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AZJOAD
NEWSLETTER
“AZJOAD, where Arizona JOAD clubs meet and
compete”
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Meeting Minutes
With Papago Park Staff
Updated Nov. 30, 2002 Papago
Park Meeting, 11-30-2002, 2:00 to 3:00 PM Bob Pian met with Papago Park
staff, Park Rangers Frank Scherer and Ranger Supervisor Issac Lewis. Papago park is eager to increase range use
and is looking forward to the improvements.
1.
January 18th was selected as the archery range clean up
day. Click here for details.
The work is to be begin at 9:00 AM under the watchful eye of Ranger
Scherer. He will also direct where
the rocks are to be disposed of. The
range is open from 6:30 AM to sundown. 2.
A piece of equipment like a tractor or a front-end loader will make
the work go much faster. Frank
Scherer will direct the earth-moving and is ready, willing and able to
operate the equipment if an operator is needed. 3.
A major goal is to remove the rocks that damage arrows from the
range. The priority will be to
prepare 1/3 or 1/2 of the range so that portable wooden stands can be set up
between 30 to 90 meters. Eventually
Ľ” minus decomposed granite will cover the range. 4.
Thorny tree branches are currently at eye level. The trees are to be pruned up so that
people can walk under them safely. 5.
The seven existing narrow profile frames are to be placed in such a
way to be usable by both for both meter and yard distances. (Proposed locations; 100 yds = 90 meters,
77 yds = 70 meters, 66 yds= 60 meters, 55 yds = 50 meters, 50 yds, 33 yds =
30 meters and 20 yds.) 6.
Permanently fastening the target stand into concrete footings would be
nice. This may be a long-term Boy
Scout project if time and concrete are not available. 7.
The remaining wide metal frames will no longer be needed (Propose to
locate two of the frames behind the shooting line for use as poster
stands. The remaining two stands to
be located at 10yds and 5 yds. The
City plans to build 4 more narrow profile stands. They can be located at; 44 yds= 40 meters, 40 yds, and replace
the wide stands at 10 yds and 5 yds.) 8.
There are no funds to cover the permanent stands with wood or rubber
matting. Such protection is another
long-term project. 9.
Perhaps grill hot dogs and hold a kid’s fun shoot after the work is
done. Bob Pian to investigate. 10.
Kathy Reichert, Park manager has submitted for a $5000 grant for a
storage container, redwood 2x4 target stand materials, 52” target butts and
gravel. If the grant is approved the
stands maybe able to be built during the work party. Wood stands would be used for official
practice under supervision. (Post meeting information, Work
party leadership including Michael Mitchell and Bob Pian to meet on January
11th to locate and finalize the work plan.) End Previous
Meeting 5-22-2002 1:30 to 3:30 PM Ted Harden and Bob Pian met with Papago
Park staff including Park Manager, Kathi Reichert, and Park Rangers Frank
Scherer and Vic Romo. Background: Papago
is conveniently located to the population center of the Phoenix metro
area. The far east valley has the
Maricopa County Usery Park. The
northwest valley has Ben Avery Shooting Facility operated by the AZ Game and
Fish department. Both these ranges
charge adult fees to use. Usery
charges for children, too. The Papago
Park archery range is offered free of charge to all. Papago Park
has had a long history of support of target archery including usage by ASU
and recreational archery of all types.
Recently Papago hosted open tournaments and Senior Olympics archery
events. The idea of starting and
sustaining a youth archery program is strongly encouraged by the park
leadership. AZJOAD offered a
host of ideas for discussion including; weekend classes, practice sessions,
Junior and Senior tournaments, volunteer range work parties, and fundraising.
Discussions: AZJOAD: If the ASAA/AZJOAD is to use the range
effectively, wooden target stands, foam target butts, and associated
equipment will need to be stored at the range. Papago: A locker container like a Mini Mobile
unit would be fine. (The description
of the Ben Avery unit makes sense.) ********** AZJOAD: We would like to hold weekend training
classes. The parking lot at the range
should be of sufficient size. Papago: Have at it. Contact the Rangers at (602) 262-4599 to coordinate with them. ********** AZJOAD: Fund raising, can we do it? Papago: If the “club” is non-profit, funds can
be collected in conjunction with the Park Foundation. Funds can be collected and instructors,
equipment and consumables paid for.
Proceeds can then be given and held by the Papago Park
Foundation. The Foundation will hold
the funds and distribute at the request of the club. There is no Foundation surcharge. ********** Papago: The Park would like to establish a
relationship with a youth archery club.
