Traditions QUARTER 4

SECTION
GREAT AMERICAN PREVIEW
The NRA Foundation Banquet
at NRA’s second annual Great
American Outdoor Show
TRAINING FOR
TEAMWORK
Friends of NRA headquarters
staff visit Field Staff to build
relationships and experience
2015 CORPORATE SPONSORS
Industry supporters make Friends of NRA’s
nationwide fundraising efforts possible
QUARTER 2 | 2014
Traditions 1
QUARTER 4 | 2014
Features
4
Traditions
Cover Story
Preserving the Past,
Funding the Future
Friends of NRA’s 2015 Standard Package
firearms and merchandise blend history and innovation to fund the future of shooting sports.
National News
ON THE COVER
10
15
The 2015 Great American
Outdoor Show Preview
SPOTLIGHT | NRA Staff
Training for Teamwork
30
32
PROGRAM PROFILE |
Hunters’ Leadership Forum
Regional Updates
The 2015 Friends of NRA Gun of the
Year is a custom Kimber Pro Carry II
1911 pistol featuring engraving, gold
plating, and Crimson Trace lasergrips.
14
The Latest Stories from Friends of NRA and
NRA Foundation Grant Recipients
Staff
Editor & Designer
Christina Paladeau
Mission Statement
Co-Editor
Nicole McMahon
Board of Trustees & Officers
Mr. Frank R. Brownell, III
President
Mrs. Carolyn D. Meadows
Vice President
The Honorable Joe M. Allbaugh
Trustee
Mr. William A. Bachenberg
Trustee
Ms. Susan Hayes
Trustee
Mr. Steve Hornady
Trustee
INDUSTRY CORNER | 2015
National Corporate Sponsors
Mr. Eric Johanson
Trustee
Mr. George K. Kollitides II
Trustee
Ms. Susan Kriley
Trustee
Mr. Wayne R. LaPierre
ExOfficio
Ms. Anne Lee
Trustee
Mr. Owen P. Mills
Trustee
Mr. James W. Porter II
Trustee
Mr. Dennis J. Reese
Trustee
Captain John C. Sigler
Trustee
Mr. H. Wayne Sheets
Executive Director
Mr. Wilson H. Phillips, Jr.
Treasurer
Mr. Skipp Galythly
Secretary
Established 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 lawabiding 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 is published quarterly by The NRA Foundation, Inc., for the benefit of its donors and other interested parties.
11250 Waples Mill Road . Fairfax, VA 22030 . www.nrafoundation.org
Guest Editorial
WITNESSING 15 YEARS OF GROWTH
FOR THE NRA FOUNDATION
By Christie Majors
NRA Foundation Director of Finance, National Rifle Association
A lot can happen in 15 years. It doesn’t feel that long, but that is
how many years I have had the pleasure of being a part of the NRA
Foundation finance team. During my first year in 1999, grant program funding was $5.6 million, the endowment balance reached $6
million and Friends of NRA, the grassroots fundraising program for The NRA Foundation, raised
$13 million. In 2014 over $32 million in grant funding was awarded, the endowment balance
grew to reach $46 million and Friends of NRA raised $66 million for shooting sports programs
across the country. All of that growth and so much more is possible when you have a passionate
and dedicated group of people working toward an essential and common goal—a goal tied to our
Second Amendment rights, to our American heritage and to freedom at its very core.
What does it really mean to grow from $5.6 million to $32 million in annual grant funding? It
means funding approximately 2,000 more grants in 2014 than we were able to in 1999, tripling
our reach. It means that over 15 years 30,000 programs received essential funding to conduct
programs in local communities across the country, teaching firearms and hunting safety, enhancing marksmanship skills and expanding the reach of the Second Amendment to many who would
not otherwise have the opportunity. Without NRA Foundation funding many of these programs
would simply cease to exist.
Endowment growth from $6 million in 1999 to $46 million in 2014 means a difference between
$300,000 and $2,300,000 per year in available grant funding. Endowments provide a permanent
source of program funding since donor contributions are invested and never spent, and only a
portion of investment earnings are available for spending each year. As a result, there is a perpetual
stream of income to fund crucial firearms-related programs in the future.
For the Friends of NRA program to go from raising $13 million in 1999 to raising approximately
$66 million in 2014, it takes a dedicated team of committee volunteers, field representatives, staff,
sponsors and event attendees who all believe passionately in our Second Amendment freedoms
and work tirelessly to outdo themselves year after year. Over 1,000 events were held in 2014,
nearly 500 more than the number held in 1999.
None of the success we’ve achieved over the past 15 years would be possible without you. Together
we make a difference. Thank you for all you do to help preserve our traditions and freedoms.
I wonder what new achievements are in store over the next 15 years!
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE NRA FOUNDATION AT WWW.NRAFOUNDATION.ORG
QUARTER 4 | 2014
Traditions 3
By Christina Paladeau
Event Marketing & Communications Coordinator,
National Rifle Association
4 Traditions
QUARTER 4 | 2014
E
ach year Friends of NRA assembles a new and unique merchandise package designed to support and inspire the program’s fundraising efforts. This year’s collection of 30 items
encompasses a variety of exclusive and custom pieces as
well as pieces that honor significant people, moments and traditions
in American and shooting sports history.
The six Regional Directors of Field Staff compose the selection
committee, which chooses pieces based on quality, uniqueness,
fundraising potential and compatibility with The NRA Foundation
and Friends of NRA’s ideals. The desire to honor American craftsmanship also plays a major part in the selection process, and nearly
two-thirds of the items in this year’s collection are made in the USA.
The chosen firearms, merchandise, gear and framed décor reflect
months and sometimes years of behind-the-scenes planning, preparation and production. Many represent the combined efforts of
multiple contributors brought together in their support for Friends
of NRA: manufacturers and embellishers, metal casters and wood
craftsmen, marksmen, artists and framers, to name a few.
This collaborative method truly shines in the 2015 Gun of the
Year, a customized Kimber Pro Carry II. A take on the classic
1911, this pistol is smaller and lighter than the original full-size
model, making it ideal for concealed carry while still packing the
full stopping power of the .45 ACP cartridge. Etching and 24k
gold plating by Baron Technology, Inc., and custom Crimson
Trace master series lasergrips bearing the NRA logo give this piece
a design unlike any other in the Pro Carry family.
The Stars and Stripes Guitar autographed by Ted Nugent and
the Annie Oakley Replica Target Set also represent the involvement and coordination of multiple participants. “After great success with our limited edition signed instruments, this year we are
following up the Charlie Daniels pieces with this very patriotic
guitar hand-signed by Ted Nugent,” says Central Region Director
Chad Franklin. Thanks to the efforts of NRA-ILA Deputy Chief
of Staff Scott Christman and some great volunteers in Texas, Ted
Nugent signed the 1,200 guitars needed for the standard packages
at every Friends of NRA banquet held in 2015.
The Annie Oakley Replica Target Set features a replica of one of
her heart-shot targets, which she handed out as free passes for admission to the Wild West Show. A .22 long rifle bullet and casing
fired from Annie Oakley’s Stevens Offhand Target Model No. 35
pistol by NRA directors, including Executive Director of General
Operations Kyle Weaver, and headquarters staff accompanies the
target.
“We were able to borrow the gun from the NRA National Firearm Museum’s collection and shoot 1,200 rounds at the NRA
Range one day this past February,” says Merchandise Manager
Kathy Purtell. “It was a fun project to take part in, being able to
shoot the pistol with such history behind it.”
Other items inspired by the desire to preserve the past include
the Rossi Model 92 Rifle, a modern tribute to the firearms of the
American frontier, and the Replica “Indian Chief ” Bullet Drawing. The bullet drawing reproduces an item in the NRA National
Firearms Museum collection that showcases a popular talent of the
famous “Shooting Linds,” Winchester Marksmen Dot and Ernie
Lind.
No one knows more about how merchandise items contribute
to the fundraising success of banquets around the country than the
NRA Field Representatives who auction them off at each event;
2014’s best selling item was the Dinner Bell suggested by Iowa
and Nebraska NRA Field Rep Tim Bacon. This year’s collection
features numerous items selected or created based on ideas from
individual field reps: the Conceal Carry Robe from Eastern Pennsylvania and Delaware’s Kory Enck; the Welcome Friends of NRA
Sign from Michigan’s Al Herman; the Farson Blade Survival Tool
and LUCID Gen III HD7 Red Dot Sight from Dave Manzer in
Wyoming; and the Tervis Tumbler Set from Tom Knight in South
Florida.
