Traditions 2010: Qtr.3

Mr. Frank R. Brownell, IIIPresident

The Honorable Bill K. BrewsterVice President

The Honorable Joe M. AllbaughTrustee

Mr. William A. BachenbergTrustee

Mr. Allan D. CorsTrustee

Ms. Sandra S. FromanTrustee

General P.X. Kelley, USMC (Ret.)Trustee

Mr. Wayne R. LaPierre, Jr.Trustee

Mr. Owen P. MillsTrustee

Mr. James W. Porter IITrustee

Mr. Dennis J. ReeseTrustee

Mr. Ronald L. SchmeitsTrustee

Captain John C. SiglerTrustee

Mr. H. Wayne SheetsExecutive Director

Mr. Wilson H. Phillips Jr.Treasurer

Mrs. Sandy S. ElkinSecretary

Mission StatementEstablished in 1990, The NRA Foundation, Inc. (“NRA Foundation”) is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization that raises tax-deductible contributions in support of a wide range of firearms-related public interest activities of the National Rifle Association of America and other organizations that defend and foster the Second Amendment rights of all law-abiding Americans. These activities are designed to promote firearms and hunting safety, to enhance marksmanship skills of those participating in the shooting sports, and to educate the general public about firearms in their historic, technological, and artistic context. Funds granted by The NRA Foundation benefit a variety of constituencies throughout the United States, including children, youth, women, individuals with physical disabilities, gun collectors, law enforcement officers, hunters, and competitive shooters.

Traditions StaffEditor and Design: Jeremy Greene

Co-Editor: Amber Niblock-ShorterCo-Editor: Nicole McMahon

Co-Editor: Sarah YoungTraditions is published quarterly by The NRA Foundation, Inc., for the benefit of its donors and other interested parties11250 Waples Mill Road . Fairfax, VA 22030 . (800) 423-6894 . www.nrafoundation.org

About the Cover:2010 Youth Education Summit attendees at the

Franklin Delano Roosevelt Monument in Washington D.C.

Guest Editorial Sandy Elkin, Director of Grant Administration & Analysis 3

Cover Story 2010 Youth Education Summit 4

National News Infectious Puzzle 8

NRA Public Range Initiative 10

Bianchi Cup Battles 12

Uniting the Patriot Nation 14

Choose Your Adventure 16

Friends Update Eastern Region 17

Central Region 18

Southern Region 20

Mid West Region 23

Western Region 25

Industry Corner Henry Repeating Arms 26

Program Profile Youth Wildlife Art Contest 28

Tech Talk I Am Friends of NRA 29

NRA Foundation Donors 30

Tab

le o

f C

onte

nts

3Traditions . Quarter 3: 2010

Gu

est Ed

itorial

Forty-five teenagers - are you crazy? These are the types of comments I receive when I mention hosting NRA’s Youth Education Summit (Y.E.S.) attendees at my house every year. As I look back, the only answer I have is – it is MY pleasure to have them in my home!

Those short few hours they are in my home are all about comfort. A good old-fashioned picnic menu consisting of burgers, hot-dogs, salads, pasta, cookies, cakes, and sweet treats from homemade ice cream to dirt cake and a goodie bag for the bus. Activities include lawn games, volleyball, basketball, billiards, checkers, magic tricks, frisbee, football, Wii, ping pong, relays and much more. We have enjoyed celebrating birthdays, being serenaded, and love hearing their thoughts about today’s world and what lies ahead in their lives. We have received countless hugs and thank you(s) and cherish them all.

The young people selected for this program are among the best in the country, they are bright, articulate, and mature beyond their years and most of all “our future.” I am in awe of their presentation and research skills in the debates, admire their personal commitments to make a difference; and truly love the element of life they bring with them. They listen intently to each others’ perspectives and are open to absorb and learn all they can about the others in the group, and particularly about the country and the legislative process. I have no doubt we will see them again in the future, leading our communities, our nation and making a difference wherever they go.

The program covers many topics and presents these students with much more than they could possibly anticipate. The Youth Education Summit brings together young adults in their formative years, teaching them about numerous NRA programs, expos-ing them to our national history through visits to museums, memorials, and stops at Mount Vernon; Tomb of the Unknown Soldier; Capitol Hill and other national treasure sites in the Washington D.C. area. Throughout the duration they participate in debates, make speeches and enhance their personal leadership skills and patriotism. When the program ends – they take patrio-tism, enhanced understanding of freedom, friendship, knowledge and personal balance with them.

When I suggested the possibility of the BBQ a number of years ago – I hoped it would provide an evening of relaxation, fun, new friendships, a home-cooked meal and a place to chill out for an evening and just be themselves. Some of the young people who attend have never traveled far away from home before participating in this program. The first BBQ was about 10 years ago – it has been a part of the week’s activities and my life ever since. The experience of inviting these young people into my life is one I will always cherish! Every time they come - the time is always too short – they are our future! And….. from my perspective – OUR future will be in good hands!

Sandy Elkin

Director of Grant Administration & Analysis

NRA InS

ight

s •

Oct

ob

er 2

010

13

They’ve filled out their applications, written their essays and secured their recommendations, and now there’s nothing left to do but wait—and maybe hit “refresh” on their e-mail inboxes a few more times than is strictly necessary. Are they waiting for their college acceptance letters? Study-abroad assignments? A job? Nope—they’ve got their fingers crossed in hopes

I’m A StAr, too!NRA is issuing a call for all young

leaders interested in making a difference for the 2011 Youth Education Summit! The summit will run June 20-26, 2011. Visit www.friendsofnra.org/yes to download an application—the application deadline is February 14, 2011!

they’ll get to attend the NRA’s Youth Education Summit (Y.E.S.). Out of hun-dreds of applicants, fewer than 50 will be invited to come to Washington, D.C., for an expenses-paid adventure in citizenship courtesy of the Friends of NRA and The NRA Foundation. The ones who make it can be called the best of the best, the cream of the crop—or, more appropriately, the stars of tomorrow.

And although that’s true of each year’s group, the Y.E.S. “Class of 2010” got a special chance to shine a little more brightly than years past.

None of the 45 lucky and talented ris-ing juniors and seniors chosen to attend the Summit knew for sure what was in store for them as they flew in from all over the country. To be sure, they’d seen an itinerary, and had been told what to

pack. They knew that $30,000 in scholar-ships were at stake. They knew that they’d be expected to learn, to teach and to test their limits. What they didn’t know was just how much fun they’d have along the way…or that their adventures would play out in print, on the Web and on a brand-new TV pro-gram on the Outdoor Network, Friends of NRA’s X-Ring.

The 2010 Y.E.S. activities unfolded over a week in mid-July, when D.C. temperatures flirt with the triple digits, but the first day thankfully started in the air-conditioned comfort of NRA Head-quarters, located in the D.C. suburb of Fairfax, Va. First, they learned about the various programs and services your NRA has to offer. After a tour of the NRA’s National Firearms Museum, the group soon headed down to the NRA’s public shooting facility to put some lead down-range with a variety of firearms on loan from the NRA’s collection. Some Y.E.S. kids, like Double Distinguished Expert Brandy Blanton, are old hands behind the trigger, but it’s not a prerequisite. Others, like Heather McCormac, 16, from California’s central valley, are relatively new to shooting. “I only just started shooting last year,” smiled Heather. “In fact, the day on the NRA range was my third time, ever.”

The next day’s activities were all centered around the price and privilege of citizenship. The day began with a

series of debates between teams of Y.E.S. participants. The debaters are assigned a topic and a pro or con position, so they must use their creativity, intellect and research skills to argue their positions effectively—even if it’s not in line with their own personal opinion. It’s a chal-lenge in stretching the mind; being able to see an issue from all sides as a way to work toward the truth. “The debates were really interesting,” mused Luke Macfarlan, 16. “That was the first time I’ve done anything like that.” Things kicked into a higher gear when the excited kids got a personal visit from one of America’s best public speakers—NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre.

After lunch, the Summiteers headed to the Pentagon for a tour of the famous five-sided facility from which America’s military might is directed. There was a moment of solemnity as the group contemplated the Pentagon Memorial, in honor of the victims of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. As a reminder of the precious freedoms that those victims died protecting, the next stop was D.C.’s National Archives. This is where visitors can view the actual Constitution of the United States as well as the Declaration of Independence.

The evening was spent in a whirlwind tour of D.C.’s most iconic monuments and memorials: the Jefferson Memorial, the Washington Monument, the World War II Memorial, the Vietnam Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial and the Korean Memorial. Despite the heat, the monu-ment tour is a perennial favorite for many Summiteers, like 16-year-old Phillip Lenavitt. “I loved the Korean and World War II memorials, especially,” he said. “The Korean memorial is haunting, and the World War II memorial is so beau-tiful. It’s amazing.” Many attendees echoed Phillip’s thoughts: It’s one thing to see photos of these incredible monu-ments, and something entirely different to see them in person.

