Quarter 2 - Friends of NRA

SECTION
OUTSTANDING IN THE FIELD
Friends of NRA’s 2013 Volunteers of the Year
represent the best of grassroots fundraising
WRITE FREEDOM IN
The winners of the 2013 NRA Civil Rights
Defense Fund Youth Essay Contest
FROM HUNTER SAFETY
TO SAFEGUARDING
AMERICA
A U.S. Army Specialist’s journey
from NRA Foundation-funded
youth shooting sports to top
military marksmanship
Fundraising
Fast Lane
in The
THE NRA FOUNDATION AT THE 2014 NRA ANNUAL MEETINGS IN INDY
QUARTER 2 | 2014
Traditions 1
QUARTER 2 | 2014
Features
4
Traditions
Cover Story
Fundraising in
the Fast Lane
The NRA Foundation cruised to record
fundraising success at the 2014 NRA Annual
Meetings & Exhibits in Indianapolis.
National News
ON THE COVER
10
SECTION
OUTSTANDING IN THE FIELD
Friends of NRA’s 2013 Volunteers of the Year
represent the best of grassroots fundraising
WRITE FREEDOM IN
The winners of the 2013 NRA Civil Rights
Defense Fund Youth Essay Contest
FROM HUNTER SAFETY
TO SAFEGUARDING
AMERICA
A U.S. Army Specialist’s journey
from NRA Foundation funded
youth shooting sports to top
military marksmanship
12
INDUSTRY CORNER |
Donation of the Century
Outstanding in the Field:
Volunteers of the Year
28
32
PROGRAM PROFILE | NRA
CRDF Youth Essay Contest
Fundraising
Fast Lane
in The
SPOTLIGHT | Hunter Safety
to Safeguarding America
THE NRA FOUNDATION AT THE 2014 NRA ANNUAL MEETINGS IN INDY
QUARTER 1 | 2014 Traditions
1
Regional Updates
An NRA Foundation volunteer sells
Wall of Guns tickets in the main hallway of the Indianapolis Convention
Center. Photo by Lloyd Hill.
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
The Honorable Bill K. Brewster
Vice President
The Honorable Joe M. Allbaugh
Trustee
Mr. William A. Bachenberg
Trustee
Mr. Steve Hornady
Trustee
Mr. Eric Johanson
Trustee
Mr. George K. Kollitides II
Trustee
Mr. Wayne R. LaPierre
ExOfficio
Ms. Anne Lee
Trustee
Mrs. Carolyn D. Meadows
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
SUPPORTING THE SHOOTING SPORTS AT THE
NRA FOUNDATION’S NATIONAL EVENTS
By Chad Franklin
Central Region Director, National Rifle Association
In April, the 2014 NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits brought over
nine acres of guns and gear to Indianapolis, and record numbers of
volunteers arrived from all over the United States to assist in The
NRA Foundation fundraising efforts. The first event of the weekend, the National NRA Foundation Banquet & Auction, packed
Lucas Oil Stadium with over 1,900 avid supporters and many generous companies that came
together as one to support the programs we fund nationwide.
The banquet featured many one-of-a-kind items such as firearms, artwork, knives, guitars, hunts,
vacation trips and even a boat, but the highlight of the evening was the Region Volunteer of the
Year presentation. Each year this portion of the banquet recognizes the best of the best Friends of
NRA volunteers. These highly dedicated men and women are what make The NRA Foundation
what it is today. They not only give money but they also give their time, a portion of their lives, to
this great cause. Event sponsors Cabela’s, Universal Coin & Bullion and Kimber as well as major
donors Henry, Ruger and Baron Technology, Inc., also deserve recognition and thanks for their
contributions. Due to the support of all our donors, sponsors and, most of all, volunteers this was
yet another record breaking year!
Early Friday morning the hallways began to fill up with convention attendees anxious to hit the
exhibit hall and see the guns and gear displayed by over 1,100 exhibitors. Located in the hallway
was the crowd-favorite NRA Foundation Wall of Guns, sponsored this year by Cabelas, Kel-Tec
and Daniel Defense. It featured over 70 different makes, models and calibers, including guns with
MSRPs as high as $1,799. Throughout the whole weekend attendees could play for only $20
and support the shooting sports while getting a 1 in 100 chance to win a dream firearm. During
the three days a total of 171 firearms were won and over $100,000 was raised, with a significant
donation of over 40 firearms from Century International Arms to the Wall of Guns greatly contributing to that success. The money from the Wall of Guns will help fund many shooting and
education programs across the country in 2014.
The NRA Annual Meetings consist of many other exciting functions such as the Country Jam,
NRA-ILA Leadership Forum, NRA Women’s Leadership Forum Luncheon and Auction, National Prayer Breakfast and NRA Sports Youth Day. They feature great speakers and singers such as
Oliver North, Pastor Billy Graham, Alabama, Sarah Evans and more. If you have never attended
an NRA Annual Meeting I encourage you to mark your calendar for April 9-12, 2015, and come
to Nashville, Tenn., for what will be the biggest Annual Meeting to date. I guarantee that once you
attend you will want to return year after year.
Thank you for all the time, money and energy that you give to ensure that future generations will
also get to enjoy the shooting sports! I’ll see you in Nashville in 2015!
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE NRA FOUNDATION AT NRA ANNUAL MEETINGS AT FRIENDSOFNRA.ORG/ANNUALMEETING
QUARTER 2 | 2014
Traditions 3
Fundraising
in the
fast lane
By Katie Parkes
Special Events Coordinator, National Rifle Association
T
ens of thousands sped to Indianapolis in April for the
2014 NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits. Hotels
were sold out and record crowds filled the Indianapolis Convention Center in support of the National Rifle Association and Second Amendment freedoms.
The convention had a successful run this year, and
the National NRA Foundation Banquet and Auction in particular broke all kinds of records! Hosted in the grand Lucas Oil
Stadium, the record breaking crowd of 2,000 attendees helped
to raise the most funds ever at a single event for The NRA Foundation, generating over $500,000.
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QUARTER 2 | 2014
COVER STORY
Photos by Peter Fountain and Kyle Jillson
SPONSORED BY:
The Banquet kicked off the weekend’s events and offered attendees an evening of fellowship, fun and ultimately fundraising to support the future of America’s precious shooting sports traditions. In
true Friends of NRA style, the night included games, raffles, silent
and live auctions, food and speakers. Thanks to event sponsors
Cabela’s, Kimber and Universal Coin and Bullion, The NRA Foundation was able to offset expenses and costs to raise the maximum
funds possible.
The venue, home of the Indianapolis Colts, provided a unique
experience for guests. Nearly 2,000 attendees waited in the Lucas
Oil Plaza adorned by full sized race cars, tractors and speed boats
all owned by Forrest Lucas, founder of Lucas Oil Products. Before
doors opened, the giant Colts horseshoe-shaped stage held the 350
Friends of NRA Ammo Boxes sponsored by the Indiana State Rifle and Pistol Association. These boxes were the deal of the night!
Guests who purchased one received exclusive opportunities to win
four different firearms; an Olympic Arms 204 Ruger, DPMS 308
Carbine, a Witness Hunter EEA 10mm or the Savage 110 BA .338
Lapua. On top of that, the boxes included two tickets into seven
games at the banquet for a chance to win up to 24 firearms! By the
time the doors opened at 5pm, most of the boxes were sold, and
they had raised over $50,000 for The NRA Foundation.
When the doors opened, guests entered the banquet through the
field tunnel entrance, providing another unique “behind the scenes”
experience. NRA President Jim Porter kicked off the evening by
welcoming the attendees and thanking them for their support.
Guests quickly found seats and proceeded to the silent auction,
buckets and games tables.
The bucket raffle, a classic Friends of NRA event, made select merchandise and firearms available with the purchase of a raffle pack.
New to the event this year was the “Gold Ticket,” which gave a raffle
pack buyer the opportunity to drop their ticket into the “Gold Level” gun buckets. Three lucky winners walked away with a Browning
A5 Stalker, a Custom Remington 700 and an FNH-FNX .45 Tactical firearm.
Competition at the silent auction rose over custom firearms, national and international hunts, tactical and hunting gear and home
decor that displayed a passion for America and Second Amendment
rights. If a buyer wanted the item immediately, they could “Buy it
now” for a set price and be entered for the exclusive chance to win a
.308 Ruger Scout Rifle. With over 150 items to bid on, participants
kept coming back for more.
The NRA Foundation is grateful for the support of many manufacturers and companies who sponsored the games at this year’s banquet. A total of 11 games gave each person the chance to win one or
multiple firearms and gear. For the first time in the history of the
National NRA Foundation Banquet, all the firearms on each game
were 100 percent donated, again allowing The NRA Foundation to
raise the maximum funds possible!
