Range Officer Guidelines
Every day, when the club is open for shooting, we require a designated member to assume the role of Range Officer (RO) who will supervise the safety and operation for that day. If you shoot regularly, consider volunteering. We always need and welcome additional members to the available RO pool.
Pick a day or days you wish to be RO. Sign-up on the calendar on the wall. You will be compensated with a discount on your annual dues up to 100% for 12 RO days. After 12 you will receive a 15 round shoot card for each two additional RO days that the club actually opens under your direction..
Unless a volunteer RO signs up on any day, the club cannot be opened. If you are the RO for the day you become the authority in charge and you have the following duties (which may be delegated to other qualified ROs as you see fit):
The Gate
Unlock/lock front gate, clubhouse, traphouses at the start and close of each session.
Bring in mail and distribute as appropriate.
Move empty trash cans off roadway (if necessary).
Clubhouse
Operate lights, heating thermostat (or A/C) (Set winter off-hours thermostat to 50 degrees)
Operate trap house power circuit breakers (off at close).
Open/close clubhouse shutters
Collect telephone answering machine messages and forward as necessary.
Make coffee. Bring donuts or other snack and milk/coffee cream (you can be reimbursed) if you wish.
Raise the flag (and lower at closing).
Close the kitchen at session end. Clean and turn-off stove (by circuit breaker), coffee maker equipment if they have been used
Put out the trash to the curb in appropriate containers on Sunday
Lock the safe and leave the office area locked.
Traphouses
You should be trained on the proper operation of our Beomat traps...else don't adjust them.
Set out the wireless remote control(s) for the shooters each day and store them inside the locked desk at each close. We also have corded release handles as a back-up.
Power up/down trap machines for one or both fields as needed.
Important: aluminum shutters must be open while machines are on.On close, stop machine and release the trap arm & turn electricity off in the trap house.
During the session, do not enter the machine area while shooters are on the field. Signal them to stand down by placing a traffic cone at the window.
At close, re-load trap carousels per established guidelines.
Move targets upstairs as needed to support a 5 box inventory. Place new boxes under old to keep inventory fresh.
You must dispose of cardboard boxes properly. Break them down and use the cardboard-only dumpster only.
The Desk
See that every person on-premises signs the daily register, rather, PRINTS HIS OWN NAME ON THE REGISTER.
We have items for sale by the RO:
Shoot cards (15 Round bulk purchase)
Guest Rounds MUST BE PAID IN CASH.
Ammunition - 12, 20, 28 ga. and .410 bore
Targets by the case
Registered Shoot FeesA price schedule is posted on the RO desk.
You will need to check the inventory and working cash at the start of a session and verify and record it at the end of the day.
All dollar receipts are to be recorded in the cash journal. You will be given training to learn the system.
Manage working cash per guidelines.
At closing, please empty the coffee kitty can. No counting is required. The kitty "bank" is kept in a box, locked in the RO desk. Reimburse yourself from this bank if you purchased donuts or coffee creamer.
About Shoot Cards
Most members will have pre-purchased shoot cards in the box kept locked in the RO desk. If not, they will pay cash for the rounds they shoot or will buy a fresh card in order to use the field. Shooters should declare their rounds on the guest register when they sign out. You will punch the shoot card to show what was used that day, and circle and date the punches for the record. When a card is spent, it goes into the used card file box in the RO desk.
Shoot cards are "money". When you sell a new card, both you and the buyer should sign the back of the card, and you will write the member's name on the front...LAST NAME first and file it alphabetically by LAST NAME. Lock the card file in the desk at closing.
About Guests
An invited person may come as a guest shooter no more than 5 times each calendar year...regardless of who their host(s) are. Guests must sign in daily and also sign (under your direction) a waiver once each calendar year they shoot...YOU must sign them into the Guest Registration Book LOG in the front of that notebook. They must shoot only under the supervision of their host for the day. When a guest signs out and declares his rounds, he or his host must pay with cash...rounds may NOT be punched on a member's card. A member may host up to two family and/or non-member guests per day.
About Family
A member's spouse and children (up to 23 yrs) are family. Family members must have an active waiver on file (as do all members) if they wish to shoot and they can put their rounds on the member's shoot card. If of age 18 or older and with permission of the primary member, a family member may shoot on his own. All family shooters should receive Safety Certification.
