How to get ideas implemented at the Itasca Gun Club

Itasca Gun Club is a 100% volunteer non-profit organization.  When something needs to be done, it is not done by “the club,” it’s done by individual people who volunteer.  If you find yourself thinking that “they” should do something, please think about what you could do to make it happen.  If you see something that needs to be done, offer up a solution and be willing to ask for a work day to get people together to make changes.  We need people with ideas, who are willing to solve problems.  We need people who will figure out what can be done, plan out that project and lead the effort; lay out the project parameters:

Project Name

Task list

Outcomes – what will the result look like when the project is finished?

Skill sets needed

Tools required

Materials required

Proposed number of volunteers

Duration of project, span more than one session?

If you can define a work project, contact one of the club officers, or just click "Contact Webmaster" at the bottom of this page.  We can help lay out a project, purchase materials, put out a call for volunteers to participate, schedule the time, and reserve the range if needed.

This is your club.  Help make it better by volunteering.  Itasca Gun Club Volunteer Hours - Time Log

Example project Slideshows

2014 crew preparing the temp range for Sight In Days

2020 Sight In prep slideshow 

What jobs can I do without a lot of planning?  

Repeated/ongoing tasks

Take a shift during Sight In Days, October and November

-There are 23 time slots to fill (4-5 hours each), with 5-6 people needed per slot, or 115-140 total volunteer options.  People usually begin signing up in September.

General cleanup

-Pick up brass at the outdoor range and dump into the brass container (there's an old mailbox for brass)

-Sweep the concrete areas as needed

-Pick up trash

Target frame repair

-There's a regular need to repair shot-up 2x4's that make up the target frames

-Backer board for targets needs to be regularly replaced

Weld damage to metal targets

-These get shot up accidentally, and by some people, intentionally

-Chains and stands need to be repaired by welding

Mow and weed whip the ranges

-The club does own a rider mower

-The walking trail for DNR Hunter Safety classes needs to be brushed and mowed as it grows in

Spread wood chips from the pile to the walkways as needed

-As the walkways get slippery, more chips need to be spread

Picking rocks

-Shooting exposes rocks over time, and these need to be moved away from the berms to avoid ricochets 

Snow plowing

- The parking lot at the clubhouse/indoor range needs plowing in winter

- The road to the outdoor range needs to be plowed, including parking areas at the rifle and pistol range

Replace rubber bullet stops in the indoor range, and clean the bullet traps.

- This maintenance work gets done on planned and publicized work days

 

Repair target carts, cables and controls in the indoor range.

- This maintenance work gets done on planned and publicized work days

Smelt and cast lead from recovered bullets for sale.

-This is usually done during Sight in Days. You need to contact us to get involved with this.

Sort brass for sale.

-Collect brass from the brass dump box at the range, and sort by caliber.  Lead and brass sales are one of the sources for funding our youth programs. You need to contact us to get involved with this.

What jobs are already in planning, where I might be able to contribute skills?

One-time tasks

Get the clubhouse ready to move (2021-2022)

-Remove all the furniture, haul it to the new range, and pack it into the storage trailer.

-Disconnect wiring and plumbing.

-Remove all the furnishings, supplies, stuff from the walls, and move those too.

Seal off the indoor range when the clubhouse is gone (2021-2022)

-Once the clubhouse has been separated from the indoor range, we need to build an exterior wall to close up the range so it can be used through the next winter as long as we have a valid lease for the property.  The indoor range was once a separate building, so the heating and electrical components are already in place.

-Carpentry, insulating, basic construction skills

Make the clubhouse usable at the new range (2021-2022)

-Wiring, plumbing, other construction details

-The building will be powered by a generator in the short term

-Repair of any moving damage

-Move furniture, supplies and furnishings back in

-Have a cup of coffee

Paint the Conex trailer so the brand name is covered

-Sandblasting, priming, painting

-Compressor, paint guns, ladders, paint, breathing devices, eye protection

Build a new chronograph mounting platform at the new range so members can use chronographs

-A few people, lumber, a pickup, some carpentry

Contact Steve at spbevets@hotmail.com with questions, ideas and offers to take on a task.

ANY volunteer work done on ranges, buildings and any work completed running programs should be logged.  Your volunteer time can help us get approved for grants.  Your hours spent are classed as "in kind" hours.  Some of the grants we apply for require us to put up a matching value.  For the purpose of these grant proposals, we can summarize in kind hours at a rate of $25 per hour.  Each hundred hours of in kind work is worth $2,500 on a grant proposal.  Use the form below when you are working on a project or program, and send in the completed form to the Club IT Officer.

Itasca Gun Club Volunteer Hours - Time Log