Camp Perry’s National Trophy Pistol and Rifle Matches are looking
for a few good men – and women.
Each summer the matches – held at the Ohio National Guard’s nine-thousand-acre
Camp Perry just west of Port Clinton – employs a cadre of volunteers to perform
yeoman’s work for a variety of necessary chores.
This annual competitive shooting effort was for many years conducted
jointly by the Civilian Marksmanship Program and the National Rifle Association
and called simply enough “The National Rifle and Pistol Matches.”
However, after being a Camp Perry fixture for more than a century,
the NRA unexpectedly withdrew its rifle phase from there last November. The
organization has since moved that portion of the shoots to Camp Atterbury, a
large multi-purpose and multi-sited Indiana National Guard complex located in
southeast Indiana.
The move did catch the CMP by surprise, forcing the federal
government-charted organization to develop the management strategies for its
own set of competitions. Coupled then with this effort was the need to recruit
the all-important company of worker bees to assist in conducting the revamped
and new shooting platforms.
Civilian Marksmanship Program’s Program Chief Christy Sewell says that for the
past 20 years her organization “has been a leader in the marksmanship
community.”
“The
CMP is committed to Camp Perry, the permanent home of the National Matches. In
2017, the CMP will run our matches at Camp Perry in partnership with the Ohio
Army National Guard,” Sewell said.
Even so, says Sewell, many
hands make for light work and the CMP could use a lot of muscle power.
“Though our staff members have worked hard to provide unparalleled
service for our competitors and guests over the last two decades, we still need
more hands to help us facilitate the National Trophy Pistol and Rifle Matches,”
Sewell says.
Thus, Sewell says also, “this is where the volunteers come in,” a recruitment
task here-to-for performed by the NRA.
Consequently, the CMP – as the entity is commonly referred to - is
in search of willing volunteers to help support the organization’ 2017 National
Match series of CMP-associated events. This year those shooting disciplines are
scheduled for June and July on the world’s largest shooting range and which
recently underwent extensive renovation.
In their respective roles, volunteers will assist in conducting CMP
match events only, and will be picked from a selection process through all
received volunteer applications.
Sewell says volunteer duties may include - but won’t be limited to
- firing line work as range officers, assistance with statistics and scorecards,
or other tasks to be assigned as needed.
Chosen individuals will receive a per diem stipend and based on
amount of time worked along with “exclusive benefits” that are offered only to
those “who graciously donate their time to helping us provide an exceptional
experience for all of our guests,” Sewell said as well.
Similarly, housing and lunch will be provided for each volunteer,
said Seawell.
And all chosen volunteers will attend a specialized Range Officer
training course, provided by the CMP. This training regimen is typically
offered for $75 per person, but is being waived for volunteers.
“That’s a possible $150 value for those who volunteer for both
rifle and pistol match programs,” Sewell said.
While past volunteer experience is not needed, knowledge of
firearms, firearms safety, and shooting range procedures is a plus, says Sewell.
Sewell quickly added that volunteers with an itch to compete are
not just welcome to participate but are encouraged to do so when they aren’t
assigned a task.
“Becoming a CMP volunteer is a worthwhile opportunity for any
competition-goer,” Sewell says. “Not only will volunteers earn
behind-the-scenes access to the CMP competitions process, they're also destined
to create unforgettable memories with staff members and participants along the
way.”
To learn more or to sign up, prospect volunteers can visit the CMP’s web
site at at http://thecmp.org/competitions/competition-volunteers/ or contact Vera Snyder, volunteer specialist, at 419-635-2141 ext. 782
or volunteer@thecmp.org.
- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischk@Ameritech.net
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