Hello Members,
Help is needed on Saturday morning (6/13) starting at 8:00 to set up for the 3D archery shoot. If you can make it come and get some work hours in.
Thank you.
Author: cscadmin
David John von Holtz, CSC Lifetime member
David’s Obituary
David John von Holtz, Sr., 77, of New Haven, passed away Saturday morning, August 2, at Crouse Hospital in Syracuse.
Born in Oswego, New York, Dave was a beloved son, brother, cousin, uncle, father, grandfather, husband, and friend. Known for his humor and outgoing spirit, he had a unique ability to connect with people from all walks of life. His warmth, generosity, and larger-than-life personality left a lasting impression on everyone who knew him.
Dave proudly served in the U.S. Army from 1966 to 1969. He completed training at Fort Dix, New Jersey, and the Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland, before being stationed with the 703rd Maintenance Battalion in Aschaffenburg, Germany, as part of the 3rd Infantry Division.
He was the former owner of Dave’s Bug Shop and Up Your Alley Pro Shop in Oswego, and also worked at Great Lakes Veneer and later at Emmi Farms in Baldwinsville. He was a graduate of St. Mary’s School, Oswego High School, and held an associate degree from SUNY Morrisville.
A passionate outdoorsman, Dave found joy and peace in nature through hunting, fishing, and farming. He was a longtime member of the Clay Sportsman’s Club and served for many years as a hunting instructor and outfitter. His love for the outdoors lives on in the memories of those he inspired.
Dave was also a lifelong sports and racing enthusiast and a former race car driver. He especially cherished his time at dirt tracks with his brother Jim. One of his greatest joys was supporting his grandchildren’s athletic endeavors—often traveling great distances just to cheer them on. His absence will be deeply felt at future sporting events.
He is survived by his loving wife, Barbara Schmitt von Holtz; one daughter, Rebecca Lynch of Indianapolis, IN; two sons, David J. (Laurel Fischer) von Holtz, Jr., of New Haven, and Brian M. (Jayne Danzer) von Holtz of Scriba; two brothers, Alexander “Chuck” von Holtz of Sterling and James (Terri) von Holtz of Phoenix; six granddaughters, Katie Lynch, Annika Lynch, Reatha von Holtz, Alexa von Holtz, Paelyn von Holtz, and Presley von Holtz; one grandson, Parker von Holtz; and several nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his brother, Frederick von Holtz, and his parents, Alexander and Helen M. Schneider von Holtz.
Calling hours will be held Thursday, August 7, from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Dain-Cullinan Funeral Home. A private family burial will take place at New Haven Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Cleveland Clinic Foundation or the First Hunt Foundation.
To send a flower arrangement in memory of David J. von Holtz, please click here to visit our sympathy store.
JOHN CHOMYSZAK OBITUARY
John retired from Verizon after nearly 38 years of service, starting in the mail room and working up to management. John was passionate about teaching others, whether it was during his years at the telephone company or simply demonstrating how to tie a fishing line knot to his son-in- law, Josh. He formed many long-lasting friendships through work and his hobbies. He was an avid outdoorsman, who loved bowhunting, fishing, boating, golf, and bowling. He cherished spending time with his grandchildren, Brielle and Brooks, his pride and joy. John also treasured spending each day with his dog, Riley, his loyal sidekick. Cape Cod, MA was his “happy place” where he enjoyed spending time with his family on vacations for over 40 years. He is predeceased by his mother, Marilyn Bolles Rushford; father, John G. Chomyszak; uncles, Donald Chomyszak and Fran Bolles; his brothers, F. Brent Chomyszak and Jeffrey Chomyszak and brother-in-law, Eugene DeRycke. He leaves behind his wife of 39 years, Loretta (DeRycke) Chomyszak; his daughters, Amanda Chomyszak and Callie (Joshua) Paine; along with his grandchildren, Brielle and Brooks, who affectionally called him “Papa”. John is also survived by his sisters, Pamela Chomyszak and Patricia Buckley; his brother, Andrew Rushford; sister-in-law, Tanya Chomyszak; cousins, Donna (Brendan) Gilroy and Stephen (Nancy) Chomyszak; father and mother-in-law, Harold and Earleen DeRycke; sister-in-law Colleen (Edward) Smith; brother-in-law, Vincent (Roseann) DeRycke; two aunts, Linda Chomyszak and Mary Jane Bolles; many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, October 21, 2022 at 11 a.m. in St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, 3494 State Route 31, Baldwinsville, NY 13027. The Rite of Committal and burial will follow at Pine Plains Cemetery, Clay, NY. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to American Cancer Society or Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation. Please sign the funeral home on-line guest book for John to express your condolences to his family.
