Upcoming Meetings: Board Meeting -> Monday November 9th 7pm Conference Call | General Membership Meeting -> Saturday November 14th 12:30pm

Desk of DGSC President

Hello All,

With the upcoming election I believe all of you know how important it is to get out and vote. Even if Illinois is a predominantly one-party state, it is still important that your voice be heard and that you cast your ballot. The Biden administration will hold gun manufacturers accountable for crimes they have nothing to do with? If a shooting happens in Chicago the victims would be able to sue the likes of Ruger, Remington, and Colt for crimes which they were not involved. We currently do not sue beer companies for DUI’s that kill the innocent nor do we sue car manufacturers for victims of accidents where the driver was at fault. This absurd legal reasoning will open multiple industries up for litigation if Biden holds the gun industry accountable for gun violence. Mr. Biden would also like to have all semi-automatic weapons registered under the National Firearms Act which regulates automatic weapons. This would make us have to register any semi-automatic like a Benelli shotgun, or a Browning BAR hunting rifle with the Federal government. This isn’t merely another pro-gun rant, you can read Mr. Biden’s gun policies at joebiden.com/gunsafety/#.

On another note Vice President George Adelman is getting ready to send out our renewals and has some changes this year. Please try and adhere to the club policies and have your dues paid on time. If you are interested in volunteering or a position on the board, please contact a board member. The board has been working fervently to deal with the Pandemic and keep our club open. The cold is setting in and hopefully you can do your part by wearing a mask when inside.
Judson Mann

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Vice President Remarks

Renewals will be mailed by the end of November. A couple of small changes in regards to membership. Please read your renewal carefully.

Welcome New Members

This month we proudly welcome five new shooting members and one new Sr member. Shooting members are Ryan Stec, Matthew Marano, Jim Immormino, Hayley Miller, Al Cocanig and Randy Miller. This is pretty cool. Sr member John Durkan has sponsored his son Sean Durkan as a Sr. Member. Having your son follow in your footsteps has to be a proud experience.
A warm welcome to all of the above!!!! Shoot often!! Have fun!!

Trying Something New

For the past few months, I have highlighted members who are having fun shooting different games. This month, I would like to highlight Sr. Member Ken Swanson. Ken joined DGSC in 2000. He hunted with his father and brother since a very young age so he is familiar with shotguns. He was also a pistol and rifle enthusiast for many years. When asked about this Ken said “ Putting holes in paper targets or listening for the clang of hitting a steel target didn’t hold my interest once I started shooting clays! Moving targets are so much more fun to shoot!!” Ken’s mostly shoots trap (won his event in a shoot off at The Grand in 2018..) but also enjoys skeet, 5 Stand and most recently , Sporting Clays. He shoots sporting clays with a great group of friends each Sunday and recently recorded an 89!!! “Shooting other games helps me to recognize different target presentations and improves my overall shooting. Besides, its a just a lot of FUN!”
Ken is a good example of Try Something New.
Break ‘em All!!! George Adelmann

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Secretary Notes|Reminders and More

Upcoming Meetings have been set ... Board Monday November 9th 7pm | General Membership (Senior) Meeting Saturday November 14 12:30pm. The November General Membership (Senior) Meeting includes finalizing the ballot for the 2021 DGSC Board Slate.
Entertainment Director/Marketing Chairman Ed Shannon has brought up a good point over the weekend . . . Grundy County is part of the last covid 19 region that is not under orders from the state to shutdown. So currently we are still able to be inside (with masks), but as we have all noticed this can quickly turn. Please watch your emails and the club website for updates in the chance that something changes between now and November 14th and we have to adjust the Annual Meat Shoot and November General Membership (Senior) Meeting.

During the last board meeting it was noted numerous times by various board members that people that are not part of the Trap Committee have been seen in both the Skeet and Trap Houses.
The only people in the houses should be the hired staff or those that are part of the trap committees.
Please remember per our By Laws if you are to be found adjusting or in those houses without prior approval or being part of the designated committee you will first receive a verbal warning, then a written warning and finally if it occurs a 3rd time you will appear before the board and could have membership suspended.
If you would like to work on the machines or be apart of a committee that goes over setting them/loading them etc. please reach out to Larry Chambers and/or a board member.
Debra Fredrick

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Nominations for club officers and board of directors

Serving on this year’s nominating committee is George Adelmann, Brian Svoboda, and Ed Shannon. If you are a senior member and interested in serving the club in a leadership capacity please contact any nominating committee member to ensure your name is placed on the ballot. Elections for office will be held in December and new terms start in January.
Ed Shannon

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Treasurer Updates

Bills continue to all be paid on time and DGSC has no outstanding invoices or loans.
John Mantsch

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Shotgun Sports

The last night for shooting on Friday Nights will be November 20th and resume again April 2nd 2021. The Club will be closed Thursday on Thanksgiving Day November 26th We will open the club for shooting Friday morning (9 to noon) on the 27th. Winter shooting hours will start Tuesday December 1st. The Sporting Clay Field & the 5 stand will be open all winter (weather permitting) during regular shooting hours, always call first if in doubt. As winter is approaching, check our web site or call club phone if the weather gets questionable.

