Tom Hughes and Jon Leighton are back behind the desk for the second episode of the 2012 MidwayUSA & NRA Bianchi Cup Preview Show. This time, the pair are discussing a variety topics related to the Bianchi Cup including major sponsors, the history of the championship, and some breaking news on which top shooter has dropped out of the competition due to injury. We're just a week away from the Bianchi Cup, so stay tuned for live coverage beginning next week including more episodes of Bianchi TV live from Columbia, Missouri.
Continuing with our highlights of this year's Region Volunteer of the Year award winners, we bring you the Central Region's Diane March.
Friends of NRA's Region Volunteers of the year are chosen by a select select committee of senior NRA staff from the pool of Field Rep-selected Area Volunteers of the Year. These exceptional volunteers for Friends of NRA were invited to the NRA Annual Meeting as honored guests where they received special recognition at the National NRA Foundation Banquet.
Diane March is a resident of Wappinger Falls, NY, serving as co-chairman of the Mid Hudson Friends of NRA committee. Approaching its twenty year anniversary, the committee's inception in 1994 saw an impressive 432 attendees at its first banquet, raising over $12,000. Since then, there have been 9,964 attendees at their events who have helped raise a cumulative $1.18 million. Diane raised over $50,000 for the 2011 banquet season alone through tickets sold, sponsorships, underwriting, and donations.
“A visit to Diane’s home prior to a Mid-Hudson banquet is an experience and an eye opener. It looks like Friends of NRA Merchandise Central with Standard Package items and lots of donations stacked high in each and every room.," said Jay Rusnock, Senior NRA Field Rep, Upper New York. "She is truly a unique and dedicated volunteer and worthy of our highest recognition.”
Over her 19 years of service with Friends of NRA, Diane has assisted, attended, and helped train other committees for banquets throughout New York as well as committees in New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Florida; all this in addition to helping coordinate a Friends of NRA committee training seminar at NRA Headquarters. Diane is a NRA Certified Pistol Instructor and was one of the first Refuse to be a Victim© instructors in New York. She has attended the NRA Annual Meetings for the past 17 years and has volunteered to assist Membership, the NRA Store, Sportsman’s Lunch, and the National NRA Foundation Banquet for the past 10.
Fairfax, Virginia - Joe Mantegna's first trip to the National Firearms Museum occurred almost a year ago today. Along with Michael Bane and the Outdoor Channel crew, he was here to shoot segments of the soon to be debuted television show Gun Stories. Fast forward eleven months and a couple of Golden Moose awards later, Joe and the crew are back at the NRA for season two.
"Today (Monday the 14th) we're going to start with the Thompson Machine Gun, the Garand and the Luger," said Director Tim Cremin. "Later in the week we'll move on to your Hollywood Guns exhibit and maybe get a look in the museum vault."
Officially known as MidwayUSA's Gun Stories, the show provides viewers with the history of a specific firearm "from the heart of the design through its use on the range." That means Mantegna and Cremins, along with Bane and company, are hopping from location to location in their quest to 1) find the right experts and 2) interview the with the firearm's designers/manufacturers.
Recent stops include Columbia, Missouri for interviews with experts at MidwayUSA and Paulden, Arizona to put the particular firearms to the test at the famed Gunsite Academy.
Now I don't know about you, but high up on my list of manufacturers to visit would be Kalashnikov and Beretta. The first because I've always had a fascination with Russia and the second because, well, who wouldn't want to spend a few weeks in Italy during the summer?
Chris Cheng's ascension to Top Shot was not without obstacles. Unassuming, untrained and understated in almost every aspect of the competition, he was not a popular choice when the show began. Eleven shows later, he stood alongside a Civil War Re-enactor, a Federal Officer and a Triple Nickel Award Winner … things didn't look good for the IT guy.
Though a professional shooting contract and a hundred thousand dollars waited for the winner, the four worked together to ensure that each were at the top of their game.
"What was really great was how much Greg, Gary, Augie, and I were helping each out, spotting for each other, giving each other tips and general observations on how we were shooting," explained Cheng. "Going up against the best is what I think competitive people want to experience. Sometimes you win, and sometimes you fall short, but either way you grow from the experience and figure out how to win the next time around."
"We actually got off-camera practice time beforehand," said Cheng. "This was primarily for safety reasons. You can’t be expected to approach a grenade launcher and automatically remember how to operate it."
