Special thanks to Nicole McMahon for this update on the meetings NRA Field Reps are attending this week. Friends banquets are on a temporary pause as our Reps convene in Keystone, Colorado, but will resume after the 4th of July holiday weekend.

As we speak, NRA Field Representatives from throughout the country are listening to speeches, lectures, and updates from different NRA divisions and staff. Although this may not sound like the highlight of their job, which consists of representing the NRA in their respective areas and organizing banquets with volunteers to raise money for The NRA Foundation, the week-long Field Operation’s Summer Planning Meeting is a way for field reps to discuss with others what’s working well in their areas and how they can improve on aspects of their fundraising efforts.  

The mid-year planning meeting occurs every year in a different area of the country, unlike the annual December Meeting, which takes place at NRA Headquarters. This year, the field reps are in Keystone, Colorado. Known for its skiing and winter activities, Keystone is also a summer destination for people interested in golfing, hiking, horseback riding, and much more. When the field reps are not sitting inside listening to lectures, they will be participating in outside team building activities, such as skeet shooting.

NRA Field Representatives consider each other family, and with each “family” gathering, field reps become more knowledgeable about the Friends of NRA and each other. After each mid-year meeting and end-of-year meeting, field reps can take their newfound knowledge and skills and apply it to their areas to raise more money for The NRA Foundation, and subsequently, raise more money for the future of the shooting sports!

Friends of NRA Event Services Coordinator Nicole McMahon brings NRAblog.com readers as many profiles ofField Representatives as possible. Nicole works directly with NRA Field Representatives and, this week, brings us Bob Hipple, from NRA Headquarters' own area, #45.

Nicole McMahon: Which geographic area(s) do you cover?
Bob Hipple: Virginia, Washington DC and the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia.

NM: When did you start your NRA Field Rep career?
BH: 2005.

NM: How many traveled miles do you average a year?
BH: 35,000 to 50,000.

NM: What are your shooting interests?
BH: I’ve hunted pretty much my whole life. I grew up in Pennsylvania and started off hunting there, and now that I live in Virginia, I hunt duck, goose, ground hogs, and even been know to shoot them at 800 yards. I try to shoot every season there is! I also enjoy shooting high power rifles, such as an AR-15 or M1 Garand.

NM: What does the Second Amendment mean to you?
BH: The Second Amendment was written in the Constitution by our Founding Fathers to ensure all our rights granted to us were protected. I view the Second Amendment as a way to defend the First. More...

Thanks to Alaskan Field Representative Brad Kruger for the following:

Last Saturday the Kachemak Gun Club of Homer, Alaska held their sixth annual "Mauser Match", a vintage military rifle match, 100 yards, off-hand, kneeling, and prone. This year there was a twist— to qualify you had to shoot the match wearing a West German Overseas cap!

For several years the Kachemak Gun Club worked hard to establish a shooting range for the shooters of the lower Kenai Penninsula. Once the club obtained the land the Alaska Friends of NRA awarded several grants to help with dirt work and berm building, building overhead cover for the shooting benches, and A LADIES ONLY outhouse! The Kachemak Gun Club figured out that "when Momma shoots, the family shoots!" So in an effort to entice more lady shooters, the club built them their own outhouse.

Once the club got the range up and running, the members looked at each other and said "What's next?" They wanted to have a rifle match, but did not know what to do! So they came up with the Mauser Match. They figured that almost everybody had an old military rifle in their closet and would not have to go out and buy a new gun to compete. They wanted as much participation as possible.

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The NRA Foundation hosted a Sportsmen’s Brunch this morning where attendees had the opportunity to meet with NRA leaders, enjoy the camaraderie of fellow outdoorsmen, and bid on more than a dozen hunts. “Many of these have been donated by outfitters, so what we get from here is pure profit,” Kyle Weaver said. In addition to the live auction, the brunch featured several silent auctions and games similar to those found at Friends of NRA events.

NRA President Ron Schmeits addressed the crowd for a few moments, speaking from his experiences as a hunter. “Thank you for your dedication to this country’s hunting heritage,” he told the group.

Held in the same room as last night’s NRA Foundation’s National Banquet, the brunch featured moose motifs and antler centerpieces. Some 900 tickets were sold, and the room was full by the time breakfast was served at 10 a.m.

NRA’s Executive Director of General Operations Kayne Robinson, also an avid hunter, spent a few minutes talking about the programs of the NRA. “What a treat to be able to have a breakfast with 900 close friends,” he said. “Thank you for being here, and for all you do.”

