Sebastian Ferchl was on the board of FSG Weilheim for almost two decades, and now he is stepping down.
A successor has been found.
Weilheim – When he looked into himself last year, Sebastian Ferchl realized that he could no longer avoid making a far-reaching decision.
"I said to myself, it has to be over now," admits the rifle champion of FSG Weilheim.
"Otherwise I'll have the office on my cheek until my last day."
It was perfectly legitimate to think about how his life should go on.
Ferchl is 73 years old.
And he is a gardener by trade and is therefore very familiar with the cycle of growth and decay.
Adding up his tenures on the board of the Royal Privileged Firearms Society makes 19 years.
From 2004 to 2009 he acted as Marianne Kilgenstein's deputy, after which he took over responsibility himself.
Sebastian Ferchl resigns as rifle champion
The fact that the self-employed entrepreneur, who is still in retirement, now voluntarily takes the leap before the end of his life, has a lot to do with the development of the FSG during his tenure.
A hopeful candidate was found in Peter Schrippe, who has been his right-hand man for the past six months.
"For me, the fact that he now wants to take over the position of rifle champion is like winning the lottery," says Ferchl.
Hermann Plötz promises just as much profit, who, after diligent and successful work as sports director, is aiming for deputy chairmanship.
His daughter Daniela is to take over his previous post if the General Assembly, which meets on Thursday, gives its approval.
"I can clear the field with a clear conscience, because I want to continue", Ferchl is relieved that he was able to cultivate resilient personnel structures at the Weilheimer rifle carriers.
This is not the case everywhere in the Gau.
Five clubs cannot find a successor for the position of rifle champion.
This is not surprising, because the area of responsibility is broad.
"Finding someone who would do that is anything but easy," says Ferchl.
The Ferchl family has a long history at FSG
The time investment alone is enormous.
He invested 50 evenings a year in organizing various events together with his staff, not to mention the festivals or celebrations themselves. In addition, there were numerous other social obligations that radically limit one's own free time.
"If you don't have anyone by your side, you can forget it," Ferchl admits that this work could only be done in tandem.
Without the benevolence and support of his wife Nicole, his commitment would probably not have been possible in this form.
His better half finally realized that he not only has a green thumb, but also a marksman gene when Bernhard Wöll presented his research on the history of the city to the family.
The former Weilheim town archivist identified an ancestor of Ferchl as early as around 1700 who was employed as a town gardener and active in the town's rifle club.
This tradition lasted into the 20th century.
Ferchl's grandfather Hans managed the fortunes of the FSG Weilheim until 1928, his father, who had the same name as his grandfather, headed the Royal Privileges from 1952 to 1972, a year longer than he did.
None of Ferchl's three adult children showed a penchant for shooting.
“But perhaps there will be one of my four grandchildren who will become a Sagittarius,” he hopes, in the spirit of the family dynasty.
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Although Ferchl's achievements as a sports shooter were clearly limited by his profession and his work as chairman, he nevertheless realized his personal ambitions.
In 2005 and 2006, together with Anton Eisner and Hans Zitzmann, he won the title of German team champion in the senior class.
“That was my dream par excellence.” He no longer shoots with an air rifle but with an air pistol.
In order to aim for and hit his targets, Ferchl not only had a steady hand and the associated unmistakable sense of proportion in sports.
These qualities were just as much in demand in the Schützenmeisteramt as his love for the FSG, which was instilled in him by his ancestors.
Times weren't easy when he took over the 290-member society.
It took a long time for the FSG to become economically consolidated again and to be able to make the investments that had become necessary on the site at Schützenstrasse 28.
Shooting range has been modernized in recent years
The traditional club, which is around 550 years old, now has modern electronic shooting ranges and new sanitary facilities.
"A lot of money flowed in," notes Ferchl.
Despite this, the FSG remained financially healthy.
The number of members also increased by more than ten percent to 330. Even the pandemic could not stop this positive trend.
"Everything is going well," Ferchl is relieved that he is handing over an economically solvent club to his successor.
However, the new board will have to work through the challenges facing society as a whole just like him.
Hardly any sport is viewed with such Argus eyes as shooting.
Ferchl did a lot to regain the credit and trust of the population after the killing sprees in Erfurt and Winnenden.
Anyone who wants to shoot large caliber weapons at the FSG must justify this request in a personal conversation with him and be able to prove his success in the air pressure range.
Despite all the confidence-building measures taken by the FSG and other prudent associations, the call for a tightening of the weapons law does not decrease and, like after the most recent act of horror in Hamburg, immediately becomes louder again.
Too often, members of shooting clubs make the headlines.
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With his calm and relaxed manner and his understanding and balanced leadership style, he himself has done a lot to give the rifle club a civil and democratic face.
Ferchl has always integrated the different groups in the club, from the traditional to the sports shooters, and has always mastered the balancing act from a venerable company to a small business with a restaurant and museum with flying colours.
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"I've certainly learned a lot," he clarifies that he has personally benefited from his job in recent years.
Which is why, after almost two decades of voluntary work, he can only encourage the people in the various clubs and groups to take on responsibility themselves.
"It's hugely important to us as a society." This call should be taken seriously.
Hardly anyone as a gardener knows better than he how important it is to nurture and care for things.