The O.F. Mossberg & Sons, Inc., Duck Commander Game and
Goose Hunting Game offered the signature Mossberg 500 and
930 Duck Commander shotguns; volunteers running these games
joined in the spirit of Duck Commander by wearing beards and
Americana bandanas. The Buck Hunter game offered a Taurus Rossi
92 donated by Taurus/Braztech and a crossbow donated by Rampage Crossbow. A wide variety of decoys, firearms and hunting gear
could be had at the Benelli USA Gobbler Game and Predator Hunting Game. Attendees who bought tickets at the Walther Arms, Inc.,
Secret Agent Game were in for a treat when James Bond and Bond
Girl volunteer impersonators handed them their tickets!
Bigger and better than ever, the Century International Arms Inc.
Tactical Raffle and Smith & Wesson Winner Take All game boasted
numerous firearms. The Tactical Raffle offered buyers the chance to
win six different Century International Arms tactical firearms along
with select tactical gear. The Winner Take All was the grand prize of
the night, offering eight Smith & Wesson firearms to one lucky winner!
The chances to win didn’t end when attendees found their tables;
two more games were offered after they sat down. The Remington
Table of Guns, another generously sponsored game, raised nearly
$20,000 and awarded a Remington R51 9mm Pistol to each attendee at one lucky table. The final game of the evening gave 100 guests
a last minute chance to buy raffle tickets that offered a chance to win
a Springfield Armory M1A 308 rifle with its stock signed by “The
Gunny” R. Lee Ermy.
Guests took to their seats as the silent auction, games and buckets
came to a close, but the night was just getting started. Gold, Silver
and Bronze table sponsors—huge contributors in the revenue for
the evening—sat near the front of the room. Each table sponsor,
whether a company or an individual, received special recognition as
a thank you. Event sponsors and Gold and Silver table sponsors also
received a 2014 Indianapolis commemorative W.R. Case custom
knife with a tin case for each of their guests. These special tables gave
guests the opportunity for prime seating and revved up the level of
fundraising for the future of the shooting sports.
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Traditions 5
COVER STORY
Photos by Peter Fountain, Lloyd Hill, Kyle Jillson and Forrest McCormack
To kick off the evening’s program and honor our American freedoms, Brooke Haggard, the wife of NRA Indiana Field Representative Craig Haggard, sang a beautiful
rendition of the National Anthem while the Mooresville
American Legion presented the colors. Following the
opening, The NRA Foundation and Friends of NRA celebrated the volunteers essential to the organization’s success.
To recognize the thousands of volunteers who help with
Friends of NRA banquets across the country, six Region
Volunteers of the Year were honored during the National
NRA Foundation Banquet. Volunteer Fundraising Director Sarah Budi awarded each recipient a certificate framed
by Mill Pond Press. Recipients were also given a Friends of
NRA jacket by their respective NRA Field Representative
and an expense-paid trip to the 2014 Annual Meetings.
The evening also included two other presentations. First,
NRA Board Member Lt. General Leroy Sisco presented
brand new homes to three wounded veterans and their
families courtesy of the Military Warriors Support Foundation. Kyle Weaver, Executive Director of NRA General
Operations, presented a larger than life key to each hero,
representing their new home. Then President of Henry Repeating Arms Anthony Imperato, a generous NRA
Foundation and industry supporter, presented a check
from his company dedicated to the Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital. The NRA Foundation was thrilled to host
both presentations that honored American freedoms.
Attendees then had the privilege of hearing from NRA
Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre who rallied the
crowd and greeted attendees, thanking them for their support and loyalty. Cabela’s Vice President of Brand Marketing Lee Dolan, Kimber Chief Operating Officer Ralph
Karanian and Universal Coin and Bullion President Mike
Fuljenz all thanked The NRA Foundation for the event
sponsorship opportunity and shared in their support for
preserving America’s firearms heritage.
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QUARTER 2 | 2014
COVER STORY
The NRA Foundation live auction wrapped up the
evening with 36 items up for bid. Among them was: a
Ted Nugent package which included an autographed red,
white and blue guitar paired with a red, white and blue
AR; a custom Oglesby & Oglesby BAWANA 500; the 10
Millionth Mossberg shotgun; a 20 ga. FAUSTI; a helicopter hog hunt package; a Cabela’s gun safe; and a 6 ft
tall by 7 ft in diameter Nature Blinds tree blind. The Live
Auction Showcase Item was a custom NRA theme fishing
boat donated by Diamondback and Taurus, and this single
item raised over $20,000 for The NRA Foundation.
Finally, capping off the fundraising for the event, three
firearms were auctioned on Gunbroker.com. The one-ofa-kind Ruger 1 Millionth 1911 collectable firearm commemorates the challenge to sell one million guns in 2012
that Ruger conquered. Donated by Sturm, Ruger & Co.,
Inc., this firearm special engraved by Baron Technology,
Inc., raised nearly $20,000 for The NRA Foundation.
Henry Repeating Arms donated a set of firearms to The
NRA Foundation as well. The Model 1860 Henry and
First Original Henry set commemorates the Original Henry Deluxe, the first Henry produced in nearly 150 years.
This serial number BTH0001 Original Henry along with
the Model 1860 manufactured in 1865 raised $100,000
for The NRA Foundation!
The NRA Foundation knows how to fundraise in the
fast lane. Thanks to the attendees, donors, volunteers and
sponsors who joined us to celebrate our American freedoms and support the future of shooting sports, the National NRA Foundation Banquet broke records all around
and raised over $500,000!
The NRA Foundation hopes to continue to break records next year at the 2015 National NRA Foundation
Banquet and Auction in Nashville on April 9. Be sure to
buy your tickets early and join The NRA Foundation in
protecting the future of America’s shooting sports traditions!
QUARTER 2 | 2014
Traditions 7
COVER STORY
GOT GUNS?
THE NRA FOUNDATION’S WALL OF GUNS
By Katie Parkes
Special Events Coordinator, National Rifle Association
T
The lively and much anticipated NRA Foundation’s Wall of Guns had
another successful run at the 143rd NRA Annual Meetings thanks to the
dedication of staff and volunteers and sponsorships from Cabela’s, KelTec and Daniel Defense. The 2014 Wall of Guns had a total of 81 winners
and over $100,000 raised in support of The NRA Foundation and the
future of America’s shooting sports traditions.
Operating in the main hallway of the Indianapolis Convention
Center, The NRA Foundation had a prime location for attracting
exhibit goers and attendees entering the building for the NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits. This 24-foot long, beautifully crafted
wall and display cabinet built by Legacy Quest Outdoors boasted
nearly 80 firearms of different makes and calibers. Looking down
the hallway it was hard to miss it, especially with large crowds gathering around and a speaker projecting the voices of Western Region
Director Brad Kruger and South Texas NRA Field Representative
Liz Foley, along with several other Friends of NRA Region Directors
and Field Representatives.
Each section of the Wall was chock full of firearms, including
some donated by Century International Arms. New to the Wall this
year was the “Draw of the Century” raffle, a re-load raffle that allowed purchasers to buy into a new exclusive level of raffle pack and
receive tickets to win a Century International Arms American-made
AK. A winner was drawn every 10 rounds of the Wall of Guns,
and each winner had the opportunity to choose one of five different
Century Arms firearms. This new raffle had a wildly successful inaugural year with eight winners!
Wall of Guns rounds each consist of 100 $20 raffle tickets. Once
they are sold, a winner is drawn and a new round with a 1 in 100
8 Traditions
QUARTER 2 | 2014
chance of winning begins. Each lucky winner has the opportunity to
select one firearm off of the “pick one” side of the Wall or two firearms off of the “pick two” side. Eighty-one happy winners walked
away with winner’s choice of firearm and a neon green t-shirt boasting: “I won the Wall of Guns...Jealous?”
Wall of Guns ticket package options included other incentives
such as a “Got Guns?” t-shirt, a Kel-Tec PF-9 or an Instant Winner,
making each package purchaser a winner in one fashion or another. The most popular picks off the wall were the Daniel Defense
M4V5 and M4V1, the Auto Ordinance Thompson 1927A-1 Deluxe “Tommy Gun,” the Century Arms Centurion 39 Sporter and
the Ruger GP100.
All of the sponsors, donors and volunteers who made the 2014
Indianapolis Wall of Guns possible should be proud of the energy
that surrounded the raffle and of its continued success in supporting
The NRA Foundation.
“Come on down to the Wall of Guuuuuuuuuuns” at next year’s
NRA Annual Meetings in Nashville on April 10-12, 2015… You
could be our next winner!
Read more about the new Draw of the Century raffle in the article
on the following pages.