NRAblog is on site through Monday morning reporting on the programs of this Annual Meeting. Stay tuned!

Nicole McMahon brings us the following tale. The Youth Education Summit has a lasting impact on the young people it reaches, as Kylie Kiess, Pennsylvania Y.E.S. alum ’09, demonstrates:

Past Pennsylvania YHEC and Y.E.S. Participant enjoys unique opportunity

Williamsport Area High School’s (WAHS) Millionaire Marksman Club President Kylie Kiess had an extremely exciting opportunity arise at their fundraiser held this past Saturday.

The club was hosting a “burger burn” fundraiser at Gander Mountain to raise money for its organization while also making connections with the outdoor enthusiast community. Bob Hart, one of the most accomplished long-range rifle builders in the world, was one of the individuals they encountered. “Bob was very impressed by the idea of a shooting/rifle club at WAHS and wanted to do something special to help publicize our cause,” said Brian Soars, advisor for the Millionaire Marksman Club.

Hart invited Kiess and her family on a long-range goat hunt at Pipeline Ridge Hunting Preserve that afternoon along with a cameraman from the outdoors company Antler Addition to videotape the hunt for a future television episode. Soars said, “From one mountaintop to another, Kylie connected with a ram at a distance of 721 yards and dropped it like the king's tea into Boston Harbor. For those of you who may be interested, she was shooting a Hart rifle chambered in .30 Hart.”

This extraordinary opportunity would not have been possible without YHEC and the Pennsylvania Youth Education Summit (Y.E.S.). Kiess helped start the Millionaire Marksman Club in an effort to bring YHEC to her community, and after completing Pennsylvania Y.E.S. in 2009, she possessed the leadership skills to do so.

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The following is from the current issue of Traditions magazine, which is produced by our friends in NRA's Field Operations division:

Shelby County 4-H Rifle: A Cinderella Story

Throughout the years, the State Fund Committee (SFC) for Tennessee Friends of NRA has taken pride in their dedication to youth shooting sports. In fact, over 93 percent of Friends of NRA funds are allocated to youth training, safety, and teams.

It’s stories like the Shelby County 4-H Air Rifle Team that encourage Tennessee’s SFC to continuously fund such programs year after year.

At an organizational meeting in the fall of 2007, interested youth and their parents voted to pursue an Air Rifle program. Their decision led them to affiliate with the 4-H Target SMART program, a national shooting sports program that has been in existence since 1980 and provides 4-H youth an introduction to and participation in the shooting sports.

But finding funding for the Shelby County 4-H group was an issue, so they sought out aid from the Tennessee Friends of NRA SFC. In 2008, their wish to purchase six Daisy Avanti 887 Air Rifles and a supply of targets and pellets was granted. The grant offered a insurmountable jump-start to the Shelby County program and allowed six students to finish the nine-week program of shooting lessons.

The success of the program spread quickly and in the late fall of 2008, a second class was started to accom- modate the growing interest in the program. Four students finished classes in Spring of 2009, just in time to take advantage of the SFC’s 2009 grant, which the team used to purchase spot- ting scopes and offhand stands.

The grant helped propel the team to the Tennessee 4-H State Shoot on April 25, 2009 in Columbia, Tenn. It was a Cinderella story from there for the Shelby County team.

Team members enjoy what would turn out to be a successful morning for the rookie team. In the Senior Division, grades 9-12, Ethan Blackstone placed first in the state. Jamie Arnett placed third, and Kaitlin McDonald placed fourth. In the Junior Division, grades 5-8, Samantha Young placed first in the state. “What makes this such a Cinderella story is that this was either the first or second match in which each of the shooters had ever participated,” said David Waldrip, the Shelby County 4-H Team Coach and former Memphis Friends of NRA Chairman.

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One speaker at NRA’s Club University in Orlando was Florida native Howell “Trip” Lancaster. An NRA Field Representative for the past two years, Trip has been part of the NRA family even longer.

“NRA has always been part of my life,” explained Trip. “Growing up in rural Florida, shooting and hunting was always there. My first bb gun, that Daisy Red Ryder – that was a big moment. We were moving up! When I finally went dove hunting with my dad and had the opportunity to shoot, deer hunting too – those were big steps.”

Now he focuses on sharing NRA’s message through speaking engagements, recruiting drives, and fundraisers.