Gerald “Jerry” Rrodoski Obituary
Gerald Rodoski November 7, 2022 Gerald F. “Jerry” Rodoski, 81, a longtime resident of Clay, died peacefully on Monday, Nov. 7, at St. Camillus Rehabilitation Center after a brief illness. Jerry was born April 19, 1941, in Jamestown, N.Y,, a son of John and Wanda Przybelinski Rodoski.
He was educated in Jamestown schools. He married Mary Ellen Steffen on April 20, 1963, in Bemus Point, N.Y., a loving union of almost 60 years. He spent his entire career in the baking industry, starting out at Firch’s Baking Company in Jamestown and moving on to companies in North Carolina and Georgia. He was a sanitation manager at Penny Curtiss Baking Company in Syracuse for more than 20 years before retiring in 2007. He most recently worked as a courtesy driver with Driver’s Village, a job that was a perfect fit with his outgoing and gregarious nature. Jerry knew someone everywhere he went and was always quick with a joke or two. He fiercely loved and was devoted to his family, and everything he did in life was for their benefit. He always told his children and grandchildren “watch your damn driving” -his way of saying “I love you.” Jerry was a member of the Clay Fire Department for many years, including serving as captain of the fire police. He was a member of Sacred Heart Church in Cicero and volunteered as an usher there. He was also a fourth-degree member of the Knights of Columbus and a member of the Clay Sportsman’s Club.
Surviving are his loving wife, Mary Ellen; two daughters, Valerie (Jeff) Moore of Pennellville and Diane (John) Gibbons of Brewerton; a son, Dennis (Kelly) Rodoski of Liverpool; three grandchildren, Ashley Gibbons (Ethan Faulter), Brian Gibbons (Diana Fusco) and Madeleine Rodoski; two brothers-in-law, Patrick (Jeannie) Steffen of Ashville, N.Y. and Michael (Lisa) Steffen of Bemus Point, N.Y., and several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his parents, a brother, Gene Rodoski, and a sister, Sandra Currah. Visitation will take place on Sunday November 13th from 1-4 PM at New Comer Cremations & Funerals, N. Syracuse. A funeral mass will be held Monday, November 14th at 10 AM at Sacred Heart Church. Burial will follow in Pine Plains Cemetery, Clay. To leave a special message for the family, please visit www.newcomersyracuse.com
Indoor Archery Rules
3D Shoot at CSC April 25, 2021
CSC December News
Dear Clay Sportsmans Club Members,
Due to the increase in Covid cases in the area and the new restrictions concerning the number of people allowed to gather we will not be having our December meeting. We are also canceling the Christmas Party that was scheduled for December 19th. We have also made the tough decision to not have any organized archery leagues this coming year.
None of these decisions were come to lightly and we understand there may be some frustration because of these decisions but they have been made with the best interest of the club and it’s members in mind. Hopefully things will start to turn around soon and we can get back to our normal routine. For now, stay safe and stay healthy.
Merry Christmas and God Bless to you all!
Things will be better Spring 2021
By Laws Change to Article V, section 4
Members,
The Board of Directors after discussion on how to provide a less difficult means to conduct club business which includes but is not limited to:
Yearly Club Elections for the Board of Directors which require the above stated quorum and Passing the Yearly Club Operating Budget which requires the above stated quorum.
The proposed change to Article M section 4 will also address all other important club business that may arise before our organization and which the Board of Directors does not have the authority to address without general membership approval. An example of this would be the need to fix a part of our building such as the roof and the cost to do so is S7,000.00. All reasonable members will agree this is a big ticket item and needs membership approval. The Board has authority to approve a transaction that does not exceed 5250.00 but this item would be a large item of importance that the membership should be advised of and vote on. With our membership numbers increasing over the past two decades, it has become more difficult to attain a quorum at general meetings as we are approaching a quorum that requires nearly 60 members and it will exceed that number in the near future with more members reaching life membership status and allowing other new members to be join the general membership which now stands at 140 members.
After discussing this issue and trying to decide what is in the best interests of our organization-the Board is presenting the following as a by-laws change to Article M section 4 of our Clay Sportsman’s Club By-laws. If approved by a quorum that is stated above, this would change to the following:
Article M sec. 4 – A quorum will consist of forty (40) total members in good standing and must be present in order to vote on any Club Business.