Photos by Lloyd Hill, Forrest McCormack and Peter Fountain
COVER STORY
SPONSORED BY
QUARTER 2 | 2014
Traditions 9
CENTURY INTERNATIONAL ARMS Supports The NRA Foundation
with a landmark donation to its 2014 Annual Meetings events.
By Brad Kruger
Western Region Director, National Rifle Association
A
t the 2014 Shot Show in Las Vegas, NRA Volunteer
Fundraising Merchandise Manager Kathy Purtell and I
met with many companies who showed overwhelming
generosity in donating product to the National NRA
Foundation Banquet at the 2014 NRA Annual Meetings in Indianapolis. All expressed concern about the future of the shooting
sports in the United States and eagerness to help raise money
to ensure that future generations of law abiding Americans are
guaranteed the same rights, freedoms and traditions that we enjoy
today.
Century International Arms was no exception. Kathy and I had
the distinct honor and privilege of sitting down with Director
of Regulatory Compliance Phil Burnor and Director of Product
Development Gary Beagle at the Century booth to look over their
new products. Their contagious enthusiasm for their new firearms
as well as their new gun case line instantly caught on. We asked
Phil and Gary if they would be interested in donating four firearms
for the “Tactical Raffle” at the National NRA Foundation Banquet.
Without batting an eye they said that Century would be honored
to help The NRA Foundation promote the shooting sports.
After some tough deliberation between their hottest selling
items, we selected: their world-renowned, all American-built Centurion 39 Sporter; a fully equipped Canik 55 Model TP-9 9mm;
10 Traditions
QUARTER 2 | 2014
the Catamount Fury 12 ga. Tactical shotgun; and the Catamount
Lynxx 12 ga. Tactical shotgun. This collection would be a sweet
package for the lucky winner of the Tactical Raffle who would
receive all four firearms.
One week later Phil called me and revealed they wanted to
donate two more guns—a C39 Micro AK Pistol and a C93 rifle in
.223—along with four of their new stand up gun cases. Now the
winner of the Tactical Raffle would take home six Century firearms, all for the ticket price of just $20, and the gun cases would
enhance the live and silent auctions.
Despite having already committed to a large donation, Century
International Arms did not stop there. A few weeks later Century
called NRA Volunteer Fundraising Special Events Coordinator
Katie Parkes to say that Chairman of Century International Arms
Michael Sucher had decided to donate 20 more firearms—five of
each of their top selling models—to The NRA Foundation’s Wall
of Guns at NRA Annual Meetings. These firearms were placed
directly on the Wall of Guns, and when one was picked all the
proceeds from that round of ticket sales went directly to The NRA
Foundation thanks to Century’s 100 percent donation.
Additionally, a special side raffle featuring only Century firearms
was created and called “Draw of the Century.” This was a high-roller reload raffle open to purchasers of our $500 raffle packages
Industry Corner NATIONAL NEWS
and above. The $500 package included one Draw of the Century ticket; $1,000 packages included two; and $2,000 packages
included four. Every 10 rounds sold on the Wall of Guns, a Draw
of the Century ticket would be drawn. Unlike the Wall of Guns
for which each round has new tickets, this raffle would keep every
ticket, meaning one ticket could win multiple times throughout
the weekend.
On Friday, April 25, the first of three days for the Wall of Guns
at Annual Meetings, tickets sold quickly. Many people had been
waiting all year to play the Wall of Guns. By that afternoon, the
Century all American-made AK rifles were among the top firearms
being picked by winners, and we were already in danger of running
out of them. Of the more than 70 firearms on the Wall of Guns,
you to donate even more.” Without any hesitation Michael simply
grinned and asked, “How many do you need?”
When I requested 15 more of their American made AK rifles,
he replied with “No problem.” I stood there in disbelief and
appreciation of his generosity. Thanks to this last minute addition,
Century’s American made AK’s continued to be one of the hottest
picked guns on the Wall of Guns, and the Draw of the Century
was an even bigger hit.
On the final day of the Wall of Guns, I walked over to the Century booth to thank them for their exceptional donation. Michael
looked me straight in the eyes and asked, “Do you know why we
did that?” He turned around and pointed at his beautiful daughter.
“We donated all those firearms to The NRA Foundation for our
children, as we want them to grow up with the
same freedoms we have today.”
The NRA Foundation would like to thank
everyone at Century International Arms for their
more than generous donation of 41 firearms to
the National NRA Foundation Banquet and Wall
of Guns. That donation makes them the largest
donor of firearms in the history of The NRA
Foundation’s events at the Annual Meetings.
Thanks to Century International Arms and all the other donors
this year, The NRA Foundation had one of its best Annual Meetings fundraisers ever. Every dollar raised will go directly to promoting the shooting sports and Second Amendment education. We
could not have done this without you. Thank you for all that you
do for freedom, the shooting sports and The NRA Foundation!
Pointing at his daughter, Chairman Michael Sucher
declared, “We donated all those firearms to The NRA
Foundation for our children, as we want them to
grow up with the same freedoms we have today.”
the Century rifles were running out after only half a day!
Fortunately, I was able to speak with Phil Burnor and Gary
Beagle who were at the Century booth on the exhibit floor along
with Chairman Michael Sucher. I explained to them our problem.
All three of them responded with big smiles. “How can we help?”
said Michael.
I drummed up my courage and responded, “I know that you
have already been more than generous by donating 26 firearms to
The NRA Foundation, but I am afraid I am going to have to ask
Interested in donating to The NRA Foundation’s national events? Contact Katie Parkes at (703) 267-1417 or [email protected].
QUARTER 2 | 2014
Traditions 11
Friends of NRA’s 2013 Volunteers of the Year
By Peter Lawless
Event Support Coordinator, National Rifle Association
F
riends of NRA raised $32 million for The NRA
Foundation last year. This all-time fundraising record
is a testament to the commitment of tens of thousands
of Friends of NRA volunteers across the country.
A truly grassroots effort, Friends of NRA is supported by
volunteers from all walks of life driven by a passion for the
Second Amendment and a desire to see firearms education and
the shooting sports thrive in their communities.
12 Traditions
NATIONAL NEWS
From left: Director of Volunteer
Fundraising Sarah Budi, Southwest Region Director (RD) Jason
Quick, Stan Rothfuss, Sandra Hester, Southern RD Al Hammond,
Darrell Hester, Mid-West RD Tom
Ulik,Travis Mann, Central RD
Chad Franklin, Mitchell Howard,
Eastern RD Bryan Hoover, Pat
Patterson, and Director of Field
Staff Philip Gray
Photo by Lloyd Hill
The Volunteer of the Year (VOY) program celebrates the hard work of all the
volunteers who drive forward The NRA
Foundation and Friends of NRA’s mission,
and it particularly recognizes the individuals
whose dedication and leadership in the field
has led to outstanding success. Each year,
NRA Field Representatives are tasked with
selecting one volunteer or husband-wife
team of volunteers as their respective area’s
VOY. These Area Volunteers of the Year
receive special recognition from their NRA
Field Representative in front of their fellow
volunteers as well as a custom embroidered
Friends of NRA “Volunteer of the Year” jacket.
From the group of Area Volunteers of
the Year, NRA Regional Directors then
select one volunteer from their respective
regions to honor as the Region VOY. In
addition to the VOY jacket, each Region
winner and his or her guest receive an
expense-paid trip to the NRA Annual
Meetings and are honored attendees of the
National NRA Foundation Banquet.
On April 24, six volunteers representing five regions were presented with
special awards at the 2014 National NRA
Foundation Banquet at Lucas Oil Stadium
in Indianapolis. Pat Patterson of Virginia, Mitchell Howard of Kentucky, Travis
Mann of Oklahoma, Darrell and Sandra
Hester of South Texas, and Stan Rothfuss
of Mid-California were recognized as the
Eastern, Central, Midwest, Southern and
Western Region Volunteers of the Year,
respectively.
Collectively these six volunteers raised
over $336,000 in 2013, often balancing
involvement in multiple committees and
events as well as other aspects of their lives
like raising families, running businesses and participating in other volunteer
efforts. Each has a different personality and
fundraising method, but all have dedicated countless hours to Friends of NRA and
are commonly driven by a passion for the
shooting sports, firearms education and
the freedoms guaranteed by the Second
Amendment.
“It is a great honor to be selected as the
Region Volunteer of the Year and represent the entire Central Region at the NRA
Annual Meeting,” writes Mitchell Howard.
He captures the selfless and passionate
attitude of Friends of NRA volunteers as he
reflects on his Region VOY award:
“The greatest honor is to have worked
with and been blessed to know so many
dedicated and hard working people on
our committee and others throughout
the state and the Central Region over the
past 22 years. It’s not just one but everyone on the committee that makes it
work. I would like to thank each and
every one for doing their part to ensure
that many future generations will be
able to enjoy the rights and freedom
that we have. Again I just want to say
I’m very proud to be a part of such a
great program. TOGETHER WE WIN.”