Friends of NRA is proud to share the 2015 Standard Merchandise Package. Attend a Friends of NRA banquet to help preserve the
past and fund the future of America’s shooting sports traditions by
bidding on these exclusive items!
2015 GUN
OF THE YEAR
Kimber Pro Carry
II 1911
.45 ACP pistol
with custom
Crimson Trace
lasergrips*
*Nearly two-thirds of this year’s items are
made in the USA. Look for the asterisk
next to the item name that denotes
American-made products!
Learn more about the Gun of the Year and
all of the items in the 2015 Standard
Merchandise Package by following the
QR code to www.friendsofnra.org/Merchandise
QUARTER 4 | 2014
Traditions 5
Rossi Model 92 Rifle .44 Mag. with NRA Coin
Beretta A300 Outlander Max5 Camo Shotgun*
Crickett .22LR Rifle with Pewter NRA Coin*
Savage Model 11 XP Predator Camo with Bushnell Scope
Walther PPK/S .22
with NRA Logo
Gen III HD7 Red Dot Sight
6 Traditions
QUARTER 4 | 2014
Hamilton Shotgun Case
M16 Patent Plaques*
Annie Oakley Replica Target Set*
Good Guy Lives Here Sign*
Charlton Heston
Commemorative Stamp Set*
Replica of “Indian Chief”
Bullet Drawing*
Copper Tray with
Pewter Eagle*
QUARTER 4 | 2014
Traditions 7
Stars and Stripes Guitar
Autographed by Ted Nugent
Tervis Tumbler Set*
“Chain Keel” Pintail Decoy
Colt Bowie Knife
Neon Clock*
Farson Blade Survival Tool
Salt and Pepper Mills
8 Traditions
QUARTER 4 | 2014
Trolley Luggage Set
Ranger Assault Knife*
Welcome Friends of NRA Sign*
Freedom Hunter Knife*
H11 Handgun Case*
NRA Blanket*
Conceal Carry Robe*
Vintage Dome Trunk and Tray*
Foothold Trap*
QUARTER 4 | 2014
Traditions 9
NRA FOUNDATION
BANQUET
AT THE GREAT AMERICAN OUTDOOR SHOW
By Nicole McMahon
Event Marketing & Communications Manager, National Rifle Association
10 Traditions
QUARTER 4 | 2014
NATIONAL NEWS
T
he debut of the Great American Outdoor Show in 2014 created a lot of
buzz and received positive reviews
from the shooting sports community
across the globe. The show attracted over 170,000
attendees and generated an estimated $70 million
in revenue for the Harrisburg, Pa. region. The
NRA saw a 23 percent increase in attendance, a
27 percent increase in hotel reservations and a 50
percent increase in local hotel participation from
when the show was sponsored by Reed Exhibitions in 2012. Due to the overwhelming success
of the show and its massive 650,000 square foot
expanse of guns, gear and more, the Great American Outdoor Show is coined “the largest sporting
and outdoor show in the world.”
In 2015 attendees can expect the same level
of excitement and greatness as 2014 thanks to
presenting sponsor Outdoor Channel and associate sponsor Cabela’s. The show will feature over
1,000 exhibitors, an NRA Country concert that
will blow attendees away with music by Lee Brice
and Thompson Square, and the NRA Foundation
Banquet and Wall of Guns sponsored by Henry
Repeating Arms.
In the same tradition as Friends of NRA events
held throughout the country, the NRA Foundation Banquet will have an impressive live auction
with hunts, firearms and exclusive gear. The silent auction, games and raffles will feature hundreds of opportunities for attendees to win quality merchandise while having fun supporting the
shooting sports. To top it all off, attendees will
feast on a home-style barbecue dinner with delicious smoked brisket and turkey. Banquet guests
should plan on arriving at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday,
February 12, in the PA Preferred Ballroom.
The Wall of Guns will make its appearance in
the main hall of the Pennsylvania Farm Show
Complex. Starting on Saturday, February 7, and
running through Sunday, February 15, participants will have the chance to win their choice of
over 40 firearms of different makes and models or
they can select the instant-win $400 cash prize.
Wall of Guns tickets are $10 each, and only 100
tickets are sold each round. Once 100 tickets are
sold a winner is drawn and a new round begins
immediately after. Special ticket package options
will also be available, so make sure you stop by
the Wall of Guns for your chance to win. (Dauphin County, Pa. raffle number 198)
The Great American Outdoor Show will also
feature family-friendly activities like the Family
Fun Zone, Pyramyd Air Gun Range and the 3
Gun Experience. But whether folks attend the
show for the exhibitors, entertainment or a day
out with friends and family, all attendees will be
supporting America’s shooting sports traditions
and outdoor heritage. For those who can’t attend
but still want to join in on the experience, NRA
will be showcasing the week’s activities on social
media with #WhatGetsYouOutdoors.
Check out the next two pages for some of the
hunts, firearms and games that will be featured at
The NRA Foundation Banquet.
The Great American Outdoor Show runs February
7-15 at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex in
Harrisburg, Pa. Join The NRA Foundation at the
show! Buy your tickets for the Show and the NRA
Foundation Banquet at www.greatamericanoutdoorshow.org. All banquet net proceeds benefit The
NRA Foundation, the country’s leading charitable organization in support of the shooting sports.
Learn more at www.nrafoundation.org.
For more information about the event or to learn
about donation and sponsorship opportunities,
visit www.friendsofnra.org or contact Nicole
McMahon at [email protected].
QUARTER 4 | 2014
Traditions 11
NATIONAL NEWS
RAFFLE PACKS
FEATURED GAMES
AUCTION HIGHLIGHTS
BANQUET & AUCTION PREVIEW
HUNTING TRIP FOR 2 OR 4 IN SOUTH AFRICA
TROPHY WHITETAIL HUNT FOR 1 IN CENTRAL VIRGINIA
Take an unforgettable trip to Limpopo, South Africa, for a hunting experience on
the bushveld landscape. The location at the heart of Southern Africa’s greatest
concentration of game and an abundance of fine trophy animals make this hunt
an extraordinary affair. Five-day trip includes accommodations, $500 trophy
fee per hunter, field preparations and a licensed professional guide. Airfare not
included. 2015-2016.
Take part in archery or muzzleloader season and encounter central Virginia’s
beautiful farm country. Experienced guides and stands set to take advantage of
the deer movement and wind direction for each day’s hunt will combine with
southern hospitality to make your hunting trip a memorable one. Three-day trip
includes accommodations, vehicle with guide and licensed professional hunter,
trophy preparations and field preparations. Airfare not included. 2015.
Donated by Numzaan Safaris
AMMO BOXES
150 :
Ammo Box & Knife
in
4 tickets for games
1 ticket for a chance to win a
Weatherby Eurosport
with Brunton scope
and $300 raffle pack
$ cludes
$100
includes:
Donated by Monquin Creek Outfitters
TURKEY STAB GAME
TABLE OF GUNS
Firearms Donated by O.F. Mossberg & Sons
Featuring Henry Repeating Arms Firearms
$e2r tic0ket
p
702 Plinkster Duck Commander
and MVP Predator with Scope
5 White Tickets
NRA Foundation Hat
$300
15 White Tickets, 4 Blue Tickets,
2 Red Tickets and 1 Gold Ticket
NRA Foundation Hat
$500
25 White Tickets, 8 Blue Tickets,
4 Red Tickets and 2 Gold Tickets
NRA Foundation Hat
includes:
includes:
12 Traditions
QUARTER 4 | 2014
Remove one of 100 knives
from the turkey and receive
various amounts of tickets
for the chance to win a
$1,000
includes:
$2,000
includes:
$e2r en0try
p
Up to 10 entries
at one table
will each win a
Henry Lever Action Frontier Rifle
50 White Tickets, 10 Blue Tickets,
6 Red Tickets and 3 Gold Tickets
NRA Foundation Hat
Choose one:
Savage Axis XP .30-06 Rifle
Winchester SXP Extreme
Defender 12 ga. Shotgun
YETI Tundra 65 Cooler
50 White Tickets, 10 Blue Tickets,
6 Red Tickets and 4 Gold Tickets
NRA Foundation Hat
Kimber Ultra Carry II
WHITE, BLUE
& RED TICKETS
correspond to
tables featuring
progressively
higher-value
items.
GOLD TICKETS
are for chances
to win a SecureIt
FAST Box Falcon
gun safe and
three surprise
firearms.
