Aug 2, 2025 4 min read

By Dave Bates

For the Observer-Reporter

Recently, I received an invitation from the Dormont-Mount Lebanon Sportsmen’s Club to speak to their membership at their monthly meeting. It was both an honor and true pleasure to attend. It has long been a goal of mine to use my platform as an outdoors writer and columnist in order to become better acquainted with the sportsmen’s clubs throughout the tri-county area.

Until recently, my day job hasn’t allowed for much time for networking. I’d like to get to know the clubs more intimately, explore their various missions and strengths, and interact with their programming opportunities in a way that might prove helpful to us all. I’m always learning to navigate the new or unfamiliar waters of the sportsman and there are some incredible opportunities to be harnessed at one’s fingertips if we just take the time.

Because I’m a Greene County boy and literally live on my own shooting range, I have a slightly lesser need than the average bear to come up for air and surface at one of the many clubs in our area. It is more for the social ramifications than out of any desperate need for a place to shoot … or so I first thought.

Admittedly, I was a bit taken aback when Ted Hildabrand of the DMLSC called and asked me to get together. What could I possibly have to offer an institution steeped in such tradition? Frankly, I was a bit daunted at the invitation. The last thing I wanted to do was fall flat on my face at the home of my predecessor, George Block. Ted and I got better acquainted over breakfast and then he gave me a tour of the DMLSC.

Wow! I had never visited onsite until that morning and what a treat it was to get a first-hand glimpse of the great work they are doing as a club. The buildings and grounds are incredibly well-maintained. The level of technology with which they operate is truly amazing. The sheer number of members filling their rolls as well as the significant number of members who would attend the monthly meeting the following Thursday was impressive in and of itself. These folks couldn’t have been a better audience, making me feel at home and most welcome from the start.

The variety of shooting disciplines offered by the club is simply amazing. Their new membership orientation is comprehensive to say the least and certainly serves as a backbone of the club for doing things the right way. Club leadership has made quality job one, in the words of Chrysler’s Lee Iacocca, and the club is vibrant and alive with shooting- and hunting-related opportunities. Club related information is conveyed in person, as well as in the electronically formatted club newsletter and via the club website.

After reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and the offering of the blessing, a wonderful dinner was shared by members and we spent some time getting to know one another better. Following dinner, I was given the floor to present a shooting-related message of safety for all those in attendance. The major point of emphasis was highlighting the need for firearms training by those who own, carry and use weapons of any kind. Safety first and safety last. The boil down was that most of us don’t know as much as we think we do and everyone can use a brushup on safety protocol and safe weapons handling. It takes everyone to complete the safety package.

Following my message, I fielded some related questions from members. The one-on-one time was greatly appreciated on my part and permitted folks to weigh in on the content. Thanks to those who reached out with well wishes and words of encouragement in our resultant conversations. The interlude provided me with a great deal of insight into the direction of the club in the future and how members might best be served in their outdoor pursuits. I can’t wait to attend some of the functions on their calendar in the coming months.

If your sportsmen’s club is looking to conduct some form of outreach, recruitment or programming, or if you’d just like to share an upcoming event of interest, please feel free to email me with the details. I’d love to join in on the fun when it comes to accomplishing your club’s mission. What great things is your club doing that you’d like others to know about?

Dave Bates writes a weekly outdoors column for the Observer-Reporter. He can be reached at alphaomegashootingsolutions@gmail.com