Ross,
Walter Rodger conducts Instructor courses at Riverside by appointment. I don't know what his fee is currently, but it is reasonable. Once an instructor, if you spend a year with us at Riverside, the club will pick up the $50 charge for the state certification.
As an added bonus, Instructors who assist in the courses conducted in a calendar year have their dues covered for the following year. (some absenses are allowed, but not many)
So, for the cost of one membership (you have to be a member to teach at the club for insurance reasons) the cost of the Instructor Training, and some dedicated volunteer time through the year, you can pretty much secure a lifetime membership if teaching is something you enjoy.
Also please note that the NRA course material is a guide and that every instructor may add to that material. For example Riverside stretches the Basic Pistol course to a 6 night - 6 week course that builds the marksmanship skills over time and graduates shooters who have already shot a National Match event. We feel that this allows us to build the skills slowly and offer the student a much more gradual approach to pistol shooting. On the final night we even offer up a multitude of various centerfire guns to try so they can see what kind of pistol they might be interested in buying.
Riverside is an all volunteer training staff, and the people who are involved are shooters who teach their particular interest. NRA ranked High Master teaches Rifle. Past National Champion teaches pistol, etc. Last time I looked, our staff had over 100 years of combined instruction experience. Miliary, Law Enforcement, and Civilian backgrounds are all represented. I learn new things in just about every class just picking the brain of other instructors.
I suppose one of these days Walter is going to recommend me to getting certified as a Training Councelor as well. Just what I need huh? (^_^)
Seriously, if you are interested, see me and I'll get you introduced to the right people and get the ball rolling.
)
