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First, some background in the form of a flyer we are distributing at shoots and other shops in the area.
from the Gainesville Archery Club...........
As we were finishing setting up the course today we began a discussion on some matters a few of us hold dear to our hearts, archery. More specifically, how do we increase attendance? One of the common themes I hear from so many folks on message boards and everywhere else is that they do not shoot because they are a little intimidated. Going to a shoot where there are some top flight archers can be intimidating, especially for someone new to the archery world. So, we came up with a possible solution and one we will be starting soon.
Beginning on Tuesday August 8th, from 6 pm - 8 pm the Gainesville Archery club will begin hosting beginning archery seminars at the Oakwood Sportsmans Lodge. We will go over a variety of topics including some technical information on bows, tuning, form, shooting drills, basic bowhunter education (borrowed from the actual NBEF courses), broadhead tuning, and a variety of other topics. These seminars will be very basic with the thoughts of getting new archers started on the right path. The classes will be taught by myself, Leon Pittman, Patrick Rinehart (bowsmith), Larry Painter and hopefully a few other volunteers.
The best part of these classes is the cost.......free, not one dime, not one penny, nada, zilch, zip, nothing. Absolutely, positively free. How long will the classes last? As long as there is interest. We will be having some one on one instruction, along with possibly some videos and more. We will cover as much as the class wants, asks for, requests, or can handle. Did I mention it is free?
Who are the classes for? Anyone that may be beginning in archery, anyone that may be beginning bowhunting, anyone that may be considering archery, anyone that has been doing it for years but might have some interest in learning some techniques that work for others, youth, ladies, families....................basically, anyone that wants to learn more about archery. While the classes are going to be geared towards beginners, anyone is welcome to attend. Did I mention the cost? If not, let me tell ya...........free.
I would like to thank the Oakwood Sportsmans Lodge for providing us the facilities for these classes. I would also like to thank Leon, Patrick and Larry for volunteering to help with these classes.
Anyone that has any interest in archery, I encourage you to at least check it out once or twice. Even if you have been doing this a while you might learn something......or you might become an instructor!!!!!!!!!!!
The 3 of us have gotten alot out of archery over the years and now we are looking to give back some of what we have gotten out of it. For new bowhunters this is a great opportunity to learn. For the more seasoned shooters out there.......this might be an opportunity to give back to the sport we all love.
----------------------------------
Now, my challenge to the members.
We have all read threads on this and other message boards on quality of proshops, attendance at shoots etc. No one has really come up with an answer. Whether our solution will work or not is unknown, but if some N Georgia Hillbillies are willing to give it a try, why can't everyone else.
We all know proshops that put out less than professional work. We all know proshops that do great work. However, I have heard from a lot of shops that they would love to have regular classes for beginning archers but they do not have the time to run a shop and teach classes. If you have hung out at any shops you have probably also heard the "I can't hit water if I fell out of a bot with my bow so I don't go to shoots."
What can we do to fix these problems? Well, you see what our possible solution is. Can we, the general membership of archerytalk do to really become archers helping archers? Yes, the saying is geared towards Archerytalk, but with the vast experience, knowledge, and geographic coverage this board has maybe we can make a huge difference across the country to folks that are on on Archerytalk, truely becoming archers helping archers. Maybe your proshop has great facilities, but can't tuna fish let alone tune a bow. Approach them, see if they will let you use their facilities to offer these types of free classes for beginners.
I have stood by long enough without trying to do something. We are going to give this a try. Before anyone asks, no we do not have a curriculum yet, we are flying by the seat of our pants here until we get a handle on what exactly people need, I mean, we did just come up with this idea on Saturday.
So far the inital reaction (with only 1 day of publiciszing this idea) has been great. I have been getting emails, phone calls, people stopping me at our shoot, all of them saying man I will be there and I am bringing some folks that want to get into archery but have never tried, or man I am new and would love to learn more.
My question is, do any of the shops in your area offer classes like this? If not, my challenge is.......are you willing to take the steps necessary to start a program like this?
from the Gainesville Archery Club...........