Competitors also had to figure out the guns. Did the shot go high, low, left or right? Was it a simple tap rack bang or was there more to it? Getting the sequence right could make all the difference. With only one magazine or round (what ever the gun holds on a single load), their practice was limited, but valuable.
"I told the art department that one reason why I struggled (against William with the Henry Rifle) was because the backdrop was light grey color. That blended in with the teal colored rings. I had no idea they were using that challenge in the finale and I’m sure glad I told them to make that backdrop darker!"
Running neck and neck with fellow finalist Gregory Littlejohn, Cheng arrived at the final stage (hit two targets with a Milkor USA M32A1 grenade launcher) a few seconds off the pace. Littlejohn, a World Champion Grenadier, fired first. Unfortunately for Littlejohn, his shot skipped short. Ready to grab the advantage, Cheng stumbled before securing the win.
"When I brought up the grenade launcher, I saw the target, but no bright orange hash marks in the reticle … . I forgot to turn on the scope! I burned a few seconds lowering the launcher and turning the scope on, but luckily I didn’t get rattled by the small slip-up on that epic final stage."
"I think the only person who thought I had won from the moment I came home from filming in mid-September was my sister. She kept pressing and pressing me saying things like I know you won. You won, didn’t you? Didn’t you?”
Now matter who believe what, Cheng was surrounded by friends and family as each episode aired. The crowds grew larger and more started to believe. A new fan base was born. Soon all started to see that victory was possible. This scrawny IT guy just might walk away with the History Channel title. After the victory, following the praise and cheers and yelps of glee, the only remaining question was what to do with the money?
"The first thing I plan to do is send NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre a check to upgrade my NRA membership to Life status and thank the NRA for all the hard work they do to make competitions like Top Shot possible."I want my first investment to symbolize how important it is for all of us who love the shooting sports to support the National Rifle Association in whatever capacity we can, whether it’s with money, with our time, or by simply sharing our love for shooting with friends, family and colleagues. In the end, it is my hope that winning Top Shot will provide a different and unique face of the entire shooting community. One that shows marksmen and women who have day jobs like mine in an office, and shoot for the sake of pure fun. "
NRA's Business Alliance is filled with piles of benefits for every everyday entrepreneur. There are shipping discounts available from Federal Express, reasonable rates on website and software designs from Wild Apricot, lower processing fees from Payment Alliance and more. Now you can throw SoundGear hearing protection into the mix.
SoundGear provides 100% digital, instant-fit hearing protection product for shooters. Without earmuffs or earplugs, SoundGear combines the instant-fit convenience one finds in a behind-the-ear device with the comfort of a customized device. And even though it's sure to block out the dangerous decibels derived from the booms and bangs associated with all kinds of gunfire, it won't block out the rustles, releases or commands.
The benefit, available to members of the Business Alliance, is the right for you to become a distributor of this great new product. As an officially licensed product of the NRA, SoundGear would be the perfect addition to any firearm related outfit or store. And given the small size and easy care, it's the perfect addition to any firearm owner's range bag too.
Items in the SoundGear catalog include the complete kit as well as replacement sleeves, batteries and a battery removal tool.
If this sounds (no pun intended) like an opportunity you'd like to explore, visit their website at www.soundgearhearing.com or contact Lance Kraemer at lance_kraemer@starkey.com.
Centreville, Virginia - One of the biggest attractions every year at the Centreville NRA Women On Target® Clinic are the blackpowder rifles. Taking a step into yesteryear, the ladies are transported to the time before smokeless and self-contained cartridges. With a Wall Gun, Blunderbuss, Kentucky Rifle and just begging to be fired, there was a consistent flow of customers to each and every station.
"I have to admit, it looked intimidating," said Alice &mash; a first time shooter. "But it was fun. After the Wall Gun, I wanted to shoot more blackpowder guns!"
To quell any fears, instructors walk the participants through a little history of the gun. It's made out of this material, the powder (or percussion cap) goes here, it's sparked through the hammer and this (along with a cloud of smoke) is what comes out the other end.
With the shooter in place and the firearm loaded with patch and ball, the instructor (this is Art working the Wall Gun), leans over to take care of the powder. Once ready to fire, he cocks back the hammer and prepares for the action.
Some are wowed by the cloud of smoke, some are fascinated to see the spark and others are thrilled to find the kick (eg recoil) is no where near as bad as they expected. No matter what, there's a smile plastered from ear to ear.
Once a cease-fire is called, it's time to check out the targets and claim the closest shot.
