Lack of interest?

[flopmeister]

I will defend Greg and say that his dedication is beyond reproach. I do not say that because Greg is one of my favorite people, though he is most certainly. I say that because no one dedicates themselves so thoroughly who is a complainer and not a doer. Craig is entitled to his opinion and does not need to be bashed on a forum. I do not hold with his belittling tone but that is on him, if he can live with it so can I. I have been known to speak matter of factly about these things myself and will continue to do so.

The way I see it IHMSA suffers from too many rules, too many classifications, too many categories, and too many members who don't want any real change. Sadly it also suffers from outside influences that simply cannot be controlled by the organization. An example would be manufacturers and what they offer in handguns. There was a time when manufacturers would listen but no longer. Our number is too far on the fringe to make any real requests for IHMSA geared equipment.

Charlie I appreciate your invitation to start another organization. Steve and I have actually been kicking around the idea for over a year now. Don't get me wrong I still like to shoot IHMSA but it is almost impossible to get new shooters to the line. You would be surprised how many have asked me what kind of prizes are available in IHMSA....guess what I had to tell them? Believe it or not you do not have to guarantee anyone a prize but you do have to give them the guarantee of a chance to win! The fact that there is a carrot AVAILABLE is enough. I do not believe the difficulty of IHMSA shooting is even a factor in the lack of participation...I have proof and will give you the link when I am done with this prattle.

If I go to the Internationals and pay $115 to shoot 1 gun. Yes I will just shoot one as an example. What do I stand to win? I am not interested in the insistence that the money is well spent...obviously it bloody well isn't. As I understand it every person gets a participation plaque and if I win UHSAS I will get a sticker to put on my plaque that says I am the champion in that category. I know it could be worse....believe me I know. How about we give trophies to the winners and everyone else practices harder for next year? Yeah I know I have never been to the Internationals so I have no frame of reference and am just complaining. The fellowship is great and I love to see everyone at the Region 2 Championships. I have met no one in Region 2 that I would not enjoy spending 4 days with but I wouldn't mind a nice trophy or a little cash for my trip either....heck ya'll know I am the kind of guy that would take you all to dinner with the prize money. But we all know there will never be any prize money in IHMSA so I digress.

Steve and I had an idea last year about this time for an outlaw match involving 22 rifles shot at extreme range. There were some growing pains and still are but we continue to evolve and meet the challenge head on. There were clashes of personality and there was some doubt by some that we would be shooting the match with more than 4 people in 4 months. I said the first day we set targets that it would be running 40 people summer of 2011...I was right. We have stayed on top of what we need to do next evry month and we have 4 people working together in unison. Working locally and thinking regionally has allowed us to pull shooters from 4 states. We pay CASH. We give trophies to juniors. The subject was brought up that we shouldn't give cash to juniors as that would mean they couldn't participate in other shoots as a junior, yet another rule that I couldn't care less about. We are not affiliated with the people who make nonsensical rules. If a junior shoots high enough to place in the cash he will get his money and it is no one's business as far as I am concerned. We will have our first Championship match in August and our door prize table is phenominal! Thinking outside the box made it possible.

What does all this mean to IHMSA shooters? I don't know. I will say this, I think locall match directors should have a bit more freedom to work outside the box and not just think outside of the box. I have no idea what kind of interest there would be in an outlaw pistol silhouette match.....but we are about to find out.

22TSC link: http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthr ... ost2390014

[35isit]

I had read Joes link before now. I would like to try it. That said, many have their own ideas that are thinking out of the box. I have a few ideas myself that are outside the box. One of my ideas allows shooters of all abilities to get a piece of the pie. Apparaently Joe and Steve have found some people to shoot their sport by providing what the shooter wants. Again, we will only know by asking. I probably could get my club to host some type of "outlaw" silhouette match. But I also want to continue to shoot IHMSA. I don't want to run the risk of being expelled from the organization. I have been either the match director or assistant match director for 26 years now. I suppose if it were unsanctioned it wouldn't be anyones business.

This is where surveys, marketing plans and talks with the industry is important. Another thought is talking to the heads of the organizations that are doing really well.

[flopmeister]

I agree with you Greg and always have in regards to pieces of pie. We have figured out how to do it equitably. There will still be some who take home nothing. That is a hard fact of life in competition. I will keep you in the loop through email.

[RockinHRacin]

"There is no question that Greg has committed many hours and a fist full of dollars in promoting IHMSA in KY & I believe Craig's rant was unwarranted"

And there is no question from 1987 to 1993 I commited many hours also, was State Director, A deputy Regional Director, a match director and every month thru those years I helped run one of the largest clubs in the midwest. I now am the Editor of the IHMSA paper which is not a huge job but it is all I can do given my arthritis. I am lucky to get to 6 matches a year because of my condition but I still believe in helping the only way I can. I am glad I posted what I did as it sure got a response. I will apologize to no one as I am entitled to my opinion as well as Greg. I was not trying to offend anyone here but so be it!

I don't think a single person said (or implied) that you aren't (in your words) a "doer". I applaud you for the time you provide to this organization and ultimately me, but as long as you continue this condescending attitude, I'll know exactly how much weight to put behind your words. There are plenty of other ways to spur discussion... Right now it seems as though you are acting just like my Beagle. He doesn't care if he receives positive or negative attention just as long as he gets it.

Chris

[JSH]

I don't like the heat either. As to humidity, I don't care if it is zero and the temp is 107, it is still hot. As to my way of thinking, it has been hot since Febuary,lol.
Every day I don't have a long sleeve shirt on is another day it is to hot.
jeff

[Mike22]

Well i will through my thought in here also. I don't know what it will take to up our membership. I will go for about anything. I have invited many to come and shoot with me and i here 2 things every single time. "What do i win?" or "Oh there is no way i could shoot a pistol that far". So right off the bat i'm shot down. I have gotten a few people to come and shoot. None have come back for a second time. They all say the same things. Not enough time or to hard or to expensive to get started. I want our sport to continue and do well i wish i had found this sport years ago. I have been shooting IHMSA for 4yrs. And when i was looking for a shooting sport to start participating in Greg and a few others from another website helped me alot. Greg was the one that told me about the match in my area. And he also helped another one of our now regular shooters find our match. Thanks Greg for your help.

Mike22

[ihmsa70]

I grew up in West Texas and cannot understand why anyone would want to go there for any reason other than a job. It is a miserable place, especially in the summer.

Bill Barton

Damn Yankee!!!!

[ouraydog]

My dad used to joke that we were really lucky to live in Odessa TX. He said that "you can go only 300 miles in any direction and find something nice".

Bill Barton

[DaveC]

I've read tonedaddy and Boomer posts here and basd on their attitudes I see no reason to visit this site again. It also tells me much about where IHMSA is headed, I'll hate to see it gone.

[Justin Cider]

Why not combine with the NRA? Seem to be about the same shooting formats for silhouette matches.