Admittedly, this is a long document but, it's everything you need to know to successfully join Lemon Grove Rod & Gun Club.

About the Club:

Lemon Grove Rod & Gun Club (LGRGC) is an IRS 501(c)(7) "Shooting" Social Club that is unique among the other Rod & Gun clubs in San Diego County.  LGRGC is one of the smaller clubs in the county and as such there's a lot more trust of the membership than with its' more larger cousins.  The prospective member process serves to create a more elite membership than other clubs where you just pay and join.  Things that you won't see at the larger ranges are:

• A preponderance of thick steel targets on the rifle and pistol ranges.  Unless you want to shoot paper targets, there's no reason to wait for a cease-fire to start engaging targets.  
• Unloaded and holstered handguns may be carried in the lower area of the club property.
• When on the pistol range, members may draw from the holster subject to the approval of the Range Safety Officer that's supervising range operations.
• Members are allowed to use one of the club's $20,000 trap launchers, unsupervised, during normal range hours when there isn't a conflicting event that prevents its' safe operation.
• The Archery range is set up such that it's deconflicted with the other weapon ranges so that all can be used simultaneously.

Unlike other ranges, there's a lot of ad-hoc events at the club and one will have to navigate the "teamup" Master Range Calendar website to figure out if Lemon Grove Rod & Gun Club can provide shooting opportunities that's conducive to your schedule.  Every range event, to include events on the Upcoming Events Calendar below, are included on this calendar.  Some open range shooting is scheduled months in advance and some open range shooting can be scheduled with 24 hours notice so the "teamup" Master Range Calendar is the more dynamic calendar.  Of course, it's not all shooting.  There's a social aspect to this club that's unlike most other ranges in the county.

There's scheduled events on the Upcoming Events Calendar that you will be invited to if you are interested.  Members can express interest in Archery, Pistol, Rifle, and Shotgun activities which controls the type of invitations that will be sent to you via email.  We generally try to have an "All Ranges Open" event at least quarterly for members that will have Sporting Clays in the morning, a free lunch, and have the trap, rifle, and pistol ranges open simultaneously for members and guests in the afternoon. 

When the gate is closed, guests are generally free, when the gate is open for public events there is always a non-member fee that's charged.  Lemon Grove Rod & Gun Club members are given priority signup for public events and the non-member pricing is designed to encourage participants to join the club.  There are private shooting events that are limited to members and their escorted guests, sometimes events are limited to just members (and family members).  When you attend club functions you will know many of your fellow club members similar to an extended family.  If there's something you need help with, it won't be a problem finding a resource.

As the club doesn't have any paid staff, regular (gate card carrying) members have what's called a, "Non Monetary Assessment" (NMA) every year where they are expected to participate in the support of two events (usually around 8 hours of volunteer work) which will include one work-party if you're under the age of 65.  The more mature members can substitute two non work-party events for the work party.  Participating in an event can range from coaching Boy Scouts in Rifle Marksmanship to hitting the button and launching clay targets for sporting clays or trap games.  An exemption can be purchased at either the beginning or end of the Fiscal Year for $150 if one finds themselves with more money than time.  Exceptions can occur when the values of the club aligns with the request for an exception.  

For Active Duty Military and Coast Guard members, the NMA obligation is waived and the membership dues is discounted 50% from the regular member dues.  As the club was founded by WWII veterans in an era where everybody served, there is no discount for prior military service.  Although, if you are prior military, you will find yourself in good company.

Getting Started:

As Lemon Grove Rod & Gun Club is a shooting social club, you must have a club member to act as your sponsor and work with you to accomplish all of the prospective member tasks.  Once all tasks are complete, you will be required to petition the Club's Board at the Board of Directors' meeting with a good, short introduction and once that's complete you will be taken out of earshot so that your sponsor can make a recommendation that the board will consider as part of your application.  

If you don't have a sponsor you can participate in one of the club's public functions (be social) or attend the General Membership meeting on the first Tuesday of the month (check the calendar) and when it's time for prospective members to introduce themselves mention that you need a sponsor.  A super brief story about why you want to join the club generally works.  Active Duty and prior military won't have issues finding sponsors from the same branch.  And Marines... Marines always get a sponsor when they show up.

To transition from prospective member to regular member status, you need to

• Coordinate with the membership chair.
• Have a sponsor. 
• Have a Prospective Member Task Card that's filled out with your name, your sponsor's name, and your membership ID which is proof that you've registered.  These cards can be found with the membership chair or in the club's sign up shack above the trap ranges.
• Make forward progress in a timely manner.

With your sponsor and your "Prospective Member Task Card" you must:

• Attend a general membership meeting to start the process.  Find the membership chairman and indicate your desire to join the club.  You will be given an activity card to track your progress if you don't have one already.
• You and your sponsor must both actively participate in a shooting or archery event where an RSO or Match Shootmaster will sign off on your safe handling skills.  Hitting the target is optional, exhibiting safe practices is paramount.
• You and your sponsor must both actively participate in a club work party.  
• The process is completed by attending a LGRGC Board of Directors meeting with your sponsor where you will introduce yourself to the Board.  After your introduction, the clubs Sargent at Arms will sequester you, your sponsor will speak on your behalf and the Board of Directors will vote on your membership application.  

Membership in either the National Rifle Association (NRA), the California Rifle & Pistol Association (CPRA), or the San Diego County Gun Owners Association (SDCGO) is required for range gate access.  If your Second Amendment club membership (NRA, CRPA, or SDCGO) expires while a member of Lemon Grove Rod & Gun Club, you can expect that your gate card will eventually cease to function as an incentive to stay current.

Club Fees:

There is no cost to join the club until after your membership is approved by the club's Board of Directors.  Once approved the membership chair will have an orientation meeting where fees are paid, procedures are discussed, and members are taught the club's secret hand-shake.

The club Initiation fee is $100.00, this will always be charged to a new member.

Annual Regular Membership is $150.00 (Membership starts on May 1st and is prorated per month starting in June).  Membership for Active Duty Military and Coast Guard is reduced by 50%.

The NMA column (YES/NO) indicates whether a new member has an NMA obligation for the fiscal year that they joined the club.  Members that join earlier in the fiscal year will have an obligation, members who join late in the fiscal year will not.  

Summary:

At the very least, to get into the club:

• You need a sponsor that can say good things about you.
• You need a fully filled out "Prospective Member Task Card"
• You must be registered on this site to get the membership number.
• You need to communicate if you get stuck. 

The membership chair is your advocate in this process.  Questions, comments, concerns - contact the membership chair.

Tom Bledsoe

LGRGC Membership Chair

tbledsoe@gmail.com

cell: 858.500.6667

CLUB PROPERTY

Rifle Range

From our covered shooting area, you can shoot steel or paper targets as far out as 225 yards whenever an RSO is on the schedule.

Pistol Area

You can shoot from a variety of distances to paper, steel, and reactive steel targets whenever an RSO is on the schedule.

Sporting Clays

Tuesday 5-stand is offered weekly, and a full Sporting Clays course is available monthly.  

Archery

We have a 39 acre dedicated archery range, with a changing, 3D course with 28 targets offered monthly.  

Campground

Members may use the campground facilities to stay for weekends, making events at the club more fun.  

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