In the same vein, it’s one thing to read a civics book about how the branches of our government work, and quite another to see them in action. So it was that Thursday brought the Summiteers to Capitol Hill. The day began with a personal meeting with Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.), who at 33 is the second-youngest member of the House. Explaining how his life path brought him to Congress, he graciously answered questions from the Summiteers about how his military service (two tours in Iraq, one in Afghanistan) had affected his decision to run for public office, what it takes to remain in touch with his constituents and about the health-care reform debate.

ofBY WENDY LAFEVER

TomorrowStars

pho

ToS

bY h

AN

NEl

E lA

hTi

©2010 Reprinted with permission of the National Rifle Association of America.

Cov

er S

tory

Traditions . Quarter 2: 20104

NRA InS

ight

s •

Oct

ob

er 2

010

13

They’ve filled out their applications, written their essays and secured their recommendations, and now there’s nothing left to do but wait—and maybe hit “refresh” on their e-mail inboxes a few more times than is strictly necessary. Are they waiting for their college acceptance letters? Study-abroad assignments? A job? Nope—they’ve got their fingers crossed in hopes

I’m A StAr, too!NRA is issuing a call for all young

leaders interested in making a difference for the 2011 Youth Education Summit! The summit will run June 20-26, 2011. Visit www.friendsofnra.org/yes to download an application—the application deadline is February 14, 2011!

they’ll get to attend the NRA’s Youth Education Summit (Y.E.S.). Out of hun-dreds of applicants, fewer than 50 will be invited to come to Washington, D.C., for an expenses-paid adventure in citizenship courtesy of the Friends of NRA and The NRA Foundation. The ones who make it can be called the best of the best, the cream of the crop—or, more appropriately, the stars of tomorrow.

And although that’s true of each year’s group, the Y.E.S. “Class of 2010” got a special chance to shine a little more brightly than years past.

None of the 45 lucky and talented ris-ing juniors and seniors chosen to attend the Summit knew for sure what was in store for them as they flew in from all over the country. To be sure, they’d seen an itinerary, and had been told what to

pack. They knew that $30,000 in scholar-ships were at stake. They knew that they’d be expected to learn, to teach and to test their limits. What they didn’t know was just how much fun they’d have along the way…or that their adventures would play out in print, on the Web and on a brand-new TV pro-gram on the Outdoor Network, Friends of NRA’s X-Ring.

The 2010 Y.E.S. activities unfolded over a week in mid-July, when D.C. temperatures flirt with the triple digits, but the first day thankfully started in the air-conditioned comfort of NRA Head-quarters, located in the D.C. suburb of Fairfax, Va. First, they learned about the various programs and services your NRA has to offer. After a tour of the NRA’s National Firearms Museum, the group soon headed down to the NRA’s public shooting facility to put some lead down-range with a variety of firearms on loan from the NRA’s collection. Some Y.E.S. kids, like Double Distinguished Expert Brandy Blanton, are old hands behind the trigger, but it’s not a prerequisite. Others, like Heather McCormac, 16, from California’s central valley, are relatively new to shooting. “I only just started shooting last year,” smiled Heather. “In fact, the day on the NRA range was my third time, ever.”

The next day’s activities were all centered around the price and privilege of citizenship. The day began with a

series of debates between teams of Y.E.S. participants. The debaters are assigned a topic and a pro or con position, so they must use their creativity, intellect and research skills to argue their positions effectively—even if it’s not in line with their own personal opinion. It’s a chal-lenge in stretching the mind; being able to see an issue from all sides as a way to work toward the truth. “The debates were really interesting,” mused Luke Macfarlan, 16. “That was the first time I’ve done anything like that.” Things kicked into a higher gear when the excited kids got a personal visit from one of America’s best public speakers—NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre.

After lunch, the Summiteers headed to the Pentagon for a tour of the famous five-sided facility from which America’s military might is directed. There was a moment of solemnity as the group contemplated the Pentagon Memorial, in honor of the victims of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. As a reminder of the precious freedoms that those victims died protecting, the next stop was D.C.’s National Archives. This is where visitors can view the actual Constitution of the United States as well as the Declaration of Independence.

The evening was spent in a whirlwind tour of D.C.’s most iconic monuments and memorials: the Jefferson Memorial, the Washington Monument, the World War II Memorial, the Vietnam Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial and the Korean Memorial. Despite the heat, the monu-ment tour is a perennial favorite for many Summiteers, like 16-year-old Phillip Lenavitt. “I loved the Korean and World War II memorials, especially,” he said. “The Korean memorial is haunting, and the World War II memorial is so beau-tiful. It’s amazing.” Many attendees echoed Phillip’s thoughts: It’s one thing to see photos of these incredible monu-ments, and something entirely different to see them in person.

In the same vein, it’s one thing to read a civics book about how the branches of our government work, and quite another to see them in action. So it was that Thursday brought the Summiteers to Capitol Hill. The day began with a personal meeting with Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.), who at 33 is the second-youngest member of the House. Explaining how his life path brought him to Congress, he graciously answered questions from the Summiteers about how his military service (two tours in Iraq, one in Afghanistan) had affected his decision to run for public office, what it takes to remain in touch with his constituents and about the health-care reform debate.

ofBY WENDY LAFEVER

TomorrowStars

pho

ToS

bY h

AN

NEl

E lA

hTi

©2010 Reprinted with permission of the National Rifle Association of America.

8 Traditions . Quarter 4: 20098 Traditions . Quarter 3: 2010

Nat

ion

al N

ews

Puzzles are infectious. Not at first, of course. Rarely does anyone want to begin thinking about separating and seeking through hundreds, sometimes thousands, of pieces and only then get-ting to start the process of linking them together. But once the pieces aresprawled across the dining room table, you can’t break through the swarm

of restless arms criss-crossing every which way long enough to find what you’re looking for. Simply put, puzzles bring people together and, in a way, they’re a lot like Friends of NRA. Every year, at banquets across the nation, individuals from all walks of life, each carrying their own story and making their own mark in time, come together to support a com-mon cause. Individually, they know the benefit of keeping our shooting sports thriving; together, they help carry out Friends of NRA’s perpetual efforts to do so. Each person,

each piece is significant to the complete picture. This year, at the 2010 NRA Annual Meetings’ NRA Foundation Banquet in Charlotte, NC, Director of NRA Field Operations Kyle Weaver introduced Friends of NRA’s newest fundraising endeavor— the NRA Original Master Piece Puzzle Fundraiser. Two easels, each cloaked in a white cloth to conceal what lay underneath, stood side by side on the Annual Meet-ing stage. The first of which stayed draped, while the second was unveiled as only a blank frame. From there, one by one top NRA officials— includ-ing the likes of Kyle Weaver, Wayne LaPierre, Kayne Robinson, and Chris Cox, among others— took the stage to situate their personally hand-painted pieces within the frame. The result was a stunning piece portraying monumen-tal figures and events that shaped NRA throughout time. And beside it stood

There is something universally satisfying about placing the last piece of a puzzle into its rightful place. All the time and energy you put forth, con-stantly straining your eyes to find the right part or squinting at the most infinitesimal details, and at last it has come down to the final moment

when you may really relish in the work you have done. Holding that very last piece for just a moment longer than the rest and— click. The last void has been filled and the picture complete.


the original painting by artist and Master Piece developer, Jon Cox. Cox, an award-winning oil paint-ing artist, developed the Master Piece fundraiser years ago as a way of incor-porating the art of many individuals into one “master” piece of art. Now, he brings his innovative program to Friends of NRA where he hopes com-mittees will be able to harness the same fundraising and unifying benefits it has brought to numerous others. “The idea has evolved so that I can use more complicated images now,” said Cox. “Not only as a ‘team-building’ project, but as a worthwhile fundraiser for Friends of NRA events.” Today, people are still talking about the 2010 NRA Annual Meeting Mas-ter Piece, and Friends of NRA intends to carry that enthusiasm well into 2011. Starting in January, 800 Master Piece Fundraiser sets produced by Cox will be available on a first-come, first-served basis for Friends of NRA com-mittees across the nation. Each unit contains 24 individual puzzle pieces with a corresponding printed puzzle piece to use as a reference, personal painting kits, as well as a framed re-production giclee of the original piece to display alongside the final product. Individuals will take home their puzzle piece, paint it as close to the guidelines as they can, and return it in time for the banquet presentation. “It is funny how much people love to paint, even though most say initially it was “terrifying because I am not an artist.” This feeling always evaporates as soon as the first paint is put to the surface,” said Cox. “The participants have no idea what the bigger image is until all the pieces are collected and assembled at the fundraising dinner. They are put together under veil and at a designated time during the dinner

the puzzle is unveiled. I can’t tell you how ‘magic’ the reaction of the crowd always is. Most never believe they could have created something like the image before them without ever seeing it in the beginning.” Used as a fundraising tool, the design of the Master Piece offers Friends of NRA committees myriad opportunities to raise money. Local businesses can underwrite the costs associated with purchasing the kit up front, pieces can be sold individu-ally to attendees, and both the final assembled puzzle along with a separate framed print of the original can be then auctioned off during the banquet. The possibilities are endless and the outcome unanimously well-received. “This type of fundraising is success-ful because it makes such a powerful impact on its participants,” said Cox. “Each person’s piece is assembledtogether and then collectively they

transform into this extraordinary piece of art, and suddenly they’ve become the artists.”

