SSAA NSW

Sporting Shooters Association of Australia (NSW) Inc. 3 From Diana's Desk The SSAA NSW Offi ce has recently sent a courtesy reminder letter to members who, as at 13 November 2015 had not yet completed their required number of longarms attendances. It's important to understand a number of things regarding this letter. Firstly, it is sent as a courtesy to remind members of their obligations and that they have until 31 March 2016 to complete their attendances. Secondly, the information used to compile this letter is based on the Attendance Book data submitted to the SSAA NSW Offi ce by Branches and Clubs using the books. If the SSAA NSW Offi ce has not received the information from the Branch or Club managing the Attendance Book at the range you attend, we are unable to include this attendance information in our database. Attendances are a requirement under the Firearms Regulation 2006 Members using their membership of SSAA to satisfy their genuine reason are required to complete mandatory range attendances. This is a legal requirement for Firearms Licence holders set out in the Firearms Regulation 2006. It's not a SSAA requirement. However, SSAA NSW is required by law to report those members who do not complete their required attendances to the NSW Firearms Registry. For each activity listed on your SSAA membership you are required to complete a minimum number of attendances: • 4 for Target Shooting, • 2 for Hunting, and • 1 for Collecting – usually attendance at the Collecting Club AGM or another meeting. You are able to complete a Target and a Hunting attendance during the same range visit. To ensure both attendances are recorded make sure you specify the activities by circling T for Target and H for Hunting when completing the Attendance Book slip. Be sure to retain your slips as proof of attendance. Supporting your Genuine Reason of Recreational Hunting & Vermin Control One of the most common enquiries received from members concerns R Licences or where the member has a letter of permission from a landowner that has been approved by the Firearms Registry. If this is the case, you should advise the SSAA National Membership Offi ce in writing that you wish to change your activity from 'Hunting – H' to 'Hunting Other – O'. This will inform SSAA that you have another method to support your genuine reason of Recreational Hunting & Vermin Control and therefore you will not have to complete the two attendances for hunting. However, members who also have 'Target – T' and/or 'Collecting – C' listed as activities for their SSAA membership will still be required to complete the required attendances for those activities. For more information see the FAQs on pages eight and nine We've published a number of Frequently Asked Questions for attendances in this edition of the NSW Shooter and I encourage you to have a read of these. If you have any questions at all about attendances, your membership activities and your obligations, please contact the SSAA NSW Offi ce by phone on 02 8889 0400 or email at attendances@ssaa.nsw.ssaa.org. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS – A CHANCE TO HAVE YOUR SAY… The fi rst six months of the year is AGM season and many of you may have already received your meeting notice or even attended your Branch AGM. It's a legal requirement for all Branches, SSAA NSW and SSAA National to hold an Annual General Meeting each year. Branch AGMs are a perfect time for members to become involved in their Branch, as well as receive reports and updates from their Branch Committee on the activities of the previous year and elect Committee members for the coming year. Meetings need a quorum to be legal It's also important to note that in order for a Branch AGM to be 'legal' it requires a minimum number of members to attend the meeting. This is a requirement under the Branch Constitution and also the Associations Incorporation Act 2009. Many Branches struggle to get their quorum at an AGM so it's extremely important that as many members as possible attend their Branch AGM. Each member must be sent a meeting notice at least 2 weeks prior to the meeting; this is also a requirement of your Branch Constitution. Some Branches may also publish the details in the NSW Shooter. If you're not sure when your AGM is, make contact with your Branch Secretary to get the details – I'm sure they'll be only too happy to assist you. Diana Melham Executive Director - SSAA (NSW) Inc. The NSW Shooter is published by the Sporting Shooters Association of Australia (NSW) Inc Disclaimer: Please note that the views expressed are not necessarily those of SSAA (NSW) Inc. Advertising and Contributions: Newsletter PO Box 1001 ST MARYS NSW 2760 or email nswshooter@nsw.ssaa.org.au Deadline: Attention Branch Secretaries/Publicity Offi cers, editorial deadline for the March 2016 issue of the NSW Shooter Quarterly Review (print and online) is Monday 8 February. Cover: Photos from SSAA NSW 5-Stand State Selection Shoot at Majura, SSAA NSW Junior Target Shooting Camp at Silverdale and the SSAA NSW State Discipline Chairmen at their meeting in December 2015. Editor: Jay Pandya Graphic Designer: Craig Rogers ATTENDANCES – SSAA NSW COURTESY REMINDER LETTER…

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