March 2008 - Pacific Rod and Gun Club

Volume 55
Issue 3
The Pacific Rod & Gun Club
San Francisco, CA 94132
March 2008
520 John Muir Drive
On Lake Merced
www.prgc.net
The Pacific Breeze
A Recreational Facility Operated and Maintained by the Pacific Rod & Gun Club
The Club:
Easter Breakfast — March 23
Organized:
May 10, 1928
Incorporated:
June 6, 1929
Range Hours:
Wednesday,
Saturday, & Sunday
July 4 & Labor Day
11AM—5PM
Hunter Safety
Classes
If you can help set up tables
and chairs, etc., and help
decorate on Saturday
morning, please be at the
Club House at 9:00AM.
Breakfast Sunday morning
will be served between
9:00AM and 11:00AM.
The Children’s Egg Hunt
Skeet & Trap
Lessons
will begin at 11:00AM.
Remember to bring
something for you child to
collect his or her eggs in.
The Easter Bunny is
planning on being here to
greet the children.
be $5, and children under
10 will be free.
As in the past, this event
is sponsored by the Mahl
Family with all proceeds
going to the Club.
Cost this year will be
$15. Young adults will
Past President’s Dinner March 15
Clubhouse Rental &
Banquet Facilities
Permanent Weekly &
Monthly Meeting
Place for Numerous
Clubs, School, Youth,
& Senior Groups
It isn’t too late to get tickets
for this annual club event.
Libation time begins at
5:30PM in the Club House.
Dinner is scheduled to be
served at 6:30PM.
The menu will be salad, New
York steak, potatoes, fresh
asparagus, and dessert, etc.
Club Information
2
The Prez Sez
Meeting Minutes
3
Special Award
Calendar of Events
4
Picture Page
5
History of the Club
6
For the Good of the
Order
7
Advertisers
8
The first general membership
meeting of 2008 will be held
in the club house on March
10 at 7:30pm.
James Grant, Gunard and
Jeanine Mahl, and two other
members of the PR&G
attended the February 14
workshop meeting of the
PUC. This was relating to
the future plans for the Lake
Merced area and by extension
the future of the Pacific Rod
& Gun Club.
415-640-8459
Remember, Past Presidents
and their spouses will be
guests of the Club. The cost
for all others is $25.
General Membership Meeting
Monday, March 10
Inside this issue:
Contact Ed Figone to make
your reservations.
2008 Crab Feed — Big Success
If you are concerned about
the future of the Club and
would like to hear about
the meeting with the PUC,
please plan to attend this
general club meeting.
We need to work together
to insure that we remain at
Lake Merced.
Remember:
Monday
March 10
7:30 PM
President Gary Adams, Assemblywoman
Fiona Ma, Gunard Mahl, and Jeanine Mahl
(see page 4 for article)
(Photo from James Grant)
The Pacific Breeze
The Club
2008 Officers
Location:
520 John Muir Drive
San Francisco, CA 94132
(415) 586-8349
Editor
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 3276
Daly City, CA 94015-3276
The Pacific Rod &
Gun Club has been
accident free since its
inception in 1928.
Clubhouse Dining Hall &
Banquet Facility
Contact: 415-640-8459
Commercial Range & Ovens
Refrigerator—Freezer
Full Wet Bar
Fireplace & Deck
Handicapped Accessible
Ample, Safe, Free Parking
Seating for up to 100
Reserve 2-3 Months in Advance
Members receive discounts
on Clubhouse rental.
See Website for Pictures
www.prgc.net
(Our website is undergoing
renovation. Please be
patient.)
Board of Directors Meeting
2nd Monday each month
7:00pm
Shell House
General Membership Meeting:
2nd Monday March, June,
September, & December
7:30 pm
Clubhouse
President
Gary Adams
1st V. President
Mike Miller
2nd V. President Tom Hartman
Secretary
Ed Figone
Treasurer
Arvid Lindgren
2008 Directors
Gene Bugatto
Lee Dahlberg
Jeanine Mahl
Sal Rizzo
Roy Didier
Gunard Mahl
Larry Nolan
Tom Sylvester
Photo Credits:
See individual photographs.