Make sure the Friends of NRA Master Piece is at your next banquet! Log-on to www.friendsofnra.org/events to locate a banquet in our area and contact your NRA Field Representative.

NRA Executive Vice President, Wayne LaPierre and Artist Jon Cox place the last piece of the puzzle at the 2010 National NRA Foundation Banquet

a. n

iblo

ck-S

ho

rtEr

1010 Traditions . Quarter 3: 2010

As NRA fights to protect our Second Amendment rights, it also works diligently to keep our shooting tra-ditions prevailing through time. Thanks to a new NRA

range grant initiative, intended to encourage the development of new public ranges, new shooting facilities will be sprout-ing up across the country to give recreational and competitive shooters, hunters, and law enforcement officers new opportu-nities to sharpen their skills. Constructing new ranges, specifically public ranges, means providing generations with free places to learn, train, and de-velop as shooters. More importantly though, it gives training programs more platforms to reach and educate more people in the firearm community. The new Public Range Initiative was launched in 2009 by NRA’s Field Operations Division to offer matching funds to state and federal agencies or city and county governments who might be interested in developing shooting ranges on their property. The proposal was approved by the NRA Board of Directors and $150,000 was allocated for the first year. The deal— NRA will offer up to $25,000 as a grant to be matched on a 50/50 basis with cooperating agencies. In some cases, state wildlife agencies can match funds through their Pittman-Robertson grants, a government trust fund gener-ated by excise taxes on sporting arms and ammunition set aside strictly to go back into state and local organizations to increase game populations, expand habi-tats, and train hunters. In such cases, the NRA would match 25% to 75%.

by brian d. hydErEastern Regional Director, Field Operations

PUBLIC RANGEIN ITIATIVE


The first agreement was signed by the S.C. Department of Natural Resources, a leader in its own right in the effort to recruit and retain hunters in South Carolina and the same department that created the “Take One-Make One” pro-gram several years ago, which currently serves as the model for hunter mentor-ing programs nationwide. Director John Frampton and Assistant Director Emily Cope realized the importance of provid-ing the public with safe places to shoot and as a result of their efforts with the NRA Range Initiative program, three new ranges are on the drawing boards today for South Carolina in Belfast, Marsh, and Woodbury. Also in 2009, a range was approved for the Cedar Creek Wildlife Manage-ment area within the U.S. Forest Ser-vice Oconee Ranger District in Georgia. Construction for the range is slated to begin this fall. But West Virginia leads the way in projects approved in 2009. The NRA partnered with the West Vir-ginia Division of Natural Resources to build two ranges. A range on the Chief Logan Wildlife Management Area in Logan County was the first range to be completed under the new program and a dedication ceremony was recently held at the range on September 8th. Only steps behind, the other new range in West Virginia is also scheduled to launch under the new program in Sep-tember at the Kumbrabow State Forest. West Virginia’s newly completed range at Chief Logan is typical of the ranges that will be built by the range initiative program. It includes eight shooting benches with covered shel-ter, target frames placed at 25, 50 and 100 yards to accommodate both pistol and rifle shooters, parking spaces and shooting benches designed especially for handicap shooters, and is open to the public free of charge. Building new ranges takes more than grant money. The Chief Logan range was constructed with the aid of other project partners like the local area chapter of the NWTF, which donated $1,000, Mine Lifeline, LLC, which assisted with road construction, Jaunt, Inc., which provided much-needed equipment and stone, the Logan County Mine Services, which sup-

plied hydro-seeding, and West Virginia Paving, which administered with road construction support. The development of this shooting range in Logan County is an excel-lent example of cooperation among local businesses, local conservation organizations, the NRA, and the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources to provide area shooters with a safe place to shoot. The idea is spreading too. Nearby, a 3-D archery range will be constructed by the Coalfield Archery Club. “The sport of hunting is threatened by the lack of safe places to shoot,” said Frank Jezioro, Director of West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, who was on hand for the dedication ceremony. “With the continued help of the NRA and others, we will continue to look for more places to build ranges in West Virginia.” Also present for the dedication was Lieutenant Governor Earl Ray Tomlin who said, “I am proud to take a part in dedicating this outstanding facility. Hunters, recreational and competitive shooters and law enforcement agencies in the area will all benefit from this range. We all appreciate the support of the NRA and other partners in making this range possible.” The projects of 2009 are only the beginning for the NRA Range Initia-tive. For 2010, nine more projects have been approved throughout Georgia, Kentucky, Colorado, Wyoming, West Virginia, Alaska, Virginia, Vermont, and Idaho. When these projects are completed, it will mean a total of fifteen new public shooting ranges will be available to shooters across the nation. The NRA has stepped forward to ad-dress the lack of public shooting ranges in the country. By offering assistance to public land agencies and municipali-ties, new opportunities for the shoot-ing public will be available in the near future.

Help bring a public shooting range to your state! Contact the NRA Range Services Department at (703) 267-1278. The Public Range Fund Grant Application forms are available online at www.nrahq.org/shootingrange/grants.asp.

RANGEITIATIVE

Action-packed and considered one of the most presti-gious shooting tournaments the world over, the Bianchi Cup is a test of both a shooter’s speed and accuracy. While shooting at several challenging stationary and moving tar-gets may sound like a competitive shooter’s playground, it

turns out that beating out the competition is no walk in the park.

12 Traditions . Quarter 3: 2010


Shooters competing at the 2010 MidwayUSA/NRA Bianchi Cup in Columbia, Mo. faced a number of challenging tasks this year. Some of the events featured at the Bianchi Cup were the practical event where shooters fire at distances from 10 to 50 yards under varying time limits, the barricade event where competitors shoot from within boxes and from behind barricades at varying distances and under varying time restrictions, the falling plate event where shooters fire at 8-inch round steel plates arranged in banks of six at distances from 10 to 25 yards, and

finally the moving target event in which participants shoot from within boxes at distances ranging from 10 to 25 yards at targets moving from left to right in the mere 6 seconds they are visible to the shooter. In addition, competitors shoot from both standing and prone positions and are required to shoot with both strong and weak hands at various stages. It’s an intense four-day competition, one which easily separates the pros from the joes.

BUILDING A LEGACYIf one person is starting to make it look easy at all, it would be Doug Koenig of Team Smith & Wesson, who recently claimed his 12th Bianchi Cup champi-onship title during the 2010 competi-tions. Koeing claimed his first Bianchi Cup title as far back as 1990, only three years after attending for the first time as a youth.

His trophy collection is beyond im-pressive or even comparable, as the next multiple-Bianchi Cup winner coming anywhere close to Koenig is Caspian Arms’ Bruce Piatt, who has a notable five titles locked down himself. Koenig and Piatt were neck and neck during this year’s competitions, and in the end, one shot in the moving target event af-firmed Koenig as the decided champ.

ALL-AMERICAN GIRLIt turned out to be a good day all-around for the Smith & Wesson team though, as Smith & Wesson’s Jessie

Abbate captured the top spot in the women’s division after only her second year competing at the Bianchi Cup. Starting out slow in the first competi-tion, her unyielding attitude and de-termination served her well on day two when she posted a near-perfect score, not only impressively edging out last year’s winner Julie Golob and crowning her number 1 in the Women’s National Championship, but also placing her among the Bianchi Cup’s top twenty shooters. While only her second year compet-ing at the Bianchi Cup, Abbate has made a name for herself in the shoot-ing world long before competing at the Bianchi. A rundown of her shooting resume includes an impressive eight National and eight World Champion shooting titles, as well as other regional champion titles in four different shoot-

ing disciplines.

A SPECTATOR SPORTThe Bianchi Cup hosts several other top-notch shooters in contention for recognition in a number of other categories like the high junior, high law enforcement, high international, high newcomer, high senior, high service, high semi-auto, high revolver shooter, and many more prominent positions within the competition. Watching the competition appears to be as much fun as participating in it, as spectators of the sport flock to watch

others battle for the Bianchi Cup every year. And with each year, the Bianchi Cup welcomes a host of newcomer shooters to the scene, a testament to the family-friendly atmosphere it boasts making it a pleasure for both shooters to compete in and audiences to view, just one of the many reasons MidwayU-SA owners Larry and Brenda Potterfield donated $50K to sponsor this year’s Bianchi Cup. “It’s easy to be a fan of the Bianchi Cup,” Larry Potterfield told NRABlog.com, “Brenda and I believe in giving back to our community to help change the future of the shooting sports indus-try. We are proud to do our part to help this great match.”

