IN THIS ISSUE

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Letter from MAAC Chairman.

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MAAC Activities till 2008 andbeyond.

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Projects.

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Membership for 2009.

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Editors Notes.

Malta Allied Airgunners Club (MAAC)

P.O. Box 38Naxxar, Malta.

E-mail:maacmalta@gmail.com Web Site:www.malta-maac.blogspot.com

MAAC is affiliate in the Malta Shooting Sports Federation (MSSF), Association of Arms Collectors and Shooters (AACTS) and the EuropeanRimfire and Airrifle Benchrest Shooting Federation (ERABSF) – Malta Region.

Dear MAAC members,Welcome to our first edition of the MAAC news letter. I sincerely hope that thisinitiative will provide you with the necessary information to update yourself on themain club activities and issues. Although MAAC main source of information is theinternet website (http://www.malta-maac.blogspot.com) it is still very important toreach each and every member through electronic or conventional mail.This year was certainly a challenge to most of us. We faced a situation whereby wehad to take certain decisions that would have an impact for the sport we are all fond off. The decisions were taken andtogether we managed to give birth within 3 months to a NEW INDEPENDENT club Malta Allied Airgunners Club, a true clubformed by Airgunners for Airgunners. MAAC is the only independent licensed Target Shooter – B club on the island as with allthe respect of other air gun clubs have all been formed within associations or federations.MAAC is affiliated partner with two local shooter groups the Malta Sport Shooting Federation (MSSF) and the Association ofArms Collectors and Target Shooters (AACTS). MAAC also played a big role in the affiliation and recognition of MSSF by theEuropean Rimfire and Airrifle Benchrest Shooting Federation (ERABSF). As a matter of fact MSSF officially representERABSF and the Maltese Delegates for ERABSF are from MAAC. MAAC also had the opportunity to compete in the Worlds1

ERABSF championship in Milan last August.Well there is more up the sleeve for 2009, what we can definitely say is the MAAC is growing and growing strong. MAAC isthe Club that offers any air gun enthusiast a friendly meeting point were one can enjoy his favorite sport and develop theshooting skills in competitive events.The success of MAAC depends on all it’s members. MAAC is not a commercial club hence we expect every member to do hislittle part. Together we can make a lot of small good things that in the end will look as a well done job. I hope you enjoy thisnewsletter which as a target we will start to issue once every quarter. If you wish to submit your own articles for future editionsof the news letter please do not hesitate to contact our PRO on maacmalta@gmail.com .Before I close my welcome introduction I would like to sincerely thank the following people for their support and all the othermembers for believing and supporting me in this task.Mr. James Bugeja (MAAC Secretary)Mr. David Giardina (MAAC Treasurer)Mr. Kris Debattista (MAAC PRO)Mr. Gordon Gouder (MAAC ARFT REP)Mr. Anton Grima (MAAC ARBR REP)Mr. Rene Scorfna (MAAC APPS REP)Mr. Norman Bugeja (MAAC Match Officer)Not to forget Mr.Saviour Portelli (MSSF President) & Mr. John Cassar (AACTS) for there support.Yours truly in air gunningStanley ShawMAAC Chairman.

News Letter 1

: November 2008

MAAC was issued an official Target Shooter Club Licence (TSCL-B Air gun) in the first week of September 2008.The first MAAC competition was held on the 7

September 2008 at the Victoria Shooters Range limits of Tal-Handaq Qormi.This was an Air Rifle Field Target competition, long awaited after some months of uncertainty and hard work by the MAACCommittee members.The MAAC committee is divided into two parts, the MAAC Administrative group composed of the Chairman, Secretary,Treasurer and the PRO and the Sports Commission Group composed of the representants of Air Rifle Field Target, Air RifleBench Rest and Air Pistol Practical Shooting. Also part of the Sports Commission Group is the MAAC Match Officer and agroup of 4 member volunteers. The Sports Commission Group is the group responsible for the organizing our MAAC events.For a 2008 starter the Sport Commission Group approved a total of 6 events. These are:2 x Air Rifle Field Target Open Competitions – 7

