ATA Petition - Draft 1

Listed below is my first draft of the ATA petition. Please let me know what changes you would like to see. In my opinion, there are way too many changes listed for this petition to be effective. I honestly think that if we could limit this petition to just the first 5 changes, the others changes should be processed through the new official change request process, if ATA management approves and implements change number 1.

Petition for changes within the American Trap Shooting Association – Draft 1

We the undersigned, are members, ex-members or potential members of the American Trapshooting Association, here after referred to as the ATA. We are petitioning the ATA board of directors, the executive committee and the executive director, asking for the following changes to be implemented. We believe these changes will help restore trust and integrity between ATA management and its members. We strongly believe these changes are critical to the health and survival of the ATA.

Requested Changes

1. Repeal and replace the unofficial flawed process for implementing changes to rules, policies and practices with an official new change request process that requires complete accountability, requires complete transparency and truly puts the membership back in control by allowing the members in good standing to vote on requested changes. If 51 percent of the members who voted, vote yes for the requested change, then ATA management must implement the change as quick as possible. ATA management would also be required to use the new change request process whenever they want to change anything. This new official change request process must be added to the rule book and posted on the ATA website. The status of all change request must be posted on the ATA website in a timely manner.

2. ATA management must analyze why their business plan/model is under preforming while business plans/models for other organizations are doing better in the same economy and in the same social environmental conditions.

3. ATA management must develop a detailed action plan, identifying who is going to do what by when to reverse the downward trend in ATA membership and the number of ATA targets thrown annually. This detailed action plan must be posted on the ATA website and kept evergreen.

4. Establish a committee with a two-fold purpose – identify ways to reduce the cost to the shoot ATA targets, identify ways of providing more money with half of the money distributed based on skill and the other half based on random drawings like door prizes are done today.

5. Treat all members equally. Eliminate all favoritism or any appearance of favoritism.

6. Eliminate all or most of the satellite grands.

7. Repeal and replace the All-American points system.

8. Mandatory handicap reductions

9. Eliminate money punches

10. Eliminate bank selection

11. Eliminate penalty yardage

12. Eliminate blocked out banks and allowing other to pre-squad before the official sign-up date and time

13. Do away with shoot-off carry overs

14. The EC should be elected by life members only

We, the petitioners would appreciate your response to this petition no later than DD/MM/YR.

Thank you for your time and consideration of these changes.

Signed, The Petitioners

Name


Signature


ATA number


Address


Date signed

 

Number 5 and 14 are a bit in conflict don't you think?

 

FrankL, yes I can see where you are coming from. Thanks for pointing this out.

 

I forgot change number 15 - Everyone must shoot a semi-automatic. Just kidding, it's been a long day for this old guy.

 

Too many mandates for this petition to be effective. I believe the focus should be on members having more say on who is elected to serve in the various positions. For one, the delegates should be elected by secret ballot during the state shoot where more than one person is free to run. Even though I like my delegate I am not sure if or when the elections takes place during the shoot. All I hear is the result...there is not ballot as far as I am aware.

BTW, I would not support the sandbagger haven 9 and 11. I strongly oppose 10 because drawing banks caused chaos in New York. We run a much smoother shoot now. I strongly favor 12.

 

I agree and that why I said:

Having said that, I know from experience that if changes 1-5 and not agreed to by ATA management, the ATA replacement plan mentioned by User 1 needs to be flushed out and ready to go. The odds of the ATA management team to reverse the downward trend without doing changes 1-5 is slim to none and you know what they say about Slim.

 

Garry,

My hat is off to you, I can tell you right now once the big wheels at the ATA see (read ) this they are going to have a field day with it not to mentions many, many chuckles ...
The ATA is structured to keep the normal, every day schmo shooters in the dark so they can let the Association support them and pay their way, then give them a new gun once they have done nothing for one more year ... I suggest you make minimal requests that may or may not be considered, hitting them with a list of 15 demands ( suggestions) is only going to put them on defense and they will claim they are being attacked ... Nothing is ever going to happen without it being done legally which costs money, they will then use our money to defend their actions in a court of law ... Think Cash Cow and when they milk it it spits out our money for them to use ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

My experience in NY is nothing but confusion even without no bank selection. That place operates on slow speed at best.

 

How do you handle the Accountability of voting, Comparing Kentucky Pip Layer Results, he was the counter!!!

Ballott voting only, on a trusted calibrated Voting machine w/Print out

GB...........................DLS

 

Draw for banks 1/2 hour before event starts/ ALL events Draw starting banks, Like Bank 6-A.

GB.............................DLS

 

To eliminate Multiple Bank Draws,Person PULLING BANKS Must pay for Targets for all 5 Positions, Exanple $40.00 X 5= $400.00, options may be played later at entry desk.

This stops empty Banks, Pulled squads not turned in prior to start of Event. Absolutely NO REFUNDS.

GB....................................DLS

 

This and the other draft looks like a bunch of nonsense to me. You would be more successful to create a new trapshooting association, separate and apart to any connection with the ATA. When you write the charter, you will have to prohibit all the things you are trying to remove or correct with the petitions. With the combined numbers of shooters in OH & PA would be very easy and you could return the HQ to Ohio as so many want.

 

AZCOTRAP,
It might not only be easier but a good back up for when the ATA tanks ... The Members are getting more and more fed up with the operation and graft as they support the ED, EC, and some of the BOD's shooting, travels, and expenses ... The biggest hurdle might be getting some of the clubs to come on board once the ATA puts the arm on them in one way or another ... There is no doubt legal actions being gathered to make a case and bring things to a screeching halt ... Freeze the bank accounts and investment accounts and make them answer to the Membership ... The Members are the ATA, not the other way around ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

Just start a new organization. It's not that hard to do. All sorts of shotgun disciplines can be added, not just American Trap.

