In late April, I took my first trip out to the Rod and Gun Club for 2024. Back in February after completing my 10th term as president of SJRGC, I decided not to run again as I was long overdue for a break. It has been an incredibly busy yet rewarding journey, one which ended up being much longer than I anticipated when I first took on the role in 2013. A new volunteer stepped up to fill the role, club member, now president George Jenner and the new executive have been doing a fantastic job.

Still a few remnants of winter lingering about the property! To complete my duty to the club, I will remain on for one more year in the role of past president. This is an advisory position to the new board on the actions & decisions of the last board of directors.

In April I stopped in to place new forms in the Generator and ATV logbooks and to make a list of supplies needed for upcoming small engine equipment maintenance, which I continue to do for the club.

A small but dedicated crew of volunteers have already been busy at the club getting the Trap Machines reinstalled after winter storage, restarting Sunday shoots, and getting the backsplash and range hood installed behind the new kitchen range which was purchased and installed last summer.

I made some decals and installed them for Bassan after they relocated the furnace power shutoff.

Earlier this year we had a contractor install a new metal roof and make some structural repairs to the firing line shelter on Range B. It not only looks great but will keep the structure from rotting out for many more years to come.

On Saturday of the May 24th holiday weekend I headed out to the club to begin some small engine equipment maintenance.

Maintenance on the ride on lawnmower came to a halt when I discovered the dealer gave me the wrong/ill fitting aftermarket oil filter for our new machine.

I carried on and got a full service done on the generator which included changing the engine oil, oil filter, both fuel filters and the air filter. This will keep the unit running well again this year.

All serviced, tested, room swept up and ready to go!

May 27, 2024. Correct ride on lawn mower oil filters in hand thanks to the fantastic and knowledgeable crew at Melvin's ATV in Tors Cove, a top quality authorized Husqvarna Dealership.

The cheap aftermarket oil filter has a narrower diameter and much smaller gasket which will barely catch the sealing surface on the engine. I definitely prefer proper quality OEM filters matching exactly what came on the engine from the factory.

The push mower was started for the first time since Fall 2023, it wasn't running the best, a quick look at the air filter found a potential cause!  A fresh air filter and spark plug will be picked up and installed on a future work weekend at the club.

I did get the engine oil changed on the unit using my fancy new Princess Auto vacuum oil extractor.

Oil change complete on the Husqvarna Zero turn lawn mower.

Next up was removing and sharpening the blades on the zero turn lawnmower.

I noted their position with a photo and reinstalled them clocked at the same position from which they were removed.

Plenty of supplies to service our equipment for at least the remainder of this year.

With everything serviced I proceeded to get the grass trimmed and cut for the first time in 2024.

OMB was a good friend and certainly someone who appreciated a neat and tidy lawn at the club, having spent hundreds of hours at the club performing this very task himself.

August 17, 2024. Today myself, Bassan and a crew of club volunteers got to work on a number of projects to get the clubhouse and grounds in tip top shape for the upcoming Atlantic Provinces Trapshooting Association Championships on Labour Day weekend.

My first task was to install and set-up a Starlink satellite high speed internet system purchased by the APTA to run shoot management software at the upcoming championship event. This system was surprisingly very easy to setup and works well, which in my experience is generally a rare occurrence when dealing with fancy high end technology equipment.

Bassan and Jeff got the flag pole all re-rigged with fresh rope on all three flag positions.

Three more club members made quick work of touching up stain on the clubhouse.

After the Starlink was installed and working, I finally finished up maintenance on club grounds equipment by installing a fresh air filter on the lawnmower and a couple sparkplugs.

Next up while the boys mowed the grass I finished off trimming all around the entire grounds of the club so it would be neat and tidy for the big event. Our new blower made quick work of getting grass clippings off the concrete walkways which was always very laborious with a broom on such a rough surface.

Next up Bassan got to work pulling weeds off the foreground gravel of the trap field while I hooked the club ATV to the gravel rake to level out/clean up the gravel.

Fresh weather stripping on the main entrance door of the clubhouse.

All ready for the shoot!

The Atlantic Provinces Annual Trap Shoot went very well with great attendance and thousands of targets thrown over 5 days. In October Bassan and I headed back out to the club to clue up some end of season maintenance beginning with a final trim of the grass before winter.

While Bassan continued with the trimmer, I performed a service on the club generator which was due for an oil change after a busy summer of events at the club.

With winter fast approaching I added a bottle of diesel fuel treatment to the fuel tank to help with start-up during the cold winter months.

Next up was a service including engine oil & filter change on the club's Honda ATV which recently illuminated the service required indicator.

All cleaned up and ready for winter!

Cheers, MIKE

Copyright © 2011 Michael Smith