Illinois State Trapshooters Association

 ATA Delegate Report November 2007

Illinois State Shoot 2009 dates are June 15 through June 21

Submitted by:

Jim Matteson

Illinois Northern Zone Director & ATA Delegate

November 2007 Trap And Field ATA Delegate Report

Trapshooting Picture of the Year

You may recall that the ATA ran a nationwide contest last Spring and Summer for the "Trapshooting Picture of the Year."

 Bob Butterworth from the St. Charles club was the winner out of the 20-30 entries.  The announcement of the winner was made just before or right at the start of the Grand.  Stacey Hodkey presented the award to Bob at the Grand.

 Bob lives in Naperville and is reasonably new to the clay target sports and registered trapshooting.  He has been a member at St. Charles Sportsman's Club  for about two years.  Bob is a graphic and website designer and highly sophisticated computer programmer for Tech Pro in Geneva.  As such, Bob and Barry Bourdage, President of Tech Pro, and also a registered trapshooter, are very involved with redesigning and updating the ATA computer systems and improving the shootata.com website.  Bob and Tech Pro have also been very active in rebuilding the St. Charles SC website and establishing an automated scoring newsletter/email system for our 50 team league.

 The winning photograph was "sunset shot" of the St. Charles trap line, "in action," made during one of the 2007 Spring League sessions.

 The ATA published the photo and copies were on sale at the Traphouse in the Sparta Main Building during the Grand.  By agreement with the ATA, Bob donated all proceeds due to him to the SCTP and ATA Youth Development Program.

ATA Target Year Change

At this year's annual meeting, the Delegates voted to change the target year from Sept 1 to Nov 1.  The main reason given by the EC was the office work load in Sept.  Temp help to deal with the increased year end work load cost the ATA $10,000 per year.  I honestly didn't realize the effect this had on Illinois shooters until I returned from the Grand and began getting correspondence condemning the decision.  I now understand that this was a mistake.  It leaves the months of Sept. and Oct. in limbo.  The targets shot after the Grand are not counted towards next year's Grand.

 The change essentially reduced the target year to 10 months.  Here in Illinois, Nov. through Mar. are not conducive to trapshooting.  Not everyone can afford (time or money) to travel to Florida, Arizona or Texas to shoot during this time frame.  August is the Grand; this leaves May, June and July in which to meet the target requirements and establish a bonafied average for proper classification.  Basically, we have twelve weekends.  This doesn't leave much time for family obligations (graduations, weddings, family reunions, etc.).

 This change will hurt clubs throwing targets in Sept. and Oct.  I heard some shooters say "they quit playing football after the Superbowl."  Reduced attendance may deny the ATA more income than they are saving by reducing the Sept. and Oct. workload.  The months of Sept. & Oct. have some of the best weather for trapshooting.

I fully realize that the Illinois shooters are unhappy with the change.  I feel it is my job as your Delegate to do whatever i can to prevent this change. There is still time.  It is scheduled for Nov. 1, 2008.  I have already spoken to President Winston and relayed my concerns to the other Central Zone Delegates.  I'm prepared to present a proposal to the EC prior to next year's Grand.  A vote to determine if the change will occur on Nov. 1 will take place at the Thursday night meeting. If my proposal passes, we are back to normal.  If not, we will have to work around it by reducing target requirements for the State Shoot and the Grand.  No promises, but I will do what I can.

 As usual, call me at 815-448-5120, email at mattroofing@sbcglobal.net with any newsworthy information or comments.  

 Jim Matteson

Illinois Delegate