“One big thing have down here is the Wild Beast Feast,” said Trip. “It’s a one-night shot where we bring in venison, quail – even some Florida gator of course. Lots of fish and all kinds of frog legs and all kinds of delicacies of sorts. Last year’s dinner raised a little over $35,000. That, along with other programs, helped us raise $100,000 that was split evenly with 100 different applicants. If they apply, they get it. That’s our goal. Help get as many kids to college as possible."

The meeting ended as Trip rambled out to parking lot when I caught up to him for one last question: What’s the best part about working for the NRA? “It’s the people,” he said, smiling. “It really is.”

From Nicole McMahon:

Every state does something different in order to raise money at Friends of NRA banquets, but Tennessee does something unique – it focuses on quality donations that are raffled or auctioned off at each of its 24 banquets. In the past, Tennessee may have had one or two statewide donations; this year, it had a remarkable 16, and the numbers keep growing.

One of the more coveted items added this year, a 1911 Pistol .45 ACP, is being produced by C.O. Arms exclusively for the Tennessee Friends of NRA. Each pistol is engraved with the words “Tennessee Friends of NRA 2010,” the Friends of NRA patriot logo, and a serial number TNFNRA01 through 24.

Mike Webb, the NRA Field Representative for Tennessee, received news from another high-end donor whose donation package would start at a minimum bid of $1,000. Included in the package is:

• A tour for up to 10 guests of the Barrett Firearms plant, which would include shooting the world famous Barrett .50-caliber rifle.
• Each winning bidder will be eligible for a drawing at the end of the year for one FREE Barrett 98-Bravo 338 Lupua Rifle. The 98-Bravo has been named the NRA Publications’ Golden Bullseye Rifle of the Year for 2010.
• Each of the top bidders from the Friends’ chapters (while they did not win the FREE rifle) may purchase the 98-Bravo during 2010 with a discount of $500 from Barrett.

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At the end of every year, divisions within the National Rifle Association recognize the hard work and efforts of their top performers. In NRA’s Field Operations, that recognition arrives in the form of the “Top Gun” award. Here’s more from Field Operations’ Managing Director Kyle Weaver:

The Field Operations “Top Gun Award” is handed out to the top employee within the division each year. Members of the senior management team get together and vote for the winner from a list of nominees. This year, Elizabeth Bush was voted Top Gun because of her outstanding work throughout our programs and division.

Among her many achievements, Liz built an entirely new benefit package for our affiliates, improved every aspect of the clubs and ranges department and as a manager has lead her staff to achieve new heights. She also established herself as a leader within our division, within the industry, and with many NRA Board members.

Kyle later explained that "Top Gun" is traditionally handed out to a field representative. In fact, this is the first time anyone at NRA headquarters received this award.

In recognition of this achievement, Liz was presented with a numbered print of Cole Johnson's "Pride" and the Friends of NRA 2008 Gun of the year -- a limited production Weatherby Orion D'italia 12 gauge shotgun. This over/under features 28 inch blue barrels with three inch chamber, a vented mid-rib, chrome lining, and a gold laid NRA Seal.

Congratulations Liz!

Friends of NRAEvent Services Coordinator Nicole McMahon brings NRAblog.com readers asmany profiles of Field Representatives as possible. Nicole worksdirectly with NRA Field Representatives and this week introduces us to Area 47's Jack Cannon, the West Texas Representative.

 

Nicole McMahon: What geographic area do you cover?
Jack Cannon: West Texas - west of a line from Wichita Falls and south to Eagle Pass.

NM: When was the start of your career as a NRA field rep?
JC: January 22, 2007

NM: What drew you to the job?
JC: The location and what the job was doing - supporting the 2nd Amendment. I had someone come up to me the other day telling me he thought the NRA was just about guns. It’s more than just guns- the NRA works to protect your rights. If somebody out there can wield an eraser and take away one of your rights, what’s stopping them from taking away this one?

NM: What is the most unique part about the area you represent?
JC: It ranges from dry desert country to mountains (yes, there ARE mountains in Texas) to lakes to woods to the south plains. As varied as the territory is, the people are just as varied.

NM: What would you say is your average traveled miles per year?
JC: 50,000

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Are you on Facebook? If so, consider joining NRA's newest group, Friends of NRA, National Rifle Association.

"We are trying to get Friends of NRA news out to a wider audience, as well as keeping our volunteers and supporters connected," Nicole McMahon told NRAblog.

Friends of NRA Event Services Coordinator Nicole McMahon brings NRAblog.com readers as many profiles of Field Representatives as possible. Nicole works directly with NRA Field Representatives and this week introduces us to Area 17's Scott Taetsch, the Wisconsin Field Representative.

