Re: New thoughts to build IHMSA
Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2014 9:47 am
First match is definitely the most difficult. I know I was a little anxious. There are a few of my friends who I have tried to introduce to some sort of competitive shooting. I run a small 22 shoot at my home club where we shoot for meat prizes and quarters. One of my best friends told me that he didn't want people looking at him and laughing at how he shot. He is always talking about getting better and I told him that he needs to start somewhere. I also told him that the shooters who get watched are the really goods ones. Other shooters want to learn from that shooter, not the poor ones. Another friend was talking about shooting his 686 in field pistol. He asked me if that would be ok. I said yes. I also went on to say that the 2 matches I have been to at Tusco has many Contenders in 22 hornet competing in FP. Then, I went on to explain about the taco hold. He said well if that is what I have to have to compete, then I'm not going. I told him not to worry about anyone one else, but yourself. You cannot control what other shooters do, work at making YOU better and compete against yourself. Hopefully, some day I can bring some more shooters to a match, but right now I don't have a very good batting average. One positive, I was talking to my brother about going to the June shoot at Tusco and he said lets go. We just went back for the July match and plan on going back in August. I guess what my point is that it is difficult to recruit, but we all agree on that. However, I believe that involvement can grow exponentially.
Another obstacle is lack of involvement from the younger generation. At my home club, I am the youngest involved member at 30 years old. The next youngest is 45. I truly believe we need to utilize facebook and youtube. There have been posts about DVDs that were made at some shoots. Even DVDs are becoming extinct. Personally, I have not purchased or rented a DVD in at least a year. Many people have videos on demand at home or are watching Netflix at home or on the computer. Lets flood facebook and youtube. That is where people are. Likes on facebook and views on youtube can also grow exponentially.
Another obstacle is lack of involvement from the younger generation. At my home club, I am the youngest involved member at 30 years old. The next youngest is 45. I truly believe we need to utilize facebook and youtube. There have been posts about DVDs that were made at some shoots. Even DVDs are becoming extinct. Personally, I have not purchased or rented a DVD in at least a year. Many people have videos on demand at home or are watching Netflix at home or on the computer. Lets flood facebook and youtube. That is where people are. Likes on facebook and views on youtube can also grow exponentially.