Membership Information

Interested in Membership?

After looking at different sections on our website, you have seen that our chapter has a lot to offer.

An Olympic Archery range

A shotgun range with 4 fields (1 trap only and 3 skeet or trap)

An indoor air rifle range

A 17-point outdoor rifle and pistol range with target placements at 25, 50, 75, and 100 yards

An indoor archery range

Three outdoor field archery ranges (two 14-point walking and one sighting-in ranges that also includes a crossbow sighting station)

A catch-and-release pond for fishing and campgrounds

Picnic areas with pavilions, a playground, and a playing field

To use the facilities you need to be a member, an escorted guest of a member, or be attending an open special event, such as:

Our annual ladies-only “Women on Target” event

A monthly bull’s-eye pistol match

A seasonal monthly Service Rifle match

A monthly Bull Run Muzzleloaders shoot

High Power rifle practice

Amateur Trapshooting Association or National Skeet Shooting Association ‘registered target’ shoots

A junior in one of our Youth Activities programs

NOVA Sharpshooters for Sporter or Precision Air Rifle

The Queen Ann Archers

Junior Olympic Archery Development

Members have use of the range facilities when range safety officers are present for the firearms ranges.  Members may bring a given guest up to three times a year and up to four guests at a time.  Some ranges will have a guest fee.  The member may bring their immediate family members as a guest an unlimited number of times and family members are not charged guest fees.

To become a member you first get a reservation and then attend a Prospective Membership Orientation Class (PMOC), typically held the first Saturday morning of March, starting at 9:00 am (be there by 8:30 am) in the Chapter field house.  The second PMOC is usually the first Thursday evening (starting at 7:30 PM but get there a bit early) of April.  If sufficient openings remain, additional classes would be scheduled using a similar alternating schedule.  This approach was developed as an accommodation to the many prospective members in the area with weekend commitments such as military reserve duty. 

The orientation class lasts about three hours.  We cover the history and goals of the organization and our range rules and procedures, including our safety rules for firearms and archery tackle use. 

Each PMOC is limited to one hundred students to ensure the quality of instruction.  A reservation is required (supplied via email from the Membership Director) to attend a PMOC. The Arlington Fairfax Chapter is limited to 2200 active memberships, and typically reaches that cap within a few classes each season. Prospective members who have completed a training class are allowed to join the following year during the January to March timeframe if they were unable to join in their class year due to the membership cap.  An opportunity to join another facility in the general area sooner might be found at http://www.iwla.org/chapters/Chapter_0809.pdf which is a listing of IWLA Chapters nation-wide.  There is no reciprocity between Virginia IWLA Chapters, so joining another Chapter will not get someone privileges for the Arlington Fairfax Chapter.

After attending the orientation class, you may complete an application and pay the fees by cash or check.

The initiation fee is $175 (a one-time fee as long as your membership is continuous)

Plus the dues for an annual membership

Individual memberships are $170 per year

Includes use of the facilities for members of your household when accompanied by you

Family memberships

Defined as two adults (18 or older) living in the same household who will come (and vote) separately; $265 per year.

Prospective members should bring a check or cash for their initiation fee and first year’s membership dues.

Annual membership period runs from January 1 to December 31.

Dues are pro-rated semi-annually, determined by the month you join.

The chapter has made provisions to preserve the continuity of membership for those who deploy out of the area in the service of our country, such as Departments of Defense and State who must rotate overseas.

After having attended an orientation class and paying your dues and initiation fee ($345 for an individual and $440 for a family membership in 2010), we ask all our new members to provide six hours of volunteer labor around the property, usually coordinated through our groundskeeper, Rick Kohne. Temporary range badges will be issued to allow you to use chapter facilities after you have been voted in as a member.  When you have completed your six hours, you are eligible to receive your permanent range badge.

Finally, you need to be voted in at a General Membership meeting, typically held at 7:30 pm on the third Tuesday of each month.  Arrangements can be made to vote people into the club in absentia who are unable to attend a Membership meeting.

To contact us and get the most current information, send an email to the Membership Chairman Jim Showalter or the Membership Secretary.

Thank you for your interest in our club.  We will look forward to seeing you at an upcoming prospective New Member Orientation Meeting.

James Showalter

Membership Chairman.

Arlington-Fairfax Chapter, Inc.