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GLOCK Donates $25,000 to SSSF to Benefit Scholastic Pistol Program

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GLOCK, Inc. has made a $25,000 donation to the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF) to benefit the Scholastic Pistol Program (SPP).

GLOCK Donation
L-R: Scott Moore, SPP National Director; R. Lee “The Gunny” Ermey; Josh Dorsey, GLOCK Vice President of Operations and Sales; and Ben Berka, SSSF President and Executive Director
The donation was presented to SSSF at last week’s NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits in Nashville, Tennessee.

GLOCK was one of the founding partners of the Scholastic Pistol Program when SSSF started the program in 2012 and has supported the program since with its products and participation.

Ed Fitzgerald, Special Projects Manager at GLOCK, Inc., is a member of SSSF’s Board of Directors and attends many SPP matches, not only to represent GLOCK, but also to work with the athletes and coaches and to assist with the operation of the events. Fitzgerald even travels to many matches throughout the South with a complete SPP/Action Target set-up for ranges that need targets for SPP events.

“GLOCK understands the importance of industry leadership in the promotion of a safe and effective way of introducing the concepts of basic competitive shooting to young men and women who are just starting out,” said Fitzgerald. “As the industry embraces this concept of supporting our young competitors, we will continue our efforts to lead the way in supporting the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation.”

In addition to the growth of the national program through GLOCK’s financial support, product donations, and loaner guns, the company’s generosity makes it possible for many SPP teams to have sufficient guns for competitors’ use and to raise funds for team expenses. The company also offers special pricing for SPP teams that allows team dollars to go further.

“The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation is honored to receive this major gift from GLOCK,” said Ben Berka, SSSF President and Executive Director. “With their support, we are able to further strengthen and grow our Scholastic Pistol Program at the grassroots level and provide local teams with the education, support, and resources to run successful programs.”

To learn more about GLOCK or its products, visit us.GLOCK.com.

Make Your Plans for 2015 National Championships

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The biggest events of the year are on the 2015 calendar for SCTP and SPP, and your year won’t be complete if you don’t participate in at least one of them!

Registration is now open for SCTP team registration through the SHOT system and for SPP teams.

View the National Championships Program

Save these dates for our 2015 SCTP and SPP National Championship events:

July 13-18SCTP National Championships (American)Sparta, IL
July 13-18SPP Junior/Senior National ChampionshipsSparta, IL
July 27-Aug. 2SCTP National Championships (International)Colorado Springs, CO

In 2014, each discipline experienced record-breaking participation in its national events, and we’re expecting nothing less at this year’s championships. More than 2500 student athletes participated in the National Championship events in Sparta, Illinois alone. In addition, the national championships are the largest source of endowment fund contributions to team accounts for both SCTP and SPP.

Below is the schedule for each discipline at the SCTP-SPP Junior/Senior National Championships in Sparta:

    Sunday, July 12 – Registration
    Monday, July 13 – Skeet, trap handicap/doubles, sporting clays, pistol
    Tuesday, July 14 – Skeet, trap handicap/doubles, sporting clays, pistol
    Wednesday, July 15 – Skeet, trap handicap/doubles, sporting clays, pistol
    Thursday, July 16 – Skeet, trap handicap/doubles, sporting clays, pistol
    Friday, July 17 – Trap, skeet doubles, pistol
    Saturday, July 18 – Trap, skeet doubles, pistol

Mark your calendars for these important events — don’t miss them!

2nd Amendment Youth Leadership Conference Planned During NRA Convention

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For anyone who is planning to be in Nashville for the annual NRA Members Meeting and Exhibits next week, here is an event you won’t want to miss! The inaugural Second Amendment Youth Leadership Conference, planned for Friday, April 10 at the Omni Nashville Hotel, will feature special guest speakers and the opportunity to learn more about the Second Amendment.

Geared specifically toward the next generation of Second Amendment activists, this one-of-a kind event will be an exciting opportunity for students and recent graduates to learn how to become an effective advocate on their campus and in their community!

Among the speakers scheduled to address the youth conference are Chris Cox, NRA-ILA Executive Director; Lindsey Graham, U.S. Senator from South Carolina; Phil Bryant, Mississippi Governor; and Marsha Blackburn, Tennessee Congresswoman.

Attendance is free, but due to the anticipated interest in this event, pre-registration is strongly encouraged.

