he reason a club affiliates is very much the same reason one joins SASS, to belong. It has the benefit of getting the club shooting calendar and contact point published in The Cowboy Chronicle and on the SASS Web Site. Having the club visible in The Cowboy Chronicle and on the Web Site allows potential new members to find a place to shoot. Being able to participate in Cowboy Mounted Shooting matches at a convenient club does wonders for the club's growth and revenue.

Everybody wins. However, affiliation takes some effort. SASS needs certain information from the clubs, such as where you are located, who the contact point is, where and when you shoot, and who your Territorial Governor is (if you have one), in addition to assurance you have appropriate insurance to protect both yourself and SASS should an unfortunate incident occur.

Action Forms

Click Here for a SASS Action Club Affiliation/Renewal Registration Form

Click Here for a SASS Action Club Affiliation/Renewal Registration On-line Form

Mounted Forms

Click Here for a SASS Mounted Club Affiliation/Renewal Registration Form

Click Here for a SASS Mounted Club Affiliation/Renewal Registration On-line Form
 

SASS ACTION SHOOTING CLUB AFFILIATION GUIDELINES

SASS Cowboy Action Shooting Club Affiliation is FREE

SASS affiliation runs from January through December. Clubs must renew their Affiliation annually. SASS will send renewal notices to all affiliated clubs during the month of December.

A SASS Affiliated Cowboy Action Shooting Club is required to:

• Maintain no less than 50% of its membership in SASS. (This applies to only the "cowboy part" if part of a larger, multi-discipline shooting club. The 50% rule is waived the first year.)
• Conduct its matches in compliance with the SASS Shooters Handbook
• Have a regularly scheduled SASS Shooting program
• Respect all SASS aliases and shooter numbers at its matches
• Regularly provide SASS with copies of club newsletters and bulletins
• Provide a fully completed SASS Affiliate Club Registration form and renews annually
• Provide a schedule of match dates to SASS to be published on the SASS web site
• Provide proof of $1,000,000 public liability insurance for the coming year naming SASS as additionally insured (US organizations only)

Click Here for an application to the SASS Preferred Insurance carrier, The Great Outdoor Insurance Company, Gillingham & Associates

SASS Affiliated Clubs receive:

• A complete affiliation binder
• A SASS Affiliation Certificate
• SASS promotional materials
• Listing of monthly and annual events in The Cowboy Chronicle and on the SASS web site
• Promotion of its activities and reporting on its event in The Cowboy Chronicle. (All material must be prepared and submitted 60 days prior to publication by the club. Reference to SASS members in this material is to be by alias and SASS number.)
• Territorial Governor representation
• License to use SASS logos in club newsletter, advertising, and promotion
• SASS Shooters Handbooks, SASS applications and copies of The Cowboy Chronicle are supplied as requested
• The opportunity to foster the organized growth of Cowboy Action Shooting™ in a manner consistent with the Spirit of the Game

SASS TERRITORIAL GOVERNOR

ROLE SUMMARY

A Territorial Governor is an elected or appointed representative of a SASS affiliated club. The Territorial Governor's term of office is twelve months. There is no limit to the number of terms one individual may serve.

Territorial Governors bring important issues to SASS, provide an effective conduit for SASS to keep its members informed, and have been effective in implementing changes throughout the organization.
SASS uses The Territorial Bulletin to communicate directly with Territorial Governors who are asked to vote on issues and proposals from time to time.