Submissions:
Fax: (415) 664-2056
eMail:
[email protected]
Deadline: 15th of the month
Sooner would be appreciated.
(Publication of reloading
information, advertising, or any
other information in the Pacific
Breeze does not imply accuracy or
recommendation of such data by the
Pacific Rod & Gun Club or any of
its officers or employees.)
Committee Chairpersons
Club Benefit Shoots
Ed Figone
Membership
ADDRESS CORRECTIONS
Jeanine Mahl
Clubhouse Rental
Ed Figone
Phone: 415-640-8459
Small Bore Rifle Range John Dubus
Reservations: 650-755-8068
Fishing
Tower/Sporting Clays
Roy Didier
Tom Hartman
Hunter Safety
John Brusco
Phone: (650) 588-0924
Fun Shoot Coordinator Dave Arnold
Phone: 415-387-5455
Internet Hunter Safety Mark Boyle
Phone: 650-355-1563
*******************************
Lessons
Walt Biondi
Ph on e: ( 415 ) 56 4 - 6 5 2 8
N R A C e r t i fi e d I n s t r u c t or s :
Gary Adams, Sal Rizzo, & Jim
Volker.
415-586-8349
Groundskeeper
Rangemasters
The Pacific Breeze
Jeanine Mahl
Danny Phelps
Kevin Foster
Danny Phelps
Please check the mailing label
on your newsletter. If your
name is spelled incorrectly or
anything needs to be changed,
please let the Editor know
ASAP.
Email corrections to:
editorpacificbreeze@
gmail.com
Or fill out a name change
form in the shell house.
PLEASE PRINT LEGIBLY
Webmaster
The Club Purpose
The purposes to which the
members of the Pacific Rod &
Gun Club have devoted
themselves are:
To respect our heritage in
woods, field, and stream,
and to conserve it for future
generations.
Large and small jacket
patches are for sale in the
Shell House. Decals also.
Page 2
To assist in any constructive
program in conservation or in
propagation of fish or game.
To help others with whatever
knowledge is ours.
To have due regard for our
fellow sportsmen.
To take game cleanly and
within due bounds.
To take our misses in good
grace.
To gather together with unity of
purpose for good fellowship.
Advertise in the Breeze
Business Card copy
$100. per year
pro rated.
Contact: 415-640-8459
Renewing? Did you
provide the Editor with
a new business card?
Volume 55
Issue 3
The Prez Sez
Time to clean gear. Time to
throw out that high tech jacket
that’s supposed to be waterproof,
but isn’t. If you’re the type of
person who buys Christmas
decorations at January sales for
next year, now is the time for
you. Because duck season’s
over.
Most hunters returned from the
peacefulness of the countryside
to the hustle of the city. For a
few it was vice versa. Here’s the
Overall Duck Report ’07, not to
be confused with The Unified
Field Theory which I think
means upland.
Colusa Area: 2 votes--great
year; 6 votes--bad year. Not as
good as last year. The closer
your blind to a Reserve, the
better off you were.
Arbuckle: 1 vote—bad year.
Some got more geese than
ducks.
Grizzly Island: 1 vote--very
good. “I’ve got a freezer full.”
Los Banos: 1 vote--so-so. Stay
late, shoot high.
South Bay: “I had a wonderful
time.” Geese.
Final analysis: Mixed.
Personally my duck magnet
wasn’t working. Maybe
shooting skeet in the rain would
help. I’ll be ready, since I hear
next year’s going to be
exceptionally good.
Who called us Pacific Rod and
Gourmet Club? The crab feed is
back with a four star, three
doughboy, and a two thumbs up
rating. Many thanks to the entire
crew for an excellent job. Crab
with special sauce, the best, and
where did you get those raviolis?
The Past President’s Dinner is
next on March 15th. The
planning committee
intends to make this the
best one yet. Dust off
the grill house.