 

,Person PULLING BANKS Must pay for Targets for all 5 Positions, Exanple $40.00 X 5= $400.00, options may be played later at entry desk.

GB...........

Doc,

Is this NEW math, or from Neil's charts ?

 

Brad, Neil could not figure anything as easy as this, and it keeps squads moving w/o empty squads, I would like to see if the squads were returned, the person selecting it would shoot targets free and only have to pay the options, a win-win. I don't know anyone walking away losing $400.00

GB..........................DLS

 

WPT,

Glad some of you are beginning to understand what I have been saying for a long time, the Membership is the ATA. It is that membership that elects the State delegates who are the BOD and those delegates you elect, elect one delegate from each of the 5 zones who represent the EC. It is those delegates you elect that you have given your voice to act on your behalf. If the EC is not preforming as you see fit, you are doing a poor job of selecting delegates.

Every time I go to a zone shoot, shooters who attend the meeting are asked is there anything they want to bring before the meeting. The usual response are blank stares and absolute silence. Nobody brings up all these horror stories you guys are constantly talking about. That tells me they are not interested or the stories are overblown.

At the State Shoot, the delegate and alternate are elected and all the honors and mentions are awarded and State teams announced. Again, all this important stuff you guys constantly bawl about is not discussed at the State shoots. Why is that?

Go ahead with a court proceeding. Put up the money to pay both law firms you will individually hire with money from your own pockets and your money in the ATA coffers you are saying is being spent beyond your control. When the judge laughs at you for electing a bunch of incompetent people, perhaps it will sink in. If you were successful in winning some sort of lawsuit, it would follow some people must be punished for their actions, then you will never get another person to run for delegate again.

I would like to know, if anyone can tell me, how many delegates or EC members have been elected for more than one term, who has served the most terms and why are they continuing to get elected? Is this happening because one or two States want to control the ATA with teneured delegates....if even such a thing were possible? Which Statesare doing that. How many current EC members are responsible for things that happened last year, five years or ten years ago?

 

Azcotrap,

What's the process for nominating and electing a delegate? At the State shoot I only hear who the winners is. I hear nothing about an opportunity to vote or maybe I am not listening keen enough?

 

You go to the State Shoot. When you sign up to shoot, you are given a ballet. During the shoot, you will see posters saying “Vote for Joe Smoe, for ATA delegate and Jim Smith for alternate.” During the shoot, ususally during a break between the 200 bird event, you are asked to cast your ballots after the nominations are made during that meeting. Anybody can make a run, just depends how well known you are to other shooters. You may be the local hot shot who on a bad day shoots a 99 in blinding blizzard conditions. You have no business sense about you, but you are one hellva nice guy. Whoever the people attending the shoot cast the most ballots for are elected delgate and alternate.

 

Never got a ballot at my State shoot. Who determines who gets nominated? I am going to pay close attention this year.

 

The people (shooters) at the business meeting are asked for nominations. Jill stands up and nominates Joe. Tom seconds the motion, all in favor “aye.”

“ Any other nominations.”

“Ok, cast your ballot.”

Would be nice if the majority of the people who post here would try to educate others instead of telling fairy tales about Al Capone taking over the ATA.

 

What "would be nice", is if people from Mental Midget Land could give a "nice" reply to a question ask of them while they are here .....

 

Mike J. Are you a member of the State you live in trapshooting Association, If you are not you will not be eligible to vote ... The election is held during the state shoot and usually tabulated by the end of the day with the winner posted for the world to see ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

Doesn't being an ATA member make you a member of the State association?

 

No, each State has its own association ... Check it out and join, the dues are usually very reasonable so you may opt for the Life Membership ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

Thanks, never knew this. I'll check my State.

 

Mike, not all state associations charge a membership fee to individual resident shooters. Read your state shoot program, that most likely describes the process for nominating a delegate, and for voting. Ballots are not generally passed out at entry, I find they are usually available on a table in a designated location, or something along those lines.

 

No, you gain membership to your State Association separately

Not the same procedures at all State shoots, just the way it works at mine. Sign up for an event get a ballot. We have 50 and 7 Canadian proveniences as part of the ATA. 57 variations.

 

It’t not me going off the rails with all these conspiracy theories. I cannot validate conjecture or rumor. It is the job of the person presenting it to prove what they are saying.

 

Thank you! It is in my State program. Looks like a very fair process... Written nomination signed by 2 ATA members and then a 5 hour time slot to vote.
W

 

Not true, there are requirements. Read the rule book.

The criteria for election as a State Delegate or Alternate Delegate are:
-actual physical residence within the boundaries of the State/Province of
representation, and
- in receipt of life membership certificate from the ATA, and
-a member in good standing of the State/Provincial Association of the
State/Province of representation, and
- ATA member in good standing for at least five (5) consecutive years, and
-active participation as evidenced by registration of at least 3,000 targets
total (Singles, Handicap and Doubles combined) in current and previous
four (4) years, and of at least 500 targets each year in the current and
previous four (4) years, and
- Shall not have been suspended within the prior five (5) years or for a
period of one (1) year or more.

 

Yes, Garry, I was being to literal when I said anybody. Forgive me, being a life member for over 40 years, and in good standing, shooting over 3000 targets a year, I forget not every body is like me. There is always details. But more fodder for the petition, right?. All those stupid rules should be removed and anybody should be able to run for delgate, even the same day they become a member, right? Why bother with the good standing or non suspension according to people here, all the delegates and EC are criminals anyway, so why have the requirements?