Plan your trip to next years Bianchi Cup! Contact Damien Orsinger at (703) 267-1748 or email [email protected].

a. n

iblo

ck-S

ho

rtEr


The American spirit is forever fueled by two driving forces- freedom and unity. After all, we are the United

States of America, a country built upon the ideals of individual freedoms. And our nation’s love of freedom and uniting is imparted in almost every aspect of our lives. Freedom is an extension of the American-way. We cherish freedom be-cause it’s why our ancestors immigrated to this country, it’s what our forefathers used to shape this nation, and it is free-dom that our military fights to protect. Our propensity to unite is more complicated though, at times even con-troversial. We love to unite through our religions, our politics, our ethnicities, our hobbies, over pop culture, success, grief, charity, sports teams— heck, even for a brief moment in history we united over our nation’s soccer team. It is freedom and uniting that ener-gizes our country, and in many respects, it is also what charges Friends of NRA. “Freedom Isn’t Free” is a saying as popular around the Friends of NRA program as firearms are in the standard package every year- but yet no matter how often we use it in our everyday

language, it never loses its significance or even an ounce of the weight its message carries with it. Friends of NRA values its meaning, it understands its impact, and it resonates with our staff, our volun-teers, and our banquet attendes because while Friends of NRA draws people from various backgrounds, occupations, or corners of the states, it unites them all through a common cause of safeguard-ing our Second Amendment freedoms. Friends of NRA is always boasting about just how unique its program is from every other fundraising organiza-tion out there. Yes, we can all say we

are Second Ame-ndment enthusiasts, but a more dominant string is threaded throughout our entire program that goes even beyond uniting under just freedom and fund-raising for the future of the shooting sports. Friends of NRA is united under free-dom, but it is patriotism which molds our passion for doing so. “When Friends of NRA was first

“Through the work of tens of thousands of volunteers and millions of supporters, Friends of NRA has changed the face of the NRA in towns across all fifty states. Their dedication and determination made Friends of NRA a nation of its own, a Patriot Nation”


developed, providing participants the opportunity to stand up for the Second Amendment and enjoy the camaraderie of others was a fundamental objective,” said Kyle Weaver, Director of NRA Field Operations. “Through the work oftens of thousands of volunteers and millions of supporters, Friends of NRA has changed the face of the NRA in towns across all fifty states. Their dedi-cation and determination made Friends of NRA a nation of its own, a Patriot Nation.” As Weaver put it, The Patriot Nation is the result of a united passion for protecting our freedoms. And Friends of NRA isn’t shy about it, in fact, they work hard to maintain that feeling of unity amongst its Friends. As patriotism

is the fuel to the program’s fire, it exists in everything Friends of NRA does. It runs deep throughout our volunteers and banquet attendees, it’s present in the very merchandise we develop, and it’s incor- porated even in many of the program’s most minute details down to even the banquet decorations. While developing a new Friends of NRA standard merchandise package every year, field representatives and headquarters staff gather together to look over hundreds of items submitted to them by com-panies across the country. Through experience, each person serving on the selection committee is well-armed with the knowledge of what patrons want to see when they attend a Friends of NRA banquet. Overwhelmingly, the popular items every time are those conveying a strong patriotic spirit whether symboli-cally or literally. “You’ll find that Friends of NRA guests are all cut from the same cloth,” said Senior NRA Field Representative for Upper New York, Jay Rusnock.

“We are all patriotic, freedom-loving, historically-attuned, devoted-to-family, and just simply proud to be an Ameri-can! With this in mind, we focused on this spirit when developing the standard package and we believe this is one of the key reasons for the extraordinary success we are seeing with it.” Patriotism is omnipresent in our programs too. During the annual NRA Youth Education Summit (Y.E.S.), students participate in constitutional debates, learn first-hand how historical moments in history shaped our nation, and tour patriotic points throughout D.C. including war memorials, the Na-tional Archives, and the U.S. Capitol. “They are able to see what it truly means to be a patriot of this great na-tion and Friends of NRA grants make it all possible,” said Nicole McMahon, Se-nior Event Services Coordinator. “Each student leaves with a greater sense of how to play a more active role in their community.” The list doesn’t stop there. It goes beyond the actual program, it spreads to The NRA Foundation and the mil-lions of dollars given in grants every year to shooting programs where youth can connect as a team, range develop-ment projects that bring communities together, and education and train-ing programs that reach out to men, women, children, veterans, and disabled shooters. Friends of NRA unites over protecting our freedoms, we protect our freedoms because we are patriotic, and through our patriotism we unite.

15

a. n

iblo

ck-S

ho

rtEr


Just recently, two more exciting indus-try partners stepped up to show their support for Friends of NRA, including custom pistol manufacturer, Les Baer Custom Pistols, and famed optic sup-plier, Brunton Outdoor Group, which teamed up to provide 40 exclusive pairings for the new $7,500 Friends of NRA “Choose Your Adventure” Sponsorships. This new sponsorship level will re-place the sold out Kimber Sponsorship

and only 40 of these sponsorships are available for purchase. For the first time, Les Baer agreed to create 40 custom pis-tols exclusively for Friends of NRA. And the pistols are just that— custom. After all, Les Baer specializes in creating guns specific to the individual shooter, and now, using their talents, they’ve created 40 Premier II 1911 Pistols specifically for Friends of NRA Sponsors. “Friends of NRA supports us all the time, so this is a perfect fit for us to

donate back,” said a representative from Les Baer. It is this kind of support Friends of NRA is beginning to see regu-larly out of its industry partners, and one it hopes to continue to see other companies following suit with in the future. Brunton’s motto “Get Out There” rings true as they continue to show their support of Friends of NRA by teaming up with Les Baer to provide high-end binoculars to round out the outstanding

$7,500 sponsorship package. “Support from the industry is vital in achieving all our current and future fundraising goals,” said National Manager of Events and Merchandising, John da Silva. “Les Baer Custom pistols and the Brunton Outdoor Group have met the challenge and offered unique products to provide our sponsors with limited custom sponsorship opportuni-ties. Both these industry partners join a growing list of select companies who

go beyond to ensure the future of the Friends of NRA Sponsor program. We welcome others to do the same and look forward to creating additional partnerships within our shooting and hunting community to increase both sponsor participation and recognition for those companies who join the effort. All the companies who participate and individual sponsors are among the few select dedicated individuals who take extra pride in being a Friends of NRA

Sponsor. Friends of NRA doesn’t offer many opportunities more exclusive than these, so talk to your NRA field representative today about “Choosing Your Adven-ture” while also supporting the adven-tures of generations to come.

Become a Friends of NRA Sponsor! Find out more information on the Choose Your Adverture Sponsorship level online at www.friendsofnra.org/sponsor.

The presence of Friends oF nrA in the firearms industry has grown exponentially throughout the past years. The increasing number of industry partners lending their support to Friends of NRA and the programs it supports evidences the positive presence that has been cultivated over the years.

“Support from the industry is vital in achieving all our current and future fundraising goals”

S. y

ou

ng

Traditions . Quarter 3: 2010 17

Eastern

Region

Equipment funded through Friends of NRA grants enabled the AJROTC Department to develop a highly effec-tive marksmanship training program for its 120 cadets and most importantly, increased the interest in target shooting in the local community. There is no bet-ter evidence of the increased popularity of the NHHS AJROTC marksmanship program than the pellet rifle team itself, which has become a force in the South-east North Carolina JROTC Marks-manship Conference. The league’s eight high school JROTC teams compete with Sporter rifles in 10 meter, three position (3 x 10) matches. In the mid-nineties, NHHS Army JROTC received five D888 air rifles through a Friends of NRA grant submit-ted by the league’s commissioner. Un-

fortunately though, the NHHS team’s homemade pellet boxes and stands, handheld scopes, and aging mats and foam kneeling rolls hindered the team’s ability to compete effectively against the league’s better equipped teams (three of the league’s teams routinely competed in their respective JROTC national championships). The NHHS Army JROTC team often had to borrow equipment from its competitors in order participate in local matches. Team scores were understandably low and it was said by rival coaches that shooting against the NHHS team guaranteed a win every time. Over the last seven years, NHHS Army JROTC has worked with the NRA Field Representative from Eastern North Carolina to secure $9,500 in

NRA Foundation grants to procure offhand stands, scopes and scope stands, additional cylinders, kneeling rolls and mats and recently, reliable Air Arms S200 Sporter air guns with support equipment. As a result, team morale is high and marksmanship has improved to the point where the NHHS Army JROTC pellet rifle team has become one of the best in its league. Team members are now respected by the shooters and rifle team coaches of competing teams. In 2009, NHHS Army JROTC sent a shooter to the Army JROTC National Pellet Rifle Championships in Camp Perry, Ohio; and during the 2009 season, the rifle team suffered only one defeat in its dual matches. In 2010, the rifle team continued its success and qualified two shooters for the Army JROTC National Championships. The program now has a junior varsity and varsity team with over 30 cadets involved in competitive shooting.

