Dear UNS Member,
Enclosed find a copy of the recently revised UNS Official Club Rules. They were reworked & approved by the club’s board of directors effective 5.21.2022 They go into effect as of that date and will be strictly enforced. All members are expected to read the rules and to be aware of the changes.
We now have as large a membership as we have ever had. Because of this the facilities are more heavily used especially during the summer. Increased usage leads to additional stress on grounds and staff. This has prompted your board of directors to update the club rules which have not had major changes in some time.
Club rules are now organized with clear headings and categories that make them easier to find. Much of the document deals with usage of our facilities including shooting ranges, waterfront and boat launch, and campground. Other areas of the document have to do with general topics including membership, joining the club, fees, guest policies, and a section on pets. Also note the changes to the campsite layout down by the lakeside.
Careful thought has been put into the new rules and how we will operate. With our property containing both shooting ranges and waterfront, the safety of our members and guests is paramount. We also need to keep in mind the club’s legal liability. Finally the board wants the property to continue to stay well maintained.
Please bear in mind we are a private club with one of our goals being furthering the conservation of our natural resources. We appreciate you being a member and hope our facilities meets your expectations as an attractive place to enjoy the outdoors.
Respectfully,
Thomas Wasbotten
President UNS Conservation Club
Covid-19 Preparedness Plan
COVID-19 Preparedness Plan for United Northern Sportsmen’s Club
United Northern Sportsmen’s Club (UNS) is committed to providing a safe and healthy workplace for all our volunteers and members (For this plan, volunteers is defined as those members who have been assigned specific duties and responsibilities by the UNS board or its assignees.) To ensure we have as safe and healthy facility, we have developed the following COVID-19 Preparedness Plan in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Volunteers are responsible for implementing this plan. Our goal is to mitigate the potential for transmission of COVID-19 in our workplaces and communities, and that requires full cooperation among our Volunteers and members. Only through this cooperative effort can we establish and maintain the safety and health of our Volunteers and members.
Volunteers are responsible for implementing and complying with all aspects of this COVID-19
Preparedness Plan. Volunteers have our full support in enforcing the provisions of this policy.
Our Volunteers and members are our most important assets. We are serious about safety and health and keeping our Volunteers working. Volunteers involvement is essential in developing and implementing a successful COVID-19 Preparedness Plan. Our COVID-19 Preparedness Plan follows Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) guidelines, federal OSHA standards related to COVID-19 and Executive Order 20-48, and addresses:
- hygiene and respiratory etiquette;
- engineering and administrative controls for social distancing;
- cleaning, disinfecting, decontamination and ventilation;
- prompt identification and isolation of sick persons;
- communications and training that will be provided to managers and workers; and
- management and supervision necessary to ensure effective implementation of the plan.
- protection and controls for pick-up, drop-off and delivery;
Screening and policies for Volunteers and members exhibiting signs and symptoms of COVID-19
Volunteers have been informed of and encouraged to self-monitor for signs and symptoms of COVID-19. The following policies and procedures are being implemented to assess workers’ health status prior to entering the workplace and for workers to report when they are sick or experiencing symptoms. Volunteers will self-screen if they feel any symptoms of any disease including COVID-19 and promptly inform appropriate board members of their situation and not proceed to the facility.
UNS has also implemented a policy for informing workers if they have been exposed to a person with COVID-19 at their workplace and requiring them to quarantine for the required amount of time. Volunteers and members will be notified promptly in the event of any identification or exposure to COVID-19 at UNS.
In addition, a policy has been implemented to protect the privacy of workers’ health status and health information. Identities and health status of all volunteers and members will be protected.
Hand washing
Basic infection prevention measures are being implemented at our facilities at all times. Volunteers are instructed to wash or sanitize their hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water or hand sanitizer frequently throughout the day, but especially at the beginning and end of their shift, prior to any mealtimes and after using the toilet. All customers and visitors to the workplace will be required to wash or sanitize their hands prior to or immediately upon entering the facility. Hand-sanitizer dispensers (that use sanitizers of greater than 60% alcohol) are at entrance to bathrooms so they can be used for hand hygiene in place of soap and water, as long as hands are not visibly soiled.
Respiratory etiquette: Cover your cough or sneeze
Volunteers and members are instructed to cover their mouth and nose with their sleeve or a tissue when coughing or sneezing and to avoid touching their face, in particular their mouth, nose and eyes, with their hands. They should dispose of tissues in provided trash receptacles and wash or sanitize their hands
immediately afterward. Respiratory etiquette will be demonstrated on posters and supported by making tissues and trash receptacles available to all workers, customers and visitors.
Social distancing
Social distancing of six feet minimum will be implemented and maintained between Volunteers and members at the UNS facilities through the following engineering and administrative controls:
Instruction to maintain minimum 6 feet distancing and widely spaced campsites according to MN DNR guidelines.
Campground capacity may be reduced in order to accommodate greater distance.
Cleaning, disinfection, and ventilation
Regular housekeeping practices are being implemented, including routine cleaning and disinfecting of work surfaces, and areas in the facility environment, including restrooms, lunchrooms. Frequent cleaning and disinfecting will be conducted in high-touch areas such as door handles etc.
Appropriate and effective cleaning and disinfectant supplies have been purchased and are available for use in accordance with product labels, safety data sheets and manufacturer specifications and are being used with required personal protective equipment for the product. The maximum amount of fresh air is being brought into the restrooms and ventilation systems are being properly used and maintained.
Communications and training
This COVID-19 Preparedness Plan was communicated volunteers and necessary training was provided. Additional communication and training will be ongoing and provided to all volunteers who did not receive the initial training. Volunteers and members will also be advised not to enter the facilities if they are experiencing symptoms or have contracted COVID-19. Volunteers are to monitor how effective the program has been implemented by. Volunteers are to work through this new program together and update the training as necessary. This COVID-19 Preparedness Plan has been certified by the UNS board and was posted throughout the facilities June 5, 2020. It will be updated as necessary.
Certified by: Tom Wasbotten, UNS President
UNITED NORTHERN SPORTSMEN’S CLUB CAMPGROUND OPEN
The Board of Directors and club volunteers have completed preparing the campground and other club areas and they are open for member’s use. This includes the development and implementation of a DNR COVID19 Response Plan that allowed us to open the campground on June 1st. We want to thank all the volunteers who helped us in this effort.
Cancelled UNS Events
As stated in the last newsletter, due to the COVID19 pandemic, we canceled the spring banquet normally held in April and the annual walleye fishing contest held in early June. At the June board of directors meeting the board, with regrets, also canceled two other traditional summer events. Our youth field day and annual picnic, both held each year in August, will not be held this year in order to adhere to the governor’s safety guidelines regarding larger group gatherings. At this time we have no plans to reschedule any of these events later in 2020, but do look forward to resuming them again in 2021.
At this time, it is our intent to have the fall fundraiser and sight-in normally held in October and November prior to the deer hunting season. We may have to adjust the format due to COVID19 guidelines. Further information will be available later in the summer.
Summer Shooting Ranges: Policy, Days, Times, & Hours
The ranges are now open with a few new rules.
- The ranges will be periodically to allow for maintenance. Maintenance dates will be listed on our web site and on Facebook.
- The hours are at 8:00 a.m. until ½ hour before sunset.
- Guests will be as follows: 1 guest per an Individual membership, and 2 guests per a family membership. Guest day passes are still $5.00. You must be with your guests when they are on UNS property.
- All ranges require eye protection and hearing protection.
- Covid19 guidelines and social distancing in effect.