January 2009

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This is the Clover Leaf Archery Club irregularly scheduled newsletter.  I mention this because many of you don't remember what a Clover Leaf newsletter looks like.  The reason usually given is cost......$80 in postage alone.  But the real reason is that 18% of us can't write, 28% of us can't spel, and the rest of us are just plain lazy!

So, read it carefully, several times at least.  Who knows when you'll see the next issue?  For more up-to-date info, try our web site.  When something of interest needs to be communicated, that's where you'll find it.

2009 Management
Elected at the December 16^th Meeting are the Officers and Directors for 2009.

Officers:

President- Paul Romanic

Vice-Pres.- Ray Stoudt

Secretary- Bob Wittman

Treasurer- Ernie Hauck

Directors:

Phone numbers and committee assignments will be available at the club and on our web site.

Shoot Schedule

The 2009 shoot schedule has been approved and printed.  Copies will be mailed to 90 clubs and sporting goods stores the day after our last scheduled 2008 shoot.  Shoot dates for the first three months of 2009 are:

Open shoots - Jan. 11, Feb. 8, Mar. 8 and Mar. 29.

Traditional shoots - Jan. 25, Feb. 21 & 22 and Mar. 22.

The complete schedule will be available at the club and on our web site

Winter Leagues

By the time you receive this newsletter, planning for the winter leagues will be well under way, but openings will probably still be available.  If interested in participating, contact the appropriate league manager.

Monday - Randy Freed  215-257-1095

Tuesday - Ernie Hauck  610-346-7252

Wednesday - Open shooting; no registration required.  Just bring your TRADITIONAL bow in one hand and your shoot money in the other.

Thursday - Tim Landis  215- 723- 2763

Friday - Every other Friday is instruction night for kids.  No registration required and equipment provided, if needed.  Any one interested in instructing, call Paul Romanic on 610-282-2212.

Leagues start the first full week of January (Jan.5^th) and end on Friday, April 10th.   The league banquet is scheduled for Tuesday, April 21^st.

Cabela's Raffle

Our annual major fund raiser was the most successful ever this year.  With less than 65% of tickets sold, our net profit was slightly over $6,100.  For all the details, including the list of winners, check out our web site.  This windfall was the result of a great effort by many of our members, who know who they are.  However, a special thanks is directed to Dave Semmens, who handled the printing of the tickets and envelopes, stuffed them and maintained the necessary cross-reference list.  Sounds easy?  Try it sometime!  Also, kudos to Bob Wittman who managed the distribution and return of all tickets, both sold and unsold.  This job is definitely not recommended for anyone with a full head of hair.

Club Improvements

In case you may be wondering where all this raffle money went this year, we did make some improvements to our facility.  Among them are:

Road Improvement - $900 spent on ballast to turn a few world-class mud holes into drivable road surfaces at our big, big spring work party.  The pigs aren't too happy, but our drivers are.  It was a terrific improvement, but unfortunately we have no shortage of mud holes.

Gutter Hallets - $400 paid for these answers to the leaf accumulation in rain gutter problem that has plagued us for years.  Many thanks to Tim Landis, who got them at cost, and installed them (free) on probably the hottest day of the year.

New Heater - $790 bought the club a long overdue replacement.  Don't expect such a deal for yourself, unless you are a very close personal friend of Scott Heckler (and he owes you money).  He got ours at the wholesale price and installed it free in his spare time.  Not only that, but he was "assisted" by President Paul, which extended the normal installation time by a whole day.

Rebuild Indoor Range - A real bargain at about $2,000.  This cost is for materials only, and does not include the cost of beer needed to fuel the member/installation crew.  We may have saved some money by screening our installers more carefully, but then we may not have ended up with such a good job by those involved.

Additionally, we spent $500 on cardboard needed for our winter leagues and a bundle on much needed 3-D animals.

Indoor Range

Our old indoor range has been in use for over fifteen years.  It was well designed by some very clever people and has served us well.  But we have known for some time now that its better days were behind it, and repair or rebuilding was needed. We have taken a rather innovative step and gone to a layered foam system, which is rather new (especially to us).  Penetration is controlled by the amount the foam is compressed, and we expect to be tweaking the system for some time to come.  Some suggestions to prevent unnecessary  damage to the system are to turn down some of the excessive poundage of your bow.  Seventy pounds may be just great for hunting, but it's hardly necessary on a 20 yard indoor range.  Also, bullet points are much preferred over field or combo points, as they penetrate less and do less damage to the foam.

The range should be available for Sunday practice on December 21^st, but call first to be sure.  Try different lanes and levels, and be sure to leave any comments regarding problems at the counter.  There is always room for improvement, but we first need to know just what needs improving.

Membership Dues

In the spirit of giving in this Christmas season, give yourself a present by mailing us a check for your 2009 membership dues.  $25 for active members; $50 for social members.  It's the gift that keeps on giving all year long.

