Annual YCFGA Officers Election coming January 2024!

Time to nominate candidates for YCFGA officer positions. Send your nominations to our club secretary Lori Gibney (lori.gibney@gmail.com). Elections will take place at the January 25, 2024 Annual General Meeting. Many of the current Elected Officers have expressed that they will not be seeking reelection for the coming year, so anyone interested should let Lori know as soon as possible. You can also nominate a person during the Annual General Meeting.

One of the Officers not seeking reelection is our treasurer (Dan Strycharz). Anyone interested in becoming club treasurer should speak to Dan via email (dstrycharz@roadrunner.com) for more details about the responsibilities of this position.

Membership

TIME TO RENEW YOUR 2024 MEMBERSHIP!!!

Membership renewal forms are available on our website:

click here for Member Renewal Form

and are also available in the Lodge, Pistol, Rifle Ranges and Clubhouse Building. See the Membership section for additional information. Note that the combinations for the Range and Lodge gates will be changed on February 1, 2024.

The online form can then be downloaded, printed, completed and mailed, or hand delivered to Bill Mroz (Membership Chairman) at any of the monthly general meetings.

All renewing members are requested to return a completed renewal form, purpose being to ensure our records are accurate with: name, address, phone, and especially email address.

****** Lifetime Members are excluded from filling out a Renewal Form unless you have changes.
Acceptable payment can be made via cash, check, and money order (made out to: YCFGA). Upon renewal, you will be sent your 2024 sticker with a new lock combination to immediately affix to your Badge/ID. It will arrive in a small white envelope with a return address from YCFGA, generally a couple weeks after receiving your renewal form.

Additionally, this year we are pleased to continue offering an electronic payment option via VENMO! For VENMO users, look for “York County Fish & Game Assn” in the Business section of Venmo and follow regular payment steps to send your renewal payment to YCFGA.
NOTE: For those using VENMO, you will still need to complete and send in a completed renewal form.

Mail completed renewal forms to:
York County Fish & Game Association ATTN: RENEWAL
600 Goodwins Mills Rd
Lyman, ME 04002

*** If you have already submitted your renewal, Thank you!

PLEASE NOTE: Per YCFGA By-Laws, dues are payable on or before January 1st. A “limited grace period” without penalty is being offered if payments are received prior to January 31, 2024. Gate pass-codes will be changed effective February 1, 2024 you’ll need your new pass-code sticker to enter the ranges so RENEW TODAY!

Questions can be directed to Membership Chairman Bill Mroz (zormb42@gmail.com).

Next New Member Orientation Class is schedule for January 14, 2024 at 10:00am in the Club House.

Annual Kids Fishing Derby

As in previous years, the Club will be hosting a Kid’s Ice Fishing Derby on February 3, 2024 from 7am-11am. We are looking for donated items, such as ice fishing traps and jigs, to be used for prizes for the kids at the conclusion of the event. We are also looking for volunteers to drill ice fishing holes, serve hot beverages, and to work at the registration booth.

Special Notices

Range and Lodge Entry & Exit Procedure

There have been several incidences when the gate for the Range has been closed and locked when someone was still on the Range premises. The rules concerning entry and exit of the Range and Lodge grounds are as listed below.

Please note that the Ranges are monitored 24/7.

Entry / Exit – Club Grounds

- The numbers on all the locks must be set to numbers other than the combination upon opening the lock.
- The main entry gate to the Club – ranges and lodge – shall remain unlocked and opened while the grounds are occupied.
- The gates must be restrained and secured while open.

All gates must be closed and locked upon exiting the property by the last member to leave the property.

Stickney Lodge Stone Chimney Removal

We are currently looking for volunteers to assist in the removal of the removal of our big stone fireplace which is in disrepair. Please contact Jordan Wessels at jhwframing@roadrunner.com. It is very important that we complete this project soon. The more volunteers we have, the quicker the project can be completed.

Other Notices

The Club and All Ranges, except the Muzzle Loader Range are Open.

See individual sections for more information.

It is required that members accessing Club property (range and Lodge sides) must display a valid membership ID badge.

The Club House Kitchen is open every Sunday from 11:00am to 1:30pm whenever the ranges are open.

Skeet machine

We need volunteers to help clean the old skeet machine for resale. Please Jordan Wessels at jhwframing@roadrunner.com.

Building & Grounds

We are still looking for some help with a few projects around the range.

This includes volunteers to assist in the removal of the removal of our big stone fireplace which is in disrepair. This includes infilling and repairing the roof and the wall. Once this work is completed, we will be hiring a contractor to construct a new interior stone veneer fireplace that will cover the area being infilled. Anyone who may know of someone willing to give us a quote, please contact Jordan Wessels at jhwframing@roadrunner.com.

As always we will continue to let members and the public to use our Lodge side property, but with this comes a responsibility to take care of our grounds and use some common sense.

Range News

Special Notice

Note that the ranges are monitored 24/7.

Entry / Exit – Club Grounds

The numbers on all the locks must be set to numbers other than the combination upon opening the lock.
The main entry gate to the Club – ranges and lodge – shall remain unlocked and opened while the grounds are occupied.
The gates must be restrained and secured while open.
All gates must be closed and locked upon exiting the property by the last member to leave the property.

Anyone who may need special accommodations when attending an organized shoot at the Range, the Club members running the shoot will do what is reasonably needed to provide safe modifications to ensure each member has the opportunity to participate.

Dogs on the range side of our property must be leashed at all times.

Our cameras are up and running 24/7.and have already proven to be very informative. Several incidences caught on camera have been addressed.

