WSMLA General Meeting                                                   January 11, 1997

     Meeting called to order at 1:26 p.m. by President Mike Cash. Mike then made a general announcement to the membership that there would be a free keg courtesy of the Holiday Inn tapped after the meeting.

     The minutes of the January 10th Board of Director’s Meeting were read by Secretary Dave Wilson and approved by the membership. Discussion followed concerning the WSMLAs position on political representation to the Game and Fish on licensing allocation and muzzle loading seasons. Mike Corrigan encouraged local clubs to get involved in local meetings.

     Scott Gormley gave the Treasurer’s report (see attached). Scott explained that the board had decided to donate auction proceeds to defray membership costs for the Association dinner and that $300 allocated for entertainment would be refunded back to the membership in the form of $10 Trader’s Bucks by drawing dinner tickets.

     Winners of the Trader’s Bucks drawing were: Duane Honadel, Jerry Boesh, Karen White, Cindy Lukowiak, Ty Wilczewski, Diane Elston, Brian Snyder, Doc Bob Eveland, Doris Mauzi, Al Ballard, Tony Larvie, JoAnn Corrigan, Travis Bennett, Charlie Stickney, Carrie Distad, Rabbit, Mike O’Meagher, Jim Archibald, Connie Shattuck, Rita Berg, Paul Duke, Jim Elston, Wanda Youngbird, B.J. Lawrence, Dennis Obert, Mary Stack, Duane Honadel (2), Rick Hansen and Rhett Stickney.

OLD BUSINESS

     Mike Cash stated that the board rescinded it’s decision to set a late summer shoot date and that the decision would remain with the hosting club to select their own date.

Awards:

Postal Match awards presented by Trinidad Herrera (See attached). Trinidad pointed out that there was an error in the results published in the newsletter and that the Sidskadee Mountain Men placed third in the Men’s division instead of the Bighorn Basin Muzzle Loaders. Trinidad closed with a few statements about participation, promotion and support of the State organization. Trinidad was thanked by the organization for his continued involvement in the Postal Match program.

Traveling Trophy awards presented by Charlie Stickney. Qualifiers in the Men’s division were Larry Webster, Ed Green, Mike Penz, Bryan Youngberg and Vince Lukowiak. Women’s division: Janice Gormley, Pat Foster, Judy Lawrence, Patty Tyrell and JoAnn Stickney. Junior’s division: Mike Duke, Rhett Stickney and Jason Harris. Sub Junior’s division: Judd Stickney and Andy Youngberg. Overall State Traveling Trophy Winners were: Ed Green (Men’s), Judy Lawrence (Women’s), Jason Harris (Junior’s) and Judd Stickney (Sub Junior’s).

State Shoot awards presented by Phil Nissen. Winners of Winter Challenge Match included Walt Faye, Judy Lawrence and Junior Molina.

Junior Pistol    1st Mike Duke                                    Women’s Pistol          1st Judy Lawrence

                        2nd Rhett Stickney                                                     2nd JoAnn Stickney

                                                                                                            3rd Janice Gormley

Men’s Pistol   1st Ed Green                           SubJunior Aggregate  1st Judd Stickney

                        2nd Scott Gormley                                                     2nd Josh Lehto

                        3rd Dave Tyrell                                                          3rd Andy Youngberg

Junior Agg      1st Jason Harris                      Women’s Aggregate  1st Judy Lawrence

                        2nd Rhett Stickney                                                     2nd Jody Cook

                        3rd Mike Duke                                                           3rd Janice Gormley

Men’s Flint     1st Phil Nissen                                    Men’s Percussion       1st Ed Green

                        2nd Ron Abbott                                                          2nd Dave Tyrell

                        3rd Travis Bennett                                                      3rd Phil Nissen

Squirrel Agg   1st Travis Bennett                  Big Bore Agg             1st Roger Roebling

                        2nd Dean Grogan                                                       2nd Ed Green

                        3rd Scott Gormley                                                      3rd Phil Nissen

X-Stick Agg   1st Dave Tyrell           Phil thanked the shoot participants and State association

                        2nd Ed Green             for donating $400 to the Deer Creek Muzzle Loaders who

                        3rd Walt Faye             hosted the shoot.

