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About AIHPA
AIHPA is an incorporated Association with the Dept of Fair Trading. It was founded in 2004 after changes in shooting direction and structures of service shooting in Australia.
The information about AIHPA forthwith is not the constitution, or is it meant to represent it. Following is general information about AIHPA that is stood by and used as a means of guiding the association into the future.
A copy of the constitution is available to AIHPA members only, and always remains the property of AIHPA.
AIHPA was started by small group of dedicated shooters who had a vision:
 | Promote local, inter-state and international competition using universally accepted, and highly popular, disciplines contested around the world, |
| Compete on an equal basis with other international shooting associations, |
| Appeal to a large group of existing shooters, not all of whom are currently participating in competitive shooting, |
| Create a fun and challenging competitive environment, |
| Work alongside and support other, similar, disciplines, |
| Affiliate where ever possible and practical with peak bodies who share the same vision, locally and internationally, |
| Endorse a civilian marksmanship type program of skills for the competent, responsible and sportsman ownership of firearms. |
The highly successful and competitive High Power service and match rifle and pistol disciplines from other countries around the world are a perfect fit for these ideals and vision.
| To promote local and international competitive shooting, |
| Affiliating with international shooting associations, thus allowing competitors to have official international score recognition, and allowing Australian members to compete against some of the best shooters in the world, |
| Affiliating with local Australian sporting and shooting associations, as required, for further benefits to members in line with, and beyond, AIHPA objectives, |
| Assisting with the education of members regarding the safe and responsible use of firearms for practice and competition purposes, |
| Supporting shooting clubs, associations and branches across Australia in the promotion, and hosting, of High Power events, |
| Campaign for shooters rights and the legitimate ownership of semi-automatic firearms for any sporting purposes. |
| Ranking and selection of representative teams for interstate, national and international competition, |
| Applying the High Power shooting rules, and the local rules applicable within Australia, in such a way that it maximises exposure and growth to the sport without discrimination or deteriorating of the core discipline, |
| Assisting with the supply of High Power educational, reference and related material to local shooting clubs and individual shooters, |
| Campaign, whenever possible, retailers and suppliers for member benefits. |
| Promotion of the High Power courses of fire, |
| Development and maintenance of the discipline through rules administration, match sanctioning, classification and qualification programs, |
| Maintain simple and uncostly communication with members, |
| Education of members and clubs regarding High Power discipline shooting, |
| Assisting with the organisation of High Power competitions, |
| Skills development within the membership and the sharing of information, |
| International and national club and association liaison, |
| Sourcing and supply of required materials to run shooting events, |
| Maintaining the Association and Discipline website. |
AIHPA is an incorporated Association, run for shooters, by shooters. AIHPA is apolitical and seeks to be as inclusive as possible, and not elitist or exclusionist to any legitimate, honest and positive sportsman shooter.
Initial founding members and elected committee members will act on behalf of the members’ and associations’ best interests.
AIHPA will be run in accordance with its rules – the constitution. This constitution, policies, and resolutions of meetings, will be used by the association in the best interests of its objectives.
The following graph shows the AIHPA hierarchy. For the association to function, it is not necessary for all positions to be filled. Un-filled positions become known as “vacant”. As a minimum, the association only needs an elected or accepted leader, who would assume the role as President. It is permitted that one person may hold more than one position.
Founders of the association are always part of the association, even if not in possession of an office position. The founders act on an equal level to the president.
Terms:
“Executive”
is made up of President, SVP, JVP, Secretary and Treasurer.
“Committee” refers to all of the Executive and Committee members.
“Officers” are all titled positions.
Note: Not all positions are required to be filled, and multiple positions may be held by the same person. Also, some positions may be held by temporary appointees.
Membership:
Membership of AIHPA is not restricted to licensed shooters
only. Anybody who shares the views of AIHPA may join to become a member and
share in this international movement. Although there are many reasons for
people to join AIHPA, typically the reason is related to shooting sports and
activities.
AIHPA offers shooters membership that is unique, and very inexpensive, considering the scope of this international association. The small membership cost for this pure shooting association is a small sacrifice and is certainly well within reach of every active shooter.
AIHPA members specifically enjoy the following benefits:
- Participation in AIHPA events under the conditions of the event,
- Participation in
Internationally accredited events,
- Eligible for sanctioned event titles and trophies,
- Have their classification (grading) recognised at events,
- Qualification marksmanship programs,
- National rankings,
- any other AIHPA benefits as they arise
Non-Members
(Visitors):
Anybody may contest, or practice, HP shooting at their club.
These activities are the responsibility of the club and are not a concern of
AIHPA.
Any non-member may contest AIHPA events, subject to the conditions of that event. Exceptions to this are for those events specifically prohibiting non-member eligibility or participation.
Non-members may be offered the option to pay a “non-member fee” or a “temporary registration” fee at certain AIHPA events to be eligible for trophies or titles.
Joining:
Applying to join AIHPA is by way of an application form
(available from the website). Joining terms are annual, however membership
can be for multiple years.
It is the ambition of AIHPA that every shooter interested in multi-position, mulit-distance sporting & target shooting will take up membership, not just because it is international, but because we offer a well structured and credible shooting association for the better of the sport, and the competitor.
AFFILIATIONS
AIHPA, as an administrative shooting association, is
affiliated with associations and clubs around the world to network shooting
sports and competition for the benefit and exposure of Australian members
and shooters. AIHPA will work closely with any shooting clubs and associations, big and
small, around the world, in the best interests of its members.
INSURANCE
AIHPA’s
insurance is by way of affiliation to an Australian peak body. This affiliation
offers our members, and the association, the comfort of an insurance policy
for full cover of all shooting events, shooting activities, property damage,
accidents and third party (refer insurance section).
EVENTS
Most AIHPA shooting activities and events are held and
organised by “host clubs” on our behalf. Hosts control of the event, and
run the event to the best of their capacity. Hosts must not supersede AIHPA
event guidelines, or conduct the event such that it may render the event
ineligible to offer the title, or disqualify the events international
sanction.
AIHPA events are run at various clubs around the country from year to year. The same event does not necessarily always get run at the same range or club or run the same time.
PRIVACY
Members are bound to protect any sensitive information they
may be exposed to or receive under any circumstances.
On joining AIHPA, members agree to receive promotional and informational mail outs.
Member details are kept privately by the association, and may only be revealed to a officer where contact is required to be made with a member for the sole purpose of AIHPA business.
Appointment or election of AIHPA office bearers (executive, committee or volunteers) automatically rules that member details be made available to members for making contact. Details must immediately be nominated by the appointee otherwise details used by default will be the Telephone number, e-mail address and a contact phone number.
Officer details beyond the above will be kept private, per above, unless permission approves otherwise.
WHERE
WE OPERATE
This
discipline, and its strings or matches, can be shot anywhere or by any club
if the range template allows. It is encouraged that all ranges and clubs at
least try this discipline course of fire.
AIHPA, as an administrative body, can sanction club matches and accept scores for shooter classification and qualification. Also, if the event is approved by AIHPA, the event may also be used towards HP rankings and/or used on the HP National Tour.
All, or any, ranges that can support this discipline, or any part thereof, are encouraged to contact AIHPA for any advice or peripheral equipment (such as targets etc.). AIHPA will support all the efforts by clubs to ensure a successful exhibition, that will hopefully become a regularly run event. AIHPA will also do its best to provide an experienced representative to attend, and assist, the host club if required.