BDH

Okay, here's another variation on this (MODS can smack me or split the thread if approariate)... Start position is gun loaded and holstered, facing uprange... Competitor steps in the box, facing uprange but not yet loaded, and stares at you waiting for his/her range commands... Now what?

Do any of you know how they catch those darn things? I've seen it enough on the news now, but all you see is them dragging the gator up the bank with a rope and noose around its' neck. It seems like the 'draggin up the bank' part wouldn't be that tough, but the 'getting the noose around the head' part would be the challenge...

What the heck is going on in Florida? I just heard this morning that another women was killed and eaten by an alligator, which I think makes three in the last week. Is this the classic man encroaching on gator territory and there will be fatal conflicts... or have gators decided that humans make an especially tasty snack, and are openly hunting us?

I gotta agree with Jim. You can spend as little or as much as you want...

Kathy, I know you are relatively new to Cincinnati, but I fly several times per month out of here so let me give you a tip... Take a look at air from Dayton (DAY), Columbus (CMH), Louisville (SDF), or Indianapolis (IND). All are only a 1:30 drive or less from Cincinnati (Indy is a little farther), and offer fares far lower than flying out of Cincinnati/Northern Kentucy (CVG)... Of course, most of those airports route you back through CVG , but that just builds your airline miles!

See everyone May 4-6, 2007. Cindy sentenced me to 'The House' again. Apparently, I have to continue to work it, until I get it right!

Yup... It IS the people...

Kathy, the reason I had been looking for you at the MRPC matches was because I was hoping to carry your range bag for you...

Cindy and I were discussing the same thing last night. The black plastic works well except for being able to see a misguided 3 dimensional No-Shoot still wandering around downrange. The only thing to do is exactly what you did -- a careful sweep to ensure no one gets shot by mistake. Time be damned -- you did the right thing (no surprise there). I'm not sure what the solution will be but we'll have one before next year. Well, if Cindy is planning to 'sentence me' to the house next year, I don't know that I would change the black plastic. Is it tougher to clear? Yes, but as long as there are enough range officers, it's not that bad (one down the left, one down the right, and whomever has the timer, last one through the middle of the house). I like the black stuff because it makes it a little easier to 'hide' targets... If you are set on changing it, then I would recommend the orange mesh construction fence stuff. It doesn't cost much, and you can see through it (plus the wind goes right through it as well).

Hmmmm, do I dare comment on this? Well, okay, just a 'couple comments'.... 1) Actually, I'm not sure you can have 'too many activators' on one stage. However, a combination of too many activators... plus big squads... plus a tight schedule... plus weather... can lead to some delays... (of course, I won't even mention the challenge of making SURE the 'house' was clear before LAMR..) 2) I had a GREAT CREW working this stage! In addition to Clay (who completely saved my ass at Area 4 last year), I had a couple of 'locals' from 'up North' and several 'locals' from 'down South' that made this work out. It was a team effort! 3) One of my favorite discussions from the range (after I had been hit by some splatter)... "Don't let that Yankee blood hit this Georgia soil!" "Heck I'm worried about some of this Georgia red clay infecting me and me taking it North...." Another great A6! See everyone at Nationals!

Late 2005... Shooter Girl GRRL (and David) join Miami Rifle & Pistol Club in Cincinnati... Early 2006... Shooter Girl GRRL(and David) have been MIA for our first two matches... May 2006... Shooter Girl GRRL (and David) sighted at Area 6... If anyone sees Shooter Girl GRRL (and David), please report their whereabouts on the boards. Apparently they are lost, wandering, and need directions home...

Yes, I believe this is correct. While I saw a LOT of shooters come through, it caught me off guard to see iron sites on top of his gun...

You're welcome! Always a pleasure (even if I did have to go back to my real job to get some R&R )!!! Thanks for everyone's patience getting through Stage 9...

MI_Packer, first, ditto the welcome to the RO Corps! Lots of good comments from many people already, but if I may... Read and practice the Range Officer's Creed (under What is IROA -> RO Creed). Read and practice the How To Be a Better Range Officer. Pay attention to this forum, the Range Officials section of the USPSA Forums, and the Rules section of the IPSC Global Village. As several have already said, be willing to continue to learn. Also, one of the best pieces of advice I ever got was 'if you think that something unsafe is happening, or about to happen, STOP THE SHOOTER, and then sort it out'. That way, the worst thing that will happen is that you offer them a re-shoot if you are wrong. OTOH, if you let them proceed, you may have a real problem (see point #1 and #2 in the RO Creed). Don't be afraid to ask a more seasoned official for advice on a call. I had an RO approach me recently with a question and while I was pretty sure I knew the answer off the top of my head, I took the time to look up the rule, and then gave it to him to apply and explain to the competitor. Finally, I would encourage you to apply to work either an Area or Nationals match. While there are certainly some great local RO's that just can't make the big matches (or they are there shooting them as opposed to working them), the big matches usually pull not only experienced range staff, but range staff that are trying to help teach younger staff. It's great experience, and normally a lot of fun!

