2005 Meetings Reports

12/15/05 Club Meeting minutes

Twenty one participants (two officers, thirteen members, two first time guests, one guest, two sons, and one daughter) had a great time at the 12/15/05 Club Meeting at my, Randy Rowley’s, home.  We had a deep fried turkey (courtesy of Larry Dowden), cooking oil (courtesy of James Wade), dressing (courtesy of Kenneth and Regina Kidd), sweet potato casserole (courtesy of Charles Cutchens), baked beans (courtesy of Eddy Chance), stewed okra (courtesy of Mark Dillow), veggie tray (courtesy of Ron Denison), potato salad (courtesy of Greg Souther), IBC Root Beer (courtesy of Josh Sanchez), and my family supplied pies, a cake, and green beans.  Someone also brought some Blue Bell ice cream.  We watched DVD #2 for The Truth 11 Big Bucks.  James Wade led our devotion and led us in prayer requests since our last meeting.  We added two new members, and three members renewed their memberships.

• A discussion was held on Upcoming Event Details.
• A discussion was held on Ministry/Service Projects, including Operation Orphans.
• A discussion was held on a Duck Hunt scheduled for 12/17/05.
• A discussion was held on a Concealed Handgun License class, probably scheduled for 1/06.

11/15/05 Officers Meeting minutes

Two present officers and one officer-to-be (starting 1/1/06) were in attendance (three participants).  The meeting was held at Catfish Parlor.  The minutes are as follows:

1.  The 2005 State of the Club Report (to date) was discussed.

2.  2006 Events were discussed.

3.  Outreach

Demographic facts:

• Presently 1 out of 43 supporting members is a minority (2%)
• Presently 9 out of 112 inactive members are minorities (8%)
• Presently 3 out of 43 supporting members are women (7%)
• Presently 94% of all (supporting and inactive) Club members are white (92% are white men)
• Presently 98% of all Club members are men
• We have never had a black man as a guest at an FCS event
• Most of our members are above age 40
• Only six of our sons or grandsons have joined the Club (6%)

How we promote the Club:

• The FCS website.
• Brochures or Business Cards (Sportsmen’s Warehouse, McBride’s, Capitol City Trap & Skeet, Eagle Peak Shooting Range, and Archery Country).
• Promotions (Great Hills Baptist, Hyde Park Baptist (we can no longer do so there because they have strict new promotional display rules), First Baptist Pflugerville, South 1st Street Baptist, and Sportsmen’s Warehouse).
• Dove Retreat flyers in Hype Park and Great Hills Sunday School Director’s boxes.
• My, Randy Rowley’s, “rolling billboard” (truck) with “The Fellowship of Christian Sportsmen” and our URL on the tailgate.

The officers discussed the various cultural, economic, and generational obstacles to minority and youth participation.  Fifty years ago we were a predominantly (70%) rural nation where hunting on the way home from school was commonplace.  Kids would take rifles to school for competitions.  Hunting was a way of life, not a sport.  Now we’re a predominantly urban (70%) nation.  Many city kids grow up without anyone taking them hunting (the only things that they hunt are each other).  Hunting has also become incredibly expensive.  Up to twenty years ago it wasn’t uncommon for people to stop at a land owners place and ask him to hunt and receive permission.  Now hunting has replaced cattle as the number one business for many ranches.  Land owners are even making pretty sums for nuisance animals (hogs) that they used to pay to have removed.  Buying guns, clothing, binos, knives, boots, camping gear, and all the other necessary gadgets prevents many people from even getting started.  Kids today have grown up expecting everything right now (the microwave generation).  They would rather shoot animals on a video game because it’s more exciting, takes less time, and they don’t get their hands dirty.  Many blacks have a negative connotation for the word “hunting” (slavery and the KKK) and are financially unable to participate.  The financial issue is also a major factor for other minority groups.  The officers agreed that we would probably have the most success by targeting children and young men at this time.

4.  Ministry/Service Projects:

• Mentor program.
• Operation Orphans.
• Conservation measures.
• Hunters Safety Class for women and children.
• Adopt a needy family for Christmas.
• Kid fish program with the Austin Christian Bass Club.
• Sporting Clays Shoot for teenagers at a local church.
• Have an FCS shrimp boil (or similar) for a Men’s Ministry at a local church with will include a big name speaker.

The officers agreed to return to Ministry/Service Projects as a priority of the Club.  Those members who want to participate will do so.  Those who don’t will miss the blessings.  The officers decided to target Operation Orphans (donating clothing, shells, etc.), Kid’s Fish with Austin Christian Bass Club, and a Sporting Clays Shoot for teenagers at a local church for the coming year.  We will also work towards having an FCS shrimp boil (or similar) for a Men’s Ministry at a local church, which will include a big name speaker.  If we’re not able to pull this off this coming year we will work towards having it in 2007.

5.  The officers discussed allowing single women who have sons to attend FCS events that involve overnight camping as long as their sons are with them. The three officers were in favor of this idea.  It will be presented to the membership for a discussion and vote.