NATIONAL NEWS
GENEROUS DONORS
2015 NRA FOUNDATION BANQUET
AND WALL OF GUNS SPONSOR
The 2015 NRA Foundation events at the Great American Outdoor Show and
NRA Annual Meetings would not be possible without the support of all our donors.
AcuSport Corporation
Adams Arms
Alaska Rafting Adventures
Armscor USA/Rock Island Armory
Big Horn Armory, Inc.
Brent Weil
Bullet Designs, Inc.
Century Arms
Colorado Gun Broker
Columbia Basin Friends of NRA
Cross Machine Tool Co., Inc.
Daniel Bernard, NB Safaris
Double Deuce Ranch
Elk Bomb Shooting Supplies LLC
FMK Firearms
FosTech Arms LLC
Gary and Devin Rauser
Gettle Trophy Hunts
Guns and Leather, Inc.
Haggard & Stocking
Henry Repeating Arms
HM Defense & Technology
Indiana Friends of NRA
Jack Cannon
Jim Shasky
Joe Burnett
Kempf Gun Shop
Kensington Publishing Corp.
Lahey Machine LLC
LaserLyte
Legacy Sports International
Little Canyon Shooting
L.T. Wright Handcrafted Knives
Monquin Creek Outfitters
Montana Rifle Company
Mountain Rifle Shop & MW Knives
NEMO Arms, Inc.
Numzaan Safaris
O. S. Mossberg & Sons, Inc.
Ottawa Ordnance
Pyramid Air, Inc.
ShootSteel.com
Show Me Birds Hunting Resort, LLC
SilencerCo
Sitka Gear
Slide Fire
SoCal Friends of NRA
Soundcheck Nashville, LLC
Springfield Armory
Stan’s Body Shop
Tailgates Youth Café
Tamarack Sports
TenPoint Crossbows
The Best of the West
TK Firearms
Trijicon, Inc.
Vision Armory LLC
Visionary Marketing, Inc.
Weatherby, Inc.
White Lion Safaris
Wild Bill’s Old West Trading Co.
Wild Wildebeest Safaris
QUARTER 4 | 2014
Traditions 13
NATIONAL NEWS
This season on NRA All Access, you’ll hear stories of strength and
courage, you’ll meet leaders, fighters and difference makers.
YOU’LL SEE TODAY’S NRA.
14 Traditions
QUARTER 4 | 2014
NRA All Access, Fridays at 8:30pm EST
Spotlight NATIONAL NEWS
Training for Teamwork
NRA headquarters staff members travel from
the office to the field and strengthen the
Friends of NRA fundraising team
By Christina Paladeau
Event Marketing & Communications Coordinator,
National Rifle Association
Experience, perspective and mutual understanding provide the
framework for seamless and successful teamwork, a crucial aspect
of Friends of NRA’s operation. Like any large organization, this program relies on an extensive and intricate network of team members
working both individually and collectively to achieve a shared goal.
From NRA headquarters in Fairfax, Va., Volunteer Fundraising
(VF) staff provides support to the Field Staff management of the
local, grassroots efforts to fundraise for The NRA Foundation and
America’s shooting sports traditions. The Field Staff comprises
52 NRA Field Representatives who oversee the Friends of NRA
banquets held throughout the year all across the country. Field
reps in each area coordinate local volunteers who organize each
banquet, while VF staff provide the necessary material, merchandise, marketing and financial structures and support.
This year, NRA Field Operations began a new training program
for its VF and Field Staff, providing each group with the opportunity to learn more about how it affects and assists the other. A
group of VF staff members travelled to different regions of the
country, leaving their offices at headquarters and venturing into
the field to gain perspective into the role each team member plays
in the success of the Friends of NRA program.
During four- to five-day trips, the VF staff shadowed field reps
at local committee meetings and events. Stepping into field reps’
and volunteers’ shoes and experiencing their daily work included
traveling back-and-forth across states, interacting with committee
members, unpacking and packing trucks full of support materials
and merchandise, setting up and working banquets, and more.
Just like field trips that children take as students, the trips to
the field undertaken by NRA’s Volunteer Fundraising staff members provided the best kind of learning opportunity: hands-on
experience. And, as participants built a better understanding of
fundraising at the grassroots level, they strengthened the relationship between staff at headquarters and personnel in the field
and enhanced the teamwork behind Friends of NRA’s nationwide
efforts in support of the shooting sports and Second Amendment
freedoms.
QUARTER 4 | 2014
Traditions 15
Nicole McMahon
Event Marketing & Communications Manager
SOUTHWEST REGION VISIT
EASTERN CALIFORNIA & WESTERN NEVADA
Field Reps Steve Wilson and Cole Beverly
I’ve been working with Steve Wilson for seven years, but it wasn’t until last
year that I actually saw Steve in the field. In 2013 Steve was a “million dollar”
field rep, with his banquets raising more than $1 million, so visiting him meant
seeing fundraising at its best. Despite my understanding of what field reps do on
a daily basis, actually going out into the field and experiencing it was different story. We logged over 2,000 miles in less than a week. We drove through
Placerville, Calif., to Tahoe, then three stops in Nevada in one day. In the next
couple days we drove back to California where we met with the Sonora Friends
of NRA committee and prepared for its event that weekend.
On the day of the event I served as a volunteer, helping out wherever I could.
This was an exceptional event because Steve had four groups in attendance that
received NRA Foundation grants. That evening Sonora had a wonderful banquet, and I had the privilege to watch it all come together. I will never forget my
field visit. I finally got the chance to see Steve in action and meet all the fantastic volunteers he works with on a daily basis, including Volunteers of the Year
Barry Blaylock and Stan Rothfuss. I’d like to express my gratitude to everyone
that made my visit a spectacular adventure!
Christina Paladeau
Event Marketing & Communications Coordinator
EASTERN REGION VISIT
NEW HAMPSHIRE & VERMONT
Field Rep Brian Smith
After working at NRA headquarters for a year and a half supporting the Field
Staff who guide Friends of NRA’s grassroots fundraising efforts, I was thrilled to
visit Brian Smith and have the opportunity to experience those efforts firsthand. Beginning with a pre-event committee meeting for the Tri-River Friends
of NRA in New Hampshire and continuing with the Northeast Kingdom and
Manchester banquets in Vermont and New Hampshire, respectively, the trip
enhanced my understanding of events, committees and attendees.
PHOTOS This page, from top: Eastern California Field Rep Cole
Beverly recognizing the Sonora Friends of NRA committee;
Nicole McMahon with Cole Beverly, Nevada Field Rep Steve
Wilson and Chairman Chuck Holland; Volunteer of the Year
Barry Blaylock with Steve Wilson and their wives; Brian Smith
and Christina Paladeau (far left) with the Manchester Friends
of NRA committee; The Manchester committee turned the Wall
of Guns multiple times at their banquet. Opposite, from top:
Attendees at the Medina Area banquet; Liz Foley presents a
grant check to local recipients at the Medina Area banquet;
Raffle tickets are drawn at the Houston Metro banquet;
Manchester banquet attendees celebrate a winning ticket.
16 Traditions
QUARTER 4 | 2014
Witnessing the enthusiasm and skill of Brian and his volunteers, as well as the
flexibility and creativity with which hiccups in event planning and execution
were overcome, was an amazing demonstration of the capabilities of the Friends
program. Working alongside them as I helped to set up and run various aspects
of the banquets, from staging the merchandise items for the silent and live
auctions to running games and selling tickets, drove home the importance of
teamwork. That teamwork truly paid off for the Manchester committee members, who put on their first High Caliber Club event; being there to celebrate
that success with them was a highlight of my trip.
Peter Lawless
Finance Coordinator
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION VISIT
SOUTH TEXAS
Field Rep Liz Foley
My trip to visit Liz Foley was the first time I had ever been to Texas, and it felt
like visiting a whole different country. Apart from the obvious difference in
climate—the heat was particularly striking during an outdoor event—I immediately noticed how polite everyone was and how much pride Texans took in their
home state.
The widespread enthusiasm for gun ownership also provided a much-appreciated contrast to my experiences in other places around the country; I saw numerous billboards for gun shows, gun shops and firearms training opportunities.
The Houston Metro and Medina Area banquets I attended during my trip were
the first Friends of NRA events I had ever attended, and I was sincerely amazed
by both the volunteers and attendees. All were making an effort to uphold their
shooting sports traditions and the freedoms guaranteed by the Second Amendment. Being there over 1,500 miles away from home helped me realize how big
Friends of NRA is and how it connects hundreds of thousands of people across
the nation towards a common goal.
