Open Letter to all Zone X Participants (2011)
The 2011 Zone X shoot in Missoula, MT was a resounding success. It was fun getting together with shooters from all over our region to compete and to share the experience of this type of shoot. In reality, with the birth of "Zone X" we have the shoot we desired when we started this project. Some where along the way people not involved with our group decided this was a political battle for more representation to the Executive Committee and NSSA. Let me say unequivocally that more representatives to national never was part of the plan. What we wanted and have achieved with our shoot is a Zone style shoot in the Northwest that the entire family could afford to attend. As the saying goes "perception is reality" so in reality we have our "Northwest Zone" shoot and we can be proud of that accomplishment.
I personally talked with Jim Gast the NSSA president just prior to the World Shoot. We talked for over an hour on the phone and I think we both came away with an appreciation for each other and our respective views. He continues to have reservations about the use of the word Zone in our shoot title but he also recognized the success we have achieved. Jim indicated that there was a possibility that the some members would ask to ban the word "Zone" from any shoot name that is held on the Zone weekend. More recently following the January meetings in San Antonio, in an email converstaion, he indicated that "there appears to be no major interest in addressing that particular issue, primarily due to the precedent already set and the success of your shoot. During the last 4 days of often intense meetings in San Antonio, this issue has simply not been on the radar." As we all know the participation in our favorite game has been declining for years. The NSSA is working hard to increase participation in many different ways and they are to be commended for their efforts. We managed to increase participation in the Northwest during the most challenging economic times we have experienced since the great depression by giving the local population something they have wanted for a long time. I don't think it is too much to ask that we be left alone to enjoy our passion.
Open Letter to all Zone X Participants (2010)
I hope everyone is enjoying the holidays and staying warm with your family and friends. I want to thank you personally for attending the inaugural Zone X Skeet shoot in Spokane, Washington this past summer. It was a special time for everyone involved and the shoot was an unqualified success. Our 2011 Zone X shoot will be held in Missoula, Montana on August 12th-14th. We have a quality shoot planned, great prizes, and I hope you will plan on attending.
The Zone X movement has been a grass roots movement that has developed faster and gone farther in the last 12 months than anyone predicated during our formative discussions. It is obvious that there is a need for such and organization in the Northwest and I am proud to be able to help in its formation. This progress has not come without resistance from certain factions within the NSSA. The Executive Committee had some concerns about the shoot and invited us to the World Shoot to discuss those concerns in person. I could not afford to attend but Barbara Clark and Tim Nagel did travel to the shoot and graciously represented us at the meeting. I had several phone conversations with them during the process and I want to thank them for taking the time and effort to get involved. Attached to this letter is a summation of that meeting and a list of actions we will be taking on behalf of Zone X.
Skeet is a fun sport with the best aspects revolving around the people you get to meet and the long lasting friendships that you develop. Zone X is all about competition that a family of average means can afford to attend. It was a humbling experience for me to see the level of support the shoot received and I wanted you to know how much it meant to me personally to be around such great people.
Sincerely,
Mark McMurray
Zone X President
2010 NSSA Executive Committee Meeting
Notes and Response
Barbara Clark and Tim Nagel traveled to the World Shoot this year at met with the Executive Committee on behalf of the Zone X movement to discuss the concerns the EC had with the Zone X shoot. Those concerns are summarized below.
1. The Executive Committee felt that the formation of the Zone X shoot came about because we wanted a seat on the Executive Board.
2. Zone X’s use of the words “Zone 10” in awards and advertisements gave a false impression that the shoot was a sanctioned Zone.
3. The EC wants the following published with our shoot materials. “Zone X is an open registered shoot. Zone X is not an official NSSA Zone. If your designated Zone requires attendance at that Zone’s shoot to be on their open team(s) and you so desire, then you must attend your designated Zone shoot.”
4. The use of the NSSA logo in the Zone X logo. (We had permission but they did not want to renew that for next year.)
I consider the results of the meeting a success and a validation of the actions we have already taken.
1. First this Zone X push was never about political representation on the Executive Committee. The fact that they see it that way is very telling. Their concerns were political and not about increasing participation in Skeet.
2. We went back and forth during the formation of the shoot on whether to use Zone 10 or Zone X in our name. The majority of people involved liked the Zone X logo but, we in fact used both on literature and awards. So we are fine with using the Zone X logo.
3. We had “disclaimers” in all of our literature about not being an official NSSA Zone. We always went on to explain the goal was to become a Zone recognized by the NSSA. So including the language requested is something we already were doing. It is interesting however that we are the only shoot using the Zone name that is being asked to do this.
4. We made a formal request to the NSSA to use the official NSSA logo as part of our awards and advertising and were granted that privilege. The Executive Committee has rescinded that permission which is within their rights as it is a copyrighted symbol belonging to the NSSA. We will use the remaining awards we already have and then we will develop our own. The design is already in the works. It is interesting however that we are not the only shoot using the NSSA logo on their literature and awards but we are the only one they are concerned about.
The executive committee also made clear their stance on a few important items which are relevant to Zone X.
1. The Directors voted previously and determined that they would not tell clubs, states, etc., that they could not hold shoots on the same weekend as other “major” shoots. In fact, there were 19 shoots held in the United States in 2010 on the “Zone” weekend that were not an official Zone shoot.
2. It was verified that there were 6 other shoots, which were not official zone shoots, held this year that included the name “zone” in their title. Some of these shoots have been held for many years as verified by Bill Batty. They had no problem with the use of the word Zone in the title of the shoot.
PS: Zone X is not an official NSSA Zone. If your designated Zone requires attendance at that Zone’s shoot to be on their open team(s) and you so desire, then you must attend your designated Zone shoot.” 