About Safety
Obviously, you must be very concerned with maintaining safety, when you are RO. You have the authority to expel violators and/or shut down the field if you have to. You will check ammo being used (especially for guests) for #8 or smaller pellets, 1200 fps or slower powder charge. You will observe that shooters keep guns unloaded (bolts and break-actions open) until on the stations and pointed downrange when loaded. Upon request you shall open the patterning board area and post the in-use sign. No one should walk onto the outfield when shooters are in the Pattern Board area.
Call 911 if you have an emergency...and send some one to the blacktop road to meet the ambulance...we're hard to find.
You must personally report safety "events" to our Safety Committee and RO chairmen who will decide what, if any, long-term remedy is required.
Registered Shoots
We often host official NJ Skeet Shooters Association (NSSA) events. An RO is required for each event, which will normally be held at a special time outside of the normal members' sessions. Outside NSSA shooters must sign in and must have active waivers on file. They can shoot in the event without being hosted by a member. Non-shooting guests, visitors, spectators and referees must sign in.
Read on for more details.
The Range Officer-of-the-Day is in charge of all daily activities at the Wayside Skeet Club. He has the right and the responsibility to close the club if an unsafe condition exists.
The Skeet Fields shall not be opened until the Range Officer for the day is in attendance and has assumed responsibility for the operation of the club by placing his name on the page for that day in the RO Daily Cash Receipts Journal. He should also note that he is the RO on the sign-in sheet on the clipboard..
Upon Arrival — Opening the Club Facilities:
- On Green Grove Road, check the mailbox (#621) and bring in all mail.
- If the garbage/recycle containers are empty and still at the roadside, drag them back into the woods a few yards.
- Unlock the chain from the gates, hook the gates open and lock the chain to one of the gates.
- Unlock, open and latch the outside clubhouse door OPEN.
- At your discretion, turn the heat ON (at the thermostat near the office door) or the air conditioning ON (at the breaker box...not on the air conditioner itself).
- On a nice day unlock at least three window shutters, open and secure them safely with the overhead hooks and eyebolts. Leave each long bolt on the ground directly under its own hole (some bolts only fit in their own holes).
- Unlock the desk with your key. You'll need your key to lock the desk when you leave.
- Distribute appropriate mail to the Treasurer, House & Grounds or Membership Committee plastic mail slots on the wall in the office. Leave other important mail on top of the Range Officer Desk and if the mail looks important, open it and phone the addressee or appropriate club officer, e.g. Certified or Registered Mail notice. Discard junk mail and flyers.
- Check the phone answering machine for messages. Forward important messages to the appropriate recipient immediately or write the message out and leave it in the proper slot in the office or on the Range Officers Desk. Delete messages after attending properly to them.
- Retrieve the gray cash box from the desk drawer and count the money. That amount should match the total on today's (top) Cash Journal page in the Range Officer's Notebook. If the amount does not match, make a note of the discrepancy on today's Cash Journal page and notify Treasurer Nick Goumas or RO Chairman Bernie Willis by phone (today!).
- Count the number of shotgun shell boxes in the top right drawer of the desk and verify with the appropriate lines (Start of Day) on today's Cash Journal page.
- Count the number of unsold Shoot Cards in the back of the RO Notebook and verify the total on the appropriate lines (Start of Day) on today's Cash Journal page. The numbers on the Shoot Cards should match the numbers on the log of card sales.
- Place the clipboard with a Members Registration Sheet on the desk and write in today's date and your name with status of "RO." All members, family members, guest shooters, visitors and spectators must register (print ledgibly) on an individual line upon their arrival and prior to shooting skeet. Members must report the number of rounds they shot to the Range Officer...in writing on the sign-in sheet...prior to leaving the club.
- Store both money boxes in a desk drawer rather than on the desktop.
- Unless you have been notified to the contrary, the padlock combination for the skeet houses and trailers is the same as the clubhouse entry number. Dial in the combination and press the lock CLOSED then pull it OPEN. The key for the office is located on a ring with a large metal plate and is kept in the upper right drawer of the RO desk...keep that door closed or locked when the office is not occupied.
