As someone new to this sport, I thought I had to add a few opinions to this post. Being my first year I have no information about attendance or participation, but I can share some information from a rookie's eyes. I had wanted to get into this sport for sometime. I called around, got the time and place for the first match and decided to go. Before the relay, the match director announced we were rookies. Kind of intimidating at first, but probably one of the best things that has happened to me. While only shooting factory class, shooters came from everywhere to introduce themselves and to offer help and guidance. The hardest thing for a new shooter to do is to take the first step, get up off the couch and go compete in a match. The second fear factor is knowing you are going to run into some of the best shooters that this sport has to offer. I have been to 21 matches this year, shooing factory class in most, but now have two of everything in VFS. In order to keep the new shooters comming back I do think there needs to be some form of recognition for the rookie class and especially the junior class. Both of these classes are where the future of this sport lies. Do these awards have to be expensive? Definitely not! Just a little something, a pin, ribbon, or a certificate to let the newbie know he made the right decision in not staying at home watching the ball game or cutting the grass. This would help to work on the problem of declining attendance. I have told others about this club and its members and they now have five more people show up at their monthly matches than they had before. The same way referees are appointed, ask for volunteers for the target crews, been there done that, and it has given me a greater appreciation for what the crew does and how much it takes to pull off a successful match. Seemed to occupy some of the idle time and provided an opportunity to meet and make even more friends. I would much rather get a pin, or a ribbon, or a patch, or a small piece of wood for placing than money, but that's just me. I did recently get some wood, and while it has been to work with me and to just about everyone I know, it now rests proudly on my wall. My target was protested by another shooter, he didn't call the protest because he hought he had beaten me, he called it because he thought I shot a 25X instead of a 24. While that little piece of wood covers a small place on the wall--that memory will continue to fill the entire room. Win, loose, wood ,pin, cerificate, or nothing.. I always come out a winner!! I get to shoot with a lot of new friends and best of all I get to share all of these matches with my 16 year old son at the bench next to me, who by he way--shoots left-handed. My first ever VFS match was ironically, Father's Day. Whatever happens with the awards, thanks for the honor to shoot at your clubs. The real recognition should go to the people who make these matches happen. Thank you.