsored me. Now as someone who is on the board I see all the issues with range damage and unsafe gun handling. You want to welcome as many people to to sport but you don't want them damaging the place or opening you up to liability.

 

[vellnueve]

They do. I can appreciate the need to not have to "police" the club, thereby having to enforce some "pre-crime" prevention policies. But the down side is that gun clubs are pushing away people who may buy guns, then decide to leave the sport for lack of places to go to shoot them. In MA, clubs are, outside of two places that I know of, the only places one can shoot outside of private land. The other 2 are S&W in springfield and Mikes up on the NH border.

You're forgetting AFS and Bob's.

BTW: Although I agree that it might lead to fewer new members, I do think it'll also help keep some idiots out. Like idiots who run out to their targets on the 25/50 range while others are still shooting. That gets old, fast.

 

[terraformer]

You're forgetting AFS and Bob's.

Actually, I meant bobs when I said mikes. I knew it was some common name. As for AFS, I forgot that one. But three in a state so geographically large as MA is clearly NOT enough. Even RI is large enough geographically that three is pushing it from a convenience perspective.

 

[Dan Hurley]

On the flip side I wonder if rules like this discourage newer shooters from joining. Would they be too self conscious to go to a IPSC practice for fear of looking foolish?

No one could look more foolish than I do at an IPSC practice. As long as you're safe, it's all great.
We're there on Wednesdays primarily to be safe, but the second goal is simply to have fun. As always, you get some trigger time with an added chance to talk about shooting, guns, gear, life, politics, knitting, etc.

"Perhaps I should rephrase it. I am going to try to make the IPSC practice on a Wednesday to check out the club, is anyone going that would be willing to show me around before or after? "

Definitely, let us know that you're interested in joining the club and that you would like a quick tour. Somebody will defiinitely step up and take you around. You can also PM me to set something up. This is a great time of year because there is more daylight to see the place.

The "Sponsor" requirement can defintely have a negative impact on the simplicity of new shooters joining a club. But we're hoping that we can convince our current HSC members to make this a positive experience by putting forth a little effort to welcome new folks. If we as a club can do this the right way, then new members will be joining with a much better understanding of HSC facilities, programs, events, traditions, range rules, and of course, personalities. There are no specific requirements regarding how much time a person needs to spend with somebody before they can sponsor them as a member. The Sponsor just needs be confident they they're bringing a good person into the club. (And in the world of shooters, good people are the overwhelming majority.)

And on a completely different subject; my 8-year old son was working on his classroom assignment of "what I want to be when I grow up." He wrote about the gear and training he needed to become a professional "action shooter." When he told me about this, the hair on my neck stood up and my "liberal radar" went crazy. No phone calls from school so far. I'm still nervous, but boy, I love this town; and he loves HSC. (Why am I spending so much time playing soccer and baseball with him?)