Recurvy,
No intention of excluding anyone geographically, just the observing the real center of trapshooting participation is in that area. The Interstate Trapshooting Association would have a better ring to it and closer to our history, but I think we would have difficulty getting a pass to use it.
Chip,
Normally I would agree with you, better to fix what we have than divide, however it would almost require a "poison pill" vote by the BOD/EC for it to happen. It normally takes someone 12 or more years to get elected delegate and continue to becoming ATA president. I expect most of the people inside the system have a vested interest in keeping it the way it is. Given the character of people that have left the governing body in the last couple of days, specifically Kenny Ray and Frank Rivley it speaks volumes about the future path of the ATA.
I know both of them, Kenny Ray better than Frank, but intend to contact both in the next couple of days to find out what's actually going on.
General observations.
Look through last years average book if you have one and calculate the percentages of members per class, then see where most of the decision makers fall in. Direct votes on major issues would rapidly change the balance of power in the ATA to the B/C shooters if they cared enough to vote, and that will not be allowed to happen in the current structure.
What actual ties do most of the registered trapshooters have with the ATA beyond central scoring and trophies at their state/zone shoot and $20 a year?
With a new organization all of the baggage of the past can be discarded and the members can vote directly for the rules they want to shoot by. In this age, rules and voting could be easily accomplished by electronic means or mailed ballots to the membership efficiently and responsively.
A new organization could easily keep the parts of the organization that the majority votes on and adopt new changes that would never get through the current BOD,
1oz. loads/no speed limits, shoot what you can stand- why not?
3 hole targets, strictly enforced.
Pro Class for anyone that accepts any kind of sponsorship, be it guns, shells or any direct payments. No reason to penalize anyone good enough to make it to pro class, just have them shoot against other pros for trophies and money and let the weekend warriors compete against each other for amateur trophies.
The only thing stopping it from happening is the willingness to challenge the theory that the ATA is the only game in town?
Mike