Francisco Lee
Finance Coordinator
SOUTHERN REGION VISIT
SOUTH FLORIDA
Field Rep Tom Knight
During my visit to see Tom Knight, not only did I get to live in the shoes of a field rep
for a few days, but I also met a lot of great volunteers along the way. At our meeting
with Chairman Jim Tooker of the West Palm committee, I learned about his dedication to Friends of NRA. Formerly a member of a New York committee, Jim continued
his involvement upon moving to Florida, where he is also an instructor in shooting
and teaches marketable trades to juvenile delinquents. The next meeting involved
the entire Okeechobee committee as it finalized details for the event one week away.
Chairwoman Carrie Muldoon got involved with the program by starting a committee
in her area after the local 4-H club received an NRA Foundation grant.
The Bay Area event has been chaired by the same person since its establishment at
the beginning of the Friends program. The veteran leadership of Chairman Kent Dils
helped the committee successfully compensate for a venue in the last stages of construction. Once the room filled with people and the games started rolling you could
barely notice, and the event raised 20 percent more money than the 2012 banquet. A
life of a field rep can be hectic: always on the road, driving from town to town, helping
volunteers set up for an event and break it down until late at night, then sleeping in a
hotel bed. Nevertheless, the reward comes from meeting the volunteers and attendees
and their excitement to support not only the Friends program but also the future of
shooting sports.
EVENT SUPPORT COORDINATOR CATHERINE BARSANTI
Watch the video footage
of Catherine’s trip to
visit Mid-California Field
Rep Bob Anderson in the
Southwest Region and
learn about her training
expereience! Go to www.
friendsofnra.org/CA.
QUARTER 4 | 2014
Traditions 17
REGIONAL UPDATE Eastern
INSPIRING GENERA
By Christina Paladeau
Event Marketing & Communications Coordinator,
National Rifle Association
O
n a beautiful 80-degree day in
September, Putnam County Gun
Club (PCGC) hosted its 19th annual
Youth Day in Eleanor, W.Va. Hundreds of
young and future shooting and outdoor
sports enthusiasts had the chance to take
part in activities ranging from .22 rifle
cowboy action shooting to slingshots
and fishing.
18 Traditions
QUARTER 4 | 2014
“Our emphasis is always on safety, fun and
education,” says Dave Thompson. He has
coordinated the event since its inaugural year,
overseeing everything from organizing the
activities to recruiting volunteers. “We have a
staff of dedicated gun club members and many
range officers and qualified instructors who
provide instruction for the participants.”
Almost two decades ago, the PCGC president asked Thompson and fellow member Bill
Shank to put on a youth day. Thompson’s decade of experience organizing similar events for
the Boy Scouts made him an ideal choice for
manager. The first few years saw low turnout,
but the event has grown in popularity and now
individuals with their parents and grandparents as well as church groups and scout troops
come from far and wide to participate.
When attendees arrive and register, they
receive a t-shirt and a ticket for drawings held
throughout the day. Prizes include mostly
shooting sports related items like gun cases,
bipods, targets and safety glasses along with
fishing poles and other outdoor sporting gear.
But the kids do not need that extra motivation
to explore the many opportunities to learn and
practice shooting and outdoor skills alongside
their peers.
After attending a safety orientation, they
are free to go to any and all of the activities as
many times as they want. Some participants
find something they like and stay there the
whole time; the .22 rifle bull’s-eye is particularly popular. Shank, coach of the PCGC
Smallbore-Junior shooting team, oversees that
activity and stays busy all day long as more
than 3,000 rounds are fired at the paper targets. Other activities include .22 rifle cowboy
action shooting, trap shooting, muzzleloaders,
air rifle, BB gun, archery, slingshot, casting
and lifesaver throw.
Eastern REGIONAL UPDATE
ATIONS OF YOUTH
“Without the support of Friends of NRA
it would be extremely difficult to put on this
event,” Thompson remarks. “Most of the materials, firearms and ammo are made possible
by The NRA Foundation grant program.”
PCGC has received grants for its Youth Day
every year since 1998, amounting to $66,000
in support. The vast majority of the funding
each year goes to the Youth Day event, but a
percentage also goes to shooting practice held
throughout the year in preparation for the
Governor’s Outdoor Youth Challenge.
No stranger to the fundraising side of the
program, Thompson chaired the Midland
Trail Friends of NRA committee for more than
10 years before relinquishing the position
for 2015. Many members of that committee,
which was established during the first year of
the Friends of NRA program, also contribute to
running the Youth Day. The event provides a
great example of why their fundraising efforts
are so important.
“The real reward is when a kid who has never shot before comes out and learns to shoot
something,” Thompson shares, emphasizing
that the Youth Day attracts many first time
shooters, both youth participants and their
parents, who learn the responsibility, safety
and fun of gun handling and shooting. “Last
year one little girl who had never shot was at
air rifles and was initially very skeptical. She
missed her first two shots, but after my son
instructed her on using the sights she became a
regular participant.”
“As parents and youth leave, all we hear is
praise for the day and the great time they had,”
concludes Thompson. “The only complaint is
that we should do it more often!”
Support your local shooting sports program by
applying for a grant at www.nrafoundation.org.
QUARTER 4 | 2014
Traditions 19
REGIONAL UPDATE Central
ANSWERING INTEREST
WITH
By Sheri McColman
OPPORTUNITY
Photos by Julie Wallace, HPSA-YSP Parent Coach
Huron Pointe Sportsmen’s Association, Youth Shotgun Program Public Relations
20 Traditions
QUARTER 4 | 2014
PHOTOS Top: Two HPSA-YSP
team members compete
at the ATA-AIM Nationals in
Sparta, Ill. Left: Head Coach
Vaughn Van Camp provides
some one-on-one instruction; HPSA President Joe
Burke with Jean and Vaughn
Van Camp at the ATA-AIM
Nationals. Right: The 2014
HPSA-YSP team at the World
Recreation and Shooting
Complex in Sparta, Ill.
Central REGIONAL UPDATE
IT STARTED WITH A SIMPLE QUESTION: “PAPA, CAN I GO WITH YOU?”
Ten-year-old Clarence asked when he overheard his dad, Vaughn Van Camp, say
he was going to check out the local gun club after retiring in 2000. Little did
Vaughn and his wife Jean know that this would lead them to another chapter in
their lives of working with young people and sharing their passion for shooting.
Under their guidance as head coach and team coordinator, respectively, the Huron
Pointe Sportsmen’s Association Youth Shotgun Program (HPSA-YSP) in Lenox,
Mich., has grown from a small group to include more than 100 shooters each year.
Coach V., as Vaughn is affectionately known, strives to be knowledgeable and to teach students the proper and most current techniques. He has taken courses to become a 4-H leader and shooting
sports instructor, a Michigan DNR Hunters Education instructor
and an NRA Level 1 coach, and he has encouraged many others—
both adults and older youth shooters—to do so as well.
Coach and Mrs. V. have always believed that every child deserves
the chance to succeed in endeavors from school and scouts to 4-H
and the opportunity to try new things. HPSA-YSP participants learn
to shoot and may choose to become competitive shooters, and no
one is ever turned away due to financial reasons. The program, designed to instill in participants safe and proper shooting techniques,
teaches commitment, responsibility and leadership to youth from
ages six to 23 while promoting sportsmanship, good scholarship,
camaraderie, safety, and an all-around love of shooting.
HPSA-YSP not only teaches American and International Trap
styles, but encourages its participants to experience the other shotgun disciplines including skeet, five stand and sporting clays. It
helps shooters of all skill levels from beginner to advanced hone and
improve their skills. HPSA-YSP has become a family affair for many,
with parents and other adults stepping up in volunteer roles too.
NRA Foundation grants received over several years have under-
written some of the costs of this extensive program; over the past
four years, HPSA-YSP has received nearly $11,000. This funding
made it possible for the HPSA-YSP to obtain 410 and 20 gauge
shotguns, providing smaller, younger shooters with guns that fit
them properly. Grants have also provided shells and safety equipment, making shooting accessible to many youths who may have
been prevented due to the high cost.
Friends of NRA and The NRA Foundation’s support of HPSA-YSP
has also encouraged its parents and shooters to become more involved and to take NRA Coaches’ Training. As a result, the program
has multi-tier coaching, and every child gets one-on-one training
whether he or she is a brand new shooter or a very experienced one.
