East Wichita Rotary News August 24, 2016 ROTARY...
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East Wichita Rotary News F irearms and their availability are a hotly debated topic these days. To- day’s speaker, Ryan Pen- nock, emphasized the im- portance of responsible citi- zenship if you are going to own a firearm. That means seeking out training: know your firearm to prevent negligent discharge. Ryan and his wife Jenny are the co-owners of Thunder- bird Firearm Academy, which is located just north of K-96 on Greenwich Road. Ryan grew up work- ing in a family business that started in Kingman. When his family moved to Hutchinson, the business was located just across the street. His family sold pag- ers and two-way radios. He learned the value of leaving work problems behind at the business and enjoying family time when work was over. When the family business closed, Ryan worked in video production. But it was a workshop he and his wife attended in Arizona that changed their lives. They had the opportunity to visit the Scottsdale Gun Club, an indoor gun club that in their minds had turned the indus- try upside down by provid- ing a classy venue in an upscale part of town. They returned to Wichita with dreams of opening their own range. Three years and 13 banks later they re- ceived an SBA loan and were able to open their first store at Seneca and 2nd in the Delano district. Borrowing every idea they’d learned in Scottsdale, the Pennocks introduced Wichita to a new type of range that included a high quality store. The next phase of growth began in 2014 when they broke ground on their cur- rent 27,000 square-foot fa- cility, which opened on June 26, 2015. There were some bleak moments when an investor dropped out. Alt- hough he was urged to file for bankruptcy, Ryan re- fused to quit, finding new investors and completing the project. Today the Academy is one of the nation’s leading train- ing facilities. Its curriculum has been approved by the Department of Defense and Homeland Security. It is the first commercial group to train Marines at Camp David. Pennock said that their first mission is to train people, helping them and their communities be safer. I T ’ S S AFETY F IRST A T T HUNDERBIRD F IREARM A CADEMY August 24, 2016 Calling all State Fair Fans: Rotary clubs all over Kansas will staff the Rotary booth at the State Fair. The booth has is new and improved! Our day to par- ticipate is Sunday, September 18. If your idea of a good time is chomping on a Pronto Pup with one hand while balancing a fun- nel cake in the other, the State Fair is for you! To sign up, please contact Denise Hearson at [email protected] R OTARY N OTARY Thunderbird Firearm Academy co-owner Ryan Pennock talks with EW Rotarians Cathy McClain and Brian Blackerby following the meet- ing. The Academy offers concealed carry classes free of charge to students because providing this kind of safety training is the right thing to do. Quote of the Week: Ability is what you’re capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it. - Anonymous Birthdays: John Exline 8/24 Bobbi Hansen 8/25 Ken Dillehay 8/28 Eileen Kludt 8/29 Scott Hampel 8/24
Transcript of East Wichita Rotary News August 24, 2016 ROTARY...
East Wichi ta Rotar y News
F irearms and their availability are a hotly debated topic these days. To-
day’s speaker, Ryan Pen-nock, emphasized the im-portance of responsible citi-zenship if you are going to own a firearm. That means seeking out training: know your firearm to prevent negligent discharge.
Ryan and his wife Jenny are the co-owners of Thunder-bird Firearm Academy, which is located just north of K-96 on Greenwich Road. Ryan grew up work-ing in a family business that started in Kingman. When his family moved to Hutchinson, the business was located just across the street. His family sold pag-ers and two-way radios. He learned the value of leaving work problems behind at the business and enjoying
family time when work was over.
When the family business closed, Ryan worked in video production. But it was a workshop he and his wife attended in Arizona that changed their lives. They had the opportunity to visit the Scottsdale Gun Club, an indoor gun club that in their minds had turned the indus-try upside down by provid-ing a classy venue in an upscale part of town.
They returned to Wichita with dreams of opening their own range. Three years and 13 banks later they re-ceived an SBA loan and were able to open their first store at Seneca and 2nd in the Delano district.
Borrowing every idea they’d learned in Scottsdale, the Pennocks introduced Wichita to a new type of
range that included a high quality store.
The next phase of growth began in 2014 when they broke ground on their cur-rent 27,000 square-foot fa-cility, which opened on June 26, 2015. There were some bleak moments when an investor dropped out. Alt-hough he was urged to file for bankruptcy, Ryan re-fused to quit, finding new investors and completing the project.