College students who attend will receive a free, one-year NRA membership, along with opportunities to win prizes and admission to the annual meeting.

Learn more and register for the
2nd Amendment Youth Leadership Conference.

New Project ChildSafe Video: “How to Talk to Your Kids About Gun Safety”

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Project Childsafe

Sometimes gun-owning parents who live with firearm safety every day take for granted that every member in the family knows age-appropriate rules about gun safety. But if you haven’t had “the talk” with the children in your home, they may have questions that haven’t been addressed.

The conversation is equally important for families who don’t have firearms in the house. Their children are just as likely to have questions about guns, and at some point, they will be in homes or other areas where they may come into contact with guns.

Project ChildSafe has created a new video, “How to Talk to Your Kids About Gun Safety,” to help parents have that important conversation. The video stars army veteran, champion shooter, and mom Julie Golob.

Watch the video, and please share it with your friends and social media connections.

Plan Your Lodging for Nationals in Sparta

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If the SCTP-SPP National Championships in Sparta, Illinois are a part of your team’s plans for this year — and why wouldn’t they be? — it’s a good idea to start considering accommodations for the week of July 13-18. To make it easier for you to know your options, especially if this will be your first trip to the Sparta area, we have some resources for you.

We’ve accessed a Google map that shows lodging in the vicinity of the World Shooting & Recreational Complex, so you can not only see your lodging options, but also where they are relative to the complex.

See local lodging near the WSRC

In addition, the World Shooting & Recreational Complex offers 1001 camping sites for those of you who want to stay right on the premises in an RV or tent. Click the link below to learn about the WSRC campground options and to access online reservations. You can also make campground reservations by calling Sherry Flowers at the WSRC, 618-295-2700, ext. 486.

See WSRC campground options

Don’t know when you need to be there? Below is the schedule for each discipline:

    Sunday, July 12 – Registration
    Monday, July 13 – Skeet, skeet handicap/doubles, sporting clays, pistol
    Tuesday, July 14 – Skeet, sporting clays, pistol
    Wednesday, July 15 – Skeet, skeet handicap/doubles, sporting clays, pistol
    Thursday, July 16 – Skeet, skeet handicap/doubles, sporting clays, pistol
    Friday, July 17 – Trap, skeet doubles, pistol
    Saturday, July 18 – Trap, skeet doubles, pistol

SSSF Names DeBergalis and Wade to Board of Directors

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The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF) has named two new members, Joseph P. DeBergalis, Jr. and Mark T. Wade, to its Board of Directors. The new members assumed their roles this week at the board’s annual meeting in San Antonio.

DeBergalis, of West Seneca, New York, is a board member of the National Rifle Association (NRA), where he chairs the NRA Education and Training Committee. He is also Vice President of the New York State Rifle and Pistol Association and is active in many other shooting organizations.

Wade is the Managing Principal of Echelon Wealth Strategies, LLC in Westfield, New Jersey. He has been an active member of the Amateur Trapshooting Association for more than 30 years and is a Life Member of the National Sporting Clays Association and National Skeet Shooting Association.

“We are most fortunate to have Joe and Mark as our newest members of the Board of Directors for the SSSF,” said Louise K. Terry, Chairperson of the Board. “They both bring to their positions on the board substantial background and experience in business and the shooting sports that make them great additions to our team.”

Also at this week’s meeting, the Board of Directors held its annual election of officers. Louise K. Terry was re-elected as chair, and Ed Fitzgerald was elected vice chair, replacing Michael Hampton, Jr., whose term expired.

In 2014, Eric Tarbox of Gorham, Maine, was elected to the Board of Directors, bringing his experience working with youth programs as an executive with the Boy Scouts of America to the SSSF. Other board members include Louise K. Terry, Michael Hampton, Jr., Denis Karnosky, Ed Fitzgerald, Paul Pluff, Thomas Edwards, and Carlton Nether.

Leaving the SSSF Board of Directors following completion of her term is Kemble du Pont. “We want to thank Kemble for her years of service and contributions to our shared interest in youth development through the shooting sports,” said Terry.

2015 Grads Invited to Apply for SSSF Scholarships

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Qualifying student athletes who will graduate from high school in 2015 are invited to apply for SSSF‘s 2015 Scholarship Program, which will award college scholarships to deserving participants of SCTP and SPP.