Apply for an NRA Foundation Grant in North Carolina! Contact NRA Field Representative David Wells at (252) 456-2097 or visit www.nrafoundation.org/grants.

To show their appreciation to The NRA Foundation for the grants they received, the NHHS AJROTC team set up a table at the Eastern North Carolina Friends of NRA State Fund Committee Meeting to demonstrate the significant difference between the team’s old and new gear.

For more information, contact LTC James M. Chaffins at 910-251-6100, Ext. 264

Visit www.friendsofnra.org/NC

Friend

s Up

date

The partnership between New Hanover High School’s Army JROTC program and Friends of

NRA has engendered the development of a fine marksmanship team and has made a positive impact upon the cadets of the New Hanover High School Army JROTC Wildcat Battalion.

by ltc JamES m. chaffinS


Cen

tral

Reg

ion

As busses filled with fourth and fifth grade students rolled into the Dodge County Fairgrounds,

anticipation was building for the young ladies and men about to embark on a day of outdoor activities. The weather was not the most coop-erative with two inches of rain the night before, temps in the 40s, and a high of only 56 expected; it felt more like a cold day in fall than one in mid-May. But the weather did not stop plans for some unique, hands-on learning experiences, to which many of these students have never been exposed. Experiences like learning about firearms and firearm safety, wildlife identification, sporting dogs, trapping, camping, fishing, conservation, archery, and many more, covered the landscape of the Dodge County Fairgrounds for two days— an event which would not have been possible without the support of the NRA. The NRA Day attracted 3,500 stu-dents, teachers and chaperones this year,

according to Dan Gunderson, executive director of the Wisconsin Outdoors Alliance Foundation. It was the fifth year for this Wisconsin tradition, which has brought more than 21,000 students over the past five years in touch with their heritage and rights along with hands-on learning of traditions that helped form this county. In today’s fast-paced society, these outdoor experiences are often not taught at schools and might be lost forever, if not for pro-grams like these and the volunteers and sponsors who help support them. “The goal of this event is to get the kids active in the outdoors,” Gunderson said. “They get a chance to experience a little of everything at this event. The students are having fun and at the same time learning things; and they don’t even know it!” Students arrive early in the morning and move throughout the fairgrounds from tent to tent, learning new things. For example, a favorite is the BB gun shooting tents, which always have lines.

Students are greeted by Dodge County and Madison Area Friends of NRA committee members, where students each receive an NRA DAY Sports-Fest t-shirt, NRA firearm safety literature, an NRA 2010 lapel pin and an NRA bag. From there, students put the NRA shirts on over their clothes and move into a Wisconsin DNR tent. Conserva-tion wardens then teach the students about firearm safety, including proper firearm handling, sighting in and range rules and safety. Once they complete the safety training, students move to two BB gun range tents and are met by a Wisconsin conservation warden, NRA-certified firearm instructor or a Wisconsin hunter safety instructor for a one-on-one learning experience about firing a BB gun and range procedures. Another favorite was the sporting dogs camp. Retrievers and pointers, along with their trainers, demonstrated how to train these breeds in obedience and hunting. Retired Warden Roger Hanson acts as the hunter who failed to

“The goal of this event is to get the kids active in the outdoors”

by Paul mayErChairman, Dodge County Friends of NRA


identify his game correctly and conse-quently finds himself over the bag limit. Warden Heather Gottschalk of Beaver Dam then conducts a standard check of Hanson’s license, stamps, equipment and game. During the mock check, Warden Gottschalk demonstrates one of the means in which her Labrador, named Eider, aids her in her duties. From there, students moved to other camps to learn archery skills and safety, ATV and snowmobile safety, wildlife and conservation heritage enrichment, team-building, fishing, and trail recre-ation. Wisconsin has seen overwhelming success with the program, due in part because schools understand that it is more than a fun day away from the classroom, students come to NRA Day to learn. While the goal of the Wis-consin Outdoor Education Expo camp is to create interest in the outdoors, wildlife and nature, organizers would

like to track the Expo students’ later involvement in the outdoors to discover whether this experience ignites a spark and positively changes students’ life-styles. Organizers look forward to holding the event again next year and would like to see a similar program held in Wausau, Wis. By holding two expos in conjunction with other Wisconsin schools, students would not have to travel more than two hours to get to the event. Each year, this event requires about 300 volunteers from dozens of orga-nizations across the state of Wisconsin and many more organizations who contribute in-kind donations or finan-cial assistance. After last year’s major sponsor could not donate this year, the event was in jeopardy of not having enough funds to run the event. Event Coordinator Heidi Hubble searched for more sponsors and learned about the

grassroots fundraising program of The NRA Foundation, Friends of NRA. Hubble contacted Wisconsin NRA Field Rep. Scott Taetsch who contacted Dodge County Friends of NRA Com-mittee Chairman Paul Mayer. It costs about $150,000 in cash and in-kind donations annually to run the Wiscon-sin Outdoor Education Expo. And, this year, Gunderson said a large donation from the Wisconsin Friends of NRA was very crucial. Friends of NRA’s donation aided the Wisconsin Outdoor Educa-tion Expo in another successful event- and its popularity is spreading, said Gunderson, who explained there have been inquiries from other states which also hope to begin similar programs in the future.

Apply for an NRA Foundation Grant in Wisconsin! Contact Scott Taestch at (715) 873-3360 or visit www.nrafoundation.org/grants.

Visit www.friendsofnra.org/WI

“The goal of this event is to get the kids active in the outdoors”

by Paul mayErChairman, Dodge County Friends of NRA

20

Sou

ther

n R

egio

n

by al hammondSouthern Region Director, Field Operations Division

21

There’s nothing quite like traveling through the murky Florida backwaters at night in

pursuit of one of the world’s still-living dinosaurs. With only an aluminum fan boat between you and the almost-unidentifiable beady eyes staring back at you through the cloudy waters, the exhilaration of hunting one of the most coveted trophies in Florida fuels your body with adrenaline. Hunting the American alligator is only a dream for some, however, during the 2010 NRA Annual Meetings (AM) in Charlotte, NC the dream turned reality for first-time AM-attendees Roger Breeden of Charlottesville, Va. and Kyle Wheeler of High Springs, Fla. who outbid the crowd for a once-in-a-lifetime hunt on Lake Okeechobee. John and Jean Gettle of Gettle Trophy Hunts, serves on the South Bay Friends of NRA committee in Sarasota, Fla. and for the past five years has donated a nighttime gator hunt to the NRA Annual Meetings’ Sportsmen’s Auction and NRA Foundation events. In September, winning bidders Breeden and Wheeler got the chance to cash in their prize purchases. The Gettles matched the two with Guide Chris Rivers, a local legend when it comes to alligator hunting. Rivers

donated his talent and services, and with a reputation for harvesting huge alligators and a charming southern wit and patience, he always makes hunters feel comfortable. Not to mention, his airboat skills and general knowledge of the local waterways and game animals make him an incredible guide in his field. The boat ride alone, Breeden and Wheeler agreed, was one of the major highlights of the trips. Leading up to purchasing the hunt, Breeden was first intrigued by the op-portunity to hunt gators and second wondered if he was too old to handle the demands of this type of hunting. After securing his 7’ 5” trophy, he proved that not only was he up for the hunt, but he was ready to bring his two grandsons down to Florida next year to do it all over again. Even as a native-Floridian, Wheeler had never hunted alligator before. From the start, he was hooked. The three were tracking a larger beast, when it gave them the slip, but as luck would have it, another appeared just in time for Wheeler to seize the opportunity. Future trips will be tough to top for Wheeler though since he ended up harvesting a 10’ 2” monster. The Gettle Gator Hunt proved suc-cessful, not only by the trophies they took home, but by the experience they gained as a whole. Many thanks to John and Jean Gettle and Chris Rivers for their donation along with Roger Breeden and Kyle Wheeler for their support of the NRA Foundation by purchasing these hunts at NRA Annual Meetings. If you would like to hunt Florida alligators with Gettle Trophy Hunts and Chris Rivers please contact them at (941) 924-5228 or 941-234-2195. It is truly a hunt you will never forget.