But wait, there’s still
more. The Teamsters
have invited everyone to
lunch on Thursdays. The
Wednesday evening
coffee people have been
working their magic on propane
stoves, and the Fun Shoot
grillers have promised an
upgrade beyond burgers. Will
someone please donate an
exercise bike?
I did get a chance to stop in at
the Pacific Junior Rifles this
month. Dave Lee has
temporary back stops in place
so the program remains open
during construction. F.Y.I:
The air rifles these junior
shooters use are accurate to ¼
M.O.A. That’s 8 to 12 times
Gary Adams—
Pacific Rod & Gun
Club President for
2008
Working Hard for
the Club.
better than the new field
models. Open 1st and 3rd
Saturdays in the morning
for young people ages 12
to 20. Bring your
family. Check it out.
Gary Adams, President
Minutes—Board of Directors Meeting — February 11, 2008
Meeting called to order at 7:00pm
by President Gary Adams.
Old Business:
1.
Ed Figone, Recording Secretary.
Arv Lindgren, Treasurer.
Officers & Board Members present:
Mike Miller, Gene Bugatto, Lee
Dahlberg, Roy Didier, Tom
Hartman, Gunard Mahl, Jeanine
Mahl, & Larry Nolan.
Minutes of Board of Directors,
January 14, 2008, were read and
approved.
Bills for January, 2008, covered by
checks #2146 throuth #2170 were
audited by the Board and approved.
2.
Club Attorned Jim Arnold
reported on his meeting with
PUC attorney Joel Milstein
regarding the land study.
Later in the summer, PUC will
take over as the club landlord.
It was m-s-c to have ERM
work with the PUC and the
Club to go forward with the
upland land study.
The Past President’s Dinner,
March 15, was discussed. The
menu will be salad, NY steak,
potatoes, asparagus, dessert,
etc. Space is still available.
Past Presidents & spouses are
free. Members & guests are
$25.
New Business:
1.
It was m-s-c to not have
guns for sale/guns wanted
notices posted on the Field
House bulletin board. It
was noted that the club has
a policy of not allowing the
sale/purchase of firearms on
club property.
Meeting Adjourned: 8:00 pm
Ed Figone, Secretary
Photo from Kevin Scarpelli
A delicious chocolate cake from
Mazzetti’s Bakery was provided
by Gunard and Jeanine Mahl.
Page 3
The Pacific Breeze
Certificate of Recognition
Assemblywoman/ Majority Whip Fiona Ma and her assistant
Ms. Kelenia Olsen attended the crab feed. Ms. Ma presented the
Club with a Certificate of Appreciation from the State
Legislature. Although she wasn’t able to stay for dinner (she
still had several other functions to attend), she did speak at
length with members of the Club and listened to their concerns
regarding the future of the Club.
David Canepa and Denis Quinn from Senator Leland Yee’s
office was also here on Saturday evening. Senator Yee has
always been a staunch supporter of our Club.
Thank you all for taking time from your busy schedules to visit
the Pacific Rod & Gun Club.
Thanks to Tom Hartman and his kitchen crew (Gary DelFante
and Joe Arena), no one went away from the crab feed hungry.
Salad, French bread, delicious ravioli, and marinated crab were
all in abundance. Dessert was scrumptious chocolate éclairs
donated by Mazzetti’s Bakery in Pacifica. A big thanks also
goes to Sal Rizzo for donating and preparing the produce for the
crab feed. Thanks also to Scott Linn and Dave Borango for their
efforts behind the bar.
Once again, Ed Figone’s grandchildren did a bang up job of
serving and cleaning up. Ed was busy, too, making sure
everyone was taken care of. It is a big job to get set up for an
event like this. Thanks to anyone else who helped and was not
mentioned by name.
Calendar of Events
January:
14 Board of Directors Mtg.
21-25 Hunter Safety Classes
February:
09 Annual Crab Feed Dinner
11 Board of Directors Mtg.
March:
15 Past President’s Dinner/
Installation of Officers
10 Board of Directors Mtg.
General Membership Mtg.
