Some frequently asked Questions and Answers Follow:
Q. Is there any special deal for Active Military or Law Enforcement Officers?
A. YES!
Effective April 1, 2007, the Board of Directors is once again waiving the initiation fee for qualified Active Military personnel and Law Enforcement Officers.
There may be some older forms still in circulation, that don't show the waiver.
But, if you download a copy you will be sure to get the latest version.
If you feel you qualify, be sure to note it on your application and include copies of the appropriate documents so that the Membership chair will know that you are requesting the waiver.
Q. OK, I've sent in my application, how long before I receive my membership?
A. This is all a matter of timing.
It can vary from about 2 weeks to about 6 weeks.
The process can take time.
READ the questions and answers below for details!
Q. Who may become a member of the Winchester Canyon Gun Club?
A. A member must be able to affirm the following:
1. He or she is a legal resident of the United States.
2. He or she supports the Constitution of the United States.
3. He or she MUST never have been CONVICTED of a crime of violence involving firearms or other weapons.
4. He or she MUST be legally qualified to own and possess a firearm in the State of California.
Q. What are the benefits of becoming a member?
A. There are several benefits to membership in the WCGC.
Perhaps the most important is that, subject to certain restrictions,
a member may shoot at the Club's ranges and fields
any time between sunrise and sunset
seven days a week,361 days a year.
There is NO SHOOTING ON SOLTICES AND EQUINOXES (4 days per year)
based on our agreement with the USFS and the Chumash.
In addition, when the Club is open to the public,
members can shoot at fees that are substantially lower than those charged the general public.
Members also participate in the various events at reduced rates.
Members receive the Club's monthly bulletin which has scores for the various events,
changes to the calendar, and notices of interest to the membership.
They also receive the Club's annual Calendar of Scheduled Events to help them plan their shooting.
Q. What classes of membership are available in the WCGC?
A. The Club has four different classes of membership.
Each has the same basic privileges, differing mainly in costs, which are
fixed by the Board of Directors. With the exception of Life Membership,
all memberships are on a calendar year basis, and run from January 1 to December 31.
1. Regular Annual Memberships
Annual dues of $125.00.
There is also an initiation fee ($50) for new members as indicated on the application form.
The membership fee is prorated as described on the application form.
Annual Memberships are available to anyone who meets the qualifications
for membership (see above), is 18 years of age or older, and does
not otherwise qualify for one of the special classifications:
2. Student Membership
Annual dues of $50.00.
The Club recognizes that a college education is quite expensive.
The Board of Directors has established a special student rate for anyone
enrolled in a course of study at any Junior College, College,
University or Trade School. Student Members may renew at the
Student Rate as long as the remain enrolled. This special rate
is only available to students, and evidence of enrollment must
accompany an application for Student Membership or to renew.
This special membership is intended for full-time students only.
It is NOT intended for part-time or adult-ed "students" or "life-long-learners."
Each application will be reviewed on its merits.
.
3. Junior Membership - annual dues of $10.00.
The Club has a long history of supporting young shooters.
A special youth program is available wherein young people are provided
with the opportunity to shoot either rifles or shotgun free of charge.
Youth shoots are held monthly, but inclement weather during the
winter months can force cancellation.
Another important way the Club supports the young shooter is
through a special Junior Membership for only $10.00 per year.
Besides the qualifications required for all memberships,
Junior Members MUST be under the age of 18.
Once past their 18th birthday, a Junior Member can
become a regular Annual Member by paying the regular annual dues or the STUDENT dues.
But, by transitioning from a Junior member, the initiation fees are avoided.
A Junior Member enjoys all of the benefits of an adult member -
shooting at the Club any time between sunrise and sunset, shooting
on the weekend and participating in most events at fees even
lower than the adult members. There is one important restriction
on a Junior Member. He or she MUST be under the direct supervision
of a parent or responsible adult in order to shoot at the Club.
4. Life Membership - one time fee of $1,000.00.
Anyone who meets the qualifications may become a Life Members
by paying a one time fee of $1,000.00. In highly unusual circumstances,
the Board of Directors may request a donation from the Life Members
to defray some special need that is of benefit to all the members,
but except for some dire emergency, Life Members enjoy all
of the benefits of membership without having to worry about
annual dues. Only a limited number Life memberships are allowed each year.