Interested in becoming a Friends of NRA volunteer? Visit us online to learn more and sign
up! Go to www.friendsofnra.org/Volunteer.
QUARTER 2 | 2014
Traditions 13
NATIONAL NEWS
EAS T E R N REG IO N
Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York (Lower) and Rhode Island: Jonathan Hirons, Rhode Island
Delaware and Pennsylvania (Eastern): Donna Gerz, Lancaster County
Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont: Cheryl Ziembroski, Northeast Kingdom
New York (Upper): Carmen & Joan Heitczman, Orange County / Hudson Highlands
North Carolina (Eastern): Elvie Jackson, Greater Triangle
North Carolina (Western): Ricky Profitt, Guilford County
Ohio (Northern): Todd Figard, North East Ohio
Ohio (Southern): Sean Maloney, Butler County
Pennsylvania (Western): William Tylavsky, PA’s 1st
Virginia (Eastern), Maryland (Eastern) and Washington, D.C.: Pat Patterson, Southern Commonwealth & Greater Richmond
West Virginia, Maryland (Western) and Virginia (Western): Lee Godbey, Seneca Trail
CE N T R A L RE GIO N
MID-WEST REGION
Illinois (Northern): Christina Cira, East Central Illinois
Illinois (Southern): Ted Buck, Jr., Mt. Vernon Area
Indiana: Jason Franklin, Falls of the Ohio
Iowa: John Allen, Founders
Kentucky: Mitchell Howard, Big Rivers
Michigan: Tom & Bonita Tompkins, Northwest Michigan
Missouri: Amy Stilfield, State Fair Area
Nebraska: Jim McChesney, Platte Valley
Tennessee: Mark Lee, Davidson County
Wisconsin: Kellie Walsh, State Line
Colorado: Jim Eckersley, North Colorado
Kansas: Bruce & Mary McCune, Butler County
Minnesota: Leroy Van Brunt, South Metro
Montana: Tara Kiel, Southeast Montana
New Mexico: Jim & Dorothy Greene, Mountainair
North Dakota: Stephanie Sandstrom, Burliegh County & Morton County
South Dakota: Mike Deakins, Mitchell
Oklahoma: Travis Mann, Northwest Oklahoma
Utah: Denise Knight, Ogden
Wyoming: Kathy Watt, Southeast Wyoming
S OUT H ER N R E G IO N
WESTERN REGION
Alabama: Larry Jones, Lake Eufaula
Arkansas: Kelly Ford, Independence
Florida (Northern): Connie Davis, Silver River
Florida (Southern): Jennifer Williamson, Martin County
Georgia: Donna Wyatt, Sumter Area
Louisiana: Bill Laird, Ark-LA-Tex
Mississippi: Chris Haycraft, MS Delta
South Carolina: Faye Stoudemire, Mid-Carolina
Texas (Northern): John & Kim Capps, Ellis County, Lone Star Oil Shale & Alliance Corridor
Texas (Southern): Darrell & Sandra Hester, Mid-Coast
Texas (West): Betty Deneen, Taylor County
Alaska (Northern): Sarah Espelin, Upper Susitna
Alaska (Southern): Ken & Marie Murdock, Alaska State
Arizona: Hugh Winderweedle, White Mountain
California (Central): John Howe, Kern County
California (Mid): Stan Rothfuss, Mariposa, Oakhurst, 3 Rivers, Madera & Patterson
California (North Eastern): Barry Blaylock, Tuolumne County
California (North Western): Robert Hampson, North Santa Cruz County
California (Southern): Eric & Sue Johnson, East County
Nevada: John Madden, Reno/Sparks, Modesto, Carson City & Carson Valley
Hawaii and Oregon: Katie Jones, Douglas County
Idaho: Craig Seymour, Upper Snake River
Washington: Steve Dazey, North Puget Sound
14 Traditions
QUARTER 2 | 2014
By Peter Lawless
Event Support Coordinator,
National Rifle Association
16 Traditions
QUARTER 2 | 2014
Eastern REGIONAL UPDATE
D
EEP IN THE MOUNTAINS of
southwest Virginia, Franklin
County High School is home
to one of the most highly awarded
Air Force JROTC marksmanship
programs in the country.
In 2010 the unit started its first
Sporter Air Rifle team with six positions, which practiced by shooting single pump air rifles at pellet traps set on
top of milk crates. Four short years later,
the team boasts national records and
championship titles, and it has grown to
24 positions in three Sporter teams and
a newly formed Precision team.
“This year we had all of our shooters
qualify for national matches and all are
nationally ranked,” says Head Coach
LTC Tracey Carter (USAF, Ret.). He
explains that this even includes the three
freshmen who picked up a rifle for the
first time in October; by December they
were shooting national level scores, and
they attended the National JROTC
Championships in February.
“Most clubs would love to have even
one team qualify,” remarks Carter. “I am
getting emails and calls about twice a
week asking questions about how we do
things, and we have caught the attention of some college athletic recruiters.”
In addition to competing in local
league matches, the Franklin Co. HS
AFJROTC marksmanship program
competes in matches run by the Civilian
Marksmanship Program (CMP), NRA
and USA Shooting. The team travels
to six national competitions each year.
Its complete list of titles and accolades
is too long to list here, but it includes
JROTC and junior rifle club championship titles as well as accomplishments of
the individual shooters on the team.
One of the team’s most recent, and
significant, accomplishments is breaking
the national record for an Air Force
JROTC Precision rifle team at the 2014
JROTC Service Championships—in the
Precision team’s first year of competition! Precision teams prove difficult
to start due to the cost of the special
equipment that Sporter teams do not
require. Fortunately, a $10,000 grant
from The NRA Foundation last year
allowed the Franklin Co. team to purchase the necessary equipment and field
the team that brought home the title.
With the continued support of
Friends of NRA, Coach Carter has big
plans for the team’s future. “We hope to
keep the success from the past four years
going year after year and to get shooters
into college shooting programs, but we
have many other goals,” he explains.
“We want young people to experience
the sport and make a lasting impression
on them. They can shoot their whole
life if they want. They are more disciplined, they make better grades, and
they concentrate more. They know what
it takes to reach a high goal without
quitting.”
Expressing his satisfaction with the
success of the program so far, Carter
concludes, “It is amazing to see a shooter grow and excel in a four-year period.
Marksmanship is a tough physical and
mental sport that takes control. I am
very proud of what our team has done,
and I know they [its members] can
accomplish any task in life.”
An NRA Foundation grant could help
your shooting sports program take off! Apply at www.nrafoundation.org for a grant
funded by Friends of NRA fundraising.
QUARTER 2 | 2014
Traditions 17
REGIONAL UPDATE Central
The First Year of a
Public School Trap Team
By Tanner Marshall
Attica Jr.-Sr. High School Trap Team Member
Reprinted with permission from Attica Jr.-Sr. High School
ATTICA CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL CORPORATION in west central
Indiana has something that almost no other Indiana public schools
have. Despite its total K-12 population of less than 900 students,
Attica’s school system is home to one of the largest middle school
and high school trap teams in the state.
A
ttica, Ind., is a small rural town with a strong community
known for taking care of itself. It has its share of industry,
but Attica has a large agricultural component within the
school district. With this geographical location many of the students
have grown up hunting, fishing, trapping and enjoying the outdoors. This led Superintendent Derek Marshall to ask the students
if they would be interested in trap shooting and archery programs.
He received a very positive response and began a conversation
with the school community and school board. The school board
was very responsive to the proposal to teach its students firearm and
outdoor safety. They also realized that working with local law enforcement and conservation officers would be a large benefit to their
18 Traditions
QUARTER 2 | 2014
students. So the work began to implement these programs.
Many aspects of organizing a start-up program were addressed:
finding competent and caring coaches, organizing efforts with law
enforcement and conservation officers, finding a local American
Trapshooting Association (ATA) club to host the team, and funding.
Attica Schools’ director of maintenance, Jim Blankenship, quickly
agreed to coach the program. A long time trap shooter and avid
outdoorsman, he was the perfect fit for this fledgling program. His
respect amongst the school community and his knowledge of the
sport were instrumental in the program’s rapid growth.
Coach Blankenship and Superintendent Marshall set out to recruit local law enforcement and conservation officers to help with
the trap team activities. Officer Jacob Chambers
of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources
(DNR) quickly volunteered his services and has
spearheaded the hunter and gun safety portion of
the program. He organizes the DNR’s finest officers to help run hunter education courses for those
who want to participate on Attica’s trap team.