Nicole McMahon: What geographic area do you cover?
Scott Taetsch: All of Wisconsin and the western ½ of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

NM: When was the start of your career as a NRA field rep?
ST: I started as an NRA Field Rep on November 1, 2004.

NM: What drew you to the job?
ST: Having worked with the NRA Field Support Team Program since 1992 and serving on a Friends of NRA committee since 1994, I welcomed the opportunity to expand the programs working as the field representative.

NM: What is the most unique part about the area you represent?
ST: Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula have a deep tradition of hunting and shooting sports activities.

NM: What would you say is your average traveled miles per year?
ST: 45,000 to 60,000

NM: What is the best part of your job?
ST: The diversity of our volunteers, people from all walks of life working in harmony with a common cause in order to give future generations the same opportunities and freedoms that we enjoy.

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Friends of NRA Event Services Coordinator Nicole McMahon brings NRAblog.com readers as many profiles of Field Representatives as possible. Nicole works directly NRA Field Representatives and, this week, brings us Mike Carey from Area 34.

Nicole McMahon: Which geographic area(s) do you cover? 

Mike Carey: Oregon and Hawaii 

NM: When did you start your NRA field rep career?

MC: June 2003 

NM: What drew you to the job? 

MC: I worked for a conservation group for about 11 years. One day I received a call from JP Nelson, my current supervisor and Western Region Director, telling me there was a job opening in Oregon. He asked me if I would be interested in interviewing for the position and of course I said, “Yes!” I am now in my 7^th year with the best organization in the U.S.

NM: What is unique about your particular geographic area?

MC: I cover two states. Oregon is divided by the Cascade Mountains. The west side of the state is the “Wet Side”, very green with dense forests. The east side is much dryer, interspersed with high deserts, ponderosa pine forest and much cooler. Hawaii is completely different. Lush & tropical with temperatures that stays constant all year.

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Friends of NRA Event Services Coordinator Nicole McMahon, who works directly with NRA Field Representatives throughout the country, brings NRAblog.com readers as many profiles of Field Representatives as possible. Clay Pederson from Area 41 is this week's spotlight.

Nicole McMahon: Which geographic area(s) do you cover?

Clay Pederson: South Dakota and North Dakota.

NM: When did you start your NRA field rep career?

CP: December 3rd, 2007.

NM: What drew you to the job?

CP: I have always been a huge supporter of the NRA and decided to get involved at the local level by starting the Northwest Friends of NRA event in Lemmon, S.D. I chaired the event from 2000-2007. After years with the Friends of NRA as a volunteer and helping out with recruiting new members through our local club, I knew becoming a field rep was something I wanted to do. I never looked at it as a job, but being part of something bigger that will affect generations to come. I was drawn by the privilege of working for the greatest pro-Second Amendment organization in the United States and helping to continue the protection and promotion of our rights granted to us within the U.S. Constitution.

NM: What is unique about your particular geographic area?

CP: I have two states, North Dakota and South Dakota, and within those two states are two different ways of life. Western North Dakota and South Dakota is more rugged and arid, which is where the “Badlands” are located. There is more ranching in the western Dakotas where thousands of head of cattle are raised annually to supply our nation’s beef demands. The distance people have to travel is enormous. Where I live, the closest Wal-Mart, major airport, or mall is 100 miles away. Towns with major services are generally 50 to 70 miles apart if not farther.

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What visit to NRA HQ would be complete without a trip to our range? That's exactly what our Field Reps did last week while they were here for the Field Operations Divison Annual Planning Meeting.

After a long day of going over updates in policies and learning what to expect next year, our reps went down to the range for a little friendly competition between the regions.

Each region shot together and were allowed to use .22 caliber semi-auto pistols or revolvers and had the option to attach optic sights.

The course of fire for their match was:

• 1st Stage- Slow Fire- 10 Rounds 10 rounds in 5 minutes at 25 yards
  
• 2nd Stage- Timed Fire- 10 Rounds 2 - 5 shot strings, each fired in 20 seconds at 15 yards
  
• 3rd Stage- Rapid Fire- 10 Rounds 2 – 5 shot strings, each fired in 10 seconds at 15 yards

With the last shot fired, the Western Region stood victorious and Tim Bacon, NRA Field Representative for Iowa and Nebraska had claimed the highest overall shooter award. Enjoy some pictures from the event and see if you can spot your representative.