Winter 2002 - National Rifle Association

2002BISLEYGENERALMEETING2002The Chairmen welcomed those attending and the noticeconvening the meeting was taken as read.The meeting then unanimously re-elected HRH ThePrince of Wales as the Association’s President.The Chairmen welcomed Vice-Presidents who wereattending Bisley this year and particularly those fromoverseas, namely: Mrs MacDonald-Stewart and MrSandy Peden from Canada, M Robert Chombart and MPhilippe Ginestet from France, Mr Cliff Mallett fromJersey, Mr Alan Le Page from Guernsey, Mr MiddletonTompkins from the USA, Mr Jimmy Cantlay fromZimbabwe, and Mr Norris Gomez from the West Indies.The Chairman recorded that the NRA has lost one of itsstalwart Vice-Presidents, Lt Col Larry Orpen-SmellieOBE, who died recently after his fight with cancer. Hewent on to say that “he was with us to the end showinghis same stoicism, energy and humour as ever. We shallmiss him greatly and offer our sympathy to Jean who Iam pleased to see is with us here tonight.”The Vice-Presidents and Auditors were re-elected withthanks to the latter for additional and uncharged helpwhich they had rendered since the last financial yearend.The Chairman announced that the only election forCouncil had been for the Regional Representative forthe East Midlands and that Mr George Barnard had beenelected.Chairman’s Speech“Since I took over as Chairman of Council last October Ihave sought to communicate. Naturally, in view of ourcircumstances, there has been much more to say aboutour finances and how we organise ourselves than I hopewill be the case in future years as we stabilise our affairsagain. However, communication will still remain highon my list of priorities.I hope that most of you will have read my Journal articlesand the open letter which I circulated at the end of lastweek. I hope that I have brought everyone up to speedwith events and I have not received any written or otherrequests for further information at this time.Accordingly, I should like to devote my words thisevening to matters of current interest to us as membersof the NRA generally and particularly in relation to theBisley Meeting.MembershipThe events of last year, the price increases for shooters,the new structure for affiliation and direct membershipfees, after dropping the charges for car parking, put extrastrain on our membership committee and in particularon Heather Webb, our Membership Secretary. Queriesand misunderstandings were legion, but, in the finalanalysis, we have lost, net, some 170 members leaving4,400 direct members and lost some 20 clubs leaving 760affiliated clubs. Underlying these regrettable figures,50we have, nevertheless, recruited 208 new members and17 new clubs. We are learning more about the make-upof our affiliated clubs and the number of shootersindirectly involved which appears could be in the orderof 36,000.It is very important for us to have some form of linkwith and knowledge about civilian shooters which canonly add to our strength. Going forward, the strategyof the membership committee is to increase directmembership, hopefully reducing cost in real terms, andto increase and know more about affiliate shooters. Thecommittee policies and initiatives going forward will beconsistent with these objectives.I shall touch on a few facts and figures relating to thedevelopment of membership and shooting. UnderPhyllis Farnan, supported by not only our own staff buta number of volunteers around the country, there hasbeen an encouraging increase in probationary courses.Last year 33 shooters went through these courses atBisley and the figure will be nearer 50 by the end of thisyear. In addition, the team give support and advice toclubs. Club officials should be aware of this facility andcall upon it. These cover not only target rifle, but alsogallery rifle and muzzle loading pistol.We thank the team of dedicated coaches.Then there are Range Conducting Officer Courses runboth at Bisley (up to at least eight this year) andregionally (some 35) held by regional assessors. We havesome 40 or more volunteer assessors. Since January, 188new RCOs have qualified. In turn, 164 competitorqualified RCOs have contributed to our resources forthe Bisley Meeting. In case anyone asks, therequirements seek to be strict and in practice noteveryone passes at the first attempt or at all. We arealso developing a course with the Muzzle LoadersAssociation of Great Britain.Also, as part of our arrangements with the MoD, some24 students have qualified as Club Instructors and afurther 17 have completed Skills courses in target rifle.In addition we have run courses for the DEFRA WildlifeUnit in Gloucestershire and for the Chessington Worldof Adventure Capture Team to give you other examples.As I have indicated, members should know of thesefacilities provided. Details are posted on our web siteor else interested parties should contact the ShootingAdministrator, Phyllis Farnan.Ever mindful of the cost of shooting, another initiativeis being examined, provided there is found to bedemand, and that is the provision of targets at Bisley bythe hour both at short and long range. Recently, albeitat a busy time, this has been found to be popular. Pleasewatch the web site and be in touch with the Range Officeto indicate your interest, but please do not expecteverything at once.