18-22 Hunter Safety Classes
22 Set up for Easter Breakfast
23 Easter Breakfast
April:
05 First Fun Shoot of the year
14 Board of Directors Mtg.
Page 4
May:
03 Fun Shoot
12 Board of Directors Mtg.
19-23 Hunter Safety Classes
June:
07 Fun Shoot
09 Board of Directors Mtg.
General Membership Mtg.
July:
04 FRIDAY Annual July 4 Shoot
14 Board of Directors Mtg.
21-25 Hunter Safety Classes
August:
02 Fun Shoot
11 Board of Directors Mtg.
18-22 Hunter Safety Classes
September:
01 Labor Day Shoot & BBQ
CLUB OPEN
08 Board of Directors Mtg.
General Membership Mtg.
October:
04 Last Fun Shoot of the year
13 Board of Directors Mtg.
November:
10 Board of Directors Mtg.
December:
08 Board of Directors Mtg.
General Membership Mtg.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
Dept. of Fish & Game
maintains an education
page with events for
Youth in the Outdoors.
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/
education
Special Events:
Only youths may hunt that
weekend. Bag limits will be
the same as regular season.
California Waterfowl Assoc.
(CWA) will be posting a list
of private duck clubs that
have openings on that
weekend. Any duck clubs
willing to host youth hunters
contact George Oberstadt at
916-648-1406 or email at
george_oberstadt
@calwaterfowl.org
Find the list at:
www.calwaterfowl.org
Volume 55
Issue 3
Photos—Gunard Mahl
January 13, 2008, the San Francisco Model A
Club assembled in the Club parking lot before
taking off on a run through the City to Caesar’s
on Bay Street for their annual President’s
Brunch.
Photo—Jeanine Mahl
The Mahl’s Backyard
Several people have said this
is a golden eagle. ??? Note
the pigeon it is dining on. The
green pot behind it is nearly
12” high.
We definitely need more
birds like this one!
Ever wonder
where snow geese
hang out?
One place is near
the gliderport at
Williams, CA.
Gunard Mahl took
these pics when
he was there for a
day of soaring in
January.
If your duck club is empty, perhaps all of the ducks are chilling in the lagoon at Crissy Field looking at
this beautiful view of the Golden Gate Bridge! It pays to keep your camera at hand. Gunard Mahl shot
photos of all these canvas back ducks about a week before water fowl season closed.
Page 5
The Pacific Breeze
The History of the Pacific Rod & Gun Club, Part 2
as written by Joseph Springer, First President
From the April, 1949, Breeze:
August 5, 1929, a telegraphic surf casting
tournament between the east and west was
held. It was a five-man team event, and the
west beat the east by 510 feet 6 inches in five
casts. Primo’s average was 521 feet 8 inches,
his longest single cast of 547 feet 8 inches
was a world’s record. It was after this that
the east accused us of having rubber tape
measures and challenged us to send Primo
east to cast against their star caster, F.C.
Berger. They offered to stand half of the
expense if we would stand the other half.
We didn’t have a dime in our treasury but
held a meeting on Sept. 24th at the Elks Club
and enough money was contributed by the
members to enable Primo to make the trip. It
was then that our eastern friends discovered
we did not use rubber tape measures but had
the real thing. Primo surprised the boys there
by casting 604 feet. This was not official
however, as it was not done in an event, but
anyhow, it was the first time 600 feet had
ever been accomplished. It was enough to
show our friends that Primo had the stuff. He
did not do quite so well in the tourney
because of rainy weather but he carried off
high honors by winning all events and
showing he had the material that goes to
make a world’s champion, which he still is
today. Primo’s effort for the event was 506
feet 7 inches, the next highest being 446 feet
7 inches—60 feet less than the winning
score. This was against about 70 of the east’s
best casters.
Well, the east did all right by our
Champion—they gave him the key to
Atlantic City, presented him with all kinds of
testimonials, including a championship gold
medal and an $85 reel—well deserved for the
laurels gained.
A Christmas party was held at Topsy’s Roost
on December 17th with presents for all the
members. The award for the largest fish of
the year went to M.O. Preston for his 14 1/2
pound steelhead caught on the Garcia River,
and that wound up the year of 1929.