Another issue we are dealing with is folks stuffing cardboard backers in the trash barrels. There are wire mesh containers in both ranges for the used backers. Also, the trash barrels don’t empty themselves, so when you see one getting full, please find others to help dump the debris in these containers into the dumpster.

Last of all, if you see anything that gives you concern for your safety or the club’s safety, please give me (Jordan) a shout or a text.

Muzzle Loader Range

The Muzzle Loader Range will be closed until further notice.

Brass Cartridge

Brass cartridge shoots are scheduled for every Sunday starting at 12:00 noon. Sunday events consist of Pistol, Plate, Rifle, or Bowling Pin shoots. See website for alternating schedule. There is a $4.00 fee for members and a $6.00 fee for non-members.

Our 25 Yard Range and 100 Yard range have target backers that are range specific, and there are posted rules for each. The use of wooden stands is prohibited on the 25 yard / Pistol range. Pistol Range 20”x 20” backers are hung from the overhead cables on the provided lumber.

On the Rifle /100 yard range, use only club provided target stands with 24”x24” backers. Targets should be placed no closer than 50 yards from the bench.

Do NOT place any targets on the range floor or on the frame of the gong.

Stay OFF the Berms.

2023 RIFLE/PISTOL SHOOT SCHEDULE ALL SUNDAY EVENTS START AT NOON, OTHER EVENTS AS NOTED. SKEET & TRAP OPEN EVERY SUNDAY AT NOON (weather permitting)
Date	Day	Event	Range
12/17/23	SUNDAY	FALLING PLATES (NON-MAGNUM ANY HANDGUN)	Pistol
12/24/23	SUNDAY	No Shoot – Christmas	RIFLE
12/31/23	SUNDAY	No Shoot – New Year’s Eve	RIFLE

Trap / Skeet

Trap shoots are scheduled for every Sunday starting at 12:00 noon. Skeet shoots are scheduled for every Sunday starting at 1:00pm. Both shoots will occur providing there are personnel to run the event and members that want to participate. Size 9 target loads for Skeet and 7.5-9 for Trap. There is a $4.00 fee for members and a $6.00 fee for non-members. If we have 5 shooters for Trap, we place a white bird in the machine, and if you shoot the white bird on your turn, you win a coin for a free round or lunch.

NOTE THE TIME CHANGE

Wednesday Skeet shoots are ongoing; however the start time has been moved to 2:00pm.

Archery

The Club has an opportunity to get a grant to upgrade our Archery range and grounds (around Round Pond) to be handicap accessible. Rick Rousseau has volunteered to assist writing the grant. Anyone interested in assisting Rick should contact Rick or Jordan.

Although we have an Archery Chairperson – Rick Rousseau, we still need a co-chair for Archery. Anyone interested in being an Archery co-chair or the upcoming Archery events can contact Rick at stealthcat1024@gmail.com. Note that chairs and co-chairs that attend at least 50% of general and board of directors meetings get free membership for the following year.

Fishing

As reported in last month’s, Dan Bastarache has volunteered to be the chair of our Fishing Committee. Roger Bastarache has been named the co-chair for this Committee.

Dan would like to form a well-staffed committee and is asking for anyone interested to contact him at dpbastarache@gmail.com

Indoor Shooting Events

See the Archery Section for information on Indoor archery shooting events.

Anyone interested in participating in Thursday evening air rifle shoots at the Lodge, please contact Jordan Wessels.

Webmaster / Social Media

As previously announced, Ben England is now our Club’s Webmaster. This is a position that is very important to keep the club’s presence on the web appealing and up to date. This position is part of the Board of Directors. Note that chairs and co-chairs that attend at least 50% of general and board of directors meetings get free membership for the following year.

Anyone interested in assisting Ben or have items to post on our website, can contact Ben at benengland82@gmail.com

previous newsletters are available at this link.

Entertainment

Although we have an Entertainment Committee Chairperson – Michael Gibney, we still need a co-chair for the Entertainment Committee. Note that chairs and co-chairs that attend at least 50% of general and board of directors meetings get free membership for the following year.

Thank you to all who have volunteered to help in the kitchen on Sundays on a rotating basis. We are in need of additional volunteers. This volunteer work requires about 3 hours per shift. Michael has put together a revolving schedule for the current volunteers.

Special Notice: In order to keep the kitchen open for every Sunday shoot, more volunteers are needed.

The kitchen offers a limited menu of burgers, hot dogs, egg & cheese on an English muffin plus coffee, tea or soda.

Lodge / Rental

There were no events in November. Other rental events are planned for December 23, 2023 and January 6, 2024. Plus there is an overnight scouting event from January 19-January 21, 2024

Pictures of our Newest YCFG Members are posted on our Facebook page. If you should run into any New Member please take the time to say hi and introduce yourself.

2024 Acton Fair

The 2024 Acton Fair is scheduled to run from Thursday, August 22 through Sunday, August 25. We will soon be choosing and purchasing 2024’s raffle item. As in past years, Judy Gibbs will be asking for volunteers to man our Fair Booth (3 hour increments). Anyone wishing to volunteer may contact Judy Gibbs at gibbsj@metrocast.net.

Upcoming Meetings

Next General Meeting: December 28, 2023 at 7:00pm at Stickney Lodge.

Next Board of Directors Meeting: January 8, 2024 at 6:30pm at the Club House.

Up-coming New Member Orientations: January 14, 2024 at 10:00am at the Club House.

JANUARY ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING: January 25, 2024 starting at 7:00pm at Stickney Lodge. Note that the election of officers (President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary, and Sargent-at-Arms) will take place at this meeting. Annual Reports from Committee Chairs will also be presented at this meeting.

Your humble servants,

The YCFGA Board of Directors