THE RIGHT TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS
The second amendment of the U. S. Constitution reads: “A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a Free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” The Puritans fled persecution in Great Britain by coming to America. Once here they set in place laws requiring every family to own a gun, to carry it in public places, and to train their children in how to use their firearms. The colony of Virginia in 1619, had statutes requiring everyone to bear arms. And, Connecticut law in 1650 required every man above the age of 16 to possess, “a good musket or other gun, fit for service.” The laws of early America are very clear about the responsibility of citizens keeping and bearing arms. It was the people who were responsible for their own defense and freedoms and they needed to be prepared to fight for them. Thomas Jefferson said, “The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.” At that time, there was no concept of a professional army, created and paid to defend the colonies. George Mason, known as the father of the Bill of Rights, said, “What is the militia? It is the whole people. To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them.” In the mid seventeen hundreds with the approach of the American Revolution, the natural rights philosophers had established the foundations for self-defense. Every man’s life, they said, belongs to God, and to allow ones life to be taken because one failed to defend it was wrong. This was known as the natural law to the right of self-defense and was also applied to the duty to protect one’s family, community and national liberties. For the colonists, at the heart of their religion was liberty, a sacred gift from God. For the most part, the colonial churches, particularly New England’s Congregational congregations, believed that to revolt against tyrants, such as King George, was to obey God. This belief may have had its roots in the Old Testament accounts of Israel’s wars for freedom, but it became a powerful fire that impassioned the citizenry. At one point King George, fearful the colonies were gaining too much of an appetite for independence tried to persuade the colonists to compromise and get back in line with an empty promise of peace. He was almost successful until in January of 1776, Thomas Paine published his Pamphlet on Common Sense in which he not only called for but rationalized the need for liberty from the oppression of Great Britain, reigniting the zeal for revolution and independence. Over 500,000 copies were printed and released in the first year of printing. The premise that security from the tyranny of government was a religious belief as it was a God given right brought huge numbers of citizens together with a common goal. That same belief has continued to influence Americans’ views about the right to keep and bear arms even to today. Incumbent upon each of us is the responsibility, to know factually, where our rights begin and end and to be able to stand against governmental tyranny when those rights are infringed upon. For me, it is without question, that the second amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America assures me the right to keep and bear arms freely as a God given right to maintain life, liberty, and security against anyone, especially the tyranny of our own government. That said, it should be further noted that individual colonies (states) are granted the right to establish laws and statutes to govern their own populations. These laws and statutes cannot however negate the U.S. Constitution. When raising my daughters I always told them that the time to decide on a principle is not in the heat of battle. The non-negotiables of their life should be established before pressure comes to bear, and be based on solid, arguable positions. That doesn’t mean there won’t be opposition or difference of opinion. It does mean we must be able to back our position with facts. To this end, I’m attaching a copy of the Firearms Laws for NYS so you can educate yourself and develop your own position concerning – Your Right to Keep and Bear Arms. I’ve also included a section for NYC Firearms Laws as well as they differ from the state laws. Obviously, this is not my usual type of monthly web sight entry, but based on current events, I believe we are at a point where a stand will be forced on us and I for one would prefer to have the chance to stand first on words and at the ballot box. Success there will insure not having to stand in the heat of a real battle. “We the people”… means this is a basic God given right of all citizens. Therefore as you decide on your position, consider that you are doing so for the corporate good of our citizenry. This means that even if you wish not to own or carry a gun yourself, the rights of your family and friends, neighbors and fellow countrymen still remain valid and require you to help them uphold that liberty, just as they are required to help you uphold yours. “One Nation, Under God, Indivisible, With Liberty and Justice for All!” May God Bless you, and May God continue to Bless America. (www.nraila.org) NYS Gun Laws
Opening Day – D. Erhard
I sat in my dining room with an old friend a few autumns ago and we hashed over memories of all the old fishing adventures we shared together. All too few included full creels and monster catches but somehow ribbing each other about our failures seemed to tie our friendship knot that much tighter. Eventually he spoke of his illness, financial burdens, and family problems and how life just wasn’t all he had hoped it would be. I spoke of some of my own troubles and frustrations and also questioned my future and whether the tread mill would ever slow down. After a few minutes of silence he looked up and softly said, “That’s why we go fishin’ my friend.” He was right of course. Throughout the entire previous fishing season one problem or obligation after another kept us from opening day trout than opening day pike than opening day bass. Somehow my priorities didn’t include taking time to go fishin’ with an old and good friend because I’d forgotten what fishin’ was really all about. I decided then and there to reassess my priorities and make it up to him next season. So, early in the morning of, Opening Day,” 2007, I regretfully had to visit my friend at his grave, apologizing for being too late. Leaving the cemetery on my way to work I could still hear him saying, “That’s why we go fishin’ my friend.” Priorities. We all have them. Do yours include an opening day here or there? To your wife, maybe opening day is your anniversary. Maybe your daughter’s opening day is her dance recital. Maybe you’re lucky enough to have a son looking for an opening day of fishin’ with you, just building memories. Or, like me, maybe a dear old friend could have lived his last fishin’ adventure and you would have gotten those good memories forever.