In 1930, we started meeting in Lou Meyer’s
basement at 583 Dolores Street and
continued there for about seven years. From
here on a new era in the history of the club
starts with another of those big clopping
feeds with Lou Meyer and Milt Durand as
Chefs.
Page 6
On February 22nd and 23rd, we held our first
Clubhouse Anniversary at Cuttings Wharf
with the same kind oif program as the first
with the exception we added a skeet field to
our equipment and a great number of
members enjoyed themselves at this new
field.
On June 17, 1930, our first initiation
ceremony took place with our newly
organized initiation team, and a number of
new members rode the goat.
On July 4th, 5th, and 6th, we staged a
camping and trout fishing trip to Brightman
Flats in the High Sierra—another very
successful outing.
On August 22nd, in Buffalo, N.Y., two of our
members, J.P. Cuenin and Lou Guerin, won
championships in Fly Casting for which they
were made honorary life members and Primo
Livenais was awarded the same honor.
Tuesday, December 2 marked our annual
meeting and big ravioli feed at Meyers
basement. This wound up another year.
January 21st, our first meeting in 1931, was
another big initiation held with another good
class of candidates.
The meeting of March 17th, was the start of
the campaign to take the striped bass off the
commercial market. As our club was born as
a conservation organization, we were in there
pitching to assist the striped bass committee
of the Associated Sportsmen in the passage
of this bill. Many of our members spent
hours, days and months in assisting this
committee at Sacramento for the passage of
this bill. Among this group were Howard
Vernon, the father of the bill, Joe Michal, Lee
Daggett, Lou Meyer, Jules Cuenin and yours
truly.
Later in the year a dinner was given for Mel
Cronin, the assemblyman who sponsored the
measure.
Another outstanding event in this period was
the sponsoring of the Angling Exhibit for
Troop No. 37 of the Boy Scouts of America
in their Merit Badge Exhibition at the Civic
Auditorium. The exhibit consisted of a
wooded scene with a running stream
emptying into a lake full of live fish with a
cutout of a Scout fishing. We won an award
as one of the outstanding booths in the show.
The boys in return tendered the members of
the club a dinner in appreciation. This meal
was prepared by them and was certainly
worth while.
It was during this period the Bay Sportsmen’s
Club amalgamated with our Club and we took
over their skeet field. This marked our entrance
into the skeet shooting business, adding to our
roll a great many shooters who are now
members of our club. This was a single field
operated at Fort Funston opposite our present
location. It was a rather crude affair compared
to our present set up, in order to carry on a
shoot, it was necessary to cart our targets,
ammunition and batteries to and from the field
each shooting day as we had no storage
facilities. Walter Campbell was the chairman
of the skeet committee at the time, and most of
this work fell to him. Many a good time was
had at this spot.
In July, a team from this club consisting of
Jules Cuenin, Don Westwater, Bill Becktell,
Oscar Franklin and Ralph Russell went to Los
Angeles to shoot for the state team
championship. Earlier in the year, San Diego
tied San Francisco in a telegraphic shoot for
first place. Our team went south to shoot
shoulder to shoulder for this high honor. Sorry
to say, San Diego won, but this shoot was the
means of extablishing a feeling of good
fellowship between both sections of the state.
The team, with the exception of Cuenin, went in
my car. We received a royal reception and a
big barbecure steak dinner was held at Johnny
Maltman’s palatial home in Pasadena for the
group.
November 1, the club held its first handicap
shoot. December 1st, another annual meeting
and election of officers and on the 18th our big
Christmas Jinks again at Lou Meyer’s.
On December 19th and 20th, we held our first
Charity Shoot for the benefit of the San
Francisco News Neediest Families Fund, an
idea from the brain of one of our members.
Here is what the News wrote in one of its
editorials regarding the subject:
GENEROUS SPORTSMEN
Doubtless good sportsmanship has been
exemplified in many ways, but doubtless it
never so nearly reached the heights as it did
when the Pacific Rod and Gun Club engaged
itself in promoting a skeet shooting program for
the benefit of The News’ “neediest family
fund.”
