DECEMBER 19, 2016 - MINUTES OF THE FULLBORE SECTION EXECUTIVE MEETING

A meeting of the Fullbore Executive was held on December 19, 2016 at the offices of Adam MacDonald on Queen Street, Fredericton NB.
In attendance were Bert deVink, Fullbore Chairman; Adam MacDonald, Fullbore Vice-chairman, Don Coleman, Fullbore Secretary; Gordon Holloway, Ex-officio-President RNBRA; Conrad Leroux, Ex-officio - Past President of RNBRA; Steven Stewart, Smallbore Representative.
Regrets: Daniel Chisholm, Fullbore Treasurer; Mike Lutes as member of previous discussions.

AGENDA
1.     Steven Stewart - Small-Bore Presentation
2.     Bisley Team Donation
3.     Funding Proposal
4.     Shooting schedule
5.     Strategic Planning
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1.     Steven Stewart - Small-bore Presentation:
Steven, as a member of the RNBRA Board, has been looking after the RNBRA Small-Bore Championships for the past 3 years. In 2016, The MTR and Sporting Rifle Small-Bore Championship was held in Woodstock NB under the auspices of the Woodstock Rifle and Pistol Club. The Standing Small-Bore Championship was held at the St.Croix Rifle and Pistol Club. The Prone TR Small-Bore Championship was held in Fredericton at the indoor range on the Killarney Road.
In 2017, Woodstock is again eager to host the MTR and Sporter Championships. The other matches have not been discussed or scheduled.
Steven proposed that the Fullbore section take over the responsibility for organizing and scheduling the Small-Bore Championships and that the Small-Bore events be included in the Fullbore Schedule. He also proposed that Small-Bore goals and expenses be included in the Fullbore funding proposal to be submitted to the RNBRA Board.
Additionally, Steven proposed that the Fullbore section organize an indoor "Winter Shoot" program for TR and MTR Small-Bore shooters. He proposed a schedule that would consist of 2 shoots per month running from November to April. It appears that Tuesday and Thursday afternoons would work best for the indoor facility. Cost would be $20 per shooter.
After Steven's presentation, the Executive discussed his proposals and unanimously concluded the following:
- the Fullbore Section does not have the manpower resources to take on the responsibilities for another shooting discipline and the work it takes to schedule, advise and oversee 4 RNBRA Championships.
- it follows from the above that the Fullbore Section will not include Small-Bore budgetary considerations in the funding submission to the RNBRA Board.
- Small-Bore Championships will be listed in the Fullbore Schedule when these dates become available.
- with respect to a Winter Shoot Program, the Fullbore Executive would like to encourage its formation and encourage individual shooters to attend. However the available times are only good for those not employed full-time. Our shooters would fit into other portions of the indoor range schedule.

2.     Bisley Team Donation:
As in years past, the Fullbore section will again support the Bisley team through the purchase of 1/2 page in the Bisley handbook. This was shared with the RNBRA and hopefully will be done again this year.

3.     Funding Submission to the RNBRA Board:

From the RNBRA President: 

"The RNBRA is requesting that its Full Bore and Pistol Sections and RNBRA  Affiliated Shooting Clubs in NB which run air gun programs submit proposals for funding which support the following activities:
1. Development of Technical Leadership in the form of Shooting Coaches
and Range Safety Officers.
2. Development of athletes with a path to competition at the regional,
provincial, national levels and international levels.
3. Hosting of regional, provincial, and national level shooting
competition within NB. Proposals are to be sent to the RNBRA C/O Debbie Craig: robcraig@nb.sympatico.ca. Proposals must be no later than Friday Jan 6, 2017. "

Bert deVink will send the following to the RNBRA Board:

RNBRA FULLBORE SECTION

FUNDING SUBMISSION FOR 2017 TO RNBRA BOARD

1.     Purchase of a new e-target system - $4000

2.     Maintenance of e-target system - $500

3.     Development of Competitive Marksmanship Program: F-Class - $1000

4.     Shooter Support Program for those who go out-of-province - $5000

5.     Hosting 2017 InterMaritime/British Team Match: Saint Antoine - $500

6.     Hosting 2017 Atlantic Championships: Batouche - $500

7.     Hosting 2017 Mini-Palma Match: Batouche - $500

8.     Start-up funds for 2017 Annual Prize Meet: Batouche - $400

9.     Awards, Plaques, Cash Prizes, Engraving of Trophies - $700

10.   Provide for a Rifle/Ammo for new shooters - $300

11.   Range Rental for planned workshops in 2017 - $600

12.   General expenses, target maintenance, bank fees, incidentals - $500

Total expenses for 2017: $14500

4.     Shooting Schedule:

At the time of this meeting the Fullbore Section Shooting Schedule has not as yet been posted. Bert deVink will do this in the near future.

