|
~~March 2009 – February 2010~~
The Year in Review
By Catoosa Red
What a transformation! In less that one year the Indian Territory Single Action Shooting Society went from being homeless to finding a home at Red Castle, building 8 large stages, putting on a successful Ruckus in the Nations and grew by leaps and bounds! We thought that our club would grow when we joined one of the largest gun clubs in Oklahoma but never in our wildest imagination did we think that we would grow by this much! It became quite apparent to us when, at our December shoot, 11 out of the 33 shooters were brand new! This meant that 1/3 of our shooters did not know how to shoot Cowboy Action! This was a cause for alarm as well as celebration. The ITSASS group gathered in January – what should we do? The answer – Cowboy Shooter Orientation! What should we cover? The answer – everything! So with that in mind an agenda was devised, documents were created, volunteers volunteered, an e-mail flurry was started and all manner of chaos ensued!
We were worried, would anyone come? Would too many come? Are we crazy? Step to Feb 27th, 2010 – the day dawned bright & sunny (the first in many days!), ITSASS members arrived bringing guns, leather, clothes, carts, food, etc… Then the new shooters started showing up. By twos & threes and even families started to arrive. Each person signed in and got a handout which included a myriad of helpful information. The club also had old Cowboy Chronicles available for them to take home. ITSASS members greeted the newcomers and helped to make them feel welcome. By the time the meeting started there were over 45 new shooters in attendance!!
Burly Bill called the meeting together and then we were off! There were presentations on costuming and aliases, safety, what happens at a shoot, how a posse runs, different types of guns, reloading and carts. The meeting lasted for about 3 ½ hrs with a break for coffee and cookies. When the meeting was over we were off to the range!
ITSASS members brought plenty of guns and ammo for any and all that wanted to try their hand at Cowboy Shooting. There were a few shooters who didn’t make it to the range – instead they headed to the gun show to buy guns!
I offered to hold an “All Cowgirl Clinic”, no boys allowed! I enlisted the help of Just L, Neeter Bear, Annie Hickok and Prairie Diamond because I knew I couldn’t do this alone. I had 9 Cowgirls take me up on the offer. They arrived with big grins on their faces and were ready to see what this was all about! As I discussed the finer points of shooting each weapon Just L would demonstrate how it was done. After each Cowgirl had handled each weapon (pistol, rifle and shotgun) they got to use live ammo! We had 2 shooting bays open so each shooter got plenty of individual attention from one of the ITSASS Cowgirls. Once everyone got to shoot each weapon, we put together a simple scenario for them to run through. You have never heard so much cheering and laughing in your life! These Cowgirls were hooked! We couldn’t keep the Cowboys away; I guess they wanted in on the fun too! The Cowgirls were having so much fun that they were the last to leave the range!
There was no charge to new shooters but donations were welcome. Over $150.00 was donated to help us defray the cost of ammo. But guess what? None of our shooters would take any of it! So, the money will go towards something special for our club or putting on the next Orientation!
After a long day of great Cowboy Shooting and camaraderie we all packed up to head home. Here are some of the comments that we heard: “I feel so powerful”, “I want to do this now”!, “I can’t wait to get my guns and stuff”!, “ I wish I had taken a class like this years ago”.
So to summarize, in less than one year at Red Castle, we built a new 8 stage town, held Ruckus in the Nations and New Shooter Orientation! Quite a year, I would say. I can’t wait to see what we get done this year!!
The ITSASS board would like to send a great big “Thank You” to all of our members who made this event so successful!
New Shooters are always “Welcome” to come and shoot with the Indian Territory Single Action Shooting Society at the Red Castle Gun Club in Sand Springs, Ok.
|