Opening the Main Skeet Field:
- Energize the circuit breakers on the main breaker panel for the skeet fields (bottom breaker on each side in the electrical panel box above the stove).
- Unlock the combination padlock and turn the light in the trap house ON, if needed.
- Open and secure the shutter on the skeet window. For safety reasons, do NOT turn the power to the trap machine on until the window is OPEN.
- Make sure the machine's magazines are full of birds. (The North Field traps are to be filled ONLY HALF FULL.)
- Turn the machine ON, making sure that you are clear of the arm as it cocks. The switch is on the front wall of the building, move it to the UP position...the arm will turn and cock. Turn the light OFF, if used.
- Check the supply of birds in the low house...if low, move cases from the trailer. Ask other members to help move the cases.
- Secure the door open or closed, remove the red flag or cone (if used).
- Open the center skeet house and turn the light ON (it will be needed).
- Carefully climb the stairs, open the window shutter and secure it. For safety reasons, do NOT turn the power to the trap machine on until the window is OPEN.
- Make sure the machine magazines are full of birds. (The North Field traps are to be filled ONLY HALF FULL.)
- Check the supply of birds on the upper landing. If birds are needed, get help from other members when moving cases up from the supply on the lower floor. Nine cases of birds must be in the high houses of both fields at the end of each day. The required number of cases MAY have been changed to 5...in any case 9 is better.
- Turn the machine ON, making sure that you are clear of the arm on the machine as the motor starts and the arm cocks. The switch is on the wall, to the right of the machine, move the switch to the UP position. Be careful when climbing down the stairs.
- Turn the light OFF and secure the door open or closed.
- If the remote (cordless/radio) release buttons are being used, they turn on an off by themselves...if not using them, connect the electrical cord for the pushbuttons to the outlet in the center of the Main Field. The cord for the Main Field is kept in the clubhouse.
The North Field:
- The Range Officer has the option to not open the North Field until a need is present. His decision to open the North Field should be based on the number of shooters present, members shooting with a guest, or on a specific request by a member. Any member may request that the North Field be opened.
- The same procedure for opening the Main Field may be applied to opening the North Field. (The North Field traps are to be filled ONLY HALF FULL.)
- Use the same safe practices when placing the skeet machines in operation. For safety reasons, do NOT turn the power to the trap machines on until the windows are OPEN.
- The electrical cord set for the North Field is kept on the wall near the door in the center trap house.
REMOTE RELEASE SYSTEM
Although it may be in SLEEP MODE, the remote transmitter is always on. It will release a target as soon as a button is pushed.
The Flag:
- In good weather, the American Flag shall be raised on the flag pole.
Kitchen Use - Coffee, Milk and Donuts:
- The Range Officer or any club member may make coffee. Supplies are in the kitchen or in the office. Decaf is usually made in the pot with the colored handle or with tape on the handle. One packet of coffee per pot unless you like stronger coffee...then use 1 1/2 packets.
- The Range Officer should purchase and bring a quart of milk and perhaps a box of donuts, cake or cookies to the club and he shall reimburse himself from the coffee fund money in the off-white box in the desk drawer...do not use the shoot money for snack reimbursements.
- All members (who partake in any club-supplied food or beverage) are expected to donate $1.00 for coffee and/or donut by voluntarily placing their donation in the can near the coffee machine. If a member consumes more than an occasional cup of coffee and a donut, he is expected to contribute more than $1.00. Soda from the machine is an exception to this rule as the machine will take care of collecting its own money.
- Individuals using the kitchen (or any other club facility) are expected to clean up after themselves. If a member does not clean up his own mess, the Range Officer is required to clean up as part of his closing duties. This includes even the use of a spoon to stir a cup of coffee. Do not leave dirty dishes in the sink.
Starting and Closing Times:
- Shooting shall not commence prior to 12:00 noon and shall cease at dusk. The normal operating days are Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday. The start time stated above does not apply for registered shoots which may start as early as 9:00 am.
- At his discretion, the Range Officer shall close the Skeet Fields for unsafe shooting conditions, e.g., ice on the shooting stations and paths or a lightning storm in the area.