A formal relationship would include Papago Park as an additional
insured (Million Dollar liability).
The Park has met with many groups through the years. They tend to come and go. AZJOAD: We can get insurance certificates on a
case-by-case basis. We would love to
be that club and earn the relationship.
Sustaining a program seems to be the biggest problem. (As volunteers, we just now understand
that growth is the only way to maintain success. As one archer leaves you need to have two coming in.) ********** AZJOAD: We
would like to be a victim of our own success and have the problem of needing
resources such as parking, port a toilets, electricity etc. Papago: With enough warning the park can work
with the neighboring softball complex to help coordinate dates. Avoid Spring Training in March! The park can provide Portable Potties for
tournaments. You can bring and use
your own generator. ********** AZJOAD:
Weekly classes would entail
setting up the wood stands and butts.
This would mean moving the metal stands out of the way. Papago: The stands are really heavy. Suggest you work around them weekly. If the program flourishes perhaps the
stands can be moved to the side. ********** Papago: What if the west half of the range is
set up for the drop in recreational archer using the existing Papago metal
stand and bales? This way the east
half could be kept clear for the portable stands and butts. The JOADs could then focus on “grooming”
only half the range for the time being and drop in shooters can still shoot
on the west half. AZJOAD: A very workable idea. ********** AZJOAD: The range needs some capital
improvements. The most notable is a decomposed granite (2”-3”) layer to keep
the rock buried. We would like to
seek donations for this and other improvements. Can donors be named on signage recognizing their donation? Can a backstop plywood wall be erected
with donators indicated? Can banners
be put up during events to again recognized supporters? Papago: Yes.
Review the actual signage with the Park Rangers. One goal should be shield the neighborhood
(located to the north) from being able to see the signage. Papago Park acknowledges the importance of
donations from the business community. ********** Papago:
The park has been involved with
many youth events. Don’t be shy to
ask hamburger and pizza restaurants for food donations from the business
community. You may even be able to
find some donated heavy equipment time to make improvements. Papago Park asked
for a list of potential improvements and events. Here is a post meeting priority list. AZJOAD: The ideas we have are plenty. 1. Groom the field to
rake up rocks, shovel them into wheelbarrows and dump them in a location
designated by the Rangers. This would
make a great scouting project. 2. Store 5 to 10 targets
stands, butts and equipment on site for JOAD class use. This could be brought by trailers,
too. Mickey Dye of the Mesa
Targeteers JOAD has offered the use of her tournament trailer and equipment
for just such a use. FYI - It cost
less than $2000 to locate a container at Ben Avery. 3. Start practice
classes for students that have their own bow and arrows, every third Sunday
of the month. Logistics can then be
worked out, such as keeping water jugs full and locating the nearest
restrooms. 4. Cover 1/2 or all the
field with 3/8” or 1/4” minus decomposed granite. Color to be approved by Papago Park. Note that the range does not receive an unusual amount of
rainfall sheet flow so the “DG” should last.
Parks budget does not allow for such improvements at this time. 5. Start weekly
Saturday classes for ages 8 to18 JOADs.
(Post meeting information, Parents can’t help themselves
to participate. This maybe the beginning of a Senior Olympic Archery
Development, (SOAD) club. There is a
lot of quality time that can be spent as a child and a parent walk down to
50, 70 or 90 meters to retrieve arrows.) These weekly classes could start
when the east valley JOAD clubs suspend operations for the bow hunters to
have exclusive access to the indoor ranges.
Shut down is usually around August/September. The challenge would be to find a location
to store the bows and arrow. Bows
especially don’t do well in the heat of an un-air-conditioned storage locker. 6. Papago Park will
look into enhancing the safety perimeter when usage should dictate. 7. Schedule some
National Archery Association (NAA), Arizona State Archery Association (ASAA),
or AZJOAD tournaments. Survey the
field and set permanent certified distances in meters. Normal tournament stuff. 8. Long-term
improvements in no particular order. ·
Drinking water plumbing ·
Electricity ·
Restrooms, including sewer. ·
Lights for cool summer evening “night-shoots”. ·
Permanent shade canopies ·
More Parking ·
Full fencing 9. Ultimate goal. Construct an international tournament archery range. AZJOAD: Thank you for your time. It was important to find out if Papago
Park would encourage and be a partner in our goal to grow youth and senior
target archery in Arizona. The answer
is a supportive yes. End Recorded by, Bob Pian Ted Harden 2002 AZJOAD Coordinator ASAA/AZJOAD
Communications/Webmaster rpian@cox.net tedharden@tedharden.com |