When Marshall went looking for a “home” for the
trap team, he met Charlie Bryant, owner/operator
of Wallace Traps. Bryant is an ATA and trap shooting veteran, and he is well known throughout the
sport. His knowledge seems endless and his passion
for this sport is tremendous. Bryant opened his club
to the students, dedicating an evening just for them
to practice, and his support is greatly appreciated.
Central REGIONAL UPDATE
Photos by Amy Haley Photography
Attica Schools had found a coach, a place to practice, and gained
the help of law enforcement, but they feared the hardest part was yet
to come—funding the team. Starting any new program is a daunting task, and they did not anticipate the support they were about to
receive. The local Friends of NRA chairman, Paul Harding, shared
funding sources with Mr. Marshall, and the funding started to become a reality. Attica Schools began filling out NRA Foundation
grant requests, and they gratefully accepted their first grant from the
Friends of NRA State Fund Committee shortly after. This $7,500
grant supplied the team with eight shotguns, eye and ear protection,
and enough ammunition to get the program started.
Having now secured a coach, a home, the help of law enforcement
and funding provided by The NRA Foundation, Indiana Youth
Shooting Sports Foundation and the Midway USA Foundation, Attica was ready to practice and compete. Attica’s trap team competes
in the AIM4ATA (through the ATA) and the Scholastic Clay Target
Program (SCTP) competitions. AIM4ATA has a great ambassador
in State Director Keith Weller, who has provided the team with
several resources and knowledge of the sport. SCTP State Director
Mark Burgess has also fostered Attica’s trap team in their first year,
and his help and knowledge were valuable and well received.
Currently 13 percent of the entire Attica Schools student population participates in the program. Attica has seen such a positive
response to its shooting sports program that it is catching the eye of
many others throughout the state. Mr. Marshall has offered to help
in any way possible other schools that wish to pursue the shooting
sports.
Tanner Marshall is a 9th grader at Attica Jr-Sr High School and
he shoots a CZ USA 712 ALS. Tanner aspires to become a wildlife
biologist.
Apply for an NRA Foundation grant at nrafoundation.org. Support the
grant program by attending a Friends of NRA event! Find one near you
at www.friendsofnra.org/Events.
QUARTER 2 | 2014
Traditions 19
REGIONAL UPDATE Southern
What Friends of NRA
FUNDRAISING Means
T US
By Arlene Chauncey
4-H Instructor, USA Archery Level III NTS Coach and
Silver River Friends of NRA Committee Member
Ocala, Marion County, Fla.
E
ARLIER THIS YEAR, I attended a
regional Friends of NRA volunteer
workshop in Gainesville, Fla. As we
discussed the success of Florida’s
fundraising efforts for shooting sports, I
realized that most of those in attendance did
not really know how much their efforts and
hard work are appreciated by the groups that
receive NRA Foundation grants.
20 Traditions
QUARTER 2 | 2014
From my unique position as not only a Friends of NRA committee
member but also an NRA Foundation grant recipient, I thought
about how many other hard working volunteers all over the country would like to know the impact of their efforts. So I resolved to
share my story.
I am the 4-H leader/coach for the Arrowhead Archery Club in
Marion County, Fla., at the UF/IFAS –Marion County Extension
Service. Our club was founded in the 2010-2011 4-H year and
initially had 12 members. Everyone had to provide their own
equipment, and we begged range time from a local sporting goods
store because we had no targets. During our first year we constantly turned away kids that wanted to learn archery but did not have
equipment.
It became obvious that we were missing a large section of youth,
and, as a youth development group, we were losing the opportunity to help shape tomorrow’s leaders today. We needed to provide
equipment for the kids to use, but we had no idea where the
money would come from, since clubs receive no funding from the
county. Thus began our relationship with Friends of NRA and The
NRA Foundation’s grant program.
In the 2011-2012 session, we applied for and received our first
NRA Foundation grant. We purchased bows, arrows and targets,
and the county made space for us at the 4-H farm. Our club
grew. We now had 30 members and a new problem—not enough
trained instructors for the number of kids. However, even with our
equipment and instructor limitations, we were bringing home State
Championship titles and sending members to the National 4-H
Shooting Sport Invitational.
Our reputation was growing and so were we. During our
2012-2013 session, several of our members were noticed by Rob
Turner, a Level 4 USA Archery Coach and previous member of the
Australian Olympic team, at the Easton-Newberry sports complex
Olympic training center in Newberry, Fla. Coach Turner encouraged six of our members to try out for one of the Junior Olympic Athletic Development (JOAD) clubs at that facility. Several
members joined a JOAD program, and two were asked to join the
advanced training class instructed by Coach Turner and Amanda
Kaminski assisted occasionally by Jake Kaminski, reigning Silver
medalist from the 2012 summer Olympics.
In our current 2013-2014 session we now have six instructors; one
is USA Archery Level 2 certified, two are Level 3 certified and all are
4-H certified. Our club has 47 members, and we still turned approximately 60 kids away. We received our second grant from The NRA
Foundation in February and purchased an enclosed trailer and 3-D
targets. We have 17 members on our competition team, and the
trailer allows us to transport all our equipment safely and securely.
In four short years our club has produced 11 State Champions
and six State Champion teams, and it has sent 12 members to the
4-H National Shooting Sports Invitational.
We have six members that train at the Easton-Newberry
Olympic training center, and these same members compete not
only in 4-H, but also in Archery Shooters Association, National
Field Archery Association, National Archery Association, Florida
Archery Association, JOAD and USA Archery events. They
compete regionally and nationally, and one has even competed on
the international level.
Five of those six youths started out using club equipment provided by an NRA Foundation grant supported by Friends of NRA
fundraising. Without Friends volunteers and donors and their
efforts to promote the shooting sports, these kids may not have had
these opportunities to learn, compete and succeed.
Thank you to Friends of NRA donors, sponsors and volunteers
for all that you have helped our team members achieve and for
your continued efforts in the future.
Want to apply for an NRA Foundation grant for your shooting sports
program? Go to www.nrafoundation.org. Learn more about this
grant-supported program on Facebook at Arrowhead Archery 4-H
Club. Get involved with Friends of NRA in Florida! Visit us online at
www.friendsofnra.org/FL.
Arrowhead
ARCHERY CLUB
TEAM STATISTICS
6 STATE CHAMPION TEAMS
6 MEMBERS TRAINING
AT THE EASTON-NEWBURY
OLYMPIC TRANING CENTER
11 STATE CHAMPIONS
12 PARTICIPANTS IN
THE 4-H NATIONAL
SHOOTING SPORTS
INVITATIONAL
REGIONAL UPDATE Mid-West
BIG
i m pa c t
Brazos Valley
By Catherine Barsanti, Event Support Coordinator, National Rifle Association
THE OLD ADAGE THAT “EVERYTHING IS BIGGER IN TEXAS” rings true for the Friends of NRA
committee located in the small Brazos Valley region of Central Texas. From big beginnings
as a founding committee when the Friends of NRA program began in 1992, to big
accomplishments such as earning their place in a top level of High Caliber Club by bringing
in over $100,000 at their banquets, this committee has never done anything in a small way.
I
n the past year, this propensity for magnitude in the Brazos Valley
has been further illustrated by the whopping seven grants awarded by The NRA Foundation to programs in the region, providing
opportunities to a wide variety of recipients. “Over the years we have
[raised funds to support] many local aspects of the shooting sports:
youth, collegiate, adult and law enforcement,” says Committee Chair
John Lilly. “We range from what you might consider foundation
clubs that are long term to new clubs just starting out.”
Among the older programs are successful collegiate teams like
the Texas A&M Trap and Skeet Club and the nationally ranked
Texas A&M Scholastic Pistol Program, as well as youth programs
like Burleson County 4-H, whose history of shooting sports
training extends back nearly 50 years. Established programs also
include Brazos Valley Skeet and Trap Club and the Brazos County
4-H Sportsman’s Club it supports. The 4-H Sportsman’s Club has
grown substantially since its inception in 1976 as the first 4-H
shotgun club in the nation, even through a loss of range space in
1995 and construction of a new range in 1997. “In the years that
have followed [the new range construction], thousands of young
people have had the opportunity to participate in shooting sports
programs,” said the president of Brazos Valley Skeet and Trap Club,
Mike Gentry. “The original construction of the range was made
possible, in part, by a grant from The NRA [Foundation]; what an
incredible support the NRA has been to us.”
Not only have grants provided the funds to keep existing
programs thriving, but they have also assisted new shooting sports
groups still gaining their footing. The brand new Grimes County 4-H Shooting Sports Club used their grant to acquire quality
equipment. Rick Atkinson, head of the program, shared, “The
grant provided the financial resources needed for the club to serve
the shooting sports needs of kids in the county.” Additionally,
American Legion Earl Graham Post 159’s newly-founded air rifle
program has also created a home for Texas youth.