A TERRITORIAL GOVERNOR IS:

• A life member of SASS
• Appointed/elected by the SASS affiliated club members he or she represents
• The affiliated club's official representative at SASS Territorial Governor meetings and;
• Committed to serving the interests of his or her club consistent with the promulgation and preservation of Cowboy Action Shooting and "the Spirit of the Game."
• RO II Certified

SPECIFIC DUTIES:

• Represent and support SASS, its philosophy, and its purpose to club members
• Gather comments, criticisms, needs, suggestions, and proposed rule changes, and communicate these to the SASS Board of Directors
• Vote on proposed rule changes and other issues tabled by the Board of Directors
• Maintain current knowledge regarding Cowboy Action Shooting and SASS, its history, philosophy, purpose, direction, and Spirit of the Game
• Communicate the Cowboy Action Shooting story locally and regionally to further the growth of the game
• Network with other clubs and Territorial Governors
   

SASS REGULATORS

DESCRIPTION

Regulators are those folks who work above and beyond the call of duty for the benefit of SASS and their affiliated club(s). Their services are worth more than SASS or their club could ever pay. They personify the Cowboy Way and provide an excellent role model for others.

NOMINATIONS

Potential Regulators are nominated by SASS members or officials. It should be clear in the nomination letter, this nomination is a consensus opinion, not just the feelings of a single individual. Recommendations are received by the Wild Bunch for consideration. Successful candidates are recognized at END of TRAIL with public acknowledgment of their contributions and presentation of the unique, personalized Regulator Badge.

A Regulator does not have to be a life member or club officer. To nominate a Regulator, please send a detailed recommendation letter to Hipshot at the SASS Office. Include as many signatures as possible.
 

PRIZE AND SPONSORSHIP QUALIFICATIONS FOR AFFILIATED
CLUB ANNUAL MATCHES

To qualify for SASS prize sponsorship support, clubs must:

• Be SASS affiliated at the time of the request and the time scheduled for the annual match
• Flyers and advertising must prominently contain the words "SASS RULES APPLY", and be submitted with your sponsorship request
• Club must completely fill out and submit, by mail or fax, the official SASS Annual Match Prize Sponsorship Request Form. The match flyer must accompany this request.
• The club must run at least one 1/4 page, or larger, ad in The Cowboy Chronicle clearly stating "SASS RULES APPLY" and displaying the SASS Marshal logo. This advertising gives all SASS members an opportunity to participate. The SASS sponsorship support level does not change no matter how many times the ad is run. Affiliated clubs receive the 12 time advertising rate charge.
• It is recommended the club follow the prize distribution procedure described in the Shooter Prize Distribution section of this document.

There are two levels of support SASS offers to Affiliated Clubs:

Click Here for a SASS Prize and Sponsorship Request Form Form
 

SASS ANNUAL MATCH SHOOTER PRIZE
DISTRIBUTION RECOMMENDATION

INTRODUCTION

While it is not a requirement for anyone to receive prizes, it has become a tradition in SASS Cowboy Action Shooting annual matches to give door prizes. The following outline provides you with a fair and easy tracking system for distributing prizes.

The recommendations are simple: prizes are awarded by some form of random drawing (with the possible exception of the winners, competitors are rewarded for participating, not how well they shoot). It is very important the sponsors understand their prizes have been given to the competitors, and it's very nice when it is clear the competitors appreciate their prizes. It is also strongly advised to not use any structured part of your program, such as the Saturday night party, to distribute the prizes. As much as they are appreciated, these distribution ceremonies have proven to be deadly boring for your participants.

Special prizes, of course, can be held and presented in public, especially if the sponsor/donor is present.

MECHANICS

One successful technique for accomplishing the above used successfully by several of the larger matches is offered below for your consideration.

Once you have received a donation from a sponsor, it can be cataloged and given a sequential number. A spreadsheet is a convenient tool for recording every receipt. Each individual line should include the following: Prize # — Sponsor — Prize Description — Sponsor Contact Name — Sponsor Company — Sponsor Address — Phone — Fax. This will ensure an easy process of labeling the "Thank You" cards to be returned to every donating sponsor.
Once all donations have been received, print two sets of labels from the spread sheet. One label includes the Sponsor name — Prize Description — Prize Number. The other label includes the Sponsor Contact Name — Company — Address. Purchase pre-postage paid postcards from the post office. Place the address label on the postage side of the card and the prize description on the other side, leaving room for a personal note and "thank you".