The ‘2021’ Winter Jackrabbit League will start at St Charles Sportsmen’s Club (January 10th). Downers will host on January 24th & February 21st. Schedules & rules are posted at the club and on the Winter Jackrabbit web site. All members are welcome to shoot and new shooters are encouraged to join the league.

ATA dates have been picked for 2021. They will be published on our Web site & 2021 calendar.

Thanks to Tim Donnell & Kevin McCauley for helping & supplying tools & blueprints, we now have removal center stakes for Skeet Fields 5, 6 & 7. Thanks to Kevin for supplying the center hoop & Ken Cechura for getting the rest of the parts. We now have adjusted the skeet targets for proper height, speed & flight path. If you believe the targets need to be rechecked, contact me or notify the Trap Counter and we will recheck & readjust as necessary.

As a reminder, only authorized personal may adjust any of our machines. This includes Trap, Skeet, 5-stand & Sporting Clay. This is for safety, damaging the machines & making improper adjustments.

Jed Davis’s Friday night Youth Fall League concluded their tournament on Friday Oct. 29th. He plans on having a fun shoot for them on Friday Nov. 6th. Jed did an amazing accomplishment in getting 50 – 55 kids to participate in this league shoot. He recruited his parents to sign up the kids and pass out shells every week. He recruited people to coach & score for the kids. The kid & parents all had a great time and I’m sure he will continue next year. Great job!!


FALL 50-SHOT 5 STAND CHALLENGE
Final Date of Challenge will be Nov. 3rd, 2020
Click Here To view the full program and more details (http://www.downersgrovesc.com/Events/5StandChallenge.pdf)
Larry Chambers

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ATA Shoots

On October 11th 2020 we had a very successful Grundy County Handicap event. 68 shooters competed. We had very good weather and excellent scores. I want to thank all the volunteers that make our shoots possible - without them we wouldn't be able to have them. Special thanks to so many shooters that traveled from central and southern Illinois and even Indiana. It's nice to know our club is recognized as one of the better clubs in the state for ATA targets.

Our next (and last of 2020) ATA shoot is currently scheduled for Sunday, October 11th. This will be the Herman Welch Grundy County Handicap. There will be two 100 bird Handicap events. Come on out and enjoy the fall weather, fellowship under the Herman Welch Pavillion and test your skill at some trap competition. Volunteers are always in need and appreciated - please let Larry Chambers or myself know if you would like to help out.


We have added two shoots dates for the upcoming target year, bringing the number of shoots to six. Shoot dates can be found on our website under the ATA section in addition to being on the ATA and ITA websites. We are looking forward to a successful 2021 and are hoping that COVID19 won't hinder us and things will be back to normal. Until then, please come out to enjoy your club and shoot a few rounds.
Stan Systo, DGSC Trap Chairman and ITA Northern Zone Director

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Annual Meat Shoot

Saturday November 14 - 9:00 a.m. to Noon
We will hold our annual “Meat Shoot” Saturday Nov. 14. This will precede our November General Membership meeting at 1:00 p.m. Once again, we will have both skill and luck events.
*10 target white bird or high gun trap & skeet
*Spatter boards
*Slice O’ Pie
*Raffle tickets
--Prizes will be turkeys or hams
Come early as prizes will be limited. As always, volunteers are needed, no experience necessary. Contact Ken Cechura, Larry White, or Larry Chambers at the club or website. Please note: We are required to observe Grundy County Health Restrictions. Face coverings are required while inside the building and occupancy limits must be observed.
Ken Cechura

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DGSC Entertainment / Events

Since August an informal, ad hoc committee of senior and shooting members has been working toward the return of registered skeet competition to our club. The intent is to increase membership and shooting activity as well as offering an additional shooting opportunity for members. Thus far the committees members have worked in coordination with Larry Chambers in bring our skeet fields into regulation compliance. Fields 5 and 6 have been re-measured, center and target stakes added, targets hooped, and the speed of targets adjusted. Early in October Tim Donnell attended the annual meeting of the Illinois Skeet Shooting Association in Peoria and returned with a promise of assistance and a tentative date of June 19/20, 2021 for our return to registered sheet. As this venture progresses membership will be updated. If you are interested in learning about registered skeet or are interested in working with the committee please contact me.
Ed Shannon

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Hunting Report


Senior Members Only
Two bird releases in October (50 birds total) went well.
Due to warm weather . . . the bird release (25 birds) on Saturday November 7th has been cancelled. There will be no bird releases in November, the next bird release will be December 12th.

