Outdoors with Don Q: Sad ending for a once great organization

The Ormsby Sportsmen's Association of Carson City has announced that it has disbanded and closed its doors after an existence of almost 70 years, beginning way back in August, 1945.

History:
For many, many years, OSA held monthly indoor meetings on the third Tuesday of every month, plus summer picnics in June-July-August-September and its Annual Banquet on the first Saturday night in December.

Speakers and programs:
Throughout the years at those monthly indoor meetings, OSA hosted a large number of guest speakers and some of their programs included:
Carol Bailey - The wildlife of Botswana, Africa
Kelly Clark - Conservation Education
Riley Clyde - Gun safety
Mickey Daniels - Mackinaw Trout fishing at Lake Tahoe
Bob Kettle - Snake Break training for your dog
Carl Lackey - Black Bear awareness in Nevada
Fred Messmann - Nevada boating safety
Willie Molini - Mining law reform
Don Sefton - Nevada's computerized big game hunting tags drawing system
Bob Tompkin - Cutthroat Trout fishing at Walker Lake
Chris Vassey - Trout in the classroom

Membership:
At one time, the organization was one of the largest and most active sportsmen's club in the State of Nevada, with a paid membership of more than 250 people and an attendance of about 175 at its annual banquet.
OSA actively supported and belonged to: Carson Valley Chukar Club, Ducks Unlimited (both the Carson City and Carson Valley Chapters), Mule Deer Foundation, Nevada Waterfowl Association, Nevada Wildlife Federation and Sierra Nevada Retriever Club.

Some of the club member activities included:
01. Annual big buck contest for members.
02. Annual fishing contest for members.
03. Annual Kids’ Fishing Derby at Lampe Park in Gardnerville.
04. Annual scholarship to Western Nevada College for a deserving student.
05. Assisting NDOW with planting trout in Ash Canyon.
06. Assisting NDOW with fish stockings in North Pond at the Mason Valley Wildlife Management Area.
07. Building guzzlers (rainwater catchments) for wildlife.
08. Goose nest project in Washoe Valley.
09. Hosting "Snake Break" training for dogs to avoid rattlesnakes.
10. Litter pickup on U.S. 50 at Spooner Summit.
11. Lobbying for NDOW at the Nevada State Legislature.
12. Lobbying for NDOW at the Nevada Wildlife Commission.
13. Members on the Carson City Advisory Board to Manage Wildlife.
14. Members serving as Hunter Education Instructors.

So with all of this, what went wrong?
Unfortunately, the answer to that question is complex, but here are some of the possible reasons why OSA no longer exists:
A. An aging hunting and fishing membership with no young blood entering and becoming active in the organization. In the old days, youngsters became interested in hunting and fishing by accompanying their dads or brothers.
B. Nowadays, many youngsters are growing up in a single parent family and when that parent is mom, there is usually no desire to hunt or fish.
C. And also nowadays, youngsters apparently are too busy texting or playing on their internet devices to be interested in the outdoors.
D. That aging membership has either passed away from old age or is no longer actively hunting and fishing.
E. That aging membership no longer attends club meetings and functions.
They seem to be more content to sit in front of their TV sets.
F. Society today seems to have more of a "What Can You Do For Me" mentality rather than "How Can I Become Involved." Sad but true.

For the record:
I have been a member of OSA for a long time, and have served as its President on four occasions: 1974 - 1992 - 1993 - 2008. I am one of a very few Honorary Life Members in the history of OSA.

Gone but not forgotten:
It is sad to see the end of a once flourishing organization, and it now goes into the history book, together with all of these others no longer with us:
Accruing good interest on your savings accounts.
Coin operated "one arm bandit" slot machines.
Dial telephones.
Doctors making home visits.
Drive-in theaters.
Dug's West Indies in Carson City.
Enrico's Bar and Restaurant on Carson Street.
Film for cameras.
Geo. H. Meyers hardware store on Carson Street.
Gilbert Drug Store on Carson Street.
Headlight dimmer switches on floorboards.
Home delivery of milk in glass bottles.
Hunter's Lodge Bar and Restaurant on Carson Street.
Leisure suits for men.
Manual typewriters.
Mapes Hotel in Reno.
Penguin in Carson City.
Phonograph Records (45's and 78's).
Pine Cone Cafe on Carson Street.
Politicians working together rather than pointing fingers at each other.
Pozzi Motor Company on Carson Street.
Rumble seats on cars.
Slide rulers for engineers.
Students painting the "C" annually on "C" Hill in Carson City.
Tahoe Beer made in Carson City.
Telephone booths on street corners.
The "I Love Lucy" TV show.
Unlocked doors at home and on your vehicles.
V&T Railroad running between Carson City and Reno.
White Hills Ski Area at Spooner Summit.
Woolworth's Department Store in Reno.
Etc., etc., etc.

Sadly:
Now you can add the Ormsby Sportsmen's Association to that list.

— Don Quilici is the Outdoor editor for Carson Now. Don's wife, Elaine Quilici, is the Outdoor photographer. They live in Carson City and can be reached at donquilici@hotmail.com.