The scholarships are being funded by generous sponsors who support our youth shooting programs, as well as supporters who raise funds through national banquets. Among this year’s SCTP scholarship sponsors will be the National Skeet Shooting Association and National Sporting Clays Association, whose $10,000 donation will fund 10 scholarships; the National Rifle Association, with a $5,000 donation; and the Amateur Trapshooting Association, which will fund scholarships for SCTP athletes who are also ATA members. Among the SPP scholarship donors are the International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA) and its executive director, Joyce Wilson, who will each contribute a $1000 scholarship.

Download Scholarship Application

Deadline: April 17, 2015

SCTP and SPP student athletes who will graduate from high school in 2015 and enroll in college this year are eligible to apply for the scholarships. Awards will be based on SCTP/SPP participation, academics, need, and other factors.

In 2014, SSSF awarded $1000 scholarships to 42 recipients, including 36 to SCTP athletes and six to SPP athletes.

To apply, students will submit an application, accompanied by an essay and a high school transcript. To allow us to announce scholarship recipients earlier in the year, we have revised our application dates. All applications are due by April 17, 2015.

Download the scholarship application package

Fundraising for Your Team: Hosting a Sporting Clays Shoot

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One of the most popular and profitable types of charity events in recent years has been sporting clays shoots. They offer numerous means of raising money, they are fun events that people want to participate in, and they are a perfect fit for a youth shooting team. But that doesn’t mean you have to be a team that competes in sporting clays to host one; charities of all types, most of which have nothing to do with any form of the shooting sports, are now using sporting clays shoots as fundraisers, so they are equally well suited to SPP teams as SCTP teams.

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One SCTP team that is effectively hosting an annual Corporate Shoot is Creighton Prep from Omaha, Nebraska. “We provide a fun- filled day where corporations and small businesses can sponsor a team or two in our event where we provide a little friendly shooting competition,” reports parent Heidi Rake. “This year we had a one hundred rock program with a little bit of trap, skeet, and doubles. We provide pastries and coffee at the start of our day and offered a nice steak lunch for our participants, which allows them some team-building time and some time to network with some of the other shooters. At the end of the day, we look at the scores and award our traveling trophy, as well as plaques for the top three teams.”

Ms. Rake continued, “Thanks to the MidwayUSA Foundation, each year we sell raffle tickets and we use our Corporate Shoot as the day that the winners are announced and their prizes distributed. We receive prizes from our local Cabela’s and Scheels stores, as well as several other local stores as they support our local trap shooters. In 2013, we had 20 teams participate, and in 2014, with the remodeling of our local range, the Harry A. Koch Trap and Skeet Range was the perfect venue. With the additional ranges that we could use, we doubled the number of teams that could participate. We filled up all 40 team spots within a few short weeks.”

According to Ms. Rake, the team’s high school trap shooters do everything from selling tickets, walking the teams through the program, scoring each squad, and cleaning up the shells left on the range.

If you want to host a charity shoot, be prepared to work hard — before, during, and after the shoot. In addition to planning the event, recruiting shooters, and making all the other preparations, like the Creighton Prep team, you’ll probably need to serve as trappers, load machines, help clean up the course, and serve a hundred other functions. But is there anywhere you’d rather work than at the range?

The first and most important rule for hosting a sporting clays event: partner with a course that is well-managed and exceptional at hospitality. Not only will your shooters have a great time and want to sign up again next year, but club management will make sure you cover many details you might not consider. This is a great way for the club to get some positive publicity as well. If you are able to work as trappers and in other ways, you may be able to factor that help into the price.

Look for multiple ways to monetize your shoot. Some suggestions to consider:

  • Corporate team entry fees
  • Individual entry fees
  • Sponsorships
  • Shooting games and side events (e.g., sporting arrows, Make-a-Break, or 5-stand)
  • Raffle
  • Silent auction

While a well-selected club will handle the shooting activities, you should discuss every detail, including availability of golf carts, with the club manager. But it will be up to you to sell sponsorships, book corporate teams and individual shooters, arrange for any raffle or auction, set up displays, provide any awards or medals, and handle other functions not directly related to shooting.

Publicity before and after the shoot will be vital. Talk to your local newspaper, radio stations, TV stations, websites, and other media outlets about announcing the event in advance and covering it with a story afterwards. This not only benefits the fundraiser this year but is also good groundwork for the following year. Invite a member(s) of the press to participate at no cost. Create flyers to post in the area. Ask the club to post your event information on its website and possibly do an email blast to its contact list.