As we were finishing setting up the course today we began a discussion on some matters a few of us hold dear to our hearts, archery. More specifically, how do we increase attendance? One of the common themes I hear from so many folks on message boards and everywhere else is that they do not shoot because they are a little intimidated. Going to a shoot where there are some top flight archers can be intimidating, especially for someone new to the archery world. So, we came up with a possible solution and one we will be starting soon.
Beginning on Tuesday August 8th, from 6 pm - 8 pm the Gainesville Archery club will begin hosting beginning archery seminars at the Oakwood Sportsmans Lodge. We will go over a variety of topics including some technical information on bows, tuning, form, shooting drills, basic bowhunter education (borrowed from the actual NBEF courses), broadhead tuning, and a variety of other topics. These seminars will be very basic with the thoughts of getting new archers started on the right path. The classes will be taught by myself, Leon Pittman, Patrick Rinehart (bowsmith), Larry Painter and hopefully a few other volunteers.
The best part of these classes is the cost.......free, not one dime, not one penny, nada, zilch, zip, nothing. Absolutely, positively free. How long will the classes last? As long as there is interest. We will be having some one on one instruction, along with possibly some videos and more. We will cover as much as the class wants, asks for, requests, or can handle. Did I mention it is free?
Who are the classes for? Anyone that may be beginning in archery, anyone that may be beginning bowhunting, anyone that may be considering archery, anyone that has been doing it for years but might have some interest in learning some techniques that work for others, youth, ladies, families....................basically, anyone that wants to learn more about archery. While the classes are going to be geared towards beginners, anyone is welcome to attend. Did I mention the cost? If not, let me tell ya...........free.
I would like to thank the Oakwood Sportsmans Lodge for providing us the facilities for these classes. I would also like to thank Leon, Patrick and Larry for volunteering to help with these classes.
Anyone that has any interest in archery, I encourage you to at least check it out once or twice. Even if you have been doing this a while you might learn something......or you might become an instructor!!!!!!!!!!!
The 3 of us have gotten alot out of archery over the years and now we are looking to give back some of what we have gotten out of it. For new bowhunters this is a great opportunity to learn. For the more seasoned shooters out there.......this might be an opportunity to give back to the sport we all love.
----------------------------------
Now, my challenge to the members.
We have all read threads on this and other message boards on quality of proshops, attendance at shoots etc. No one has really come up with an answer. Whether our solution will work or not is unknown, but if some N Georgia Hillbillies are willing to give it a try, why can't everyone else.
We all know proshops that put out less than professional work. We all know proshops that do great work. However, I have heard from a lot of shops that they would love to have regular classes for beginning archers but they do not have the time to run a shop and teach classes. If you have hung out at any shops you have probably also heard the "I can't hit water if I fell out of a bot with my bow so I don't go to shoots."
What can we do to fix these problems? Well, you see what our possible solution is. Can we, the general membership of archerytalk do to really become archers helping archers? Yes, the saying is geared towards Archerytalk, but with the vast experience, knowledge, and geographic coverage this board has maybe we can make a huge difference across the country to folks that are on on Archerytalk, truely becoming archers helping archers. Maybe your proshop has great facilities, but can't tuna fish let alone tune a bow. Approach them, see if they will let you use their facilities to offer these types of free classes for beginners.
I have stood by long enough without trying to do something. We are going to give this a try. Before anyone asks, no we do not have a curriculum yet, we are flying by the seat of our pants here until we get a handle on what exactly people need, I mean, we did just come up with this idea on Saturday.
So far the inital reaction (with only 1 day of publiciszing this idea) has been great. I have been getting emails, phone calls, people stopping me at our shoot, all of them saying man I will be there and I am bringing some folks that want to get into archery but have never tried, or man I am new and would love to learn more.
My question is, do any of the shops in your area offer classes like this? If not, my challenge is.......are you willing to take the steps necessary to start a program like this?
