Schuetzenmiester wrote on May 1^st, 2016 at 9:20pm:


Yes Bob but, instead of a $100 prize, you get a meal worth a million at our Oct shoot.

Frank

Cody, that is what seems to be the problem.  Our "younger" members-- mostly in their 30's and 40s have kids, businesses and family responsibilities.  they might be able to get away of a couple matches each summer.  Our regular shooters who can and do come and shoot most of the events are fast approaching or above retirement age, with all the health and income issues that entails. 
  I'm past retirement age--but still have to keep working.  but for the past years I have managed to attend most events--get there early in the week to help get stuff set up, do whatever I can to pitch in and help keep the match running smoothly and then usually end up the last guy leaving on Sundays after the clean-up and pack up.   But this year some family health issues have forced me to cut way back on my involvement.   Many of our other older members have given years of their good service to the club and would still if they could.  

So who is going to bell the cat?

Even if we could wave a magic wand and gain a dozen or two new serious recruits there'd be a learning curve.  I think the RIP is premature but there have been ups and downs, unfortunate problems and @3^^&*-ing disasters,  but some how working together we have pulled through.  over the course of a summer the have probably had more total shooters in the past year or two than the previous 5 or maybe ten. 
   I just do not see how, barring a major business underwriting the lion's share of the costs, a National Grand Union Schuetzen-Fest can be made to work.   I think a couple or Three or Four regional joint ASSRA-ISSA (or ISSA-ASSRA--if it matters) events might work. In areas where there are other single shot groups with common interests and if everyone can work out some sort of comfortable set of working rules and standards might be able to join in.