September 2008 & 9

November 2008.2 x Air Rifle Bench Rest Open Competitions – 28

September 2008 & 21

December 20082 x Air Pistol Steel Plate Challenge – 12

October 2008 & 23

November 2008By the time of print of this news letters MAAC has conducted 3 of these activities quite successfully in both attendance and inorganization. A few teething problems were encountered but with the direction of the Sports Commission Group, participationof the members and with each and every one little help before, during and after the competitions we can overcome theseproblems and offer more diversity of activities for the coming years.So what is in plan for 2009?MAAC has 3 standard or popular air gun disciplines as the standard activities, these are Field Target, Bench Rest and AirPistol Steel Plate Challenge. The Sports group commission must design and approve a 2009 Activity Program which will havethese 3 basic disciplines incorporated in two forms, 1 day Open Competitions and Championships. The policy of MAAC is toattract air gunners to our activities and to our club.The 1 day Open Competitions are designed for this purpose, hencethe discipline rules remain the same however we simplify categoriesand procedures to allow any member of the club or other clubs toparticipate. The Championship is something different. TheChampionships are based on the accumulation of points that aregain over a number of sessions.The Championships will be composed of 3 to 4 sessions that arespread over the year and are dedicated only for MAAC paid upmembers. The Championships also enables MAAC to classify themembers according to the shooting discipline in the event that MAACwould need to make a selection of shooters to represent us for alocal or international event.But this is not all. MAAC will experiment with new disciplines tocreate diversity and act on the response of the participation of the members in these events. MAAC is a dynamic club with anopen mind attitude and one goal improving the level or air gun disciplines for Maltese air gun enthusiasts.

MAAC Activities till end 2008 and Beyond.

We can give you a small hint of new trial activities for 2009, details will follow in other news letters and on our web site.a. Air Pistol Dynamic Shooting (APDS)b. Air Pistol Precision Target Shooting (APPTS)c. Air Soft Teamd. Summer Fly Shot Postal CompetitionWant more? It all depends on you ….A club needs infrastructure to grow and provide more and better quality activities for its members. One thing that all MAACmembers must keep in mind is that we are no a COMMERCIAL CLUB, hence all that we do and own is the property of eachmember. Every piece of equipment required has to be funded. Paying the membership fee, competition entry fees andattendance fee to the range helps the club but definitely leave no room for certain infrastructure projects. It will take yearsbefore you can collect a sum of money to invest in a project.MAAC has to solve this problem whilst trying to get sponsorship for funding part or whole for certain projects.Funding or sponsorship is difficult unless we really grow in numbers. We also need to keep and strengthen our campaign ofinforming media about our activities. This might start to ring a bell with possible future sponsors that there are other sportsapart from football. Sponsoring activities from Licenced gun dealers is also something MAAC will start to look into in 2009.So how are we going to fund projects?The MAAC Committee will prioritize the needs forwarded by the Sports Commission Group related with the sportingdisciplines and the range. If the expenditure is relatively low under Euro 50 the MAAC Committee will approve if the projectfund has sufficient funds for that project.If the project is considered a priority and the expenditure is relatively high in costs then MAAC will be adopting the followingsystem.a. Request several quotes form the suppliers of such materials or equipment.b. Can the project can be constructed by members at a lower cost or free of charge – mostly considered.c. MAAC Committee will announce a minimum funding plan and inform the members.The Funding Plan will work as follows.a. The members will be asked to support the project by lending to the club a minimum amount of money.b. The members are free to lend or to donate this amount.c. Any member is free to donate or lend more then the minimum amount.d. Members donating or lending this amount will be given a receipt by MAAC treasurer stating if the money was on lendor donated.e. The MAAC treasurer will keep the money in the specific project fund until the required amount is reached.f. After 4 weeks from the call the treasurer will inform MAAC committee the status of the project financing.g. If the required money has been collected then MAAC committee will approve and go ahead with the second phasewhich is the purchasing of the equipment or material and construction.