Speaking of the following year, consider this a multi-year premise. Each year that you host an entertaining and well-managed event, you will learn more about doing it well and build on its reputation as a “must-do” function.

If possible, offer goody bags for the participants that include such items as an event t-shirt, small promotional items donated by sponsors, and literature or coupons from your sponsors. A sponsor may be able to provide the bags for this purpose.

Create a printed program, even if it is a one-page flyer, and distribute it to pre-registered participants. People like to know everything that is going on in advance, and they are more likely to arrive prepared to spend money in a raffle or auction.

Plan to serve food as part of the entry fee or make it available for purchase. This will keep the shooters on the premises for all your activities. Some shoots combine a barbecue, chili cook-off, or other culinary event with their shoot.

You don’t have to reinvent the wheel to host an excellent sporting clays fundraiser. Research online to learn what others do and get ideas for sponsor packages, programs, flyers, and other elements. Borrow ideas for side events; like the Last Competitor Standing events at SCTP Nationals? Do it.

A sporting clays fundraising event can be the most fun way you earn money all year. With the right partner club, it can become one of your community’s most popular events!

Help MidwayUSA Foundation Create a Tagline

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MidwayUSA FoundationIf you are an active team with the MidwayUSA Foundation, they want your help! The growth of the Team Endowment Account Program has been phenomenal, but they want to offer their financial assistance to even more teams. In an effort to continue branding the MidwayUSA Foundation and support more teams, they want to develop a tagline and are asking for your ideas.

A tagline is a short phrase (5-7 words) that can quickly explain or clarify what an organization does. In their case, MidwayUSA Foundation offers sustainment funding to youth shooting teams across the nation. Submit your suggestions to MidwayUSA Foundation by March 9, 2015, and if they choose your team’s suggestion, the Foundation will add $1,000 to your Team Endowment Account.

Remember, the tagline should help people to quickly understand what MidwayUSA Foundation does.

Click here to offer your ideas for a tagline.

Fundraising: Participate in SCTP and SPP Promotions

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This is part of a series of posts on fundraising for SCTP and SPP teams.

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Of all the fundraising activities your team can participate in, perhaps nothing is easier than taking advantage of a promotion offered by SCTP or SPP and our generous sponsors and industry partners. Some of them provide discounted products you would otherwise have to buy at full price for team members to use — and isn’t that like putting money in your pocket? — while others provide products that you can use for fundraisers such as raffles.

Instructions for these promotions are always thorough, and if you do have questions, there is always a staff member ready to answer. Thus, there is very little for you to have to figure out for yourself. You don’t have to reinvent this wheel!

SCTP has recently posted several programs for 2015, including a start-up package for new teams, gun and ammunition deals from our industry partners, and products to be raffled. Here are some SCTP promotions you can take advantage of today:

  • New Club Startup Package – The New Club Startup program makes it easy for a new club to get started or for an existing club to expand or replace their club guns. The start-up package includes your selection of two shotguns, 2 gun cases, 2 shell catchers, 10 sets of eye and ear protection, 10 over/under shell pouches, 10 range bags with shoulder strap, deluxe gun cleaning kit, and 10 flats of ammo.

  • Beretta Package – The Beretta Package is designed to help teams raise funds and/or help a new or existing athlete on a team with a high quality package of items by Beretta, ranging from shotguns to shooting accessories and ammunition.

  • Firearm Raffle Program – In conjunction with Winchester, SKB, CZ-USA, TriStar, Beretta, and Stoeger, SCTP will provide a shotgun you can raffle to make $2,000 or more for team activities.

  • SKB Raffle – SKB will provide an IS300 shotgun for you to raffle and raise cash. SCTP will also make a contribution to your MidwayUSA Foundation Team Endowment Account.

  • Ammunition Deals – Special pricing on ammunition is offered by Federal Premium/Reeds Family Outdoor Outfitters, Nobel Sport/Zanders, and Fiocchi. The Reeds offer also includes shooting products such as hearing protection and gun cases.

  • CZ-USA Firearms Purchase – Shooters can buy any of several models of CZ-USA shotguns at a special discount offered to SCTP teams.

You can find all the details about each of these offers — and any others that are added — on our SCTP Deals and Promotions page.

In addition, the Scholastic Pistol Program currently offers special pricing on Fiocchi ammunition. You can find the price list and terms on our SPP Deals and Promotions page. Keep an eye on the page for additional programs that may be offered throughout the year.

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