For 2009 we plan to distribute membership cards and buttons on a league night and tack the remainder to our club bulletin board to be picked up by members at their convenience.  We canÕt afford the outrageous mailing costs we got hit with in 2008.

Remember, February 28^th is the last day dues will be accepted without the $10 late charge.

Bowhunter Safety Course

For the past several years the United Bowhunters of Pennsylvania (UBP) has conducted the PA Game Commission (PGC) bowhunter safety course at Clover Leaf.  2009 is no exception, but a date has yet to be determined.  It will probably be in early spring, perhaps April 11th.  Pre-registration and payment of a nominal fee to the PGC is required.  This course is definitely worth your time.  No matter how knowledgeable you think you are, you are bound to learn something worth while at this activity.  When the  date is firmed up, details will be available at the club and on our web site.

UBP Winter Festival.

Speaking of the UBP, their winter festival is scheduled for March 14 and 15 at the Fogelsville Holiday Inn.  This event is free for members and non-members alike.  The doors open at 10:00 a.m.  Activities include seminars related to bowhunting, plus raffles and auctions of donated archery equipment.  A dinner is planned for Saturday evening.  For more details, including dinner reservations, go to the UBP web site or call Pat Devlin on 215-234-0245.

Permanent 3-D Course

Displaying the initiative one expects from our directors, Messrs. Sattler and Markellos have established a permanent 3-D course, using repaired targets that are no longer suitable for paid shoots.  The course currently consists of 12 targets, with 3 more under repair.  It will probably be expanded further as more animals are culled from our inventory.  The vitals may be a little shot-up, but most of us are more concerned with the shot than the score.  When in doubt, call it a "10"!

The course starts at the tree stand and is marked with red, white and blue ribbons.  It continues across the power line, follows the old road, crosses the footbridge to the bluff, down to the bottom again, back to the power line and follows the edge of the meadow to the starting point.  It may not be the greatest 3-D course in the land, but it's free and is available whenever you are.

3-D Raffle

Ever wanted to have your own 3-D target in your back yard but balked at the cost.  Have we got a deal for you!  Acting on a suggestion by Ray Stoudt, we are instituting an on-going 50/50 raffle with a 3-D target as the prize.  Pay your buck and take your chances.  Winner takes either the target or the cost in cash.  How good a deal is that?

Conservation: Our Middle Name

Our club was incorporated in 1962 as the Clover Leaf Archery and Conservation Association.  A pretty neat name.  At least we still honor the archery part.

It's been pointed out that we don't really own the land; we are merely stewards of the land during our lifetime.  And we haven't been doing that great a job.  I would submit that the average member has done more toward conservation in his own back yard during the last two years than our club has during the last forty-six years.

Beginning last year Hoppy Master and his son have catalogued the birds on our property by sight and sound.  The list stands at 33 species.  Hoppy has built and placed eight bird houses to provide nesting and shelter for these residents.  He has also completed an illustrated report of these houses and their intended occupants.  It's good to know we have at least one conservationist in our organization.

Perhaps we should stop and consider the benefits of planting a few rhododendrons or azaleas.  We have the manpower, the time and the land.  Or think of the benefits to wildlife a few fruit and/or nut trees would provide.  We can't do much about the last forty-six years, but we certainly can affect the next forty-six.  Any members out there willing to accept the challenge?   Bring your ideas to any membership meeting.

Fee Schedule

At the December meeting the following fees were established for the coming year.

Sunday Open Shoots -            Non-Members             $10.00

                                                Members                     $5.00

                                                Age 12 – 16                $5.00

                                                Under 12                     Free

Sunday Traditional Shoots      Same as open shoots

Wednesday Evening Shoots    Non-Members             $8.00

                                                Members                     $4.00

                                                Age 12 & 16                $4.00

                                                Under 12                     Free

Wednesday League                 $7.00   (Heavy 3-D Usage)

Friday League                         $4.00 

All Other Leagues                   $6.00

Members of the armed forces on active duty always shoot free.

Big Buck Contest

Don't forget to bring in your trophy racks for judging at the February Open Shoot (Feb.8^th).  If you haven't filled your tag yet, there's still hope during the late season.  Even if your rack isn't going to win the prize, bring it anyway. At least it's bigger than the guy's rack who only got a doe!  And besides, a little bragging is good for the soul.  Just a word of caution: That 80 yard running shot in a 45 knot cross-wind story isn't going to fool anybody.

Meeting Dates

Beginning in January, membership meetings are held on the third Sunday of the month due to the conflict with winter leagues.  So be at the club at 1:00 p.m. and stick around afterwards for Sunday practice.  In April, the meetings revert to the third Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.  The next four meeting dates are:

Sunday, January 18

Sunday, February 15

Sunday, March 15

Tuesday, April 21