November 20,21, and 22 is the First Fire Arm Season for the Deer Hunters . . . remember there will be no upland game hunting during slug season!

All deer hunters please obey all state and local regulations. All hunters planning to deer hunt need to sign in at the hunters shack and tage your location on the board.
Charlie Zib

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Grant Opportunties for DGSC

I am pleased to report that DGSC has recently been awarded a NRA Range Improvement Grant.

The purpose of the $5000.00 grant is to assist with a capital improvement budgeted to replace 5 our deteriorating skeet fences. Don Cox is current accepting bids from qualified fence contractors to complete the project in the spring of 2021.

My sincere thanks to Board Member Ed Shannon, his cooperation in the Grant application process is invaluable.
Ken Cechura

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In Memory Of Karen Vander Veen
Several members that knew Karen well would like to establish a “Memorial Fund” in her honor. The proceeds of that fund will be used to purchase something useful for the club that might keep Karen in our thoughts. The scope of funds collected will determine the extent of the project.

If you would consider contributing towards the “Karen Vander Veen Memorial Fund” contact Ken Cechura, Don Cox, or Chuck Feuillan. Please include your thoughts or suggestions with your contribution. Your contribution and input may be mailed or dropped at the trap counter to the attention of Ken Cechura, Don Cox, or Chuck Feuillan.
Mailing address: DGSC PO Box 270 Morris, Illinois 60450
Checks should be payable to Downers Grove Sportsmen’s Club, with “Karen VanderVeen Memorial in the memo line. Funds and ideas submitted must be received by December 31, 2020. We can then determine an appropriate use, installation, and dedication dates, with the Board of Director’s approval.

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Discussion Forum

The club discussion forum continues to be a great way for everyone to stay in touch and chat while having to social distance and not gather as much.
DGSC Discussion Forum can be accessed by Clicking Here (http://www.downersgrovesc.com/Discussion.html)
Anyone can read the threads/posts, but in order to reply or create new topics/threads/posts you must register. To register please click the Register link right side of screen on discussion forum page.
Ed Shannon

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Calendar


  Click here for DGSC Full Calendar

The 2021 calendar is already starting to fill up and will soon be available online. Here are some 2021 save the dates . . . Winter Jackrabbit (January 24 and February 21) | ATA (April 25, May 16, June 27, July 25, September 11/12, October 10) | Registered Skeet (June 19/20)

Board Meetings  1/11/2020, 1/18/2020, 2/8/2020, 3/7/2020, 4/5/2020, 5/6/2020, 6/10/2020, 6/24/2020, 8/8/2020, 9/19/2020, 10/19/2020, 11/9/2020
Senior Member General Membership Meetings  July 11 1 pm, September 27 9 am, November 14 1230pm 


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2020 is a critical election year for our industry and could very well determine the future of our Second Amendment rights. NSSF is urging all businesses in our industry to inform our members and visitors of a new website that provides additional information regarding polling locations, 2020 candidates and even allows you to register to vote. Please take advantage of this website -   https://action.gunvote.org/
Dates to Remember: November 3rd Election Day, October 6 - Hope you Registered, October 29 Absentee/Main-in voting ballot deadlines
Passed on by NSSF

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Officers/Directors/Chairmen:
President Judson Mann president@downersgrovesc.com
Vice President George Adelmann vicepresident@downersgrovesc.com
Secretary Debra Fredrick secretary@downersgrovesc.com
Treasurer John Mantsch treasurer@downersgrovesc.com
Buildings Don Cox buildings@downersgrovesc.com
Entertainment Ed Shannon entertainment@downersgrovesc.com
Grounds Kevin McCauley grounds@downersgrovesc.com
Hunting/Fishing Charlie Zib huntingfishing@downersgrovesc.com
Legal/Insurance Ken Cechura legalinsurance@downersgrovesc.com
Maintenance Jan Gronych maintenance@downersgrovesc.com
NRA Chuck Feuillan nra@downersgrovesc.com
Shotgun Sports Larry Chambers shotgunsports@downersgrovesc.com
Youth/Community Relations Mark Matteson youthcommunity@downersgrovesc.com
ATA Stan Systo ata.dgsc@downersgrovesc.com
Farm/CRP Dan Bellus farm.dgsc@downersgrovesc.com
Grants Ken Cechura grants.dgsc@downersgrovesc.com
Membership Communication Debra Fredrick membershipcomms.dgsc@downersgrovesc.com
Marketing Ed Shannon marketing.dgsc@downersgrovesc.com


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