Win the hunt of your dreams at the 2011 NRA Annual Meeting Auctions in Pittsburgh, PA. Tickets go on sale in early January and sell out quickly. Check www.nraam.org for more details.

by al hammondSouthern Region Director, Field Operations Division

Roger Breeden with his catch


“West Texas Friends oF nrA is inter-ested in the ongoing education of our shooting sports students,” said NRA Field Representative for West Texas, Jack Cannon. “So we brought up the suggestion to the State Fund Commit-tee to grant a couple of scholarships to youth involved in the shooting sports and going to 4-year colleges.” During the 2009 State Fund Com-mittee (SFC) Meeting, West Texas Friends of NRA approved two college scholarships for the first time in their grant history. After calling for appli-cants, and reviewing the competition, West Texas decided on two individu-als they deemed deserving to receive the new scholarships. Jill Bramlet and Jordan Chandler were two of the elite few who stood to accept the honor and the funds. The accolades for both Bramlet and Chandler flowed in regularly, proving each was a worthy candidate for West Texas Friends of NRA's newest scholar-ship awards. Bramlet, who received a $1,000 scholarship, is a 10-year member of the Floyd County 4-H. For the past four years, she has competed locally and state-wide on the Floyd County 4-H Rifle Team. In addition to her work on the range, she is involved with her high school band, the A/B Honor Roll, National Honor Society and 4-H Photography. In addition, she regularly steps into leadership roles, includ-ing Class President, Class Treasurer, Lockney 4-H President, Vice President of her National Honor Society chapter, and 4-H Council Vice President for her district, among others.

According to Bramlet's principal, "Jill has a strong sense of responsibility and excellent work ethic. She is extremely personable, mature, bright and full of life." The County Extension Agent, Melissa Long, remarks that," Jill exem-plifies the very best of what the 4-H organization has to offer. She has been an exceptional leader on the county level, always willing to assist with projects, workshops and tours. She has continued to be an example for younger members by her actions and efforts."

Chandler, who received a $1,500 schol-arship from the West Texas Friends of NRA, shines just as bright. As an active member in the FFA, an A/B Honor Roll Student, a JV Softball player, and a member of her high school’s Student Council, she has collected numerous awards through both her school and outside activities. “Jordan sits amongst my brightest Senior students,” said Tanner Hargrove, Chandler’s English IV Dual Credit teacher. “[Her] dedication to school

work shows how she daily realizes the importance of a good education.” Both Bramlet and Chandler are role models for young shooters across the nation to strive for their best in all as-pects of their lives. West Texas Friends of NRA is proud to count the two excep-tional students among their scholarship recipients and hopes to be able to fund more scholarships for rising leaders in the shooting sports in the future. “A whole lot of people don’t know it exists yet,” said Cannon. “But mention-

ing it at banquets and through talking about it with others, we have elicited some very positive comments and responses about helping our shooting sports students further their education. Whether we are granting college schol-arships or raising funds to help a local rifle team, ultimately we all benefit.”

Apply for an NRA Foundation Grant or cholarship in Texas! Contact NRA Field Representative Jack Cannon at (325) 617-4460.

Visit www.friendsofnra.org/TX

by Jack cannonNRA Field Representative, West Texas


As the saying goes, after every storm there is a calm, and it couldn’t be more true for Wyoming Friends of NRA. Last year, Traditions Magazine ran an article titled “Sublette County Friends of NRA: A Perfect Storm,” which told the story of how Sublette County broke

the record for highest money raised by a first year committee. There were many challenges the committee faced, but in the end, the event raised over $50K for the Wyoming shooting sports. A year later, Sweetwater County broke Sublette County’s record and raised an amazing $60K. Dave Manzer, Wyoming Field Representative, said that although it was a first year commit-tee and no one on the commit-tee had any previous experi-ence, the planning process was effortless – a stark difference from that of Sublette County. But how did it all happen? On an arbitrary spring day, Manzer washed his truck and put his new NRA magnets on the side. He decided to pull into a parking lot to get some work done on his laptop when a gentleman walked out of a nearby building and started to approach the truck. Manzer immediately thought he was going to be kicked out of the lot, but to his surprise, Josh Coursey saw the NRA magnet on his truck and started asking

him questions about the NRA, and more specifically, the Friends of NRA program. Coursey asked if there was a banquet in his area. Manzer said, “No,” and Coursey replied back, “Now there is.” The banquet planning got off the

ground when Coursey introduced Man-zer to Al Rivera. Rivera became chair-man of the committee and took hold of the reigns. “Al made the whole thing possible, he was relentless,” Manzer said. “He was the driving force behind the banquet effort. When he tackles something, he tackles it hard.” As the planning process was under way and the banquet date was fast ap-

proaching, Manzer had a feeling there was something special about this com-mittee. “It wasn’t hectic and nail biting

like the Sublette County banquet was,” Manzer said. “It felt like everything was under control and I had a gut feeling it was going to go well.” A part of that feeling was due to the committee’s strong desire to beat Sublette County’s record. Not only did

Rivera and the committee have tons of connections in the community, but Ri-vera also did his homework. He studied the Traditions article about Sublette County and listened to every piece of advice Manzer gave. Come banquet time, the committee was prepared and ready. They sold over 400 tickets, acquired unique, one-of-a-kind donations, and had a whole

community supporting them. Since it was Sweetwater County’s first banquet, Manzer solicited support from other committees around Wyoming, including a volunteer from Sublette County. By the end of the night, the committee raised over $60K, and the storm that had once filled the skies of Wyoming was nowhere to be seen.

Attend an upcoming Friends of NRA banquet in Wyoming! Contact NRA Field Representa-

tive Dave Manzer at (307) 746-2520 or by email at [email protected] for more information.

“It felt like everything was under control and I had a gut feeling it was going to go well”

Mid

West R

egion

Visit www.friendsofnra.org/WY

n. m

cma

ho

n


opes of developing and growing shooting tradi-tions within the state drives Montana Friends of NRA to grant money

to many deserving youth programs year after year. One such program Montana takes special interest in for its rich shooting sports heritage is the nation-ally-recognized 4-H program. This year, the Montana Friends of NRA State Fund Committee further demonstrated that passion through the allotment of $10K grants to the Mineral County and Carbon County 4-H programs. According to the Montana 4-H web-site, 4-H is the largest, out-of-school program in the state and reaches about 25,000 youth in all counties each year. With over 100 different projects youth can be involved in, it’s no wonder Mon-tana Friends of NRA agrees this program is essential to the youth in its state. Mineral County’s 4-H shooting sports project leader and coach, Debra Regan, knows how hard it was to obtain funding for her chapter prior to receiv-ing NRA Foundation grants. “For the first eight years we were barely scrap-ping by,” Regan said. “It always took a lot of time to raise the money and other people were always ahead of us.” In 2006, Regan received the first Foundation grant for $9K. Since then, the club has received funding four times equating to $26K, with the most recent grant in 2010 for $10K. “We were finally able to compete with everyone else!” Regan exclaimed. “It’s mind-

boggling to see how much money we’ve received.” Mineral County has won national competitions and competed on the NRA National Championship team in 2004, 2006, 2009, and 2010. But even with their success, they never forget to give back to the organization that has given them so much. “The local Friends of NRA always invites us to the dinner to recognize junior shooters,” Regan said. “The kids also help out, they really enjoy going.” Joe Crismore, NRA Montana Field Rep, truly believes in funding youth programs such as 4-H, “The future of our shooting sports rests directly on the shoul-ders of the youth shooters. Whether they are aware of it now or become aware when as they become adults, the Mon-tana State Fund Committee believes these immediate invest-ments will pay big dividends to the future of the shooting sports.” The Carbon Coun- ty 4-H was the second chapter to receive a $10K grant this year. The funds have helped the club expand its BB gun and air rifle programs and compete in air pistol and smallbore. In addition, the club utilized the money to purchase a gun safe, spotting scopes, stands, mats, kneeling rolls and training equipment.

“These precious opportunities for youth, made possible by Friends of NRA and NRA Foundation grants, not only teaches the discipline and respect that goes along with firearm training, but also entrusts our Second Amendment legacies to those who come after us,” Crismore said. “This is a liberty Mon-tana Friends of NRA feels is worth the price tag it takes to make it happen.”

Apply for an NRA Foundation Grant in Montana! Contact NRA Field Representa-tive Joe Crismore at (406) 293-2498 or by email at [email protected] for more information.