“NRA Foundation-supported junior shooting sports are a great
leveler of the playing field,” explains James Andrew, head of the
EG 159 air rifle program. “Because of the generosity of The NRA
Foundation and Friends of NRA, the American Legion youth
shooting sports program in Bryan, Texas, has kept course and
membership fees lower than virtually any other youth sports program in the area. It attracts youths from the highest-rated public,
private and charter schools as well as several of the most disadvantaged schools in Brazos County.”
“The target demands everyone stand up and take their best
shot. It doesn’t care what path the shooter took to get to the firing
line,” continues Andrew. “Your support of The NRA Foundation
and Friends of NRA makes it possible for all youth to have a spot
on that firing line so they can stand up and take their best shot at
sports and at life.”
Brazos Valley Friends of NRA Chairman John Lilly plans to continue the committee’s enthusiastic fundraising efforts to support
new and existing local programs. He hopes that future funding
can be awarded to women’s programs, ROTC shooting programs,
Eddie Eagle and more in the area. “On my end, my bucket list for
the Brazos Valley is still half full,” he emphasizes.
The positive mentality and sense of common purpose shared
by the Brazos Valley committee and the local programs are an
exceptional example of the way that Friends of NRA and The
NRA Foundation become a part of the community, involving and
benefitting generations of shooting sports enthusiasts. But their
story really reflects the camaraderie found in the Friends of NRA
program throughout the country. Whether it be the little region
of the Brazos Valley, the state of Texas, the entire Mid-West, or
the nationwide Friends of NRA family, the support of the shooting
sports creates a powerful community of individuals united by a
lifestyle and an incredible cause.
Apply for an NRA Foundation grant at www.nrafoundation.org!
QUARTER 2 | 2014
Traditions 23
Tanana Valley Sportsmen’s Association
Conserving
Tradition and Talent
for a Century
By Nicole McMahon
Event Marketing & Communications Manager, National Rifle Association
Formed in 1916 and known as the oldest sportsman’s group in Alaska, the Tanana Valley Sportsmen’s Association (T.V.S.A.) in Fairbanks
is still going strong. The association has flourished in its nearly 100
years of existence, and it has been instrumental in Fairbanks and
throughout Alaska in wildlife conservation and promotion of the
shooting sports.
T
.V.S.A. got its start from a group of sportsmen who transplanted 28 bison
to Delta Junction. The last of the area’s indigenous bison died about 500
years ago, but this transplant from the National Bison Range in Montana to
Alaska reestablished a population of free-ranging bison that has grown to over 400.
Today they both attract tourists and support the most popular permit hunt in the
state. Ever since that historic moment, T.V.S.A. has dedicated much of its efforts to
protecting precious wildlife in its area—from opposing the sale of wild game meat
in restaurants in 1936 to establishing the Arctic Wildlife Range in 1957. It has been
a role model and parent organization for other sportsmen’s groups in Alaska and
continues to be a force for conservation.
24 Traditions
QUARTER 2 | 2014
Western REGIONAL UPDATE
It wasn’t until the 1980’s that T.V.S.A.
expanded its mission and started youth
and adult firearm safety education programs. The Midnight Sun Sharpshooters was formed and became Alaska’s
largest and most respected junior shooting club. T.V.S.A. also began supporting
four Fairbanks high school rifle teams,
two middle school rifle clubs and various
adult training programs. During this
time T.V.S.A. was known to provide top
notch shooters to universities throughout the country, especially to University of Alaska’s rifle team, the 10-time
NCAA champion Alaska Nanooks.
T.V.S.A.’s activities came to a halt
when its old clubhouse and range caught
fire and burned to the ground on March
31, 2007. The association needed to
find funding to build a new facility,
and it turned to The NRA Foundation
and Friends of NRA for help. It had
previously received a grant in 1997
for training and safety programs, but
T.V.S.A. was prepared to ask for a much
larger sum in order to construct the
new clubhouse and provide an avenue
for its shooters to train.
In 2009 and 2010, T.V.S.A. received
over $26,000 for classroom furniture
and equipment for ongoing firearms
education activities and for the rebuilding of the shooting range. In 2011 a
$14,000 grant was pivotal in securing an
air handling system for indoor shooting.
Without this system shooters could not
train indoors, an extremely important
capability in Alaska’s -40 degree winter
temperatures. After the foundation
of the shooting range and clubhouse
were built, T.V.S.A. requested a range
improvement grant of nearly $20,000 to
increase safety and allow the association
to generate more use by local shooting
organizations. The most recent grant,
awarded for nearly $48,000 in 2014,
now enables the construction of a stateof-the-art air handling and ventilation
system along with new plumbing and
electrical work to provide power to ventilation fans, duct dampers and controls.
In total T.V.S.A. has received more
than $170,000 from The NRA Foundation for range development and
shooting sports education. Because of
these grants and the access to high-quality training and facilities they ensure,
the Midnight Sun Sharpshooters team
consistently takes top marks in 3-position precision air rifle, international
air rifle and 3-position small-bore rifle.
Additionally, local high school, middle
school, 4-H and University of Alaska
teams have a safe and updated facility to
train. And T.V.S.A. can continue being
a place for the community to come together for firearm education, safety and
camaraderie.
Have a shooting sports program that needs
support? Go to www.nrafoundation.org to
apply for a grant! Support local programs
by attending a Friends of NRA event.
Learn more about Friends of NRA in
Alaska by visiting friendsofnra.org/AK to
find committees and events near you.
REGIONAL UPDATE Southwest
A substantial grant helps new shooters and new programs take flight in Arizona
By Christina Paladeau
Event Marketing & Communications Coordinator, National Rifle Association
he Arizona Game and Fish Department (AGFD) has
received grants from The NRA Foundation for many
years, but 2013 marked a major increase in that funding, corresponding with a rise in the number of new
shooters and shooting sports programs developing in The
Grand Canyon State.
26 Traditions
QUARTER 2 | 2014
Southwest REGIONAL UPDATE
Participants in an Arizona Game and Fish Department sponsored
youth dove hunt display their birds. NRA Foundation grants make
this program and others possible.
Apply for a grant at www.nrafoundation.org! To learn more
about the Arizona Friends of NRA events that raise money for
local and statewide programs like this one, go to
www.friendsofnra.org/AZ or email Field Rep Winston Pendleton
at [email protected].
NEARLY
The AGFD sponsors numerous shooting sports programs in
Arizona, but the department itself does not have any funding to
purchase firearms. To avoid limiting the number of people it can
effectively teach shooting sports and hunting, it relies on outside
sources like The NRA Foundation to add to and replace its stock of
firearms available for use by the programs it supports.
Last year the AGFD Shooting Ranch Branch received a grant
of nearly $25,000 for firearms purchases. This substantial sum
places the AGFD in a special group of grant recipients—fewer
than 30 grants amounting to over $20,000 were awarded during
2013. More importantly, this funding allowed the AGFD Shooting
Sports Program to forward its goals of providing the opportunity
for anyone to become a hunter or shooter and eliminating the
barriers associated with participation in the shooting sports.
Five years ago the AGFD started a loaner kit program to help
accomplish these goals and experienced great success. Soon more
kits were required to support the increasing demands of current
outreach programs as well as the expected expansion of programs
through partnerships with state, county and city parks, recreational groups, and elementary through high school programs. The
firearms purchased with The NRA Foundation’s 2013 grant were
sorted into loaner kits for use by AGFD sponsored events such
as: the AGFD sponsored Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP);
hunting camps; Parks and Recreation agency programs; and AGFD
sponsored shooting sport courses and events.
The increased interest and participation in club shooting sports
could be seen especially in the rapidly growing SCTP, which
teaches students from age nine through graduation of college about
safe use of hunting firearms and teamwork. SCTP participation
grew by 20 percent in the 2012-2013 season, and the 2013 grant
contributed to the program’s continuing success by allowing it
to accommodate those growing numbers with three new teams
equipped with the firearms essential to their operation.
“These firearms benefit the entire program because [the grant]
allows new teams to join and also allows replenishment of firearms
inventory across the entire state. These generous donations from
The NRA Foundation are invaluable to the Arizona Scholastic Clay
Target Program,” writes the AGFD. “We were successful in reaching our goals and objectives because we did not lose a single opportunity to introduce the public to hunting or shooting sports.”
The majority of the grant-funded firearms went to new SCTP
clubs and into the hands of its new shooters, but other programs
like game camps and youth dove hunts have utilized them as well.