Closing the Shooting Facilities at the End of the Day.
A checklist for closing the club is now located in the notebook on the RO Desk. These forms need not be kept and may be destroyed after use.
Closing the Trap Houses:
- Remove the electrical cord set and return it to the designated storage area. Store the remote cordless release inside the locked RO desk.
- Discharge (release) the skeet machine (staying clear of the arm) by placing the ON/OFF switch momentarily in the down position, do not hold it down. Make sure the arm does not recock. The switch will stay in a middle position...down releases the arm...up will recock the machine.
- Refill the machine magazines with birds. Be sure that each upper house contains the required number of full cases of birds before you lock the house for the day.
- Sweep out the skeet house, if needed.
- Close and secure the shutter on the window.
- Turn the light OFF.
- Lock the skeet house door. Turn the combination OFF the opening number and press the lock closed. Pull on it to be sure that it has locked securely.
- Flatten all cardboard bird boxes by pulling them apart at the corners. Place all flattened boxes and box inserts in the dumpster. ONLY CARDBOARD IS TO BE DISCARDED IN THE DUMPSTER!!!
- Place the cordless remote release buttons in the top right RO desk drawer - three remote devises, one for each field and a spare. They turn themselves off.
Closing the Cash Journal:
- Punch the member's shoot cards according to the rounds reported on the daily registration (sign-in) sheet or to the best of your ability. On the shoot card, as you punch it, delineate between days with a pencil or pen line and date the section you punch. Replace the punch and the cards in the Shoot Card Box and the box in the top right drawer with the Office Key.
- Complete all entries on the Cash Journal Sheet, making sure the numbers and dollar totals are correct (both down the columns and across the rows), that the totals are equal and that the money on the form matches the amount of money in the grey metal cash box. Indicate on the appropriate lines, the shoot cards and ammo sold and the number of each that are still unsold in the drawer and RO Book. Carry the appropriate totals to the shaded boxes on the next Journal page and indicate in the comment section, the condition of the kitchen area, e.g., "Kitchen Clean" and that "____ boxes of birds are in both high houses."
- Place today's Journal page in the next tabbed section of the notebook making sure your name is on today's page. Leave the Cash Journal notebook on top of the desk for the next Range Officer.
- Collect the loose cash from the "Coffee Money" can and place it in the off-white coffee money box in the bottom right drawer. There is no need to count nor to report the money in this box. The treasurer will collect some as it accumulates. Use these funds to reimburse yourself if you bought donuts or creamer.
- Lock the office door and place the set of keys in the top right desk drawer. Be sure that the safe is locked by spinning the dial to the right several times.
- Put the cash box and coffee money box in the bottom right drawer and the shoot card box in the top right drawer with the office key.
- Lock the Range Officer's Desk and remove your key.
Closing the Clubhouse:
- On the electrical panel, turn the breakers for the skeet houses OFF.
- On the electrical panel, turn the breaker for the air conditioner OFF.
- On the electrical panel, turn the breaker for the stove OFF.
- Next to the office door, turn the thermostat for the furnace down to 50 degrees. DO NOT turn the red emergency switch on the furnace to off...leave it ON.
- Make sure all other kitchen appliances are OFF and dirty items have been washed, dried and properly stored.
- Turn the coffee machine hot plate switches OFF and wash the coffee pot(s). Empty the used coffee bin. The coffee machine itself stays ON...it can't be turned off except by unplugging it.
- Carefully, close and pin all window shutters and secure the pins on the inside.
- Lower and take the American Flag IN.
- See the "Garbage" note, below.
- Turn all lights OFF. If after dark, turn the timer knob ON to give yourself time to get to your car before the timer turns the outside lights off.
- Close the door and make sure it has locked by pulling it and turning the knob. The latch locks automatically upon proper closing...if you want to get back in after you close the door, you have to punch in the combination again.
- Chain and padlock the front gates as you leave.
Disposing of the Garbage:
- The trash and garbage pickup day is Monday. On each Sunday, the Range Officer shall place the waste garbage/recycled products, in the correct containers on Green Grove Road and move the containers to the curb, next to the mailbox. Green for gooey garbage including food. Blue for all recyclable waste including cans, bottles.
