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Les Baer 1911: Premier II w/1.5" Guarantee, Blued, No FCS, Combat Rear, F/O Front, Checkered MSH & SA Professional Double Diamond Grips
Springfield Armory XD-45 4" Service Model
Springfield Armory XD9 4" Service Model (wifes).
M&P 15 (Mine) -
Yes, they opened up all lanes now, which is good for weekends.
I also think they should open from Tue-Sun with extended hours Fri-SunComment
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Please keep in mind the cost of Trap is per 25 clay session while R&P is (ostensibly) all day. You would need to know all the numbers to be able to compare fees collected vs cost to operate each range type before jumping to conclusions.Comment
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The comments above are truly remarkable, in that some are accurate, others are largely incorrect due to not knowing the structure and operation at USI.
USI is a private non-profit company. It is owned by five (the clubs) separate California corporations, also non profit. What the "clubs" do is separate from the operation of USI which is independent. However, the "clubs" are the board of USI, in that they are supposed to oversee the operation, and ensure the financial health,safety, and business operations (oversight). The board serves without any compensation, BTW.
It matters not if one club charges zero dollars to join, or $500... NONE of the money from the club goes to USI or vice versa. They are mutually nonassessable under their respective corporate structure. Think of the "clubs" as social entities, which hold dinners, and club shoots. They pay the set fees equally for use of the facility. That said, USI is bleeding horribly. It is NOT the same operation back in 2014 or earlier.
EDIT: Martinez gun club charges $250/year memberhip, Livermore annual memberhip ($150 initiaiton) and $150 a year. U.S.I. has NEVER charged "membership" until now. So it puts them in the same "league" as the other local gun clubs, and with comparable "shoot fees". It's a miriacle U.S.I. has survived under their old business model (see below).
What has changed in the past few years to put USI on the brink of insolvency, is fiscal mismanagement or indifference, or neglect in taking action when it needed to be done. In a nut shell, expenses are more than income. Pure and simple, whether you are a failed restuarant, corner market, or a shooting range.
The range development was necessary, but some will argue that it was unnecessarily "lavish". It is nice. Actually it's very nice. But, remember construction costs, overruns, fees, permits, insurance...ADA requirements... all that ball of wax made it a pricey improvement. Even the parking lot, drain water, everything..had to meet the strictest Calif. codes and regulations. If any of you have run a "small business" you will understand the extreme financial challanges to all of this.
Then COVID hit and that not only impacted the USI operation, but look at all the small shops and businesses all around that "never came back". Then the "ammo shortage" which is still a big issue. And the new gun/ammo laws in California... Am I describing the perfect storm? Then when the range was done, nice yes, but the County reassessed the property which was a whopping increase in taxes. And you pay those taxes forever going forward.
Then USI lost our tenant, the guy with the bull dozers down by the action pistol range. He was paying generously to rent our property, but some felt the space would be better served by turning it into an expansion of the range down there, so the "building code enforcer" filed a complaint, and they evicted him. USI lost that revenue, forever. Then salary increases happen, it's minimum wages or better, and insurance, and so on, and those are a significant impact on the cost of doing business. And the cell tower which gave USI some positive cash flow... it was sold (traded) to offset the construction costs... which was not a bad move since it was basically trading rental income for a very large up front cash payment... like an annunity so to speak. It is a lease, USI still owns the property.
The bottom line, people have cut back on shooting and business is down..and it is for a host of reasons. Some people can't afford to send their disposbable income to shoot when groceries and gas are what they are. We are in a 8.4% cost of living inflation cycle.
Most shooters at USI over the past years have enjoyed very low shoot fees, or NO shoot fees, and were all happy to do so, in that the costs were largely offset by low taxes, no "mortgage payments", few paid employees, rental income which subsudizes their sport.... but those days are gone. It is VERY difficult to get folks to change their viewpoint and face the new reality. Fire employees and use all volunteer? That is an impossible concept, most "volunteers" want some kickback gratituity or consideration... and it's not very easy to schedule or operate a business that way. No show to work, not much you as a manager can do because the answer is "hey, I'm just a volunteer".