With the support of The NRA Foundation and the availability of
grant-funded firearms, the sky is the limit for AGFD-sponsored
shooting sports programs. The department will continue reaching
more and more new hunters and shooters and sustaining current
participants, ensuring the continuation of firearms freedoms and
shooting sports traditions.
$25,000
GRANTED IN 2013
TO ARIZONA GAME AND FISH DEPARTMENT
QUARTER 2 | 2014
Traditions 27
NATIONAL NEWS Program Profile
I
R
W
D
E
FRE
T
he NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund has announced the winners of its annual Youth Essay Contest celebrating the Second
Amendment as an integral part of the Constitution and the Bill
of Rights. Nearly 450 students submitted essays to the 2013
Youth Essay Contest, whose featured prompt was:
Program Profile NATIONAL NEWS
E
ITM
DO
IN
efense
D
ts
h
ig
R
il
iv
C
The
Second
Fund’s annual
ssay
Amendment e
are in.
contest results
ON
BY KYLE JILLS
“The Second
Amendment to the
Constitution: Why
it is Important to
our Nation.”
Reprinted with permission from NRA Family Insights, June 2014
First Place, Junior Category:
Anna Kate Haverly, Age 14
“To many, guns bring up the topic of self-defense. If guns mount guard over a household, most criminals will not relish a break-in. In 2010, a 15-year-old boy protected
himself and little sister from two men who had forced their way into his house using
his father’s AR-15. Again, in a more recent case, an elderly man staved off a young
housebreaker with a handgun. 108,000 to 2.4 million times a year, says Wayne LaPierre, guns deter robbery and mugging, as in the suburb of Kennesaw in Atlanta, Ga.
This suburb passed a law in 1982 requiring the head of every household to have at
least one gun. The robbery rate immediately dropped by 89 percent. Coincidence?
Not really.”
Second Place, Junior Category:
Reagan Bush, Age 11
“During the ratification of the United States Constitution, my fellow Pennsylvanian
Tench Coxe had much to say about the Second Amendment, all of which was positive.
Tench Coxe wrote in the Federal Gazette in Philadelphia, ‘As civil rulers, not having
their duty to the people duly before them, may attempt to tyrannize, and as the military forces which must be occasionally raised to defend our country, might pervert
their power to the injury of their fellow-citizens, the people are confirmed by the next
article in their right to keep and bear arms.’ What Coxe was pointing out was a sentiment that was common among our founders, a fear that any future government would
grow tyrannical.”
Third Place, Junior Category:
Antonio Ferris, Age 14
“Another important point is that armed citizens discourage a foreign nation from
successful invasion of the country. Not only would an aggressive nation have to defeat
the military, but they would also have to deal with millions of armed citizens. The
framers of the Constitution knew all too well the effectiveness of armed citizens rising
up against organized armies—as they had just won their independence in just such
a manner. Indeed, without access to firearms the war for independence would likely
have been lost.”
E
ntries were separated into two categories: Senior (grades
10-12) and Junior (grades 9 and below), and were judged on
originality, scholarship and presentation.
“Once again, the Fund received a large number of entries, making
the selection of winners a difficult task,” said Skipp Galythly, contest
judge and NRA Assistant General Counsel. “But I always enjoy reading the essays and seeing how members of this generation look into
the issue of the Second Amendment and form their own opinions.”
Seventeen-year-old Samantha Keng of Smyrna, Ga., took top
honors in the Senior category for her essay “The Second Amendment: Why it is important to our nation.” In the Junior category,
14-year-old Anna Haverly of Mancos, Colo., won first place with
her essay “The Second Amendment: A Right or a Wrong.”
All students enrolled in an elementary, junior high, or high
school—including homeschoolers—during the 2013-2014 academic year, who had not previously placed in the contest in their
respective category, were eligible to enter. Winners were awarded
cash prizes of $1,000 for first place, $600 for second, $200 for
third and $100 for receiving an honorable mention.
“It is never easy to narrow down the large number of well-written essays to just four winners in each category,” said Galythly.
“Doing so for the Junior category this year proved especially tough
and the Fund approved an additional honorable mention award,
making this task just a bit easier.”
First Place, Senior Category:
Samantha Keng, Age 17
“Self defense is a basic human right, a natural right, and the Second Amendment
was created for an express purpose: To ensure that the American citizenry would have
the means to protect themselves from a tyranny of any kind.
The Second Amendment keeps a government honest, transparent and answerable to
the citizenry; an unarmed citizenry means one vulnerable to the whims of a government that may not act in their best interest. During the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests in Beijing, for example, unarmed student rioters were met with military assault
rifles and tanks sent to suppress the demonstrations by any means necessary. The
people were left with no means of defense and no way to fight back. An event like this
will never happen in America because of the Second Amendment.”
Second Place, Senior Category:
Nicole Servais, Age 17
“It is a common misconception that our Founding Fathers ‘granted’ the American
populace the right to own a gun. Rather, the Second Amendment is an inalienable
right. Inalienable means that it is something the government can neither grant nor
take away; it is inherently embedded within every citizen and completes the full scope
of human rights. Our Founding Fathers did not ‘grant us a privilege.’ They listed the
right to bear arms as a necessary and proper right instilled automatically within every
citizen, and this is the right to protection. Just as the Constitution contains numerous
checks and balances to keep the government operating within its power, the Second
Amendment provides the final and most necessary check and balance: the people
themselves.”
Third Place, Senior Category:
Annette Droddy, Age 15
“It seems apparent that George Mason was right in saying “…to disarm the people
is the best and most effective way to enslave them...” It is only when citizens are armed
that they may fully enjoy their liberties. When the rights of a people to protect themselves are removed, not only do the other most basic civil rights of man begin to
disappear, but also the lives of those who do not submit to a morally unjust government.”
What makes an essay a winner? Read the above excerpts from
the top-ranked pieces to see what a little research, and a lot of
talent, can do.
The NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund is continuing the tradition
in 2014 with another essay contest celebrating the Second Amendment as an integral part of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
The theme for the essay is “What does the Second Amendment
mean to you?” Students who are interested in competing in the
contest should go to: www.nradefensefund.org/contests-scholarships.aspx. For more information about the NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund or the Second Amendment Essay Contest, visit www.
nradefensefund.org or call (703) 267-1250.
Reprinted with permission from NRA Family Insights, June 2014
FROM
TO
HUNTER SAFETY
SAFEGUARDING AMERICA
32 Traditions
QUARTER 2 | 2014
Spotlight NATIONAL NEWS
A personal story of support, service and success.
By SPC Shane Strange, U.S. Army
W
“
I see the story of
my shooting career
not so much as one
of overwhelming
success but as one
of overwhelming
support and
dedication.
”
hen first approached by NRA Field Representative for Western
North Carolina Doug Merrill and asked to write an article about my
success story, I was shocked to say the least. I had never considered
the story of my shooting career to be of notable mention, having
spent my whole life around firearms and immersed in the shooting community. I
grew up going to shooting competitions and competing against numerous amazing
shooters. To think that my story was one of noteworthy success was a totally new
notion for me.
Thanks to my dad, I was a card carrying member of the NRA since before I even
knew what NRA stood for. By the time I reached high school and was eligible to
participate on the school’s hunter safety team, shooting quickly became my number
one priority. My ambition to excel and improve spilled over into every area of my
life and quickly pushed me to the top of my team. By the end of my freshman year, I
was captain of the North Davidson Hunter Safety Rifle Team, and by my senior year
I had taken first in the state individually and participated on the first place rifle team
in the state that year.
With the high costs associated with ammunition and other shooting supplies, the
team never would have been able to achieve as much as it did without some additional funding. Friends of NRA fundraising and The NRA Foundation grant program
made that essential outside funding possible. The grants helped offset a large portion
of our expenses each year and made it possible for us to practice and compete.
When I reported for US Army Basic Training in Fort Sill, Okla., in October of
2011, I quickly began to rise to the top of my class due to not only my distinct
ability to accurately and consistently place rounds down range, but also because of
my ability to teach and share my knowledge with other soldiers in my unit. While
qualifying with our M16A2 rifles, my drill sergeant instructed me to work with and
teach individuals on the fundamentals of shooting. Many of those individuals have
employed and currently employ the skills I taught them in defense of our country.
That instruction has in essence helped to save the lives of my brothers and sisters in
arms on multiple occasions.
In the fall of 2012 my unit was mobilized to Egypt’s volatile Sinai Peninsula
as part of the Multinational Force and Observers in support of the Camp David
Accords. I was again recruited for my innate shooting ability to put on multiple
shooting workshops and to compete in the annual force skills competition. Outshooting over 100 other individuals from more than a half a dozen other nations, I
took first place in the shooting portion of the competition simply by employing the
skills I learned as a member of the North Davidson Hunter Safety Team. Those years
of valuable experience would have not been possible without the continued support
of Friends of NRA and The NRA Foundation.