Thanks everybody. All good stuff, and I wondered about him being ratted out as well. When I asked him why he let him in, he said 'I was half awake, and staring at a badge'. When I asked him why the Fire Marshall said he needed to inspect his house, he said 'it was township policy'. Apparently, 'township policy' also includes a maximum of 12# of smokeless powder in a residence (good thing I live in a difference township as they might get really excited about that 25# keg of shotgun powder, two cases of N340, and all the rifle powder ). Also, good catch on Jay so hopefully he will comment. Since I didn't even think about running this by him, I guess that shows how little I have been up here...

Clay, I've now got to travel on biz Mon-Wed, and the crew up here was planning to start driving South Wednesday late afternoon. However, I routed myself through ATL on Wednesday so I think I am going to accidently miss my connection going back North from ATL and stay at my brothers house in Alpharetta. Depending on when and where you are coming through ATL, I might reach out to see if I can sponge a ride with you out to the range on Thursday morning. Otherwise, I'll wait for my chronies to hit ATL and they can pick me up. See everyone soon...

One of the guys at our club was awakened early one morning by a knock on his front door. He opened the door to find the local Fire Marshall standing there, and telling him that he needed to 'inspect his home'. Since he was half awake, and staring at a guy with a badge in a uniform, he said 'come on in...' About the time they hit the basement stairs he thought 'oh oh. I've got a bunch of powder, primers, etc. down here' but it was too late to do anything about it. Sure enough the Fire Marshall nailed him for having too much powder, told him that he had to get the excess out of the house, and that he would be back to inspect again to make sure he cleared up the problem. Has anything like this happened to anyone else out here? Also, do you have to let them in, or can you just tell them 'I am not interested in an inspection, thank you' and close the door?

Okay, I go away for a little while, and I see how you treat me! Fortunately, a kind and friendly shooter and forum member tipped me off yesterday that you guys were talking about me behind my back (you know who you are ). Aw come on Paul, you aren't still mad about the 'smelly roomate' comment from Front Sight are you?? Actually, since this is right before Nationals, what I was thinking about doing is coming up and SHOOTING IT since I'll be leaving on Monday for Tulsa and out for the following week. Besides, that way, I can cause some challenge on every stage, and insist on talking to the RM!!! This is sounding better the more I think about it!

We certainly brought the weather! Did I miss the donuts?

Get another 'working RO' to pick it up! See ya soon!

7.3.2 References in these rules to Range Officials (e.g. "Range Officer", "Range Master" etc), mean personnel who have been officially appointed by match organizers to actually serve in an official capacity at the match. Persons who are certified Range Officials, but who are actually participating in the match as regular competitors, have no standing or authority as Range Officials for that match.

No idea, and not sure it really matters. After all, if you were going to buy something online anyway (and it doesn't cost you anything extra), who cares if USPSA gets $0.02 or $1M on the backend? I certainly don't.... IOW, I really see no downside to this (with the exception that I have to remember to connect through USPSA as opposed to going direct to the vendor)....

I was just out on the USPSA site, and was surprised to see how many new vendors have been added in the affinity program! This is a great thing for USPSA as it is largely 'free money' that helps USPSA programs. Not sure what I'm talking about... well, it's pretty simple... instead of logging directly on to Amazon.com to buy that book, CD, DVD, tool, etc. (or any of a bunch of new sites that handle all kinds of things), instead you log on to the USPSA site... click the Amazon (or other site) button. You end up on the Amazon site... you buy what you were going to buy anyway... you don't pay a nickel more... and just by connecting through the USPSA site, a 'commission' is generated and paid to USPSA! What's not to like about that?

A small package showed up the other day, and apparently one of my NRA donations triggered them to send me a 'silver replica 458 Win Mag' cartridge signed by Wayne L himself. While I really don't have much use for it and would prefer that the NRA puts money toward defending our rights, it was the tiny sticker on the wrapper that caught my eye.... MADE IN CHINA Sorry, something just ain't right here....

Shred, while I have no 'official' voice on any of this... my butt was probably committed two or three months ago by RM request... Is it firm??? Well, it is on my calendar at home and work, but I have not yet bought airline tickets.... Hope this helps...