I am honored to have been chosen to lead the Indiana State Rifle and Pistol Association as president. I look forward to working alongside our board, our members, and Charlie Hiltunen, who will continue to be an asset to the association as President Emeritus. Together, we have an opportunity to build on the progress ISRPA has made and put our shared vision into action.
I am especially excited to work with our continuing board members and those stepping into new roles. Sue Mogle will serve as Executive Vice President. Welcome to new Board members Terry Townsend taking on the role of Women of the ISRPA Representative, Molly Fink will serve as Northeast Director, Ike Richey as Central Director, Brendan Cavanaugh as VP Special Projects and Rob Jones as At-Large Director. I look forward to working with the entire board as we move the association forward.
As president, I would like to outline three priorities for our first 100 days: growing membership, recognizing outstanding Indiana shooting clubs, and establishing consistent, impactful spring and fall membership meetings.
Priority One: Increase Membership by 10%
Our first goal is to increase ISRPA membership by 10% within our first 100 days. This will require us to reach new audiences, make membership more accessible, and build relationships that support sustained growth.
One opportunity is to connect with the young people, families, and program leaders who attended the October 3 Family Day on the Range event at the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association in Friendship, Indiana and invite them to become part of ISRPA. Bringing approximately 150 young people together with their families and program leaders demonstrated the enthusiasm and potential within our shooting sports community and the role our association plays in supporting shooting sports and protecting our Second Amendment freedoms.
We also have an exciting membership challenge from Bryce Curry of Premier Arms. Bryce has pledged $1,000 to offset a $10 discount for the first 100 people who sign up for a recurring ISRPA membership. We are grateful for his investment in ISRPA and encourage everyone to share this opportunity with your friends and family. Please visit www.isrpa.org to join.
While these initiatives will yield immediate progress, meaningful membership growth must continue beyond our first 100 days. Another opportunity is to work with the National Rifle Association to develop a discounted membership opportunity for individuals who join both the NRA and ISRPA together. Many NRA members don’t know there IS a difference. By making dual membership more accessible, we hope to strengthen the connection between our state and national organizations and encourage more people to participate in the work of protecting our rights.
Priority Two: Finalize Our Indiana Outstanding Club Awards
Our second priority is to finalize the Indiana Club of the Year program (see the announcement later in this newsletter) to recognize outstanding Indiana shooting clubs each year, support Youth shooting through Club programs and teams, build our Club membership base, and support ISRPA programs by supporting the clubs that are the lifeblood of both the NRA and ISRPA. They provide the places for people to gather, learn, compete, volunteer, and introduce new generations to the shooting sports. Their contributions extend well beyond the range, and the dedication of the people who keep these organizations running deserves to be recognized.
Sue Mogle has already laid much of the groundwork for this initiative. The announcement and timeline for the Program is in this newsletter!
Priority Three: Establish Consistent and Impactful Spring and Fall Meetings
Our third priority is to establish a more consistent schedule and format for ISRPA’s spring and fall membership meetings.
During our first 100 days, we will focus on establishing a dependable schedule and communicating meeting dates, times, and locations well in advance as well as agendas focusing on our advocacy efforts, association initiatives, and opportunities for member involvement. We plan to build on the technology that allows us to minimize or eliminate difficulties in travel times and locations. That consistency will help Officers, Directors and members plan ahead, while meaningful content will help us maintain engagement and build stronger relationships throughout Indiana. More than just calendar dates, these meetings should be opportunities to connect our members with the work being done, hear ideas, and identify ways to work together.
Our association is strongest when members feel connected to its mission and have opportunities to contribute. Establishing a reliable and impactful meeting schedule is a practical step toward making that connection stronger.
Moving Forward Together
The priorities for our first 100 days give us a clear starting point: grow our membership by 10%, recognize an outstanding Indiana club of the year, and establish consistent, meaningful spring and fall meetings.
These goals are achievable, but they will require participation from all of us. Our board will work to move these initiatives forward, and our members can help by welcoming new people into the association, supporting their local clubs, sharing ideas, and staying engaged in ISRPA’s work.
I am grateful for the confidence placed in me and excited about what we can accomplish together. We have a strong foundation, dedicated people, and an important mission. By working together, we can continue building a more connected and effective association—one that supports our shooting clubs, encourages the next generation, and stands strong in the defense of our Second Amendment freedoms.
I look forward to getting to working with all of you.
Diane Rice – President of the Indiana State Rifle and Pistal Association
About the Author
