Current Newsletter
2016 Newsletter
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Thanks to all the Mechanicsburg Sportsmens’ Protective Association members who volunteered their time this year. Your participation is valued. The new building will soon be open for indoor archery and .22 rimfire, with just a few more finishing touches that need to be done. Please see the web site for additional information. October First begins our new membership year, so please renew early.
Denny Fillmore
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1st VP Report/Chief Range Officer By: Stanley L. Gregg
We are getting close to the hunting season and the 50/100 yard ranges will be used for sighting in rifles. Please make sure to assign a range officer when there are more then 1 shooter on the range and sign in when using any of the ranges. The club rule of not stapling your targets to the range frames also includes the 100 yards. Please make sure your targets are set between the frames. Stapling/shooting into the frames is a club violation.
Please remember that all range maintenance is being done by volunteers and you should respect their work and time by making sure to pick up your brass and remove your targets when you are done shooting.
Please make sure you only do standing shooting on the 7 and 15 yard ranges. These ranges were designed for standing only and not to be used in a sitting position. No Mid Range Shooting Is Allowed.
Please respect the Club Security Officers when approached on the ranges. You will not be approached if you are following club rules and are displaying club ID.
As always, I am available if you see something you feel is a non safe act or have basic club range rule questions @ 717-691-7930.
Rim Fire Steel Plate Rifle/Pistol Shoots-High Power Matches
The Steel Plate Shoots consist of 50 rounds with a $10.00 per firearm registration fee and are held on Saturday Mornings from 9-?. You must pre-register and attend the mandatory meeting to shoot.
All rules on the Steel Plate Competition is available on the Club Web Site under the Program Tab.
The High Power Matches are held in late spring through early fall 1 Sunday a month with a $15.00 registration fee on the 100 yard range.
All Programs are open to the general public/non-club members. If you are interested in either of these programs or have any questions please feel free to call Stanley Gregg @ 717-691-7930.
CLUB SECURTIY OFFICERS FOR PATROL OF CLUB GROUNDS NEEDED
If you are interested in volunteering to help with Club Security please contact Sharon Gregg @ 717-691-7930. There will be a Security Officer Meeting scheduled with Stan Gregg to explain the process and responsibility of those who would like to be in involved in this program.
FIREWOOD
Firewood is available at a cost of $10 per pickup truck load to club members and to non-members accompanied by a member. No live trees may be taken—only downed trees, cut limbs, and tree tops. Permits will be issued only to members; contact Dennis Fillmore (732-3148) or Stan Gregg (691-7930) for a permit and directions to the area where the wood may be taken from.
2017 Youth Children’s Fishing Derby
The 2017 Children’s Fishing Derby is to be held in April of 2017. Dates will be posted on the Club calendar and on the front page of the Web Site in March 2017. Donations of Gift Certificates and Fishing supplies is appreciated. If you are interested in making any donations please contact Dave Weaver @ 717-761-5553.
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By: Sharon Gregg Director
The Women On Target Programs did very well again this year. We were again fortunate and blessed to receive a NRA Grant for the Program in the amount of over $5000.00 which provided teaching materials, targets, ammunition, electronic ear protection and other much needed supplies and equipment to run the program. A special thanks needs to be directed to the Committee of the Cumberland Valley Friends Of The NRA for voting the MSPA Women On Target Program for the NRA Grants for the 3rd year! I would like to also give a BIG THANKS to all the Certified NRA Instructors who took time out of their busy weekend schedules to assist me with the General Clinics and Private Clinics. Without their help this program would not be such a great success. The Clinics for 2017 will be listed on the Club Web Site under the NRA Women On Target Program Tab by February 2017 and if you have any questions please contact me @ 717-691-7930. If there is anyone who has attended any of the Women On Target Clinics and would like further instruction I have free time available during the winter and would be glad to do some one on one instruction for a small donation to the Club. Private Clinics are also available.
I would never have expected this program to be as successful as it has been in the Cumberland Co area. There is currently a waiting list for upcoming class’s. I brought this program back to MSPA after the passing of Club Director Lind Tucker. This was one of her programs that she wanted to continue to be available for women in Cumberland Co. The current Director of this program was recognized by Henry Repeating Firearms at the Annual Friends Of The NRA Banquet at the 2016 Great American Outdoor Show at the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, PA. This is a great honor to receive and brought recognition to MSPA.