Today the Academy is one of the nation’s leading train-ing facilities. Its curriculum has been approved by the Department of Defense and Homeland Security. It is the first commercial group to train Marines at Camp David. Pennock said that their first mission is to train people, helping them and their communities be safer.
IT ’S SA F E T Y FI R S T AT TH U N D E R B I R D FI R E A R M AC A D E M Y
August 24 , 2016
Calling all State Fair Fans:
Rotary clubs all over Kansas will staff the Rotary booth at the State Fair. The booth has is new and improved! Our day to par-ticipate is Sunday, September 18.
If your idea of a good time is chomping on a Pronto Pup with one hand while balancing a fun-nel cake in the other, the State Fair is for you! To sign up, please contact Denise Hearson at [email protected]
ROTARY NOTARY
Thunderbird Firearm Academy co-owner Ryan Pennock talks with EW Rotarians Cathy McClain and Brian Blackerby following the meet-ing. The Academy offers concealed carry classes free of charge to students because providing this kind of safety training is the right thing to do.
Quote of the Week: Ability is what you’re capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it. - Anonymous
Birthdays:
John Exline 8/24
Bobbi Hansen 8/25
Ken Dillehay 8/28
Eileen Kludt 8/29
Scott Hampel 8/24
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A T RO TA RY TO DAY
Upcoming Events:
TGIF! EWR Mixer THIS FRIDAY, 5:15 at the Candle Club. Bring a friend!
What’s new at the Zoo? Find out at the EWR Fireside there on Wednesday, September 28. We’ll be treated to a special behind-the-scenes look at the new elephant exhibit. You MUST make a reservation to attend!
East Wichita Rotary News • August 24 , 2016
Scott Jensen introduced Elizabeth Mitchell, an EWR Foundation scholarship student who is a senior at KU. She has applied to six dental schools and has already heard from two of them. You can tell by her smile that she cares about good dental health! L to R: Scott Jensen, Elizabeth Mitchell, and Cathy Mitchell, Elizabeth’s mom.
C E L E B R A T E N A T I O N A L P E AC H P I E D AY
National Peach Pie Day is observed annually on August 24th. This mouth-watering dessert has its own National Day during the heart of the Peach harvest season. Piles of peaches, mixed with sugar, cinnamon and a few other ingredients inside a buttery, flaky crust make up this delicious dessert.
Fun facts about peaches:
Georgia is known as the “Peach State.”
Peach harvest in the U.S occurs between June and August.
Harvest from each peach tree lasts about one week.
A medium peach weighs 2.6 oz.
There are two main varieties of peaches: Clingstone and Freestone.
A medium peach typically contains 30 calories, 7 g of carbohydrate, 1 g of protein, 140 mg of potassium, and 8% of the daily value for vitamin C.
The People’s Republic of China is the world’s largest producer of peaches.
The peach was brought to the Americas by Spanish explorers in the 16th century.
Next Week:
Rebecca Martin of the FBI will be here.
Overheard at Rotary:
John Hurst: I’m so cute, I won a cute baby contest called the “Diaper Darlings.” My picture was chosen as the winner from all of the entries.
Janet Pack: That’s impossible, John. When you were a baby, photography hadn’t been invent-ed yet! (Our appreciation to John for saying it was okay to share this!)
Greeter: Eileen Kludt
Invocation, Flag Salute, and Four-Way test: Burke Jones
Member News: Britt “F illmore”
Fred and Joyce Heismeyer celebrated their 36th wedding anniversary yesterday!
Congratulations to Ann Buckendahl who has been named to the 2016 Leadership Wichita class of the Chamber.
What a Senator! Last week Senator Jerry Moran made a surprise visit to our club and met the three RYLA students who shared their camp experiences with us. Sen. Moran sent each student a personal note from his office.
M O R E A T RO TA RY TO DAY Welcome back Brian Burrus! Brian has returned to EWR after a two-year absence because he missed us so much! Our president from 2012-2013, Brian is a “producer” at IMA. In sales par-lance, that just means he’s a sales guy. A proud Shocker, Brian is happily married to Susan and recently they celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary. They have three children.