Our shooters have competed at the local, state and national levels
and have brought home many trophies and medals. This would not
have been possible for many of our shooters were it not for Friends of
NRA fundraising and The NRA Foundation’s grants; Huron Pointe
Sportsmen’s Association Youth Shotgun Program thanks them for
their selection and support.
Do you know of an organization that could benefit from an NRA Foundation grant? Have them apply at nrafoundation.org. To learn more
about Friends of NRA in Michigan, go to www.friendsofnra.org/MI.
QUARTER 4 | 2014
Traditions 21
REGIONAL UPDATE Southern
By David Helmer
Event Support Coordinator, National Rifle Association
R
eaching and impacting youth plays an instrumental
role in building a brighter future for America, and
SAFE of Florida, Inc., seems to have found a formula
for expanding these processes exponentially.
22 Traditions
QUARTER 4 | 2014
The all-volunteer, non-profit organization focuses on marksmanship training and
firearm safety education with an emphasis
on youth shooting sports in central Florida. With the help of NRA Foundation
grants, SAFE of Florida is able to host outreach programs related to both safety and
team-building through the shooting sports,
teaching the community’s youth about responsibility, goal setting, self-reliance and
essential values to live by.
Kent Arblaster, president of the SAFE
of Florida board of directors, notes, “The
community needs this youth outreach,
and the [grant-supported] programs were
a huge success right away.” In December 2013 The NRA Foundation awarded
SAFE of Florida a $2,800 grant for an
Eddie Eagle costume, which SAFE uses to
offer the Eddie Eagle GunSafe® Program
free-of-charge to any central Florida organization, from churches and schools to
parks, libraries and youth groups. After
receiving the mascot in May, SAFE reached
1,350 children with the Eddie Eagle message: “STOP! Don’t Touch. Leave the Area.
Tell an Adult.” Then in August alone, it
reached 1,500 children.
SAFE’s Eddie Eagle program has continued to grow and expand, stretching out
across central Florida to teach children
proper gun safety at programs including
summer camps at Orlo Vista Recreation
Center, Fort Gatlin Recreation Center and
Silver Star Recreation Center in West Orlando. The rapid growth and marked success of the program even inspired Central
Florida Friends of NRA to invite the mascot
to attend its banquet and attract more volunteers.
In addition to the grant for the Eddie
Eagle costume, SAFE also received over
$11,000 for portable shooting range equipment and accessories, including eight pellet
rifles, scopes, targets and pellets. The range
can be set up or taken down in one hour
either outdoors or in local gyms. Orange
County Parks & Recreation supplies an indoor area that can hold all eight lanes with
room for parents to sit and watch. “The
students start out practicing with paper
plates then move up to reactive splatter
targets that they can take home,” Arblaster
explains. “It puts a smile on their face four
feet wide.”
When the portable range program first
began in May, SAFE only used one gym a
month. Once the community saw how fun
and rewarding the experience was, Orange
County made 12 more gyms available for
the program, and Arblaster started offering use of the range to other youth organizations such as local 4-H clubs and Boy
Scout troops.
Currently, SAFE of Florida also works
with high school JROTC units to organize marksmanship teams, design shooting
ranges, teach marksmanship and provide
shooting equipment for the cadets. In the
future Arblaster hopes to build an indoor
range dedicated to youth, to train student
teams in proper marksmanship and to offer
college scholarships.
Arblaster emphasizes that the organization’s explosive growth rate places it in desperate need of volunteers, but this is a testament to its achievements. The huge success
of the NRA Foundation grant-funded
projects has helped SAFE of Florida impact
the lives of thousands of students. Arblaster concludes, “I would really like to thank
Friends of NRA for making all of this possible!.”
Apply for a grant to fund your local shooting
sports programs and projects at
www.nrafoundation.org! To learn more about
Friends of NRA in Florida and raising money
for programs like this one, go to
www.friendsofnra.org/FL.
QUARTER 4 | 2014
Traditions 23
Bri
ght
Fut
ure
for
New s
Me
You
x
i
co
th
Ma
rks
me
n
By Lt. Col. (Ret.) David Naber
Piedra Vista High School Army JROTC Rifle Coach
24 Traditions
QUARTER 4 | 2014
South Central REGIONAL UPDATE
T
he Piedra Vista High School (PVHS) Army JROTC
Marksmanship program in Farmington, N.M., is a
growing and excelling youth shooting sports team
composed of 19 cadets (13 males and six females).
In the last four years, it has continually improved its ranking in Sporter Air Rifle at the Army JROTC National
Championships from 18th in 2011 to 13th in 2012,
fifth in 2013 and fourth in 2014. Last year the team
also won the New Mexico State Sporter Class Championships and ranked fourth in the nation at the
Civilian Marksmanship Program’s (CMP) Regional Championships. The last four years have also
seen six members qualify for the CMP’s Junior
Distinguished Marksmanship Badge recognizing
superior shooting over an extended period.
Piedra Vista will strive to continue excelling
in sporter air rifle, but it has also just begun a
precision air rifle team. With the success of the
sporter team many team members expressed interest in shooting competitively at the collegiate
level in one of the more than 30 NCAA shooting
programs. While these PVHS marksmen are fully capable of earning their place on a college team,
only precisions class—and not sporter class—
competition takes place at that level. As a result,
the PVHS program made the decision to move into
precision class.
The PVHS Marksmanship program does extensive
fund raising, but it never seems to be enough. Thankfully, NRA Foundation grants have not only supported the
sporter rifle program, but now they also have allowed the
team to make the move into precision class. Assistance from
The NRA Foundation has really allowed it to grow and will help
promising team members reach their full potential as collegiate level
athletes.
One of those talented young shooters is Cadet Captain Belle
Toney. A junior with a 4.0 GPA, she recently transitioned to precision class. She has set a goal to shoot for the U.S. Air Force Academy
or at a university with U.S. Air Force ROTC and NCAA shooting
programs. Already an accomplished sporter class marksman who
has just earned her distinguished badge, Toney now has almost two
years to refine her precision class technique before trying out for a
collegiate team.
The opportunities available to Cadet Captain Toney and her
teammates reflect the dedication of PVHS Marksmanship program
participants as well as the support of The NRA Foundation. Over
the last six years, the team has received more than $20,000 in grants.
It has used these funds to buy needed range equipment, to defray
expenses of attending summer marksmanship camps and clinics and
to buy three of the four rifles needed for the new precision team.
Now the PVHS Army JROTC marksmen are off to a great start in
their new venture as Precision Air Rifle competitors.
The new PVHS precision air rifle team.
$20,000
granted over the
past six years,
which helped buy
THREE
NEW
Anschutz 8001s
for the new
precision team.
Fund local shooting sports programs by applying for an NRA Foundation grant at www.nrafoundation.org! Learn more about Friends of
NRA in New Mexcico at www.friendsofnra.org/NM.
QUARTER 4 | 2014
Traditions 25
REGIONAL UPDATE Western
Learning Frontier History
ONE SHOT AT A TIME
The romance of the frontier west still lives in the hearts of many Americans.
One up and coming 4-H Shooting Sports program plays on this nostalgia
of the Old West to inspire in young people an interest in frontier history.
By Todd Kesner
4-H Western Heritage Project Program Creator and
Montana 4-H Center for Youth Development Interim Director
T
he dinging sounds of bullets hitting steel targets fill the air
as a 4-H member dressed in period clothing works her way
through an Old West façade. Welcome to the 4-H Western
Heritage Project, a comprehensive study of the Old West combined
with the fastest growing shooting sports discipline in the world—
western action shooting. The project aims to provide an avenue
for 4-H members and adult leaders to experience the lifestyles and
cultures of the 1860 to 1900 period Old West while instilling the
concepts of gun safety and personal responsibility.
The project started as a way to retain older 4-H members in
shooting sports beyond the BB gun and air rifle years. After training
a few adult volunteers and several 4-H members to safely participate
in Western Action Shooting, it became apparent that the project
had tremendous potential. It is an advanced and action oriented
discipline that quickly evolved into an effective approach to teaching American frontier history. Members dress in Old West clothing, shoot replica firearms of the frontier period, and expand their
knowledge of U.S. history through a living history approach.
Hands-on activities transformed the 4-H Western Heritage Project from a 4-H shooting sports program where youth learn a little
history to a 4-H history program where kids get to shoot. Pilot
research studies conducted by Montana State University Extension
indicate an increase among participants in both interest in American
history and feeling a relevant connection to the past.