While not everyone made it on target — at least not on their first shot — the ladies were ready with camera in hand to capture the moment for their families and Facebook friends.
To find a Women on Target instructional shooting clinic near you, visit their webpage today.
As with many of us here at the NRA, Law Enforcement Director Glen Hoyer is required to travel. He hits the road to meet with sponsors, scout locations, negotiate with local municipalities and oversee competitions. While in Austin last week for the Spring Texas Tactical Police Competition, he added camera man to his list of duties.
Using a collection of the ever popular GoPro Cameras, Hoyer placed a few throughout the tactical course to capture the competitors as they zoomed by.
We're still working on the videos, but until then ... here's a taste of what's to come.
With Mother's Day behind us, that means Father's Day is right around the corner. These golf balls from the NRAstore make a great gift for dads who are duffers and the free accessory kit sweetens the pot.
There’s no reason to leave your passion for the Second Amendment behind when you hit the links. Take it on course with our NRA Titleist® DT SoLo Golf Balls. They provide the ultimate combination of distance with soft feel and guaranteed cut-proof durability. Equally effective as a collectible, our NRA Golf Balls would be an excellent addition to any trophy room or collector case. And now, GET A FREE GOLF COURSE ACCESSORY KIT with each purchase (while supplies last). Kit includes five NRA tees, two NRA ball markers, and an NRA divot tool.
For more information visit www.NRAstore.com or call 1-888-607-6007. Be sure to request a free copy of their Spring Catalog!
This weekend's NRAblog Rewind comes courtesy of Art Merrill, a freelance writer for "Shooting Illustrated," as he completes his series from Disabled Shooting's 2010 Open Range Day in Phoenix, Arizona.
Phoenix, Arizona - Saturday morning's safety briefing was the no-nonsense, all-business dialogue we're used to hearing from match directors and rangemasters – except for the “sip & puff” part:
“Always always always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction! Keep your finger away from the trigger until you're ready to shoot. If you're using the sip & puff trigger mechanism, don't put it your mouth 'til you're ready to shoot. If you need help, if you have a question, don't be stubborn - ask a volunteer. Keep them busy.”
After that, it was pretty much all fun in the desert sun.
The air rifles appealed to a lot of shooters today, and not just because it was indoors, sheltered from the 95-degree desert spring. Every shooter enjoys hitting reactive targets, in this case, air rifle metallic silhouette targets. But there are other reasons, as well.
“I don't like loud bangs,” Ashleigh Justice said. “I liked the .22 pistol, but the .38 was too much.”
Ashleigh had never shot a firearm before today. What motivated her to come out to Open Range Day? “I was afraid of guns. I wanted to get over it,” she said. “My husband shoots and I was tired of the anxiety I felt around guns.” Note how she spoke in past tense...
Beyond that, however, was a desire to push the envelope of her disability to achieve something more.
“I want to be good at something that takes skill more than physical ability,” she said. Looks like she found it: she, too came away from the firing line talking about the possibility of a regular air rifle competition.
For Mike Tagliapetra, it's all about challenge. You can feel it in his handshake even before he talks about competing in marathons and even a triathlon – using his wheelchair. Mike's motivation, a quote from writer Ella Wheeler Wilcox, is boldly emblazoned on his business card: “There is no chance, no destiny, no fate that can hinder or control the firm resolve of a determined soul.”
Contributions from many shooting sports businesses gave Ashleigh and Mike and the other Open Range Day shooters this remarkable opportunity for discovery and empowerment. In addition to those already mentioned, Davidson's Gallery of Guns in Prescott, AZ donated the use of Weatherby shotguns, and White Flyer provided the clay targets for trap shooting; Kowa provided brand new spotting scopes; the air rifle pellets came from Pyramid Air. Colt, Ruger, Savage Arms and Winchester are all represented by their generosity, as are Birchwood Casey (Shoot n See targets) and Symbius Medical (lunch).
And, of course, Arizona Game & Fish Department made its world-class facility available for the event.
Open Range Day is winding down now, and the shooters are all going home. They had different motivations for being here and yet, because every participant said they want to return again next year, something about the shooting sports is satisfying all of their motives.
If there's a common denominator to these motives, it's the desire for challenge and the satisfaction of success – and empowerment – that comes from it. In any competition, there's only one person who outperforms all the others, the “winner.” Shooting sports are among the few sports in which yes, there's only one match winner; but every time we approach the firing line we are competing, not only against others, but also with ourselves to accomplish our personal best.
