By Carl Mayhue

There are many new Florida Shooters who have little true knowledge of the history of the "Florida Building" located at the A.T.A. grounds, home of the "Grand American". The following is a true history of its conception, how it was built, and its operation.

In the 1960's, as Florida's delegate, I conceived the idea to build our own building on the Grand American grounds. It disturbed me to see my fellow Shooters sweltering in a hot tent. I acquired permission from the Executive Committee to construct a building. That same year I was defeated for A.T.A. Vice President by questionable, political motivations, which discouraged my interest greatly. This disappointment, coupled with a sever injury which paralyzed me for months also discouraged me from continuing my work for the F.T.A. The building idea lay dormant for years. When, once again, I became active in the F.T.A. by being elected as the Florida delegate, I brushed the cobwebs off of my building idea and decided to construct for the Florida Shooters "a home away from home". This was something no other state would have. I reactivated the permission which was on record.

To finance the building and furnishings' cost of over $25,000, I needed an inducement - or something to offer to my friends who I solicited for funds. I hit upon the idea of placing a few lockers in the building and providing a life-time locker to each donor who contributed a substantial amount. A few people gave $1,000, some $500, - many others less. The amount collected did not produce enough money to completely fund the building. I provided the shortage of about five thousand dollars.

Constructing the building and furnishing it "long distance" was quite a task. There were many, many hours spent. I was determined it would be a perfect show place when the first contingent of Florida Shooters arrived. I was most proud.

The building needed furniture - chairs which would not mildew during winter storage. It took three months to locate such chairs. I designed tables, bunk beds and gun racks which a cabinet shot I own built. I had them shipped to the building. This equipment still remains unpaid for.

When the contributions were solicited, locker ownership rules were provided as a part of the locker sale which, in effect, became what could be called a contractual agreement. These contributors would be the financers of the building. The locker was for life-time ownership. No locker could be sold. Each person relinquishing a locker was required to sell it back to the building supervisor who in turn resold it to the next person in line on the waiting list. In these many years I have had only two people request to be placed on the waiting list. I have had only one person relinquish his locker to me. (I suspect that a few lockers could have silently changes hands between friends.)

During these many years, the building has been run as follows. I say building, very few people are concerned with the building. To them the building is a shell with chairs. Most think only of the lockers. Regardless, there is a building, and there is much more to the building than most people are aware of, or even know about. First, there is a past and there is a future. I will describe the past, which mostly related to maintenance or janitor work. For surely, I have simply been more or less the caretaker or janitor these many years.

Each year I attend the Ohio State Shoot I air the building and clean it up. Being closed during inclement weather leaves the building in fairly bad condition. During Grand American Time, I give up a day before the tournament starts, and clean up the building and wash down chairs and furniture. I make necessary repairs just as any competent caretaker would do. Arriving early is important in order to get the building in shape for the early arriving shooters. I found out that very few of the F.T.A. officers arrive early - they usually do not arrive until Sunday - two days after the shoot has begun. People need to use their lockers on Friday and Saturday.

In the past, I was fortunate to have a long-time friend, Horace Steadman, the head linesman at the Grand, to sleep in the building as a night watchman until last year. He opened the building at 7:00 AM and closed it each night on hour after all shooting had ceased. Last year I gave Sam Lawrence a key who was good enough to open the building each morning at 7:00 AM.

Security

Security is a grave problem. It worries me so much that each night after dinner every year I would drive back to the grounds and inspect the building. On five occasions in the past I found the building wide open at 11 o'clock at night and no one in attendance. This brought about a definite need of key restrictions. Many shooters have thousands of dollars worth of guns stored in these lockers. Truly, if a thief wanted to, it would take less than two minutes to pull a car up to the back door and open the door with a crowbar - same with a locker. This is the main reason why I have not permitted a posting of locker names on the bulletin board. I have discouraged the nameplates on lockers. If a thief knows of an expensive gun and the particular locker, his jog is much easier.

Each year there is an Orange Juice Committee and a Party Committee appointed by the F.T.A. They operate freely and separately from the building maintenance. These committees have functioned well each year. I have kept myself in the background separate from these fine working committees.