NEW BUSINESS

     Mike Corrigan asked for feedback on the use of the auction proceeds. Roy Martin suggested that the proceeds be used on plastic surgery for the State secretary. Other suggestions were:

     Trader’s Bucks ($10 each)

     4-H Donation of $200

     Band for next years auction (O’Meagher)

     Cash prizes for Photo Awards

     Range Development Assistance Program

     Convention Medallions

     State Shoot and Association Promotional Funding

     $4.00 off Convention Dinners

     $4.00 off Room Rates

     Postal Match Shoulder Patches

     Kathy Clymer made a motion to donate $200 to the State 4-H Muzzle Loading Program to be used for the purchase of trophies at the State 4-H muzzle loading Championships in Douglas. Motion passed with one opposed, Bryan Youngberg.

     Discussion followed on what else to do with money. Kathy Clymer suggested that the list be reviewed by the membership and prioritized. Feedback on specific ideas included.

Mike Corrigan: Increasing costs to attend convention have resulted in lower attendance (down approximately 70 members in the last five years). Membership entertainment at auction has not worked, since same people always compete and win.

Discussion on range improvement program for new clubs received some dissent as it was thought that the receiving club should be of an established and proven nature.

JoAnn Gormley suggested the funds be used primarily for promotional activities.

Mike Penz suggested that the State contribution to the State Shoot be increased.

Trinidad stated that he did not think we needed to get more Postal Match patches.

Response to discussion on subsidizing of dinners or rooms was negative. Some people felt it might be good to give kids free dinners as this would help family attendance.

     The question was raised about relocating the convention elsewhere. Mike Corrigan stated that this might be difficult. John Boesh stated that the WSMLA convention was one of the largest in the state of Wyoming annually and that several cities should be interested in competing for the convention, including the Holiday Inn in Casper. Charlie Stickney asked for members to solicit other convention locations. Riverton was suggested as a possibility. John Boesh suggested that more advertising be done including promotion of convention at shoots. Roy Martin wondered if there could be more workshops scheduled. Mike Corrigan stated that the timing was difficult to avoid conflicts with other activities. Bobbi Wilczewski asked if it was common knowledge that kids were welcome at the convention. Mike stated that he thought that was pretty clear in the past and one of the reasons a swimming pool was critical to convention location. Dave Lehto made mention of the fact that the $4.00 off dinners helps the half price kid’s dinner prices the most and benefits families considerably. Dave felt that auction proceeds really need to be returned to benefit the membership in reducing convention costs and increasing attendance. Charlie Stickney mentioned that we still need to sell four more dinner tickets as we were below our guaranteed number and would have to pay for them anyway.

     Incentives for new members was discussed. A recruitment strategy of member bring a member as well as some sort of other incentives to get new people to convention was mentioned. It was suggested that earlier notification on convention proceedings be done. One incentive could include financial assistance for young families attending banquet. Bryan Youngberg suggested that kids under 15 eat free, Phil Nissen suggested raising the limit to under 18. Mike Corrigan asked that members continue input on this issue by contacting board members with ideas. Mike stated that this was a fluid decision.

     Nomination were opened for new board members. Expired terms included Scott Gormley, Mike Cash, Mike Corrigan and Dave Wilson. Roy Martin pointed out that these were all of the current officers. Mike Cash declined nomination since he will continue on the board as Past President. There were five individuals nominated for the four positions, they were: Scott Gormley, Mike Corrigan and Dave Wilson, Patty Tyrell and Dan Cook. Patty Tyrell was elected to the board with Scott Gormley, Dave Wilson and Mike Corrigan receiving reappointments.

     Mike Cash asked for State Shoot bids. Patty Tyrell volunteered the Bighorn Basin Muzzle Loaders to host the State Shoot for the end of July.

WYOMING SHOOT DATES

February 15-16 Deer Creek Muzzle Loaders Winter Challenge Match

April 11-13 Powder River Plainsmen Pie Shoot

May 17-18 State Cannon Shoot

May 23-26 Wind River Muzzle Loaders Memorial Weekend Shoot

June 7-8 Deer Creek Muzzle Loaders Shoot

June 15 Cowboy State Games

June 28-29 Fort Casper Primitive Skills Rendezvous

June 29 to July 6 1838 Rendezvous

July 5-6 Wyoming Territorial Park Rendezvous

July 18-20 Saratoga & Encampment Rendezvous

July 26-27 Wyoming State Muzzle Loading Shoot

September 7-8 Fort Bridger Rendezvous

     Bryan Youngberg requested that all shoot results be sent to the newsletter editor if clubs wanted to continue to have their shoot flyers included in the newsletter. Travis Bennett was the winner of the complimentary Jacuzzi Suite at the Holiday Inn.

Mike Cash gave special thanks to Scott Gormley, Mike Corrigan and Bryan Youngberg.

Meeting was adjourned at 3:23 p.m.