General Operation and Shooting Information:
- Ask any club member(s) for assistance in performing Range Officer tasks when needed. You will find that the members are willing to help.
- If the Range Officer personally sees a safety violation or one is reported to him, corrective action MUST be taken IMMEDIATELY. The Range Officer has the authority and duty to suspend the shooting privileges of any member or guest for the day if a safety rule or a gun or ammo rule is not followed. Depending on the severity of a safety infraction, an initial warning along with an explanation is usually appropriate. Report all warnings in the Range Officer's Daily Cash Journal Notebook in the section just before the Cash Journal. After you write up the infraction and warning, place a colored sticker on the warned shooter's shoot card...if you see a sticker on a shooter's shoot card, review the reason he was warned of a safety concern and be aware of the infraction. Report verbally all safty issues to the RO Chairman or to the Safety Committee Chairman (see below).
- Loaded guns are prohibited everywhere on the property, except on a shooting pad or at the patterning board.
- No shot larger than #8 or load faster than 1200 feet per second is allowed to be used. ONLY shotguns of 12 gauge or smaller are permitted. If larger shot or faster loads are discovered, the RO shall require that the shooter place all such loads in the RO's care until that shooter leaves the property. Illegal guns are to be cased and placed in the shooter's car immediately upon discovery. Failure to comply with the Range Officer's directions and second offenses of these rules shall be reported in writing to the Range Officer Chairman.
NOTE: Because the price of factory shot has become so expensive, reclaimed and mixed size shot is appearing on the reloading market. The Range Officer must be diligent in policing our shot size rule.
- Upon selling a new shoot card, both the Range Officer and the purchasing member must sign the back of the shoot card and record the date of sale. Write the last name followed by the first name of the member on the face of the card. The member may either keep his card or store it in the box in the RO Desk.
- Shooters are required to obtain permission from the Range Officer before they use the Shot Patterning area. Shot patterning may be performed ONLY at the designated area after receiving permission and after the sign has been posted.
- Ammo is now $_____ per box in 12 and 20 gauges and $_______ per box for 28 gauge and .410 bore...for both guests and members. Boxes of birds are available for sale. The current prices are posted at the clubhouse on or near the RO Desk.
- Although it's not required, the Range Officer-of-the-Day should try to keep track of the number of rounds each shooter shoots. All shooters are to report the number of rounds shot prior to leaving the grounds. If a shooter fails to report his number of rounds, the Range Officer should try to contact the shooter (check the shooter's info sheet FRONT of the RO's notebook for his cell phone. The Range Officer shall punch as many rounds as he believes to have been shot and make a note on that shooter's card or on the RO's Daily Cash Journal page.
- The First Aid Squad, Police, and the Fire Department may be contacted by dialing 9-1-1. During the day, First Aid services are provided by MONOC at a fee to be paid by the injured or sick person. In an emergency, someone should be sent to meet the emergency vehicle at the end of our driveway at Green Grove Road.
- The Range Officer is ultimately responsible for everything that occurs during his watch...therefore always err on the side of SAFETY.
Member and Non-Member "Sign-In" Requirements
- Everyone must register "print-in" on the Daily Attendance Sheet on the clipboard on the Range Officer's Desk by printing his own name immediately upon arrival on WSC facilities. All members, family members, guests who shoot, non-shooting guests, spectators and visitors must print his name on an individual line on the "sign-In" sheet...ONLY commercial delivery people are excused from the requirement to sign in.
- The member along with his immediate family (spouse and children under the age of 23) are all considered as members and every member who shoots must have signed (once) a Release, Waiver and Promise to Indemnify which is kept on file among the club's records as long as the member is on the membership rolls. (Additional copies of the Waiver Form are available online and in the back of the RO's Notebook.) New family shooters must be Oriented and Safety Certified by a member of the club's Safety Committee and must sign a member's waiver form...the parent or legal guardian of an under-age shooter (below age 21) must sign a waiver form for his/her child.
- ONLY the immediate family (spouse and children under the age of 23) of a member may shoot at the same rate as the member. With the member's permission, immediate family rounds may be punched on the member's shoot card. More distant relatives shall be welcomed and treated as are all other guests and may shoot under the WSC Guest Privilege Rules.