10/6/05 Club Meeting

Three officers, three members, two guests, and two children (10 participants) had a great time at the 10/6/05 Club Meeting at Charles Cutchens’ home.  The meeting featured grilled a shrimp boil (shrimp, sausage, corn on the cob, and red potatoes).  We ate shrimp until it was coming out of our ears.  Charles cooked the food.  Derrich Pollock led us in a devotional and in prayer requests that have been generated since the 8/25/05 Club Meeting.  No tape was shown (we were too busy eating shrimp)!  Two members renewed their memberships and two more renewed who were not present.  The minutes from the Business Meeting are as follows:

• A discussion was held on Upcoming Event Details.
• A discussion was held on Upland Game Hunting options.  Our scheduled site (Flying Feathers) looks like it was wiped out by Hurricane Rita.  Charles Cutchens is going to get information on an outfitter near Bastrop.
• A discussion was held on proposed events for 2006.  These include:
  • A Blast and Cast trip (duck hunt and bay fishing trip for redfish and speckled trout near Rockport, cost is $225.00 each).
  • A Hybrid Bass fishing trip (Mike Hardcastle recommends a guide on Lake Belton, the cost for four fishermen is $60.00 each).
  • A FCS only Beyond the Basics: Pistol course (six members are needed, cost is $60.00 each).
  • An FCS Banquet (we have not had one since 1997).
  • A Sporting Clays and Skeet Shoot and Barbecue (shoot a round of Sporting Clays, barbecue something on Capitol City’s grounds, and then go out and shoot another round of Sporting Clays).  This event should ideally be held in the spring or fall.

8/25/05 Club Meeting

Two officers, 11 members, four guests, and three children (20 participants) had a great time at the 8/25/05 Club Meeting at Derrich Pollock’s home.  The meeting featured grilled ribeye steaks, fried Redfish and Speckled Trout, corn-on-the-cob, French fries, and three pies from Marie Callender’s.  Eddy Chance cooked the steaks.  I, Randy Rowley, cooked the fish, fries, and corn.  Ken Miller contributed the fish from the 8/4/05 – 8/5/05 Chartered Bay Fishing Trip.  Derrich Pollock led us in a devotional and in prayer requests that have been generated since the 6/2/05 Club Meeting.  Jim Rumbo shared two testimonies.  The DVD “The Truth 2 Incoming” was shown.  The minutes from the Business Meeting are as follows:

• A discussion was held on Upcoming Event Details.
• A discussion was held on adding an FCS members and guests only Beyond the Basics: Pistol training course after the first of the new year.
• The new FCS shirts (button down and T-shirt) were shown.  A discussion was held on the new button down shirts.

6/2/05 Club Meeting

Two officers, six members, three guests, and one youth guest (12 participants) had a great time at the 6/2/05 Club Meeting at Larry Dowden’s home.  The meeting featured grilled fajita’s, homemade beans by James Wade, and a yummy dessert by Laverne Dowden.  James also led us in a devotional.  I led us in prayer for prayer requests that have been generated since the 4/7/05 Club Meeting.  The DVD “The Truth 11” (DVD 1 of 2) was shown.  The minutes from the Business Meeting are as follows:

• A discussion was held on Upcoming Event Details.
• A discussion was held on adding a 7/23/05 Cabela’s Hunting and Gathering Trip to the 2005 Calendar (this proposal is presently being voted on by the active Club members).
• A discussion was held on added a dove hunt near San Angelo to the 2005 Calendar or replacing a dove hunt on the 2005 Calendar with San Angelo. The consensus of the Club members at this meeting was to replace the Woodson hunts with San Angelo hunts.
• A discussion was held on a Beyond the Basics handgun training course tentatively scheduled for 10/15/05.

4/7/05 Club Meeting

Seven members, one guest, and four youth members (12 participants) had a great time at the 4/7/05 Club Meeting at Ron Denison’s home.  The meeting featured grilled dove breasts supplied my Ron and me, Randy Rowley, and deer jalapeno and cheese sausage supplied by me.  I led us in prayer for prayer requests that have been generated since the 2/10/05 Club Meeting.  The minutes from the Business Meeting are as follows:

• A discussion was held on Upcoming Event Details.
• A discussion was held on a concealed carry handgun permit course tentatively scheduled for 5/14/05.
• Ron Denison presented me with a card and two gift certificates from several FCS members in appreciation for the time that I have spent in serving the Club.

2/10/05 Club Meeting

Eleven members, five guests, and one youth member (17 participants) had a great time at the 2/10/05 Club Meeting at Mr. Charlie Batts’, home.  The meeting featured homemade chili made by John Murray and Chris Rowley.  James Wade led us in a devotional and Derrich Pollock led us in prayer for prayer requests that have been generated since the 12/9/04 Club Meeting.  Jack King presented information on the Sportsmen Conservationists of Texas and Tonya Slovacek presented information on the 2/26/05 National Wild Turkey Federation Banquet.  The minutes from the Business Meeting are as follows:

• A discussion was held on Upcoming Event Details.
• A discussion was held on a shopping trip to Cabela’s (when it opens) and dinner with our significant others.
• A discussion was held on a concealed carry handgun permit course.
• The Officers made an Executive Decision, in conjunction with approval by the members present, to designate money that was overpaid for food at the 2/10/05 Club Meeting ($24.00) towards the purchase of an affiliate membership with the Sportsmen Conservationists of Texas.