The saddest thing, this REALITY happened over two years ago, and the board failed to or ignored the very obvious financial reports each month to recognize the looming crisis. The "majority" vote of the board is sometimes hard to overcome, and some very smart people from the "minority grop" have raised objections, asked for changes, or pulled their hair out, all to no avail. So if you are a member of one of the five clubs.... ASK YOUR CLUB PRESIDENT what the hell is going on and ASK him about the finances, and why did things get to this point. Go ahead, ask...they're YOUR club representative.
The $250 discount card may be ineffective. And those who don't want to pay, keep your cheap club membership so you can enjoy the monthly open bar and social...and just "pay as you go" with the new $12 per round shotgun, or the $25 "all day" use fee for Rifle/Pistol. Attend some socials while the gates are still open and not chained by the assessor for tax delinquency.
If USI is lost, you will not get it back.Last edited by Andykev; 04-27-2022, 8:37 PM.Comment
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Andy,
Thanks for posting. I don't think any of us here knew any of that.
The only thing missing in your post is how to salvage it. What can we do as club members to insure the solvency of USI?Comment
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Yes, thanks Andy. That was very edifying. I think most of us if not all CalGunners that actively shoot at USI want to save it, so how can we help?Comment
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Same as you do your Church, favorite restaurant, or shooting range! Patronize it and shoot there often. It needs you as a customer. If you don't like the food at a restaurant, complain. If the line is too long at the range, complain. Make your voice heard. The EMAIL for every club president (aka BOARD MEMBER) is published on the USI website. Speak to them!!!!! Turn on the heat.Comment
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U.S.I. Board of Directors
Bay Point Rod and Gun Club
President Peter Llama
president@baypointrodandgunclub.com
Diablo Rod and Gun Club
President Dennis Winslow
president@diablorodandgun.com
Brentwood Rod and Gun Club
President Jack Shatting
jdshatting@gmail.com
Concord Sportsmen’s Club
President Mike McIntosh
president@concordsportsmen.com
Walnut Creek Sportsmen’s Club
President Steve O’Connell
president@walnutcreeksportsmen.comComment
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Per the Corporate Bylaws:
5.20. Director Compensation. Directors and members of committees of the board will receive no compensation.
The President, CFO, Secretary, Treasurer ONLY.
If your $36K is correct... that is for 4 corporate officers, 12 months... it 's $1,500 per month for the President/CEO,
and the Secretary, Treasurer, and CFO get $500/month. Pretty sure that is still the amounts.
That is peanuts for running a company/business/corportation. You make more bagging groceries at Safeway.
USI pays rangemasters and RSO's.
That is it.Last edited by Andykev; 04-27-2022, 9:46 PM.Comment
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Andykey, sounds like you have a good understanding of what is going on.
Was there an actual analysis done based on current patronage if the proposed fee changes will actually address the financial issues?
Seems odd that there is no proposal to promote higher usage during off times , and additional charges during peak times by use of pricing models. Cheaper during the week and higher on the weekend. Similarly most indoor ranges limit shooting, though they don't have line break like the R&P range, but still (there was a 2 hour limit at one point with high usage on weekends).
Similarly the check in process is super slow, due no split for first timers that need to checkin, get blue card, etc and existing shooters that don't buy ammo can check in quickly (used to do that when it was very busy - but still didn't have it go all the way to the actual desk).
Further, I'm guilty for not checking out the clubhouse, but I'm sure a $5 beer sounds nice after shooting ($1 beers sound crazy to me), especially with summer coming. Maybe other consumables would be nice as well. Even at the range itself. Ways for upselling the experience and add-ons.Comment
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Wait there is a club house that serves beer !!!! See the problem. Services are there - don’t know about them. Beer - 1$ is too cheap 2-5$
Do something different - current practices wil result in closure
Up service
Lower attitudes ( no one is forcing you to work there RSO and office, a new shooter is not going to comeback if treated like crap - a veteran is not coming back either )
Tighten up the operations - save money - more outreach - lower check in times. I don’t want to wait for someone to do the safety test when I just need to pay.
If fees need to be raised - be transparent with the clubs and members how it will fix the issue.
I had no idea it had reopened and it was operating for almost 2 years.Comment
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