DRAWING CARDS

These cards now become the prize drawing cards. They are placed in a container from which the shooters will draw. A few hours on Friday or Saturday (e.g., 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.) has proven to be sufficient for all shooters to draw their prize cards. The shooters present their score cards, which are punched to indicate they have made their pass through the prize line. The shooter keeps the card he or she has drawn. They sign it, are encouraged to write a brief thank you note on it, and turn it in at another designated time (e.g., Sunday, 9:00AM 1:30AM) to redeem their prize. The shooter will exchange the card for the prize, and within five business days, all post cards should be mailed by the match organizer, completing the cycle back to the sponsors.

HOW TO PROMOTE THE GAME

SASS SERVICE

If you are attempting to start a SASS club in your area, please inform the SASS office, and as soon as you complete your club affiliation processing, your shooting schedule will be added to the master list published in each issue of The Cowboy Chronicle.

EXISTING SHOOTERS

The most fertile source from which to attract club members is those already involved in the shooting sports. One should contact all existing gun clubs in their area. Cowboy Action Shooting has been around since 1982 and has enjoyed substantial coverage in major gun publications. In addition, it has been featured on ESPN, radio, and national and local news media for several years. Therefore, many shooters are already familiar with the sport and may be anxious to give it a try.

GUN DEALERS

There is renewed interest in the history of the American West as evidenced by the success of recent movies and TV miniseries such as Unforgiven, Tombstone, Lonesome Dove, Magnificent Seven, and Buffalo Girls, and many television documentaries and series now feature this time period. Interest in the firearms of the period has likewise experienced a rebirth.
Many gun dealers are increasing their inventory of Old West firearms, and some are specializing exclusively in this field. These dealers have proven to be extremely generous as sponsors of local Cowboy Action Shooting matches and clubs. They can also be a great source of referrals for new members. Be sure to supply them with a stack of your match flyers, as well as put them on the mailing list for your club newsletter. If they are not yet a SASS Affiliated Gun Store, let us know, and we'll send them everything they need.

LOCAL MEDIA PUBLICITY

As your club progresses, you can attract the interest of the local radio, print, and television media. Unlike other shooting sports, Cowboy Action Shooting can use the general public's affection for the nostalgic Old West to enhance its image and attract favorable coverage. A good relationship with the press is to be cultivated and treasured. Most communities have public service announcements made by the local radio stations. Clubs in many areas of the country have been successful in having their matches (at least the large annual matches) announced as part of the community event calendar. Similarly, one can request a listing in other travel, tourist, and auto club publications. Remember, most magazines have about a three month lead time before publication.

THE COWBOY CHRONICLE

The Cowboy Chronicle has come to be known as the publication relating to this sport. In addition to articles detailing all aspects of Cowboy Action Shooting, the last few pages of each issue list the affiliated club monthly and annual match schedules around the country.
Tex, editor of The Cowboy Chronicle, has always been most helpful to those seeking publication of their club activities and shooting schedules. He suggests each club appoint a person to act as liaison between the club and The Cowboy Chronicle to maximize the amount of material available for publication. Send all potential publication material to Tex in care of the SASS Administrative Office.

FAMILY MEMBERS

Many families can boast of more than one member in their Cowboy Action Shooting club. Several have as many as three or four generations playing our game. This is truly a family sport. The more members from a family who participate, the greater the longevity of that family in the club. It's that simple. Do not overlook the tremendous appeal of this sport to women and junior shooters. In some clubs they represent 25 percent of the membership.

Action Forms

Click Here for a SASS Action Club Affiliation/Renewal Registration Form

Click Here for a SASS Action Club Affiliation/Renewal Registration On-line Form

Mounted Forms

Click Here for a SASS Mounted Club Affiliation/Renewal Registration Form

Click Here for a SASS Mounted Club Affiliation/Renewal Registration On-line Form