It is now available at this link: 2017 - FULLBORE SHOOTING SCHEDULE

5.      Strategic Planning:

At a previous Executive Meeting, three primary goals were adopted to guide the activities and resource allocation of the Fullbore Section. 

GOAL #1. Increase number of Fullbore (300m or longer) and long range shooters. We would like on average 2 additional shooters at scheduled events for the first year of our plan. During the second year this would again increase by 2 shooters, etc.

GOAL #2. Enhancing skill level for competitive shooters to national caliber. This would involve creating a pathway to competition for new shooters and also developing an “elite shooter” program.

GOAL #3. Retain casual competitive shooters

DISCUSSION REGARDING GOAL #1:

a) Making it easier for new shooters to become involved

- the first shoot is free

- at their first shoot, a rifle and ammunition will be provided by Adam MacDonald. The Fullbore Section will re-imburse Adam at a rate of $1 per round fired.

- add a "Hunting Rifle" class to all shoots of 600m or less, they would shoot on TR targets, a "Hunting Rifle" medal to be awarded

- make basic and good shooting, equipment, reloading information available. "This is what you need to know" information handouts at matches and on Blog

- advertise more broadly and to NB clubs (only after necessary shooter supports are set up and readily available)

- have workshops to teach basics of Fullbore shooting, reloading etc.

- assign a "shooting buddy" or mentor to each new shooter who expresses future interest

- reconsider developing a "Winter Shoot" program

DISCUSSION REGARDING GOAL #2

a) We need to know what each shooter's intention is with regard to their personal desired level of competition. Perhaps they wish to shoot at a "Club" level attending local or New Brunswick matches at Batouche, Saint Antoine or St. Gabriel. Alternatively, they might like to compete at both a Provincial and Maritime Regional level (eg., APMs for 3 provinces, Atlantics, Intermaritime/BT matches, Mini-Palma). For a high level competition "Elite shooter" program we need to know which shooters would like to compete at a National or even International level (eg., going to Ottawa, Bisley or shooting the Easterns).

b) We will establish a "Shooter Financial Support Program" based on the above 3 levels of competition and dependent on the funding that is available in any particular year.

PLEASE NOTE: each shooter must be a full member of the RNBRA and is requested to apply to the Treasurer for this support at the end of the shooting calendar and before the Fullbore Section AGM.*

i) Local shooting in New Brunswick and RNBRA APM (Club Level) - no financial support

ii) Regional Shooting in Maritime Provinces (Regional Level) - 1 unit** of available funding

iii) National/International shooting (National Level) - 3 units** of available funding

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* This support is retroactive to 2016 and will be sent out without application being made.
"This financial support toward Athlete Development is made possible through funding provided through the Sport and Recreation Branch of the New Brunswick Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture, the Hon. John B. Ames, Minister."

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** Attendance to the various out-of-province matches will be tallied at the end of the year.

Those at level ii) (Regional Level) will be multiplied by 1.

Those at level iii) (National Level) will be multiplied by 3.

These results will be added.

The amount of funding available will be divided by the total of added units.

This gives a dollar value to each unit

The number of units earned by each shooter will be multiplied by the dollar value

This amount will then be given to each shooter who has applied.

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c) We will also establish a "Elite Shooter Support Program" consisting of individually tailored information, training and coaching depending on the manpower available. This would address reloading practices, load development, plotting and shooting strategy, wind reading, target rifle position/technique coaching, equipment guides and other topics requested by shooters. Some of these events may bear slight costs to participants.

i) One afternoon session on Reloading for long range shooting to be held at the Springfield Ranges in mid-April (tentatively April 15).

ii) A session on Load Development to be held at the Springfield Ranges in mid-April (tentatively April 22)

iii) An advanced training Dry Fire Strategy session incorporating plotting to held in January or February location TBD

iv) Circle training and wind reading - see Fullbore Schedule

v) Target Rifle Coaching, technique and physical positioning - TBD

vi) Coaching and mentoring - TBD

MEETING ADJOURNED AT 11:00PM