May/June 2009: Volume 17, Number 3 - USA Shooting

On The ComplexDirectorAt this reading you are likely growingEconomic ImpactBy Robert Mitchell, Chief ExecutiveOfficerweary hearing of the economic downturn,financial crises, bailouts and seeing both interestrates and the stock market suffer mostsignificant declines. Yet positive news exists;our membership has been trending upwardand participation at national championshipsand selection matches has held up very wellduring a time when many organizations areexperiencing decreases.Unfortunately, however, USA Shooting isnot immune to the negative economic impact.Projecting revenues and expenses through2009 confirms that we are facing a financialchallenge. Donations have dropped off substantiallyand the sponsorship market is verychallenging. Our direct marketing programis the heart of our fundraising effort and atthis point, we forecast those revenues to beUSA Shooting and ELEY extendpartnership through London 2012By Buddy DuVall, Director of Marketingdown approximately 20% ($250,000). Westretched our budget as never before in 2008as a result of a hefty investment in our Olympicpreparations and the desire to providerewards to medal-winning Olympians andcoaches. With our success in Beijing, thosechecks were a pleasure to write.Still, USAS is financially strong and has anoperating reserve. Our philosophy requiresUSAS to operate in the black each year andbank a reserve that allows us to fund largeevents such as the World Shooting Championshipsand Championship of the Americas,both of which occur in 2010. Those twocompetition events alone are budgeted at$450,000. It is not possible to fund eventsof that magnitude from an annual operatingbudget.With uncertain economic forecasts, it maybe some time before people will feel comfortablemaking gifts and expanding sponsorships.Thus, USAS must take prudent measuresto ensure our viability. The Board ofDirectors and staff evaluate and implementmeasures for controlling costs and generatingadditional revenue. I take pride in the efficiencywith which USAS operates. The NationalCoaches make the best use of availabletraining dollars. We conduct events with theminimum number of staff and volunteers. Butwith the current situation, we will considershrinking expenses by reducing and reallocatingdepartment budgets, cutting costs associatedwith USA Shooting News (including thepossibility of deferring an issue or publishingon-line), pay cuts and/or reductions in staff.But we can only trim so much for so longand still provide the quality service and programsour membership deserves. The keyto solving the current challenge as well asour future growth is increasing revenue. Towardthat effort, we have hired Corrie Westas a marketing assistant to Buddy DuVall tohelp in attracting sponsorships and makingour gifts program and Foundation successful.Nichole Rae does an excellent job securingadditional benefits for our members, whichwe anticipate will increase our membership.To bump revenues for 2009, we may also minethe lead at the International Shooting Parkwhere shotshell lead has accumulated for 20years. Another revenue-generator is sellingthe accumulated shotgun hulls to reloaders.We feel good about our efforts to keep participantcosts low in spite of increased costs. Atsome point, however, we will have to compensatefor the increasing costs of target materialsand volunteer expenses by raising entry andmembership fees, but we prefer not to put extraburden on our members during difficulteconomic times.As a member and/or supporter of USAShooting, your help is critical. Please continueto participate in competitions andpractice your sport. Ask a club member, fellowshooter, friend or family member to joinUSAS. Pass along referrals or offer to makeintroductions to potential sponsors or giftprospects, and when possible contribute toone of our fundraising campaigns that showup frequently in your mailbox. USA Shootingdonor Wayne Brosius of Frackville, Pa. isa perfect example of why donating pays off.Mr. Brosius won $2,500 in the USAS DirectMail Campaign’s Sharpshooter Sweepstakethis past January. He was extremely excitedabout his win and said, “I hope my donationwill help the team as much as this prize moneyhelped me.”Shooting is your Olympic sport and USAShooting is your organization. With yourhelp, we will continue to prosper!Marketingrimfire ammunition for USA Shooting’s Rifle and Pistol Teams.USA Shooting is pleased to announce its partnership with ELEYhas been extended through the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Since2000, ELEY Limited has been the Official Sponsor and Supplier of .22“For the past decade, USA Shooting has relied on ELEY to provide.22 ammunition of the highest quality, accuracy and consistency,” saidNational Rifle Coach Dave Johnson. “ELEY ammunition helps ourathletes to perform at their very best and provides the greatest opportunityto reach the podium. The partnership between ELEY and USAShooting has proven to be a winning combination.”For more than 50 years ELEY has remained at the forefront of internationalshooting, winning more Olympic medals, ISSF World Cupsand setting more World Records than any other manufacturer.At the 2008 Olympic Games ELEY’s premium cartridge Tenex recordedits 100th medal since its introduction into Olympic competitionin the Tokyo Games of 1964. Using ELEY Tenex in Beijing, U.S.Shooting Team member Matt Emmons added a silver medal to thegold he won in Athens in 50m Men’s Prone Rifle. The Prone eventdemands the highest degree of accuracy of all the disciplines as medals26 USA Shooting Newsare often decided by tenths of a point. Also in Beijing, pistol shooterKeith Sanderson set an Olympic Record using Tenex in the Rapid FirePistol event which, not only requires accuracy, but flawless function.For top competitors seeking every possible advantage, ELEYprovides a service allowing shooters from around the world to visitELEY’s manufacturing facility to make a selection of a “matchedbatch” of Tenex for individual rifles and pistols. At the beginning ofeach season, USA Shooting’s coaches and athletes pay a visit to ELEY’splant in Sutton Coldfield, United Kingdom to test pre-selected batchesof Tenex from production lines. Testing is conducted in a state-of –the-art facility under optimal conditions, using patented software andelectronic target systems to identify the absolute best test groups. Selectedlots of Tenex are “matched” to each barrel and subsequently reservedfor team members and shipped to USA Shooting through ZandersSporting Goods (exclusive ELEY U.S. importer and distributor).With talented rifle and pistol members of the USA Shooting Teamusing ELEY ammunition, we continue to look forward to four moreyears of a great partnership producing winning results. For more informationon ELEY pleasevisit their website at www.eleyammunition.com. Forinformation on how to purchaseELEY in the U.S. pleasevisit www.gzanders.com.