What began with five teenagers in Montana in 2008 has expanded
to Missouri, Texas, Oregon, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, Alabama
and Idaho. This growth and enthusiasm prompted the inaugural
26 Traditions
QUARTER 4 | 2014
Western REGIONAL UPDATE
PHOTOS Courtesy 4-H Western Heritage
Project. Clockwise from bottom: A young
Montana 4-Her steadies her 22 rifle
under the watchful eye of the range
officer; JJ Stark of Eureka, Mont., wins
the National 4-H Western Heritage
Championship in the Central-Fire
Division; A young cowboy places his
shotgun ammo; Todd Kesner, project
designer, at the championship shoot; A
group of Montana 4-Hers dress for a day
of historical education.
4-H Western Heritage Conference and Invitational Shoot held July
30-August 2, 2014, in Virginia City, Mont. Over 150 4-H members, parents, faculty and volunteer instructors from Montana, Missouri, Oregon, Alabama, Vermont and California attended two and
a half days of historical workshops and tours as well as the national
championship shoot which capped off the week.
Thanks to generous and enthusiastic support from the Montana
Friends of NRA and The NRA Foundation, 52 shooters had the targets, ammunition and range props needed to compete for a national
championship. To win the national championship, 4-H members
had to not only shoot well, but also exhibit their historical knowledge on an Old West history exam as well as score highly on an
interview with a period clothing judge. All three facets factored into
a final score for each competitor.
When teens are told they have to learn history, some groan with
anticipated boredom. Surveys have indicated that once 4-H members start living the history through authentic clothing and firearms,
they begin studying historical areas of personal interest on their own.
Many search for and purchase supplementary books, and a few have
completed school projects using knowledge gained through their
exposure to western heritage. This self-directed learning among the
youth membership of the 4-H Western Heritage Project indicates
the program’s success in exciting young people about their past.
Have a shooting sports or scholarship program that needs support? Go to
www.nrafoundation.org to apply for a grant! Learn more about the 4-H
Western Heritage Project at www.4-hwesternheritageproject.org.
QUARTER 4 | 2014
Traditions 27
THE
WOLF PACK
DYNAMIC
By Catherine Barsanti
Event Support Coordinator, National Rifle Association
A
pack of wolves is a formidable force. It dominates in the
wilderness with a combination of strength, patience and
strategy. Yet the key element to a pack’s fortitude is its
emphasis on teamwork. All individual members look
out for one another while utilizing resources from the entirety of
the group to reinforce the pack as a whole. This dynamic, which
makes wolf packs unstoppable, is reflected in the collegiate rifle
team that takes its name from these powerful animals: the University of Nevada Wolf Pack Rifle Team.
The Wolf Pack Rifle Team has roots on the University of Nevada
campus dating as far back as 1898. However, the inception of the
NCAA team came in 1995 when former-ROTC director Lt. Col.
(Ret.) Frederick Harvey expanded the rifle program ingrained in
28 Traditions
QUARTER 4 | 2014
the ROTC program. “One of our goals in ROTC was to tie ourselves closely to the University,” explains Harvey. “We thought we
could do that as an NCAA rifle team; as a Title IX outreach, a rifle
team was perfect for this.” Harvey retired as ROTC director, but
he has stayed on as head coach of the rifle team for the duration of
the program.
The Pack has thrived in the past decade and predicts a successful
upcoming season led by alpha-dog Team Captain Gretta Ochsner.
The team ranked No. 17 in the September preseason Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association poll, but it jumped six spots to No. 11 by
the poll taken at the end of October. Currently it is ranked at No.
13, but Harvey believes the team is capable of cracking the top ten
and shooting in the national championships in mid-March. “We’re
Photos by Randy Rascati and Terry Melby
Southwest REGIONAL UPDATE
The University of Nevada Wolf Pack Rifle Team
shooting better scores; every week we attempt to go out and shoot
a better score than we ever have before,” says Harvey. “We would
like to go to the national championships, and we will.”
Harvey credits part of the team’s success to The NRA Foundation funding awarded to the program earlier in 2014. “It’s had a
huge impact on our team,” remarks Harvey. The grant provided
the Wolf Pack with $11,500 of equipment and ammunition that
has allowed the team to more than double the amount of shooting
it was able to do. “There were kids who weren’t able to shoot before
who now can; it’s a quantum leap. I couldn’t be happier or more
grateful for The NRA Foundation’s help here,” Harvey continues.
“It’s completely changed things. We’ve done more shooting this
season than we have in the last five years combined, and that’s just
Team members on the Wolf Pack Rifle range
in half a season.”
As the Wolf Pack’s legacy grows, Harvey has had to turn down
several students who want to join the pack due to a lack of space.
Believing in the significant, positive impact programs like his rifle
team can have on students, Harvey has high hopes for general
growth in shooting sports nationwide. “If I could only ask for one
thing,” concludes Harvey, “it would be more college teams out
there so these kids can find a place to shoot. I know it has made a
huge difference for me and my team.”
Apply for a grant at www.nrafoundation.org! To learn more
about the Nevada Friends of NRA events that raise money for
programs like this one, go to www.friendsofnra.org/NV.
QUARTER 4 | 2014
Traditions 29
NRA’s New Hunters’
Leadership Forum
Communicating with America’s
21 Million Licensed Hunters
By Callie Davis
Assistant Director of Advancement Communications, National Rifle Association
One of NRA’s five
primary objectives
is to promote hunter
safety and to promote
and defend hunting
as a shooting sport
and as a viable and
necessary method
of fostering the
propagation, growth,
conservation, and
wise use of our
renewable wildlife
resources.
Hunters’ Leadership Forum President’s Founders Club
member Robert Unkovic is an avid upland game hunter
30 Traditions
QUARTER 4 | 2014
Program Profile NATIONAL NEWS
R
obert Unkovic keeps his eye on the future. President of a Pennsylvania investment management company, Unkovic has spent his adult life
making critical decisions based on what lies ahead – and apparently he’s
pretty good at it. His inclination for forward thinking drives even his
interests and community involvement.
Unkovic is a board member for several technology companies, a former trustee
for the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh, co-chairman of the Duquesne Club Rod
& Gun Society, and co-founder and chairman of the Old Joe Club, a not-forprofit organization that raises funds to support disadvantaged youth, education
and conservancy issues.
Knowing Unkovic’s propensity for building a strong future and his enthusiasm
for upland game hunting makes it no surprise that he took an immediate interest
in NRA’s recently launched Hunters’ Leadership Forum (HLF). He was one of
the first to join the HLF President’s Founders Club, the leadership nucleus of the
Forum, and he co-chaired the inaugural Hunters’ Leadership Luncheon held in
conjunction with the 2014 NRA Annual Meetings in Indianapolis, Ind.
“We are at a seminal moment in history for many of our freedoms,” said Unkovic, “and we have to act now on our decision to protect not only the future of
the Second Amendment, but also the future of hunting, or it will be too late.” He
worries about the rights of his children and the generations that follow. So what
should be done about it? “We make ourselves heard,” Unkovic said.
The NRA Hunters’ Leadership Forum aims to do just that: be heard. The NRA
has always stood for hunters, and, since its start in 1990, The NRA Foundation
has provided essential grant funding to support programs promoting hunting
education, wildlife management, conservation and the development of hunter
education materials and skills training.
The nation’s leading shooting sports charity, The NRA Foundation awarded
2,350 grants totaling more than $11 million to support hunter and related educational programs in 2013 alone. That is no small sum, but it is no match for
the opposition. That is why the Hunters’ Leadership Fund was established. As a
permanent endowment, the Hunters’ Leadership Fund will provide an annual
funding source to perpetually promote and defend hunting, paving the way to
enhance and grow NRA’s hunting programs and activities.
A long time supporter of The NRA Foundation, Unkovic sees membership
in the HLF President’s Founders Club as another good investment towards protecting the sport he loves. “Rob has really stepped into a leadership role for the
Hunters’ Leadership Forum.” stated James W. Porter, II, NRA President and
NRA Foundation Trustee. “He is an uncompromising leader in protecting and
defending our rights as hunters, and I look forward to all that we will accomplish
together.”
As a young teenager Unkovic was introduced to shooting and hunting by his
Uncle Dan, and the rest is history. His wife, Georgia, joined the shooting game
early on in their courtship, and now, three children later, it is a family affair.
