Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-03-03
ANA EUR TRAPSHO0TERs'
ASSOCIATIONS PLANS
Body Has Sixty Thousand Members
in Fifteen Hundred
Clubs.
TO STIMULATE PROFICIENCY
Organization Now Represented in
Forty-Scven States, Six Canadian
Provinces and in Territories OF
Alaska and Hawaii.
ny G. 4. GRAHAM.
Secretary of American Amateur Trnp.
shooters Association.

shooters Association.
The American Amateur Trapshootcrs'
Association. of which Lieutenant John
Philip Sousa is president. was organ
zed in December 1915.
# is composed Of amateur trapshoot-
ers. pledged to the policy of advancing
the interest OF individual amateur trap
shooters. and OF local trapshootins
icnce the association has made re-
markablc progress.
During 1917. TWO hundred and twelve
gun clubs applied for afliation with
the y. a. 7. A.. bringing the total
number of affiliated clubs up TO l.50,.
These clubs represent n total member
ship Of over 10000 men and women.
vino are interested in the sport OF
trapshooung. During the year 1.5l6
individuals joined the association
The ~. y. T. y. has been worked UP
SO we'll that IL now has organizations
in forty-sevcn State. six Canadian
provinces. In Alaska and Hawaii. Elf
ty-two Canadian clubs are enrolled.
The officers OF the association besides
Mr.. Sousa are DR. Horace Belts OF
Wilmington. Del, and Charles w Bill
ines. OF Occanport y. j.. first and sec
ond ice-presidcnts; and the writer
secretary and treasurer. The presi-
dent OF each affiliated State association
is also national viceoresident.
To encourage the individual shooter
TO improve his scores. and to raise his
average. tho American Amateur Trap
shooters Association offers series Of
Proficiency Medals. which to win. tho
shooter must turn in certain number
OF scores of 4 certain average in each
class.
y M n ic IL =,
% pc! cent class, Il German silver med
al in the SO pc recent class. a ten karat
gold medal in the 90 per cent class and
"A fourteen karat solid gold medal in
the 80 per cent class.
During 1917 n total OF 1000 Prof.
cheney Medals were awarded by the as
ISOLATION for scores made in club
shoots. Five hundred and for,y-fve
new contestants entered tho 4. y. r. y.
medal race during the year.
Plnns for 1918.
Tho plans OF tho y. a. r. y. for 1915,
arc broader in scope and will accom-
plish more than ever before the pur-
pose Of tho association--to encourage
regular club shooting and to stimulate
Increased proficiency on the part OF In
dividual shooters
The medal plan has been revised SO
az TO allow more members to take an
active part In this competition. and n
rs per cent solid gold medal is offered
for the first time. One Of the chief
arguments IN favor Of III" a. T. =.
is that the contes. for association med
ais add interest to club shoots
The A. A. T. A. is to club shoots
what the Interstate Association Is to
registered shoots. AS the Interstate
Association regulates the registered
shoots, contributes money and trophies
TO them. and complies the averages OF
the shooters who participate. SO the \.
"A. L. a mi
club shoot features.
n new department has been organ
iZcd TO Keep record Of scores made
at club shoots BY all shooters From
these records will be compiled quarter
~ official club shoot averages Tho
compilation and publication OF club
shoot averages Of the entire shooting
body OF the United States and Canada.
is large Undertaking, but such re-
cords will prove invaluable to Handi-
cap Classification Committees. partly
in view OF the fact that class shoot
ing is becoming more popular every
day.
AT this time when there Is Imperative
need of more universal knowledge of
iire arms. and when every man re-
quires regular periods OF recreation
and outdoor exercise to keep himself
physically 1T for his work, trapshoot-
ing has been aptly termed the Pat
riotic Sport"
Many of the members Of the A. A. |
i. ~ are already enrolled In tho SER
vice and will be able TO give n good
account Of themselves when called upon
because they already know how TO
shoot. handle and take care OF a gun.
Lord Roberts once said: Shooting IL
scNen-tenths OF soldiers business
Because trapshootinE will fit young
men TO be trained more quickly II need
Ell IN the service: because trapshootinG
takes men out in the open 10 meet
their fellows in friendly competition
and sends them back TO their work !
healthier and more efficient; and be-
cause trapshooting is so easily avai!a-
BILE for all men. the American Amateur
Trapshooters' Association expects 10
make 1918 q banner year.