Winter 2002 - National Rifle Association

Up until now the club had not incurred any great costsin advertising but the time had now come when we hadto consider what to do to make our club known to awider audience. Initially, we placed a small semi-displayadvert in the magazine Target Sports to see what reactionwe would get. It is true to say we were a little bitdisappointed to find that there were no enquiries fromanyone living in our immediate area. A quick tour ofthe local newsagents uncovered the reason for this aswe found that Target Sports was not generally ondisplay. Note was taken of all the sporting magazinesthat were on display for any of our future advertisingplacements.Not to be daunted by our first foray into magazineadvertising, we embarked on a campaign to place ouradvert in four magazines over four months. We choseShooting Sports, Air Gunner, Angling Times and CountyLife. Doubt was expressed about Angling Times but wereasoned that maybe a few anglers might be interestedin trying out a different sport, plus Angling Times has alarge circulation in the Greater London area.The overall response we have got from all our effortshas been astounding. Currently we are getting enquiriesabout membership running at around two to six a week.We do not expect to turn all of these enquiries intoapplications for membership but we are pleased withthe amount we have had. Five years ago ourmembership stood at 45 full and probationary memberswith no applications to be processed. Today our fullmembers total 120 with another 40 people on probation.Applications being processed amount to a little over 50.However this number of people coming into the clubdid create a few problems. We found that our Instructorsand Range Officers were finding it difficult to cope. Toovercome this problem, ten members were sent on anNRA Range Conducting Officer’s course, and lateranother ten, sent on an NRA Target Rifle Instructor’scourse. This has relieved the pressure a bit but it madeus realise that you must have proper instructors for thediscipline you are engaged in. If you want to hold on tonew people coming into the club, you must keep theinterest going and not let them sit in the corner twiddlingtheir thumbs. Make them feel welcome and graduallyintroduce them to all that is going on. Do not expectthem to get involved with all the disciplines you mayhave on offer. As my Secretary often says, if all a personinitially wants to do is sit down with a cup of tea and aKit-Kat and watch what’s going on, that’s fine. In theend, they will decide what they want to do.The procedures Carshalton Rifle Club carried out toattract new members may not work for all clubs as theymay have different aims and circumstances but we feelthey could form a good basis. I have listed out below afew points which may help clubs in their future plans,but be prepared to fine tune or alter tack if circumstanceschange. Also expect to get a few disappointments alongthe way. You will not get an instant influx of membersand a long-term view must be taken.80a) Do register your club with the Leisure Services ofyour local council. This department is normallybased in the main local library. If you have a LocalSports Council, register with them as well, you mayfind that you can apply for a grant or interest-freeloan if you need to improve your range facilities inthe future. I know of at least two clubs in theGreater London area who have recently received agrant to improve their range facilities.b) If your range is leased, make sure there are noclauses preventing you from doing things and alsocheck the length of time of the lease. You have alegal protection if your club has been on the samesite for 50 years or more.c) Make a thorough survey of your range and clubroom. Is it warm in winter and cool in summer? Isit clean and tidy? Can you cater for disabledpeople? Are there toilet facilities for both sexes?Can you provide refreshments - at least a cup oftea and soft drinks? Above all, does it meet all safetyrequirements?d) If your club operates under a Home Office Licence,seriously consider becoming Home OfficeApproved and get an MoD clearance certificate.e) Display any awards, Instructor’s Certificates, RangeOfficer’s Certificates in a prominent position. Don’tleave them gathering dust in a drawer.f) Get all your existing members involved in any plansfor the future. Is your club one that has good oldJoe as Secretary/Treasurer/Maintenance Man/Tea-maker/General Dogsbody for years and yousee no reason to change things now? Wrong!!!Everyone has something to offer, however small.g) Encourage everyone, especially the young, to wearany casual clothes with the club name or emblemattached if they are socialising away from the range.It does not cost a fortune to have a design screenprinted or embroidered onto a sports shirt or othersuch top. Remember, designer label clothes are allthe rage at the moment and who knows, your clubshirt may get a cult following. It is all advertisingand a way of getting your name known to thepublic.h) Finally, before you decide on what new disciplineyou want to introduce, make sure you can do it.For instance, you advertise that the club caters forrapid-fire air pistol then find out your first brighteyed and bushy-tailed enquirer expects you toprovide instruction in the discipline.One final note, try and form a friendly relationship oreven affiliate with other clubs in your area. They maybe able to pass on some useful tips to you in times ofdifficulty.