I see the story of my shooting career not so much as one of overwhelming success
but as one of overwhelming support and dedication. I would like to give a special
thanks to Mr. Tom Kearns and to my father David Strange for all of the knowledge
and dedication with which they have blessed me and to Friends of NRA for its continued support of so many life changing programs.
SPC Strange now participates in his local events hosted by theTriad Friends of NRA
committee outside Winston-Salem, N.C. To support your local shooting sports programs,
find an event near you at www.friendsofnra.org/Events.
QUARTER 2 | 2014
Traditions 33
NRA Foundation Donors
GIFTS OF $25K+
Mr. Stuart L. Walker
Nevada
Dr. Arnold W. Goldschlager
California
Mr. John J. Schumann, Jr.
Florida
Anonymous
Ohio
The Adele Bogart Fitzpatrick Fund
Massachusetts
Mr. William A. Bachenberg
Pennsylvania
The Honorable Bill K. Brewster
District of Columbia
Mr. Frank R. Brownell, III
Iowa
Mr. Peter R. Brownell
Iowa
Mr. and Mrs. William Hayes
California
Mr. Thomas H. Held, Ed.S
Maryland
Mr. and Mrs. Eric Johanson
California
Mr. George Kollitides
Connecticut
Mr. and Mrs. Donald L. Kriley
North Carolina
Mr. and Mrs. Robert M. Lee
Nevada
Mr. Walter F. McLallen, IV
Connecticut
Mr. Gregory Murtland
Michigan
Mr. Donald O’Shei
Wyoming
Mr. R. J. Pepper, III
Texas
Mr. Samuel B. Saxton
Pennsylvania
Mr. T. G. Steele
Virginia
Mr. Robert A. Unkovic
Pennsylvania
Mr. Regis J. Synan
Pennsylvania
Mr. and Mrs. John A. Kamps
California
Philip R. Agnes Lead Trust
Florida
Lt. Colonel Robert T. Sweeney, USAF (Ret.)
California
Mr. and Mrs. John D. Bryan
Oregon
Mr. and Mrs. Arthur H. Lamb, Jr.
Massachusetts
Ms. Deborah D. Todd
Louisiana
GIFTS OF $5K-$25K
Natchez Shooting Supplies, Inc.
Tennessee
Mr. Tim Choate
Florida
The Nextgen Foundation Charitable Trust
Maryland
Cheaper Than Dirt
Texas
34 Traditions
QUARTER 2 | 2014
Ms. Catherine B. Taylor
Texas
Mr. Dan W. Cook, III
Texas
Mrs. Gaye L. Kelsey
Texas
The Robert M. Lee Foundation
Nevada
Dick and Amelia Saulsbury
Texas
Blackhawk Products Group
Virginia
Laser Shot, Inc.
Texas
Mr. James D. Nyce
Pennsylvania
Thomas and BeckySue Yackley
Illinois
Mr. and Mrs. Ward M. French, III
Connecticut
Mrs. Judith H. Woods
Missouri
Ohio Gun Collectors Association
Ohio
Big Dog Family Preservation Trust
Texas
Collectors Firearms, Inc.
Texas
David & Lorna Gladstone Foundation
Virginia
Mr. Leo A. Holt
New Jersey
Mr. David D. Jackson
Texas
Mr. Thomas R. Kelsey
Texas
Mr. John D. Pearson
Michigan
Mr. William A. Posey, Esq.
Ohio
Mrs. Peggy Thompson
Delaware
TAG Marketing Solutions LLC
Ohio
Mr. Christian D. Klanica
Pennsylvania
Mr. Joshua L. Powell
Michigan
GIFTS OF $1K-$5K
Graf & Sons, Inc.
Missouri
Lauer Custom Weaponry
Wisconsin
Mrs. Betty S. Mayes-Petty
Kanasas
Anonymous
Iowa
Cors Foundation
Virginia
Lucky Rental Tool, LLC
Texas
Lucky Services, Inc.
Texas
New Centaur, LLC
Indiana
Mr. Peter W. Rule
Washington
Mr. Glennon T. Gingo
Hawaii
Mr. Armour Winslow
Ohio
Dr. & Mrs. Peter Larsen
Ohio
Mr. Raymond C. Roy
North Carolina
Smith Family Trust
California
Robert C. Colven Education Trust
Delaware
Halliburton
Virginia
Lucky Health & Safety
Texas
Ammo.net
Georgia
Mrs. Jane B. Keller
Texas
J & G Sales, Ltd.
Arizona
Mr. Kenneth J. Antos
Florida
Mr. William F. Bahl
Ohio
Mr. Ralph W. Bastian, Jr.
California
Mrs. Vickie L. Bell
Kentucky
Mr. Albert M. Biedenharn, III
Texas
Mr. Clifford T. Burgess, Jr.
Virginia
Mrs. T. Kay Garrett
Texas
Shad R. Ketcher
Minnesota
Mr. George F. Lang
Ohio
Mrs. Nancy E. Lawton
Indiana
Mr. James Martin
Pennsylvania
Mr. William R. Middelthon, Jr.
Florida
Anonymous
Ohio
Ms. Kristi Kay Schiller
Texas
Ms. Elizabeth B. Searle
Colorado
Mrs. Gerry Shepherd
California
Ms. Susan L. Straub
Kentucky
Dr. and Mrs. Gary Sweeten
Ohio
Mr. Nicholas C. Taylor
Texas
Donald E. Weihl, Esq.
Illinois
J. D. Williams, Esq.
Texas
Lt. Governor David H. Dewhurst
Texas
Gary, Janice Shepherd & Family
Ohio
February - April
GIFTS OF $250-$1K
Mr. Brian W. Clements
Pennsylvania
Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Angelo, Jr.
Texas
Mr. David H. Dace
Illinois
Mr. Roy E. Hanson
California
Mr. Michael S. McGraw
Ohio
Mr. Anthony C. Perry
Rhode Island
The San Francisco Foundation
California
Mrs. Sherri Torres
Indiana
Continental Army US
Florida
Anonymous
Arizona
Scott L. Bach, Esq.
New Jersey
Galco International
Arizona
Mr. Charles B. Coffman
California
Mr. Daniel O. Maldonado
Texas
Mrs. Donna M. Rice
Texas
Mr. Robert L. Silva
California
Ms. Mary M. Miller
Colorado
Breitman Family Foundation
New Jersey
Mr. Stephen W. Burnett
California
Ms. Susan Holm
California
Ms. Stacy L. Kunde
California
Ms. Kathryn A. Lynch
California
Silicon Valley Community Foundation (Chevron)
California
Mr. Gerald H. Upholt
California
Mr. Tyler T. Schropp
Virginia
ESTATES
Estate of Alan W. King
Indiana
Estate of Donald R. Watson
California
Estate of Earnest H. Leigh
Texas
Estate of John O. Vaughan
New Mexico
Estate of Samuel M. Bases
New York
Estate of Thomas R. Jackson
Michigan
IN KIND GIFTS
Mr. Steven Albright
New York
Mr. Robert S. Brown
Virginia
Mr. and Mrs. Michael F. Carrick
Oregon
Daniel Defense
Georgia
Ms. Juliette Bach Farnham
Virginia
Mr. and Mrs. Donald R. Funkhouser
Ohio
Mr. Glen Hoyer
Virginia
Mrs. Phyllis Jones
North Carolina
Mr. Max F. Kirk
Pennsylvania
Colonel Thomas J. Regel
Georgia
Wallace N. Weber, COL, US Army (Ret.)
Kansas
IN MEMORY OF GIFTS
Elizabeth Burgweger
Tom and BeckySue Yackley
Randy Clements
Ms. Marcia Brown
Tony Cox
Tom and BeckySue Yackley
Donald E. Crane
PDC United Illuminating Company
Duane Crank
Mr. Kevin L. Bahr
James Crawford
Ms. Sarah C. Roberts
Carrie Herbertson
Ms. Kathryn A. Lynch
Wes Ito
Canyon Oaks Sportsman’s Club
Stephen Falkner McKinney
Ms. Elizabeth A. Hall
Ron Parkankas
Canyon Oaks Sportsman’s Club
F. Thomas Peterman
Mr. and Mrs. J. Richard Peterman
Jeremy Price
Northern Dutchess Rod & Gun Club, Inc.
Leonard Senkarik
Mr. William E. Meiggs, Jr.
Theodore C. Vrenios
Ms. Ruth W. Blakeslee
Ms. Frances E. Vrenios
Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Vrenios
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 ommisions, please contact us at 800-423-6894
or [email protected].
QUARTER 2 | 2014
Traditions 35
THE NRA FOUNDATION
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FAIRFAX, VA 22030
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