The distribution of the new permanent Club Badges is going very well. Over 2,000 Club Members have picked up their badge and there are four more days scheduled for folks to pick up their badge. These days are Saturday, July 19th from 9AM to 1PM as well as Tuesdays July 8, 22 and 29 from 6PM to 8PM.
Several Members have asked how the new Badge system is going to work. This article will cover all of the questions we have heard as of this writing.
How Do I Enter the Main Gate?
A new card reader has been installed at the main gate. It is temporarily mounted to the panel that houses the old keypad. At some point, the old panel will be removed and a taller keypad mount will be installed. Some folks driving taller trucks have quite a stretch to reach the card reader.
To enter the Club, just hold your “smart card” Badge close to the card reader. The gate will open a few seconds later. Although the new card reader also has a keypad, the Badge alone will open the gate. Members won’t be using the keypad. (More on the new keypad later in this article.)
Can I Still Follow Someone Through the Gate?
Yes, but stop long enough “flash” your badge. This logs you into the system. You don’t have to wait until the gate closes and reopen it.
Do I Still Have to Sign In?
No, although it’s possible you may have to in the future, if you bring guests. Sign-in is no longer required for Members since they are logged into the system when they use their Badge to open the Club gate. (If multiple Members are in one vehicle, each person is to scan their Badge.) The Board is currently evaluating whether the names of guests should/must be captured for insurance purposes. Remember, PSC membership is a family membership that includes the Primary Member, his/her spouse, and kids up to the age of 21 years (23 years if in college). Your family, as defined above, are not “guests.”
Do I Wear the New Badge?
Yes, Members are to wear the new Badge when on Club property. This is how Club Range Officers can distinguish between Members and non-members attending events open to the public. The badge will also be used on each range as detailed below.
Will I Get a New Badge Each Year?
No, that is one of the major reasons we went to this new system. Printing and mailing badges every year cost the Club over $10,000 annually. This does not count the cost to remail badges to the 30% of Members who didn’t get their Badge in the first mailing. We have also been asked if Members who do not renew their membership will still be able to open the Club gate. Nope . . . we will simply disable that Member’s card.
How Will People Attending Club Events Open the Gate?
That’s what the new keypad is for, but there’s a significant change. Each match or event will have a separate PIN code to enter. Those codes will only be active on specific dates and during specific times. For example, if non-members are attending the Outlaw Match, the PIN for that match will only be active from 6AM until 9:30AM on the 3rd Saturday of each month. If a match is cancelled, the PIN code will not work for that day. Non-members using the keypad need to be sure to press the "enter" buttonn after entering the PIN code for an event.
Why Are Card Readers On Ranges 1 and 2?
They are part of the Club’s effort to track range usage. When Members had to sign-in, they were required to list the range(s) they were going to use. Most Members listed one range and they may or may not shoot on more than one range. With card readers on all ranges, we get better information to use for budgeting for maintenance, expansion, updating, etc. of all Club facilities.
So Members need to “swipe” their card on each range they use. Currently, we have readers on Ranges 1 and 2, but they will be installed on the remaining ranges in the near future. Here is the location for the Range 1 reader and here is the location for the Range 2 reader currently installed.
If you have family or friends who are PSC Members who have not picked up their new "smart" Badges, please tell them to check the Club webpate for the remaining badge distribution dates.