The fight to protect, promote and defend hunting is ongoing but not insurmountable. Giving future generations a more robust, lively and vibrant hunting
and conservation culture than has ever existed before is possible. It is time to take
a lesson from Rob Unkovic: work now to protect our future.
Hunters are encouraged to become a vital part of this leadership team. For more information on how to join the Hunters’ Leadership Forum, please contact Chris DeWitt,
NRA Ring of Freedom Manager at [email protected] or (703) 267-1128.
WHAT IS THE
HUNTERS’ LEADERSHIP
FORUM PRESIDENT’S
FOUNDERS CLUB?
The President’s Founders Club of
the Forum is a group limited to
100 distinguished leaders dedicated to the future of hunting
in America and the world. The
Founders Club members form
the leadership nucleus for carrying out the Forum’s mission: to
promote and defend hunting.
WHAT IS THE MISSION
OF THE HUNTERS’
LEADERSHIP FORUM?
The Hunters’ Leadership Forum
is dedicated to the enrichment
and growth of the NRA’s mission
to promote and defend hunting.
The Forum’s constituency brings
together dedicated hunters who
have distinguished themselves
as leaders in their professions
and in the field.
QUARTER 4 | 2014
Traditions 31
NATIONAL NEWS Industry Corner
By Christina Paladeau
Event Marketing and Communications Coordinator, National Rifle Association
F
riends of NRA’s countrywide network
dedicated to fundraising for the shooting sports relies on the support of not
only the Field Representatives, volunteers,
attendees and donors who contribute to the
local events, but also a group of generous and
enthusiastic corporate sponsors. In 2015 that
group includes both new and continuing industry sponsors who will help Friends of NRA
to continue achieving greater success and
reaching more shooting sports enthusiasts.
The highest level of industry support for Friends of NRA is the
National Corporate Sponsor Program’s exclusive Guardian level.
The Friends program is excited to have Daniel Defense in this role
for the second year in a row. “Marty Daniel and his wife are very
passionate about supporting shooting programs focused on education and training for youth and women in particular,” says NRA
General Operations Director of Industry Partnerships John da Silva. That passion perfectly connects with The NRA Foundation’s
goals to support educational programs that ensure the continuation
of America’s proud shooting and hunting heritage for generations
to come.
After starting a relationship with Friends of NRA in 2013 by supplying rifles through the Vendor Direct program, Daniel Defense
increased their support in 2014 as National Corporate Sponsor.
Daniel Defense Director of Marketing Jordan Hunter explains,
“NRA does such a great job supporting our industry and our platform, so we want to do anything and everything we can to support
it. We’re always looking for creative ways to do that, and Friends of
NRA has been really great about providing those opportunities.”
Daniel Defense’s commitment to supporting Second Amendment
freedoms extends beyond the Friends program as well; it has signed
on for a two-year agreement as the presenting sponsor of NRA’s
new AR Challenge and AR Matches.
32 Traditions
QUARTER 4 | 2014
GASTON J. GLOCK style LP began its relationship with Friends
of NRA in 2012 as a statewide underwriter in Georgia, home of its
U.S. headquarters. Last year the manufacturer of shooting sports
lifestyle gear and accessories widened its reach by becoming a National Corporate Sponsor, and GASTON continues that support in
2015. “By supporting Friends of NRA we can reach a large audience
of strong shooting and hunting enthusiasts and a lot of young people,” says CEO of GASTON J. GLOCK style USA Beate Arnold.
“NRA’s traditions and goals are enduring principles. It has worked
hard for that stability and success, and NRA supporters contribute
to the organization to continue that legacy. We do the same with
our products and our philosophy to protect our environment.”
Arnold highlights GASTON’s and Friends of NRA’s shared interest in preserving the shooting sports lifestyle, a goal which focuses
on preserving quality of life and traditions. In addition to its 2015
sponsorship, GASTON will donate Coolmax® shooting shirts with
the NRA Logo and ‘Wall of Guns’ text to the NRA Foundation
events at the 2015 Great American Outdoor Show and NRA Annual Meeting.
Donations to The NRA Foundation Banquet at the 2014 NRA
Annual Meeting kicked off Henry Repeating Arms’ involvement
with the NRA Foundation side of NRA operations. As a 2015 sponsor of Friends of NRA it will donate more than $50,000 in monetary
support and firearms to the program. Henry will also sponsor the
Wall of Guns and NRA Foundation Banquets at both the 2015
Great American Outdoor Show and NRA Annual Meeting. Along
with its contributions to other NRA programs like Women’s Wilderness Escape, youth programs and more, Henry is the continuing
title sponsor of NRA Gun Gurus TV for the second year in 2015.
“My family has been in the firearms business for over 100 years,”
says Anthony Imperato, president of Henry Repeating Arms. “For
those ten plus decades, the NRA has been there for us: defending
our Second Amendment rights, upholding our traditions of hunting and the shooting sports, and tirelessly promoting firearms safety. For that we are eternally grateful and choose to support the NRA
to the best of our ability.”
O.F. Mossberg & Sons, Inc., is also new as a National Corporate
Industry Corner NATIONAL NEWS
Sponsor for Friends of NRA. Although it has long supported the NRA with donations
to national events, sponsorships of television shows and more, Mossberg sought to
have more involvement with The NRA Foundation. As a Defender level sponsor
and a sponsor of multiple games at the NRA Foundation Banquets in 2015, it will
achieve that.
“Since 1919 Mossberg has been a family-owned, American company with deep
manufacturing roots,” explains CEO Iver Mossberg. “The Friends of NRA program
hits home for us due to the family friendly environment with one common goal:
fundraising for the shooting sports. With the understanding that future generations’
enjoyment of the shooting sports depends on how we share those traditions, supporting the dedicated Friends of NRA volunteers and programs by becoming a corporate
sponsor is consistent with our values.”
Numzaan Safaris, a newcomer to the national level of NRA Foundation grassroots
fundraising efforts, has also already proven to be a valuable partner in supporting
the shooting sports, having supported Friends of NRA fundraising on the local level
for several years. Booking Agents Ed and Linda Stevens have been involved with the
Numzaan outfitter for over a decade, and this year they wanted to do something
big to reach a national scale. As a result, Numzaan Safaris will be a Defender level
sponsor of the program in 2015 and 2016, donating 25 hunts per year to be used at
local events across the country as well as at the National NRA Foundation Banquet at
NRA Annual Meeting. “We are delighted to receive their contribution and support,
and we look forward to having their hunts at our banquets nationwide in 2015,” says
da Silva.
“Numzaan Safaris is proud to be a National Corporate Sponsor of Friends of NRA
for the next two years and to offer our full support in achieving its goals,” shares Ed
Stevens. “This opportunity to advance to the next level of an official sponsorship is
tremendously exciting and a privilege. It’s no secret that hunting rights require gun
rights, and we will always need more young people involved in the shooting sports
to secure those rights. Fundraising is an avenue to safeguarding the shooting sports
for generations to come, and Numzaan Safaris is honored to support Friends of NRA
in those efforts.”
Another new member of Friends of NRA’s National Corporate Sponsor program is
SecureIt Tactical, Inc. The company donated 300 Falcon FAST Box gun safes, valued at
$100,000, to The NRA Foundation and NRA’s Law Enforcement Division competitions. Those Falcon FAST Boxes will be available at select Friends of NRA banquets in
2015, generating funds to support local and national shooting sports programs and
bringing the SecureIt weapons storage platform to consumers throughout the U.S.
“Why are we supporting Friends of NRA and The NRA Foundation?” Owner and
President Tom Kubiniec asks. “It’s about goals. Friends of NRA’s goal is broader than
ours, but this whole company comprises hunters, former military, first responders,
and we all live and breathe this stuff. It’s an easy decision for us.”
Friends of NRA also receives support from other programs within the NRA. This
year NRA Outdoors Hunting & Fishing Destinations, which provides hunting and
fishing guide services personalized to each client by using strong relationships developed with outfitters, is a Protector level sponsor of the Friends program.
Corporate Sponsors directly impact millions of firearm and outdoor enthusiasts
through their relationships with Friends of NRA, and their contributions of money,
services and auction items to the program help it to raise millions of dollars for
the future of the shooting sports. These sponsorships provide invaluable support
to Friends of NRA’s protection of America’s shooting sports traditions and Second
Amendment freedoms.
Interested in becoming a Friends of NRA National Corporate Sponsor? Visit
friendsofnra.org/corporate-sponsors.aspx or contact Director of Industry Partnerships
John da Silva at [email protected] or 703-267-1356.