Twice the building has been placed in jeopardy. First, there was consideration to lease the building during the Ohio State Shoot. It was necessary to put such efforts down. I agreed with the Executive Committee that the building would not be used commercially. Second, there were complaints that the expense of the building of approximately $800 per year was excessive and too much drain on the F.T.A. treasury for the use of a few days each year. This was especially true since only approximately 10% of the Florida Shooters attend the Grand. There were rumors and suggestions of selling the building. I felt that possibly my dream had created a burden on the Florida Shooters. I immediately wrote a letter to the Board of Directors and volunteered to pay all expenses each year for the duration of the building. Furthermore, I would include in my will a proviso to provide identical funds. Last year I paid these expenses.

Now, a new problem has developed. Some of the F.T.A. officers are disenchanted with me for not making people's lockers available to shooters. I do not have the authority to allow the use of other people's property without their consent. The locker owners I have polled have firmly stated that they would provide keys to those people they choose to use their lockers (property). I could no more issue a locker key than a parking attendant could to your car. I have at all times, honored the wishes of each individual locker owner in my position of caretaker. I have supported the condition under which these investors purchased their lockers. Therefore, I have been unjustly placed in an unpopular position of being in the middle which I consider most unfair.

I did not build the building as a "locker house". I built the building for a "comfort station" for us Florida Shooters. Lockers were incidental. They were a means of achieving financing and should not be an issue of controversy at this time, nor should there be any encroachment on these original investors. When a man contributes $200, $500, or $1000, he should say who is to use his property. When we solicited funds for the building, the F.T.A and Board of Directors took the position that there would be no money contributed by the F.T.A. (Shooter's Money), that the project would be a separate venture. Now the Board of Directors states it will take over the building and lockers and establish rules. This is a direct encroachment upon the privileges and rules under which the Shooters purchased the lockers.

If the Board of Directors state they are going to take over the building and lockers, why have they not also stated they will take over the outstanding indebtedness? The building project still owes me  $4,200, above my $1,200 contribution. In all fair play this must be a part of the intended take over. Can a single man or woman participate in a take over unless it is ethical?

I question whether there is justification of the expenditure of $800 of the Shooters' money being spent from the treasury each year when that money is available to them by a donor. This is a lot of money from your treasury for an average of five or six days each year.

Since the records reflect the separation of the F.T.A. from the project and the locker owners contributed under certain rules, some have now decided they will not accept the dictates and will engage a law firm to institute suit to determine who has the right to control locker rules if their protection is not confirmed at the annual meeting this year.

If there is a communication problem.... solve the communication problem! This is the proper approach and the solution to many problems.

Earlier, I said I would talk about the future. First, as older shooters will tell you, when the building was constructed, it created so much jealousy from other states that the A.T.A. Executive Committee passed a rule that no more state building could be constructed. When the lease renewal comes up soon, there could be problems. Don't let anyone tell you differently. Your Southern Zone Vice President is a fine man and will fight for your interests. Regardless, he is one man - fifty votes are present at the annual A.T.A meeting and only one has a state building, Florida. I am fully aware of possible problems. Last year I engaged a Dayton, Ohio, attorney to be available to represent us (at my expense).

Next, just how long does anyone think the rent will remain at $600 a month? The Florida building is on commercial rate. Previously, efforts to obtain a lesser rate were "shouted" down by those 50 A.T.A. delegates. Rents will possible be raised just as cost-of-living goes up. Regardless, when I committed to pay the rent yearly, I placed no ceiling on the payment.

Future improvements

Future improvements, - I plan to completely panel the sidewalls. After paneling, the walls will be used for History Display of Florida shooter's achievements...Picture framing of important "State" and "Grand" wins by Florida Shooters...Photos and new clips. It should be a show place. When the A.T.A. improves its sewer system to handle an addition to our building on the rear, I plan to add a ten foot section. One side for our own rest-rooms and the other side a kitchen. I have always planned to contribute this cost.

I do not enjoy being the janitor, cleaning the building each year, traveling up a day early, seeing that all repairs are made, paying the rent and expenses, but it was my dream. I feel responsible, and I will be there each year. Committees change, F.T.A. officers change, but I'll still be there. I'll be worrying about the security of your property after all the committee members and Board of Directors have gone home at night.

When I built the building I thought we would have one sanctuary where we would be free of politics and regimentation; where conflict would not exist. Had I any indication that any conflict would develop, I would never have built the building. Now, am I to be subjected to criticism and rejection for having produced for Florida what no other person could do for his state?

At this year's annual meeting let's proudly give a vote of confidence to those people who made this building possible by their financing, foresight, and hard work.

Thank you for taking the time to read this Shooters News.

Carl Mayhue