- Non-member Registered NSSA Member Shooters may shoot UNHOSTED on Registered Shoot Days but the shooter and each non-member who accompanies that Registered Shooter must "sign" in on the Daily Attendance Sheet and each must complete a Waiver, Release and Promise to Indenmify at least once each year. Non-member paid referees and all other non-member shoot personel must "sign in" and sign a guest waiver form upon arrival at the WSC if a waiver is not already on file..
- Except during a Registered Shoot, guests of members must shoot on the same squad and under the direct supervision of his member-host. Members who host guests should use the North Field unless directed to use the Main Field by the Range Officer. The host or guest shall pay $3.00 cash for each practice round shot by the guest...guest rounds may NOT be punched on the member's card. A member may host up to two guests per day. Except for Registered Shoots, an individual may be a guest a total of five times per year regardless of who is his host (unless that individual is on the Official Waiting List of the WSC). All guests of members must be logged into the club's Guest Log and must sign a waiver form, at least once a year.
Range Officer Sign-In Duties...including Registered Shoot Days
- It is the Range Officer's responsibility to see that all members, family members, guests of members, non-member registered shooters and their guests and all visitors and spectators register (print-in) on the club's daily attendance sheet immediately upon arrival on club property.
- Except for members and family of members, EVERY NON-MEMBER must sign an individual GUEST waiver, release and indemnification form at least once a year that they use the club facilities.
- Except when a member or family member signs in, the Range Officer shall complete a new line on the guest registration log page (inside the front cover of the Guest Registration Log Book) before the "guest" may use the facilities of the Wayside Skeet Club. The Range Officer shall inspect the gun and especially the ammo for each guest shooter to see that they meet WSC's parameters.
NOTE: Because the price of factory shot has become so expensive, reclaimed and mixed size shoT containing size 7 1/2 shot is appearing on the reloading market. The Range Officer must be diligent in policing our shot size rule. No shot larger than #8 is permitted at WSC!
- It is required that an approved Range Officer be on duty during Registered Shoots for that time the club would normally not be open for members to shoot, i.e., from the time that the facilities are opened and until the end of the Registered shooting at Noon. That Range Officer is not required to keep the club open after the completion of the Registered Shoot.
- The Range Officer on duty during a Registered Shoot may not participate in the Registered Shoot as a shooter and may not serve as a Referee.
- It is encouraged that a Range Officer who is willing to serve the entire day be engaged as Range Officer for both the Registered Shoot and the rest of the normal member shooting time on Registered Shoot days. The Range Officer who assumes responsibility to keep the club open after Registered Shooting is finished will be recognized as having served as Range Officer on a regular shooting day.
- By decision of the Board of Directors, no practice shooting is allowed prior to noon on Registered Shoot days...even if a field is available.
- On Registered Shoot Days, it shall be the responsibility of the Registered Shooting Committee to both engage an approved Range Officer and to provide assistance to the Range Officer in accomplishing ALL tasks that would not normally be the RO's function, especially, but not limited to policing the skeet fields and parking lots, cleaning the kitchen and clubhouse, moving cases of birds and transporting garbage and debris to the roadside for Monday pickup. The qualified Range Officer shall have authority above the Registered Shooting Committee for the operation of the clubhouse and safety on the skeet fields. The Range Officer is responsible for loading the trap machines. ONLY qualified Trap Maintanence Committee members may adjust the traps.
Active Qualified Range Officers
Range Officers should arrange to cover the open days of the club among themselves. If someone signs up for a day and can’t make it, he should phone another Range Officer to cover for him. Lists of phone numbers and e-addresses are available in the back of the Range Officer’s Journal on the Range Officer’s Desk.
Paul Berkowitz
Guy Caterina
Tom Clark
Jim Curley
Paul Desiderio, RO Chairman
Tom Giblon
Nick Goumas
Greg Khalaf
Jan Kwiecinski
Bernie Mihalko
Lew Petryk
Hank Reinbold
Joe Sergewich
John Tedesco
John Urciuoli
Bill Walton
Steve Weintraub, Safety Committee Chairman
Mark Wiatroski
Bernie Willis