QUARTER 4 | 2014
Traditions 33
NRA Foundation Donors
GIFTS OF $100K+
Mr. John Wistuba
Maryland
Dr. James P. Wallace, III
Florida
Mr. John D. Pearson
Michigan
Mr. Joseph A. Concannon
Texas
Mr. Mark D. Ryan
Texas
Mr. Donald L. Fetterolf
Pennsylvania
Mr. Jason D. Edwards
Louisiana
Mr. Anthony P. Bucciero
Pennsylvania
GIFTS OF $25K-$100K
Mr. and Mrs. Arthur H. Lamb, Jr.
Massachusetts
Wildlife Heritage Foundation of Texas
Texas
Mr. Charles M. Vosburg
Delaware
Mrs. Janet D. Nyce
Pennsylvania
David F. and Margaret T. Grohne Family
Foundation
Illinois
Mr. and Mrs. William Hayes
California
GIFTS OF $5K-$25K
Natchez Shooters Supply
Tennessee
Cheaper Than Dirt
Texas
Mr. Loren E. Parks
Oregon
Mzuri Wildlife Foundation
California
A.P. Kirby, Jr. Foundation
New Jersey
Independence Tube Corp.
Illinois
Dallas Safari Club
Texas
American Conservation & Education Society
Texas
Mrs. Anne T. Draper
Colorado
Anonymous
Iowa
34 Traditions
QUARTER 4 | 2014
Dillon Precision Products Corp., Inc.
Arizona
Paul R. & Anna Lee White Family Charitable
Trust
Colorado
Ms. Loren C. Rice
Texas
Laser Shot, Inc.
Texas
Gabriel Family Foundation & Natural History
Museum
California
Campfire Conservation Fund, Inc.
New York
GIFTS OF $1K-$5K
Mr. Leo H. Cecil, Sr.
New York
Mr. Robert M. Serrano
New York
Ohio Gun Collectors Association
Ohio
Graf & Sons, Inc.
Missouri
Mr. Paul Kurtz
Wisconsin
Mrs. Betty S. Mayes-Petty
Kansas
Mr. A. Ray Copeland, CPA
Oklahoma
Numrich Gun Parts Corporation
New York
Mr. Glen R. Podhola
Michigan
Mr. and Mrs. Walter Powell
Pennsylvania
J & G Sales, Ltd.
Arizona
Mr. Lawrence Borland
Pennsylvania
Wallace N. Weber, COL, US Army (Ret.)
Kansas
Mr and Mrs Thomas J. Strempfer
Connecticut
Mr. Regis J. Synan
Pennsylvania
Mr. and Mrs. Todd M. Kacin, Sr.
Pennsylvania
Mr. Joe H. Graham
Virginia
Mr. and Mrs. Frederic O. Vicik
Washington
Peil Charitable Trust
Georgia
The Outdoor Heritage Foundation of Alaska
Alaska
Dr. Jean P. Orr
Indiana
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas A. Hill
Georgia
Ms. Audrey H. Murtland
Michigan
Mr. Christopher A. Grillo
New York
GIFTS OF $250-$1K
Mr. and Mrs. Craig Gallagher
California
Mr. Edward S. Martin
Pennsylvania
Challenge Targets, LLC
Kentucky
Mr. and Mrs. Frank W. Ghilarducci
Colorado
Mr. Brian W. Clements
Pennsylvania
Mr. Samuel V. Washburn
Massachusetts
Mr. and Mrs. Steve Weninger
North Dakota
Mr. James L. Wattenbarger
California
Mr. Kevin Gately
New Jersey
Ruger Owners & Collectors Society, Inc.
Alabama
Mr. William J. Proefrock
New York
Mr. and Mrs. Norman E. Nabhan
Texas
Ms. Marjorie Joy
California
Owen Waske & Lynn Gampe Fund
Ohio
Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Gilbert
Texas
Mr. Joseph G. Breton
Texas
Mrs. Margaret L. Anderson
Wisconsin
Anonymous
Colorado
Continental Army US
Florida
Anonymous
Arizona
Ammo.net
Georgia
Mrs. Elizabeth Cunningham
Pennsylvania
Mr. Jason S. Hastings
Washington
Mr. David B. Murtaugh
South Carolina
Galco International
Arizona
August - October
Mr. Dennis Stepanovich
Michigan
Mr. Thomas J. Morris, III
New Jersey
Mr. Daniel O. Maldonado
Texas
Mr. and Mrs. James S. Ferguson
Ohio
Mr. Randolph C. Cook
California
Mr. Charles B. Coffman
California
Mr. Robert L. Silva
California
Dr. Michael I. Abraham
Pennsylvania
Mr. William H. Grimes
Arizona
The von Gontard Family Foundation
Missouri
Mr. Jason F. Swim
Iowa
Mr. William R. Slavin
Oregon
Mr. Frederick J. Ritter, III
Pennsylvania
Mr. and Mrs. Arthur M. Dehon, Jr.
North Carolina
Mr. John C. Abshier
Kansas
IN KIND GIFTS
Mr. John Phillips
Virginia
Mr. Leo H. Cecil, Sr.
New York
Ms. Doris Thompson
Oklahoma
Mr. Matthew L. Sisson
North Carolina
Mr. Joseph Colbert
Texas
Mr. William T. Gennetti, Jr.
Virginia
Mr. Mitchell G. Minnaert
Florida
Ms. Cristiana Thillmann Collins
Washington
Mr. Darrel White
Virginia
Mr. Oscar R. Jordan
Mississippi
Mr. James S. Burton
Virginia
Mr. and Mrs. Larry A. Bucklinger
Kansas
IN MEMORY OF GIFTS
Ray Eugene Amos
Findlay Machine & Tool Inc.
Glenn J. Anderson
Mrs. Margaret L. Anderson
Matthew Alan Braun
Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Adamson
Ms. Janice Ramirez
Ray Conner
Mr. Robert Maholic
Robert J. Crimmel
Mr. and Mrs. Scott J. Strohm
Edward Souders
Home Instead Senior Care
Terry W. Fisher
Mr. Casey B. Crabill
David F. Gilbert
Mrs. Diana Fitch
Mrs. Michele Gilbert
John Lee Graham
Ms. Phillis Banducci
Mr. William Banducci
Ms. Denise L. Curtis
Ms. Leslie A. Steffen
William H. (Suggie) Grahmann
Mr. and Mrs. Glenn R. Dobbs
Mr. Kelly W. Grahmann
Gary Kidwell
Mr. James M. Furnas
Fred Martin, Jr.
Telescope Casual Furniture, Inc.
Ronald D. Mayer
Donatic
Thomas Nash
Thomas and BeckySue Yackley
George N. Newkirk
M. Scher & Son, Inc.
Laverna Ostergaard
Ms. Joyce Johnson
George T. Perkins
Ms. Nancy S. Irish
Thomas G. Phistry, Jr.
Tom and BeckySue Yackley
Walter Connally Powell, Jr.
National Philanthropic Trust
Dorothy Quick
Mrs. Helen F. Malloy
Art Richardson
Mr. John P. Michell
Eugene Siemek
Mr. and Mrs. John W. Adlington
Ms. Karen M. Lingle
Clark Eckert Weninger
Mrs. Linda D. Schnell
Mr. and Mrs. Steve Weninger
Edward S. Woodoth
Ms. Ada A. Fennell
ESTATES
Estate of William Yannaccone
Wyoming
Estate of William L. Costello
Iowa
Estate of Thomas R. Jackson
Michigan
Estate of Raymond Ocon
California
Estate of Nicholas H. and Theresa Carlin
Florida
Estate of Michael J. Moore
California
Estate of Lloyd Hubbard
Alaska
Estate of James R. Riley
Missouri
Estate of Edward H. Souders
Arizona
Estate of Delbert Lee Streid
Florida
Estate of D. Lee & Dorothy H. Backenstose
Pennsylvania
Estate of Alton J. and Helen B. Coppridge
North Carolina
Listed contributions do
not necessarily reflect total
giving for the year.
We make every effort to
ensure accuracy of donor
names.
If you notice any errors or
omissions, please contact
us at 800-423-6894 or
[email protected].
QUARTER 4 | 2014
Traditions 35
THE NRA FOUNDATION
11250 WAPLES MILL ROAD
FAIRFAX, VA 22030
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ORGANIZATION
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THE NRA
FOUNDATION