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4-H SHOOTING SPORTS
4-H is a community of young people across America who learn leadership, citizenship, and life skills. The focus of all 4-H programs is the development of youth as individuals and as responsible and productive citizens. Mechanicsburg’s 4-H Shooting Sports Program stands out as an example. Youth learn marksmanship, the safe and responsible use of firearms, record-keeping and much more. The activities of the program and the support of NRA-Certified adult leaders provide young people with opportunities to develop life skills, self-worth, responsibility, and ethics.
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The program offers junior shooters an opportunity to be engaged in positive youth development experiences and recognized for marksmanship performance. Juniors learn to shoot air rifle, air pistol, .22 rifle, shotgun, and muzzle loaders. The Shooting Sports Program develops skills for life and activities for a lifetime.
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We just finished the 2015-2016 program with the shotgun shooting project. In all, eight youth were involved in different projects ranging from Air Rifle to .22 Riflery. The 2016-2017 program begins with the first meeting at 6:00 pm on Tuesday, October 4, 2016 at the clubhouse across from the trap field. Boys and girls, ages 10-16, are welcome to join. Point of contact: Ron Keslar, rjkeslar@aol.com.
Thank you from Boy Scout Troop 23
On November 9th, 2014, Mechanicsburg Sportsmen's Association hosted a Family Fun Shoot for Boy Scout Troop 23 from St. Catherine Laboure Church in Harrisburg.
One of our club's NRA certified Instructors, Todd Neumyer, is a Scoutmaster with Troop 23. Along with our Instructors Ron Keslar, and Bill Reiner, and the Troop 23 RSO Steve Ramsey, this team provided both rifle and shotgun shooting opportunities to a group of 20 scouts, parents, and siblings.
Thanks to the generous donations of targets, ammunition, and clay birds from MSA and the American Legion, the Troop was able to spend a fun day at the ranges and raise more than $220 to put toward other Troop projects and activities.
That afternoon, Ron Keslar and Bill Reiner gave the group a presentation on the history of the American military service rifles and the scouts got to experience the hands-on thrill of learning about these firearms.
Todd Neumyer presented the club a framed target from that afternoon program, signed by the participants as a "Thank You" from Troop 23.
Envirothon held at MSPA
Students from eight area high schools competed in the annual Cumberland County Envirothon on Tuesday, May 6, at Mechanicsburg Sportsmen’s Association, Silver Spring Township, Cumberland County. The Raptors from Cumberland Valley High School took first place with a score of 351; second place went to The Drake Crusaders from Cumberland Valley with a score of 344; and third place went to Eco-Squad from Mechanicsburg Area Senior High with a score of 305. The Raptors will represent Cumberland County at the 2014 Pennsylvania Envirothon at Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove, PA on May 20 and 21.
The Cumberland County Envirothon, presented by the Cumberland County Conservation District, is a fun academic event that provides high school students hands-on field experience dealing with environmental issues. Students complete five exams that test their knowledge on aquatics, forestry, soils, wildlife, and a current issue, which was sustainable agriculture/local food production. 95 students participated this year and enjoyed the sunny day. Schools participating in the competition include Big Spring, Boiling Springs, Camp Hill, Carlisle, Cedar Cliff, Cumberland Valley, Mechanicsburg and Shippensburg.
Representatives from the PA Fish and Boat Commission, PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, PA Game Commission, the Conservation District, and Natural Resources Conservation Service administered the tests.
Once the competition was over, the students enjoyed a cookout lunch prepared by the Sportsmen’s Association. After lunch, the Conservation District handed out awards along with Meagan Thorpe from PA State Representative Glen Grell’s office and County Commissioner Barb Cross. The awards, made from Pennsylvania hardwood, were given to the top three teams at each station and the top three teams overall. All participating students and advisors received an Envirothon t-shirt sponsored by Adams Electric Cooperative.
The winning team was The Raptors from Cumberland Valley HS, pictured with Cumberland County Commissioner Barb Cross (left) and Meagan Thorpe (right-staff from State Rep Glen Grell’s office)
Club presents Don Heckman with symbol of appreciation
Club President Dennis Fillmore presented Don Heckman a symbol of appreciation in recognition for his 35 plus years of service on the board of directors.