The idea originated with Ed (Joe) Phillips, club
member and sporting goods dealer, and he
Continued on Page 7
Volume 55
Issue 3
For the Good of the Order!
History, continued from Page 6
discussed it with President Joseph
Springer and Sec’y. C.E. Heineman.
Springer brought the suggestion to The
News, asking nothing but endorsement
from this paper, which was readily and
gladly given.
From that moment there began an
intensive effort on the part of the club
officers to prepare a program and stage
the contest the following Saturday and
Sunday, Dec. 19 and 20. Alterations
must be made at the shooting grounds at
Fort Funston, printing matter, tickets,
etc., must be provided, a list of over 100
prizes must be acquired and properly
placed, and a thousand and one other
details must be worked out in that brief
time.
Day and night, Springer and Heineman
and other club members worked and
when the big day, a rain soaked Sunday,
came everything was ready and going.
Bad weather? Who cared. Nobody.
Drenched to the skin but enthusiastic, the
sportsmen filled the program between
early morning and dark, and the greatest
shooting success the club has know was
consummated. Over $250 was realized
for the Neediest Family Fund.
Speaking for itself and the needy
beneficiaries of the fund, The News takes
this occasion to express its keen
appreciation of the good will gesture so
freely and gracefully made by the Pacific
Rod and Gun Club.
*********************************
John Henwood, our previous Breeze
editor was indeed the first actual Editor of
the Breeze. His first issue was December
1996, and it was during one of Woody
Herve’s terms as club president.
John said that Woody asked him to help
out by “temporarily” taking over the
newsletter. Ten and a half years! That
doesn’t seem too temporary! One
wonders if the current Editor will be able
to hang in there as long!!!
Support from our advertisers
helps with the cost of your
newsletter. Please give them
your support.
Sympathy
The Club has been notified of the
death of long time member
Craig Vallely
on February 5, 2008.
The Pacific Rod & Gun Club offers
condolences to those he left behind.
Fun Shoots
Fun Shoot coordinator Dave Arnold has
posted a sign up sheet in the Field
House for Fun Shoot “Hosts” for 2008.
If you are willing to host a fun shoot—
set up, cook, and clean up—please sign
up. This is a good way to fulfill your
eight hours of service.
Plans are being worked on to vary the
menu this year!
If you have any questions, call Dave at
415-387-5455.
Club Speed Limit
Have you noticed that the 10 MPH Speed
Limit sign has been repaired? It certainly
looks strong now. Rich Campbell, who
did the repair, said that he fashioned it
after a tank trap! Better not run into it!
Can You Read This?
Interesting!!!
fi yuo cna raed tihs, yuo hvae a sgtrane
mnid too.
Cna yuo raed tihs? Olny 55 plepoe out of
100 can.
i cdnoult blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty
uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The
phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid,
aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde
Uinervtisy, it dseno’t mtaetr in waht oerdr
the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt
tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the
rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses
and yuo can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm.
Tihs is bcuaseae the huamn mnid deos not
raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a
wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas
tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt! if you can
raed tihs, srhae it.
Livingston Pinelli
Livingston is a 15 year old beagle and is
nearly deaf and has “compromised”
eyesight. He wears a helium baloon so
he can be found if he wanders too far
while looking for moles at Mike Pinelli’s
pheasant club. Gotta Love It!!
Please observe the 10MPH speed limit. It
won’t take you that much longer to get to
the Field House, and it will help preserve
the black top in the parking lot.
Who knows when the Club might be
lucky enough to have any repairs made to
the lot.
Thanks for observing the Speed Limit.
New Members
Joe Sweeney
Michael Cott
Mark Musumeci
Gary DellaMaggiora
Matthew Bielen
San Francisco
San Francisco
San Francisco
So.SanFrancisco
San Francisco
Page 7
The Pacific Rod & Gun Club
520 John Muir Drive
San Francisco, CA 94132
Time Dated Material
First Class Mail
March 2008
Clubhouse Rental
Banquet Facilities
Contact:
415-640-8459
Member Discounts
See page 2 for more
info.