Act early and invest in the club and in your future.
Q. How much is the initiation fee?$50.
But, it only applies to new regular members.
As noted above, the initiation fee is waved for Active Military and Law Enforcement.
Q. How do I go about becoming a member of the WCGC?
A. Membership is controlled under Article III of the Club's Bylaws.
Section 2 specifies "Application for membership shall be made
on printed forms provided by the Club. The Board of Directors
at a regular meeting or special meeting must approve any
type of membership granted." As a practical matter, the above
requires the following steps be followed:
1. Obtain an Application for Membership form.
These are available from several sources:
a. They are always available from either the Rangemaster or
Trapmaster when the Club is open to the public.
b. They are available at the following gun shops in the Santa Barbara area:
Dodge City Gun Shop 4010 Calle Real (805) 563-2829
Far West Gun & Supply 2009 State St (805) 569-2922
Goleta Valley Gun & Supply 5669 Calle Real (805) 683-1867
c. A form in PDF format may be downloaded from this web site.
2. Fill out the application - PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY -
sign it, and return it with a personal check or money order for
the required fee to the Club. Applications may be handed to the
Rangemaster or Trapmaster, but the preferred method is to mail the
completed application and a check or money order for the fees due
to the Club at the address printed at the top of the form.
Please note that the fee due with an application for regular
annual membership consists of two parts - the annual dues, which
are pro-rated, and an Initiation Fee which is not pro-rated.
Consult the table on the back of the form to determine the fee due.
IMPORTANT: As stated at the top of the application, the fees due
MUST accompany an application for it to be processed.
ANY application received without payment of the required fees
WILL be returned to the applicant without further processing by the Club.
The Membership Chairman will contact an applicant for
clarification of minor things such as correct spelling, but an
incomplete application will be returned to the applicant to be
properly completed.
IMPORTANT: An application MUST be signed by the applicant,
and a Club Member who will vouch for the identity and qualifications
of the applicant. The Rangemaster, Trapmaser and the owners of the
above listed gun shops are all members who routinely sign applications
on behalf of the applicant, but any member in good standing can sign.
Any application received without the required signatures WILL be returned.
Q. OK, I've sent in my application, how long before I receive my membership?
A. This is all a matter of timing.
It can vary from about 2 weeks to about 6 weeks.
As stated above,
the Bylaws require that all memberships be approved by the Board of Directors,
which meets on the second Tuesday of each month. The following procedure
is used to process an application for membership:
1. Applications are forwarded to the Membership Chairman as they
are received. The Membership Chairman reviews the application
for completeness, and will contact the applicant - usually by telephone -
if there is some issue that needs clarification. An incomplete application
will be returned to the applicant at the address given to be properly
completed prior to any further processing.
2. The Bylaws require that any application be approved by the
Board of Directors. As a practical solution to the requirement,
the Membership Chair takes all applications in his possession by
the afternoon of the monthly Board Meeting to the meeting for
review by the board. Each application is reviewed by all of the
Directors present, with each Director initialing the application
to show he has read and approved it. A motion is made to accept
the applications presented.
3. Once approved, the Membership Chairman will finish processing
the applications. Every reasonable effort is made to get the new
Member's information in their hands as soon as possible after the
monthly meeting, and most members will have their memberships in
hand by the weekend following the second Tuesday of the Month.
PLEASE NOTE: Applications will be considered by the Board of
Directors only one time each month - on the second Tuesday.
Applications that are received after that date WILL be held until
the next Board of Directors meeting. If you mail your application
close to the second Tuesday, there is a risk that it may be held until the following month.
Q. What can I do to assure that my application will be approved,
and my membership will arrive as soon as possible?
A. The most important thing you can do to assure that you will
receive your membership as quickly as possible is to fill out
your application completely, and include the proper fees when
you send it in.
If an application must be returned because of
being incomplete, or not being accompanied by the proper fees,
it will run the risk of not making the monthly Board of Directors'
Meeting. Neatness and clearly printing your answers will be
quite helpful to the Membership Chairman's prompt handling of
your membership.
This page was last modified on Thursday, July 31, 2008 09:14:24 PM