Q: What's the deal with needing to take an Orientation Class to use the range? Do I have to take it every year?

What:

After Jan 1, 2010 an orientation class is required to use the range. This is not a shooting, or 'gun safety' class. Rather it an overview of the complex rules and facilities.

You must attend an orientation class prior to receiving your permanent 2010 membership materials. If you have a family membership, your spouse must also attend the class as they have the ability to use the range on their own. Classes take approx. 30-45 minutes and are a one time requirement--you do not have to re-take the class to renew your membership each year.  Check the Calendar for scheduled dates and times--CLICK HERE for a calendar listing

Why:

In 2009, our treasurer had several conversations with people at our insurance company about our coverage, and the operation of the complex. While other ranges in the state have required some sort of more formal orientation and rules discussion, we had not. The GFSSC BOD was of the opinion that each club using the complex should set their own range rules and policies, and should take care of informing their members.

Our insurance account team was not happy ("appalled" I think was the term) that we simply sent a general set of rules to our members and gave them the gate combination. It seems most ranges they deal with control members access via range times, range officers, specific days/hours, etc. While they stopped short of ordering us to implement our own orientation, one did say that if we wished to continue renewing our insurance we needed to put some kind of program together.  Since there is basically only one underwriter in the US that insures shooting ranges regardless of which company you buy insurance from, and since maintaining insurance is a requirement of our contract with FWP (who owns two thirds of the complex), we now have an orientation class requirement. This may seem an inconvenience, but it is required in order for us to keep our insurance coverage and for us to be able to continue to give every member the gate combination.