Visit www.friendsofnra.org/MT

MONTANA 4H PROJECTS

Animal Sciences * Veterinary Science

Engineering & Technology * Robotics * Woodworking

Environmental & Natural Sciences * Forestry * Shooting Sports

Family & Consumer Sciences * Child Development

Plant Sciences * Crop Science * Gardening

Communication & Expressive Arts * Photography * Theatre Arts

Health * Foods & Nutrition

Other Projects * Citizenship * Leadership

n. m

cm

ah

on


Visit www.friendsofnra.org/CA

It was an ideal California day— not a cloud in the sky and temperatures in the mid 70s, when veterans from every military branch gathered at Naval Base Point Loma (NBPL) for the Cal-Diego Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) Trapshoot Circuit Tournament. “The purpose of the Paralyzed Veter-ans Sports Program is to get these guys out of the house,” said the Shooting Sports Director of the San Diego PVA, Jim Russell, in an article written by Cpl. Manuel F. Guerrero published by the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. “You got young guys that lose their mo-bility and think their life is over. We’re trying to get them back into society and mainstream. This kind of event helps them realize that they can still be a force and contribute to society.” The Cal-Diego PVA Tournament is held annually and not only works to help lift veterans’ spirits, but also gives currently serving Marines who come out to help facilitate the event by set-ting up targets, coaching, and scoring the competition, a stronger sense of ap-preciation for those who fought before them and the sacrifices each made in the process. “It showed me that even if you get disabled, you can still shoot and have fun,” said Lance Cpl. Mary D. La-combe, a CMT at the range aboard the

air station. “They don’t let their disabili-ties hold them back.” Recently, through funds raised at Friends of NRA events across southern California, Cal-Diego PVA received a grant from The NRA Foundation to provide aid for the event in the form of air rifle, ammunition, and target prod-uct. The grant not only aided the Cal-Diego PVA in exposing five wounded veterans to the air rifle in preparation for the Wounded Warrior Games held by USA Shooting, but it also allowed fifteen more paralyzed veterans to expe-rience air rifle shooting in anticipation of the National Wheelchair Games. The seminar was successful in not only preparing veterans for upcoming competitions, but also in giving them the unique opportunity to share their stories with other veterans in similar circumstances. In addition to open-ing doors to veterans seeking to shoot again, the Cal-Diego PVA along with the NRA Disabled Shooting Program have shown they are committed to establishing an annual disabled air rifle program in San Diego to be in place for years to come.

Apply for an NRA Foundation Grant in California! Contact NRA Field Represen-tative Lissa Davis at (714) 832-1355 or visit www.nrafoundation.org/grants.

It’s a skIll they spent tIme honIng while serving their country, and now wounded during wars spanning from WWII to Operation Iraqi Freedom, a few of the nation’s finest para-lyzed veterans got the chance to cultivate and sharpen their shooting sports skills once again.

\ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \

\ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \

Western

Region

a. n

iblo

ck-S

ho

rtEr

Ind

ust

ry C

orn

er


It was a historical first for Henry Repeating Arms in Bayonne, NJ when they opened up their facility for use by the first-ever Rifleworks on the Bay Friends of NRA banquet this past June. Owner and President of the fam-ily-owned Henry Repeating Arms, Anthony Imperato, graciously unlocked the doors to their rifle manufacturing plant for a night of games, auctions, and raffles while banquet-goers looked on as some of America’s finest firearms were made. Guests were seated on the production floor, amongst the very machines that turn and finish the barrels of firearms many of them have sitting in their homes.

Imperato made numerous donations to the cause as well. The state of New Jersey has strict firearm laws, including one which prohibits the presence of a firearm at a fundraising event. For years, every Friends of NRA event in New Jersey displayed only a life-size poster of each firearm being auctioned off at an event— the special circumstances of hosting the banquet inside the actual manufacturing plant allowed for New Jersey to celebrate the rare opportu-nity of not only seeing a firearm at a fundraising event, but also being able to watch the process of how it is made. One of the highlights of the night was when attendees were treated to the engraving of a Henry Big Boy .45cal

Rifle commemorating the first-ever Friends of NRA banquet hosted at Henry Repeating Arms. Assembled especially for the event, a Henry Repeating Arms em-ployee walked through the crowd describing the precise process of constructing a rifle from scratch. After the completion of the “1 of 1” limited-edition Henry Big Boy, the firearm was then donated and placed in

live auction where it was spiritedly bid on and sold to the highest bidder for $2,050. Another one-of-a-kind Henry rifle was presented to Imperato by Baron Engraving in remembrance and recog-nition of the Henry Family’s tradition of support for the shooting sports. Following, two “Father and Son” Henry rifles specially marked “Father’s Day 2010” were donated to the live auction and fetched $700 each. Also in attendance was keynote speaker and host of NRANews, Cam Edwards, who was accompanied by a camera crew that captured not only the special events of the evening, but also conducted numerous interviews for the popular Sirus Patriot Radio and nightly NRANews.com program. Inspired by the event, Cam & Company aired much of the footage during the follow-ing weeks and offered Henry premiums as prizes on the show. The event was a huge success, and the Rifleworks on the Bay Friends of NRA committee is already in the planning stages for next year’s bigger and better event.

Attend an upcoming Friends of NRA ban-quet in New Jersey! Contact NRA Field Representative Brian Swartz at (973) 343-2104 or by email at [email protected] for more information.

Cam Edwards Speaks at the Rifleworks Banquet

by brian SwartzNRA Field Representative, New Jersey

by brian SwartzNRA Field Representative, New Jersey

Pro

gram

Pro

file


It was over 23 years ago when the NRA first sought to en-courage the appreciation of nature through the NRA Youth Wildlife Art Contest. Sharing in

NRA’s enthusiasm is the George Mont-gomery Foundation of the Arts, which recently made a generous donation to the now George Montgomery/NRA Youth Wildlife Art Contest, through which, the two organizations hope to further promote youth artwork and ap-preciation of nature’s beauty. To date, the Youth Wildlife Art Contest has awarded over thousands of dollars in scholarship money annually to students ranging from first to twelfth graders. The hope is to reach more children, and foster more outdoor artist enthusiasts throughout their schooling. Friends of NRA is unique in its experience with the Youth Wildlife

Art Contest in that it can attest to the quality and effectiveness of the pro-gram first-hand. Featured in the 2010 Friends of NRA Standard Merchandise Package is three-time winner of the NRA Youth Wildlife Art Contest artist Adam Grimm with his “Gems of Fall” duck painting. Grimm went on to win the prestigious Federal Duck Stamp Competition at the ripe age of 21 and has since been commissioned for several state duck stamps and collected many other celebrated awards and recogni-tions. It is artists like Grimm that the NRA hopes to see more of in the future. The National Rifle Association is now accepting entries for its 2010 George Montgomery/NRA Youth Wildlife Art Contest deadline ending November 1, 2010. NRA membership is not required to enter, and winners in each of the 4

grade categories (grade categories 1-3, 4-6, 7-9, 10-12) will receive $750, while second-place finishers will receive $500, and third-place will be awarded $250. Additionally, a prize of $1,000 will also be awarded for the overall Best In Show. “We are especially looking forward to this year’s contest,” said Kyle Jillson, NRA Media Specialist and organizer of the Youth Wildlife Contest. “Thanks to the George Montgomery Foundation, the improvements we’ve made are sure to help it grow and continue introduc-ing children to wildlife art for years to come.”

Enter an artist you know in the Youth Wildlife Artist Contest! For detailed infor-mation, and specific rules and regulations on entering the contest, please visit www.nrahq.org/youth/wildlife.asp.

George Montgomery was an American actor and artist who emanated ruggedness in over 80 films and television series throughout the 20th century. Known best for his roles in westerns, Montgomery grew up the youngest of fifteen on a farm where he gained skills, such as han-dling horses, which contributed to his acting career. Montgomery drew from his childhood and acting roles in his art, creating many fine sculptures depicting fellow actors and scenes from the American Old West.

Who Was George Montgomery?

Lauren Ge / 2009 First Place / Category III (Grades 7-9)

a. n

iblo

ck

-Sh

or

tEr


Tech

Talk

Who Was George Montgomery?

