It has been some time since an update, so this one contains a lot of information.
First, Rangemaster Dustin Drew is stepping away from the position due to family and work constraints. We appreciate his time as Rangemaster, and he will continue to serve on the Range Committee, so be sure to say thanks for his hard work should you see Dustin!
We are now searching for an equally dedicated member to serve in this important position. In light of the increased use of the range in the last 2 years, along with the 90 new members just in the last few months, being Rangemaster has become invaluable in maintaining the range for the membership and orientating new members. There’s no getting around it, there is a time commitment involved. If you have an interest and feel you can make a difference, please consider it. The new Rangemaster will need help. If you can volunteer on occasion, we are putting together a list of volunteers that can be called on from time to time to assist with the workload. Please contact us at info@bcsanh.com and let us know how you can help.
Our annual Meat Raffle tickets are now available. Prize is $600 of different meat products and a $400 gift card to The Lobster Connection. Tickets are $20 and only 300 will be sold with a June 20th drawing. Available from Board members or online at info@bcsanh.com. Same address if you want extras to sell to friends, family or co-workers. This is one of three raffles that we do each year and are the only fundraisers that we ask member participation to help sell tickets. Next up will be the gun raffle this summer.
You may have noticed the six 20 foot Conex boxes in the parking lot. We have hired Benco Excavators of Gilford to bury them in the berms as our own design bullet traps. This is an effort to allay concerns that may arise from our new neighbors on the other side of the 100 yard berm, 12 of 46 homes having already been built. Benco will be starting sometime in June. His work schedule will be posted on our website and Facebook page. He will try to keep disruptions to a minimum, but consult the internet to be sure that the range is open that day. Once installed, work parties will be announced to complete the design.
A used enclosed trailer has been donated to BCSA and will be placed near the range to house our brush hog (we have to mow Bay 1 ourselves), store brass and other range supplies. Thank you Bill Saulnier for this generous donation. Bill also donates all the food and does the cooking every year for both Kids Fishing Derbies.
Tom Diorio is a professional welder and has rebuilt the large wire grills for the BBQ with stainless steel wire, all gratis to BCSA. Thanks Tom!
Central NH Amateur Radio Club (CNHARC) held their annual Emergency Field Day on BCSA grounds last year and it was very successful. They will be back this year on June 26th, 27th and 28th. The range will be OPEN during the entire event.
Kids Fishing Derby at Gunstock Pond Sunday June 7th from 9 to noon. Volunteers needed to load the trailer at 8 AM at the BCSA clubhouse and then help at Gunstock. It’s free for all kids and no need to register. Every child gets a prize and the top three are each awarded a bucket of prizes. Open to the public and an ad will run in the Daily Sun.
Range closures:
The 4-H program will be hosting a youth archery shoot on Saturday May 23rd, from 9 AM to 3 PM. They will not be using the current archery range, but will be bringing in their own equipment and will be setting up on the back lawn. The firearms range will be CLOSED during this event and will re-open once 4-H has completely cleared the property.
Jenni’s Ride is scheduled for August 1st this year. We support this scholarship program fundraiser by donating the use of the property for a large motorcycling gathering and ride. Since all the grounds will be occupied, the range will be CLOSED until they have cleared the property mid to late afternoon.
Again this year we are partnering with A Girl and A Gun of Southern NH for 2 novice handgun classes for women by women. Dates TBD and will be announced as soon as we know. Range will be OPEN.
Speaking of classes, Dustin and I are SIG Academy certified instructors and are interested in teaching. Classes will be small and looking at specializing in couples, elderly, novices, etc…. If there is interest, info@bcsanh.com
Stop the Bleed class was recently held. It was well liked by the students and another class will be announced later this year.
After some discussion, the Board of Directors (BOD) has approved one swap meet for ‘26, planned for the Labor Day/mid September time frame.
The Archery Committee has planned significant improvements for the archery range, some of which has already been worked on. Additionally, $4300 worth of 3-D targets have been purchased and will be installed after the course is redesigned. Stay tuned.
Spring clean-up was the best attended in years and a significant amount of work was done on both the front and back of the buildings. Even the kitchen committee got in on the act and did a great job on cleaning the kitchen. Thank you to all involved for a job well done!
VERY LATE NOTICE: BCSA sponsors a building at the Barry Camp in Berlin, NH. The building is in need of repair and painting. BOD member Phil Tanner is in charge and will be there all this weekend (16th & 17th) working on the project with his grandson. If you can volunteer, please contact us at info@bcsanh.com, or 603-455-4802 ASAP.
Six children are sponsored yearly by BCSA to attend Barry Camp. Thanks to BOD member Bubba Normandin, this year’s attendees have been chosen and all arrangements have been made. A special thanks to member Vickie Fantozzi, who donated new clothing for one youth that is going to camp.
Vickie F. is also the volunteer who sorts and sifts all range brass to ensure we get top dollar at Gilpatric’s Salvage Yard. Today we brought just over 300 pounds collected from the winter and received over $900 for it. Thanks to all of you for picking up your brass and Vickie F. for her hard work prepping it for sale.
Porta-Potti will be in place soon, apologies for it not being here sooner.
Mosquito Squad is back for the fourth year now and have already sprayed once. They come monthly and apply product at 7 AM, so it is dry before the range opens.
You may notice some minor changes in the range building in an effort to accommodate the increased use and make it convenient for everyone. Just a reminder, but ALWAYS follow the 4 rules of firearms safety, all range rules, be courteous, share the range with your fellow members and BCSA will continue to be there as a safe and fun place to shoot.
Regards to all,
Rags Grenier
BCSA President