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FT Events and Location Issues - Acronyms Galore

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GLPalinkas

GLPalinkas

Member
Jul 1, 2015
398
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Venice, Florida, United States
Caution....Rant happening here....

I have been into FT for about 5 years now and I know most of the clubs and where they are located.

However, FT is growing and new clubs springing up (well, except for recently with Covid)

The issue I have is that sometimes the person listing the event just states, "DCPA is hosting a FT event " on such and such date. I don't know where that is except I know the poster Paul Cray lives somewhere in the Northeast part of the country. Sorry, not picking on you Paul. I checked the entire "List of FT Clubs by State" section on Airgun Nation and the site Calendar. Checked the AAFTA calendar. No Joy. 

How on earth is a new guy/girl going to figure out if the FT match is in their personal driving range or not? I know we are a rather tight knit group who mostly know each other.....but, EAHFT, AoA, SVFTC, CASA, SLSBA, PCFTC, BGSL, CCRPC, BCSA, ESCAA, FTRPA, DCFSA. Just to name a few.

I traveled a lot last year making as many FT events as I could squeeze in while visiting kids and grandkids. I spent a lot of time figuring out where to head the next week. Not so much this year, unfortunately.

Sorry, I'm done ranting.

Gary
Venice, FL 


 
Scroll down the linked page for names and locations.

http://www.aafta.org/member-clubs.html#/
Click to expand...



Sorry Scott, no DCPA there either. Still don't know where that is. 

Wouldn't it be more immediately informative to list an event without all of the searching to find it. 

DCFSA -- Philadelphia, PA 
SLSBA -- Los Osos, CA (Including a link makes it incredibly easy)

At least it would narrow it down to a state. The Airgun Nation Calendar is great that way. However, not all events make it to the Airgun Nation Calendar and some use other forums. 
AGN Example: 
(NC) FT @ CCGC 
(FL) BR DeSoto Airgunners

Again, JMO. Maybe it doesn't matter for working stiffs who only shoot in their state but for old retired farts traveling makes it easier. 

Gary
 
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Gary,



DCPA ...Dutchess County Pistol Association.......Wappingers Falls, NY.......Paul Cray, Match Director. It was formerly dubbed EFTCC (Eastern Field Target Competitors Club and was hosted at DCPA) when under the direction of Hans and Ray Apelles.

The Northeast FT events calendar located here: http://www.bcsportsmen.org/ft/Minutemen.htm may be of some assistance for those living in the Northeast that are looking to get out and get their FT on. The matches are shown on the calendar and scroll down a little to their locations on the map.

Per this discussion, it has been brought to my attention that I need to update the map marker from EFTCC to DCPA.....thanks!



Greg......FT MD.........BCSA (Broome County Sportsmens Association, Binghamton, NY)
 
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Hey Gary, I had a similar response when being confronted with all the acronyms for the FT clubs here in the Northeast. "What the hell does that mean, and where the hell is it"! LOL

The guys in my club (CAG... you have to figure that out!!) turned me on to this web site http://www.bcsportsmen.org/ft/Minutemen.htm that has a map of where all the FT clubs in the Northeast are. You click on the map where the club is and it tells you its full name, where it is, and sometimes a contact person with contact info. Very helpful. 

Whoops, guess I should have read the previous post.

Chas
 
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Gary,

You are right on point! We should not have to go to some other listing to see what club people are talking about. We used to do the same thing and I asked Larry to be more descriptive with his match reports so that EVERYONE actually knows that FTRPA is Falls Township Rifle and Pistol Assn., and it is near Philadelphia, PA. He has since been taking the extra nano second required to type the added info in our report and I try to do the same in our match announcement postings.

DCPA stands for Dutchess County Pistol Assn. but who would know? and who would know that particular Dutchess County is in New York State? I am not picking on anyone Paul. Many other clubs do the same thing and it confuses and frustrates me. I really like to read the match reports and see pictures when available as I feel it is important to me to see what other clubs are doing and how they run their matches. It's also nice to know where they are.

By the way Gary, we are just a short two day drive for you and I understand I95 is a lovely drive in the fall! HA!

Rick Bassett, Falls township Rifle and Pistol Assn.


 
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Good point. We should list events with a city and state. Make it as easy as possible for new shooters to the sport to find a match near them. Think like a visitor and what someone unfamiliar needs to get plugged in. 

When I first started shooting it took me a while to find this forum, and something called "the yellow". Forums have become more user friendly to the visitor, but I can see how all the acronyms could be confusing. Heck, I can't say I'm familiar with 90% of them. 

Philip
 
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Thanks Greg, Chas, Rick and all for the support. Again, I know of the clubs near me and a few states away. It's the "Have Gun Will Travel" aspect that confuses the issue when I'm traveling. (For those not old enough to have seen it, the Have Gun Will Travel reference for was an old western tv series featuring Paladin, a hired gun) Link"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Have_Gun_%E2%80%93_Will_Travel

The listed websites help, especially the Minutemen one with maps, calendar and links. At least I know when I do head to the New England area I am sure to find some matches. And Rick, you are correct, just a short 2 day drive on I-95 LOL However, I am not sure New York will let me pass through the state with Florida license plates. 😂 Much like Florida was doing screening inbound New Yorker's a few months ago. 
 
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