Like some of their friends and loved one, many of these shooters today assumed that their disability would permanently keep them from athletics.
You know what they say about assumptions...
Today is Mother's Day, a day dedicated to recognizing women who play a special role in our lives. But here at the NRA, we celebrate the role of women in the shooting sports each and every day. The new NRA Women's Network is helping us do just that, serving as a resource and tool. Whether you're looking to become more involved in the shooting sports or just want to meet likeminded ladies, the NRA Women's Network has all the information that you need.
This new resource provides information on hunting, shooting, training, education, and much more. It also gives an in depth look at some of the "The Women of the NRA" - the ladies who have made the NRA a part of their lives. We encourage you to explore the NRA Women's Network and discover all that the NRA has to offer women, including program like the recent NRA Women's Outdoor Adventure. Take a look at the video below to meet Elizabeth Lanier, an instructor from the event with a passion for getting more women behind the gun.
Centreville, Virginia - Today's NRA Women On Target® Clinic had a little bit of everything. That's everything from rifles to pistols to shotguns and archery for participants to try. Some were seasoned shooters while others were seasoned veterans. Either way, there were plenty of grins to go around.
"We have a lot of happy customers here today," laughed Clinic Director Pam Meara. "The classes, the clinics — everyone appears to be having a wonderful time."
One of the more popular stops along the way was for the Wall Gun. A revolutionary war relic (this one was a reproduction of course), the Wall Gun stood over six feet tall and shoots a four-ounce ball.
Some shooters started small. A first-timer, this young lady began blasting at targets with a .22 caliber pistol before moving on to the rifles and shotguns.
Under the watchful eye of shotgun guru Steve Canale, the ladies first figured out their dominant eye, were "fitted" for a shotgun, fired at clays on the ground and were set loose on the Trap Course.
For more on the individual classes and clinics, check back with NRAblog throughout the week. There's a lot more to come.
Next up on highlighting this year's Region Volunteer of the Year award winners is Gail Bussell from the Mid West Region.
Region Volunteers of the year are chosen by a select select committee of senior NRA staff from the pool of Area Volunteers of the Year - nominated by their Field Representatives. These exceptional volunteers for Friends of NRA were invited to the NRA Annual Meeting as honored guests where they received special recognition at the National NRA Foundation Banquet.
Gail Bussell, who lives in Oklahoma City, has eight years of service with the Heartland Friends of NRA committee and currently sits as chairwoman. Founded in 1996, the Heartland Friends of NRA committee started out with 178 attendees at their first banquet who raised nearly $6,000.
Her committee's banquets have grown considerably in the past 16 years, swelling to 550 attendees in 2011 and raising nearly $110,000 for the NRA Foundation. A total of 5,365 people have come out to their Friends of NRA events and the committee is closing in on half a million raised, sitting at $489,377.
Like the other Region Volunteers of the Year, Gail was chosen for her exceptional contributions to Friends of NRA. Last year Gail was a real trooper, attending 14 of the 26 banquets held in Oklahoma. She helped set up and work 10 of those banquets and solicited donations for six of them. Gail led her committee in getting sponsorships, tallying eight with Blaser - out of 95 available nationally - for $5,000 each.
“I can’t imagine a better person based on her productivity to be selected volunteer of the year. Gail will go anywhere, anytime if needed, she is a great ambassador for NRA, and the most unselfish volunteer in my tenure with NRA,"Darren Delong, Senior NRA Field Rep, Oklahoma, said of her. "Without Gail, Oklahoma would not have had the year we had.”
As an exemplary Friends of NRA supporter, Gail keeps volunteers reminded of the program's mission statement and the big picture; she represents NRA with integrity, enthusiasm, and a positive attitude.
Centreville, Virginia - Although I'm still about twenty minutes out from the local Izaak Walton League of America's range, today's Women On Target® Clinic already underway. By now the ladies are divided into groups of three: one for class, one for shotguns and one for the rifle/pistol range. Above you see a shotgun class from years back going through the initial stages of their training. Don't worry — it gets more involved then that.
What we're expecting is a day filled with opportunity. Opportunity for the first time shooters to learn the basics and an opportunity for NRAblog to capture it live.
We'll share a few more pictures throughout the day, along with some interviews and videos in the weeks to come, so check back after lunch and see how much these ladies have accomplished in a few short hours.