In Tennessee, a radio show host is passionate about educating kids about firearm safety through the

Eddie Eagle program. In Alaska, a med-ical company contributed thousands to Friends of NRA because it wanted to see more shooting sports in their state. In Oklahoma, a committee member hosts one of the largest-ever Women on Target programs in the nation every year. In South Carolina, a publisher wishes to see more public ranges built. In California, a high school student starts a gun club at his school because there isn’t enough youth shooting sports in his area. In Pennsylvania, a state fund committee feels it is important to award college scholarships to future leaders. In Texas, the mere presence of a WWII veteran who fought in the Battle for Iwo Jima helps raise over $10,000. In

Florida, a retired preacher desires to build a stronger community. The list goes on and on. Every vol-unteer, every donor, every committee, every business, every state has a reason why they call themselves a Friend of NRA. These are real people with real reasons why they choose to get involved with their local Friends of NRA banquet. The Friends of NRA program isn’t made up of just one type of person. We are joined under this common cause, but what makes our program so unique is the very people who make it up. The diversity of where they come from, their hobbies, their occupation— with each person it varies. Collectively, they are called Friends of NRA, but individually, each person has their own story— And Friends of NRA wants to hear it. In a new effort to show the country

just who Friends of NRA really is, it’s launching a nationwide “I am Friends of NRA” campaign where individuals can submit their stories, pictures, and videos stating why they call themselves a Friend of NRA. Friends of NRA is asking every one of its volunteers and supporters to help us tell our story. Every person makes a difference, whether their contribu-tion is large or small, it has an impact on the future of Friends of NRA and The NRA Foundation. By telling your story, and by allowing Friends of NRA the opportunity to tell it to others, we want to inspire that same passion and commitment in you in others and in return, hope they too will give back to their communities. After all, Friends of NRA wouldn’t be here today without “Friends.”

a. n

iblo

ck-S

ho

rtEr

Each person has their own story...and Friends of NRA wants to hear it

30

Fou

nd

atio

n D

onor

s

INDIVIDUAL DONORSGifts of $25,000+ Carter’s Country TexasMr. Jonathan W. Isaacs ColoradoMr. and Mrs. Arthur H. Lamb, Jr. Massachusetts

Gifts of $5,000 - 24,999 Aimpoint Inc. VirginiaAnonymous IowaCabela’s NebraskaCheaper Than Dirt TexasCrimson Trace Corporation OregonDBS International PennsylvaniaDoug Turnbull Restoration, Inc. New YorkIndependence Tube Corp. IllinoisMr. and Mrs. Shad R. Ketcher MinnesotaThe Robert M. Lee Foundation NevadaSusanna Novy MacDonald CaliforniaMr. George G. Matthews FloridaMinnesota Weapons Collectors Association MinnesotaDr. Joseph A. Murphy PennsylvaniaNatchez Shooters Supply TennesseeNumrich Gun Parts Corporation New YorkOhio Gun Collectors Association OhioMr. and Mrs. Samuel A. Oliver TexasServices Group NevadaJ. D. Williams, Esq. Texas

Gifts of $1,000 - $4,999 American Custom Gunmakers Guild WyomingAnonymous VirginiaAuctionarms.com, Inc. CaliforniaBergquist Masonry, LLC New HampshireBlue Book Publications, Inc. MinnesotaDr. Lawrence M. Borland PennsylvaniaMr. Gilbert N. Brooks WisconsinMr. James A. Brown, Jr. VirginiaCITI Trust New YorkDeep River Sporting Clays & Shooting School North CarolinaMr. Will DeRuyter WashingtonDillon Precision Products Corp ArizonaMr. W. Hague Ellis UtahMr. Alan Gornick, Jr. MichiganMr. and Mrs. Sheppard W. Kelly IllinoisLlagas Foundation CaliforniaNational Shooting Sports Foundation ConnecticutDonald and Margaret M. Pelton FloridaMr. Wilson H. Phillips, Jr. VirginiaSafari Club International - Adirondack New YorkSafari Club International - National Capital Chapter VirginiaMrs. Deborah B. Stuck South CarolinaTawani Foundation Illinois

Mr. Doc J. Thurston, III North CarolinaMr. James P. Weidener Florida

Gifts of $250 - $999 Dr. and Mrs. Don G. Benson, Jr. TexasMr. Richard L. Berglund MarylandMr. and Mrs. Richard L. Boos ArizonaMr. Mario A. Borgatello CaliforniaMr. Joseph G. Breton TexasMr. Cole Burr CaliforniaMr. and Mrs. Brian W. Clements PennsylvaniaThe Daniel-Mickel Foundation South CarolinaMary Darling, MS, J.D. Arizonae-Recycling of California CaliforniaGalco International ArizonaMr. and Mrs. Frank W. Ghilarducci ColoradoGolf San Antonio TexasMr. William H. Grimes ArizonaMr. David H. Hamilton OhioJ & G Sales, Ltd. ArizonaKeith Hamilton Farming CaliforniaKimmell Family Foundation OklahomaMr. Drew Koval VirginiaMr. and Mrs. Robert W. Langenbach WashingtonMr. Daniel O. Maldonado TexasMr. Richard W. Moncrief Virginia

The NRA Foundation Thanks the Following Donors for Their Generosity and Continued Support

Listed contributions do not necessarily reflect total giving for the year. We make every effort to ensure accuracy and completeness of donor names. If you notice any errors or omissions, please contact us at (800) 423-6894 or by e-mail at [email protected]. Thank you.

May 1, 2010 - July 31, 2010

31

The NRA Foundation Thanks the Following Donors for Their Generosity and Continued Support

Listed contributions do not necessarily reflect total giving for the year. We make every effort to ensure accuracy and completeness of donor names. If you notice any errors or omissions, please contact us at (800) 423-6894 or by e-mail at [email protected]. Thank you.

Mr. George William Nugent OhioMr. Jacob Panero CaliforniaMr. and Mrs. Edward J. Parry, Jr. WashingtonMr. and Mrs. John J. Parry WashingtonMr. David J. Prawdzik New HampshireMr. William J. Proefrock New YorkMr. Tyler T. Schropp VirginiaMs. Molly E. Smith CaliforniaWidener’s Reloading & Shooting Supply, Inc. TennesseeMr. Justin Willette MassachusettsMr. and Mrs. Benjamen E. Zerface Ohio

ESTATES Estate of Robert R. Briggs TennesseeEstate of Betty Lee Davis WashingtonEstate of Betty M. Duebner WisconsinEstate of Seymour Robinson Foster MichiganEstate of Donald W. Gerdes OhioEstate of John P. Mohns WashingtonEstate of George Schellhaass WisconsinEstate of Ralph P. Simpson New Jersey

IN KIND GIFTSMr. Russell Barnes VirginiaMr. Frederick M. Brown New JerseyDr. Thomas A. Caceci VirginiaMr. James Devereux North Carolina

Mr. and Mrs. George A. Doumani District of ColumbiaMr. William Scott Fuller VirginiaMr. William Thomas Gennetti, Jr. VirginiaMr. Scott W. Kamphues IndianaMr. Thomas M. Kerner New YorkMr. Carl Kise MichiganMr. Thomas R. Popcock VirginiaMr. Alex Reed FloridaMr. John S. Roberts WyomingMr. Clifford Ross VirginiaMr. and Mrs. H. Wayne Sheets MarylandMr. Samuel Thomas Summey North Carolina

IN HONOR OF GIFTS Byron E. Haney Mr. Dennis B. Haney Tim Rosa Mr. Jason Rosa Chuck and Keily Searcy Mr. and Mrs. Raymond R. Handley Michele Webb Ms. Karen E. Baker

IN MEMORY OF GIFTSMichael N. Anderson Mr. Danny F. Johnson Mr. Terrance L. JohnsonJohn J. Buncich Mr. Edward F. SafeeJ. D. Clark Mr. Paul J. CardwellJohn Cole Mr. and Mrs. Larry RylHerbert C. Ferney Mr. and Mrs. M. A. Dower Ms. Carla Humphries Ms. Shirley Jean Meuschke Ms. Mary Lynn Tolle

Donald G. Hagadone Mr. and Mrs. Richard G. Pleyte Mr. and Mrs. Victor L. Towns Mr. and Mrs. George E Von BehrenCliff Hensley Alameda Gun and Rod ClubMichael L. “Jack” King Ms. Paula E. McLendonLawrence F. Miller Ms. Denise ClifftPaul L. Mollica, JD David T. Warshaw, Esq.Louis Pellegrini, IV Ms. Karen Marie Azevedo The Bonetti Family Mr. Mario A. Borgatello Mr. Cole Burr Ms. Sheila E. Chastain Mr. Kenneth Darst Mr. Sam Di Spaltro Ms. Denise M. Donahue e-Recycling of California Mr. Mark Figone Mr. Clyde M. Gregory Mr. and Mrs. Bud Hill Ms. Elizabeth Diane Jones Mr. and Mrs. Greg Kelly Mr. Danny M. McLaughlin Mr. Robert O. Muzio Ms. Cheryl ONeill Ms. Lois D. Ortmann Mr. Jacob Panero Ms. Trish Roath Ms. Linda Storti Mr. Gary L. Teskey Mr. David VaccaressRobert R. Roberts Golf San AntonioFrederick R. Scheetz Mr. Phil ZavrackyPaul R. Schmitt Sr. Mr. and Mrs. Frederick H. McDonaldJan Smith-Christmas Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth L. Smith-ChristmasRobert H. Tips Mr. Albert G. Lee, Jr.James E. White Jr. Mr. Joe and Susan Williams, III

May 1, 2010 - July 31, 2010

The NRA FouNdATioN11250 Waples Mill RoadFairfax, VA 22030

NONPROFITORGANIZATION

U.S. POSTAGE PAIDTHE NRA

FOUNDATION

Traditions 2010: Qtr.3

Documents

Transcript of Traditions 2010: Qtr.3