Here are your Friends of NRA events for the coming week, courtesy of Nicole McMahon. Banquet season is beginning to wind down and Labor Day Weekend will see many people squeezing in a vacation before summer ends, but there are still plenty of events ahead.

The piece of Friends of NRA merchandise we're highlighting this week is the U.S. Military Cartridge Board.

Spanning military campaigns that shaped the American nation; from the civil war up to modern-day conflicts, this set is an asset to any history and firearm fan's collection. Cartridges ranging from the smallest 5.56 x 35 Air Force Survival up to 50BMG and solid brass 12GA shell are beautifully laid on a tan background with an NRA gold foil logo.

09/02/2010
Batesville, Arkansas
Lake Charles, Louisiana
Le Sueur, Minnesota
Morgantown, West Virginia

09/07/2010
Harrison, Arkansas

Friendsof NRA is putting on a contest through their Facebook page to get more people involved and connected with social media. Friends of NRA committee members, volunteers and supporters are encouraged to participate in the contest and qualify their committee for a grand prize.

The three easy steps to enter your committee are:

1. "Like" Friends of NRA on their Facebook Fan Page.
2. Find the post: "Comment here with your name and committee to enter the Friends of NRA Facebook Contest!"
3. Post a comment with your name and committee.

The committee with the most comments by the end of September 3rd will win national promotion for their event, which includes a story on the Friends of NRA website's hompage, a nod on NRAblog, being named in a press release and receiving a Special Edition Dick Kirby Turkey Call (1 of 250, to auction at your next banquet).

"Our Friends of NRA committees are always looking for ways to get promotion and merchandise for their banquets," said Senior Event Services Coordinator Nicole McMahon. "So why not do a contest that will give them just that?"

Spread the word — Don't delay, "Like" the Friends of NRA today!

Shooting in the dark 

While the rain doesn’t stop the elk and deer from roaming, it does cost hunters valuable target practice time, but the Ten Ring Gun Club outside of Nucla now has an indoor shooting range that will soon be open to archers as well as gun enthusiasts.

“We’ve had this Quonset hut for 15 years,” said club vice-president Forrest Herring, “and now, with a $20,000 grant from Friends of the NRA (National Rifle Association), we were finally able to make a big push in the spring and get it useable.”

The hut is now insulated and heated, and equipped with indoor lights, as well as a classroom at the back, which has been used for Hunter Safety courses. The walls of the classroom can be removed, expanding the 50-foot gun range to 60 feet for archery target practice.

“We’re set up for your basic small-bore rifle and pistol,” said Herring, “but nothing big inside.” Outdoors, the range stretches toward the La Sal peaks, and spills over a hill to include an electric trap thrower and skeet house, several sighting benches, and a three-gun shoot.

Continue reading here.

Learn more about the NRA's grassroots fundraising banquets -- Friends of NRA.

Here are your Friends of NRA events being held around the country this week, courtesy of Nicole McMahon.

But first, continuing with our trend of highlighting an item you will find at Friends of NRA banquets this year, this is the 2010 Print of the Year:

From award-winning and world-renowned wildlife artist, Pat Pauley, comes the breathtaking 2010 Friends of NRA Print of the Year “Autumn Gold”. In his latest painting, Pauley depicts a regal, mature whitetail buck accompanied by two doe enjoying a tranquil streamside setting in the fall.

The sunrise sets a stunning scene where Pauley brilliantly unifies the contrasting features of a whitetail deer’s graceful beauty and physical intensity and uses the piercing, cool blue hues flowing throughout the stream to balance the warm shades of fall.

"I wanted to do a painting of a mature Whitetail that captures the essence of that moment when you get a glimpse of a monster buck, only to realize that he has already spotted you and you know that it is only a matter of seconds before he will take off. I try to capture those fleeting moments in nature with my paintings." said Pauley. "They are the times when each of us as outdoorsman have experienced something in nature that make our hearts pound and leave you in awe.

Friends of NRA has published Pauley’s painting as a limited edition giclee on stretched canvas, printed with fade resistant inks. Each comes in a dark rustic colored frame with linen liner and measures 35 1/4” x 25 1/4” with frame. This edition is signed by the artist and numbered through 1,125. Printed and framed in the USA.

A complete list of this week's banquets after the jump. More...

This week we'll be highlighting the Friends of NRA's 2010 Knife of the Year.

Using natural raw materials, Silver Stag Knives captured the essence of a bygone era in this unique, functional and attractive one-of-a-kind damascus drop-point skinner.

Each knife has been hand-forged by welding multiple layers of steel together and through folding and rewelding the metal, producing an attractive layered pattern on the blade. This combination of hard and soft steels creates blade flexibility, toughness and produces invisible serrations on the edge that aid in cutting.

The handle is made from North American Elk Antler and monogrammed with the NRA logo on the handle and brass finger guard. The 2010 Knife of the Year comes complete with a hand stitched, top quality cow hide leather sheath with brass snap and studs and matching NRA monogram stamped into the leather.

Event listings after the jump. More...

For the rest of the year, we're going to start highlighting a Friends of NRA item that you can find at your local banquet. First up, the 2010 Gun of the Year.

The Kimber 84M is a true milestone in rifle design, the first ultra lightweight production hunting rifle that retains classic features like a Mauser claw extractor and three-position wing safety. Kimber has broken ground by creating an entirely new action rifle around the .308 Win. family of cartridges. This classic model with matte blue sporter 22” barrel combines a presentation rifle with a functioning field gun and includes impressive features such as hand-picked French Walnut Stock with ebony forend tip and 20 lines per inch checkering on the grip and forend, and mounted sling swivel studs.

Besides only weighing 5lbs and 13 ounces, the biggest payoff is at the range, were proper stock design makes it a pleasure to shoot with exceptional accuracy. Each rifle will include a floor place, engraved by Kimber, featuring the Friends of NRA Patriot logo with selective gold fill and the American Flag backdrop in white laser etch. Each gun is consecutively serialized straight from the factory with the Kimber "K", followed by the NRA initials and the number 10 to reflect the year it was featured. Serialization will go from KNRA100001 through KNRA101125.

Friends banquets listings after the jump. More...

Past NRA President Sandra Froman, pictured addressing the 2006 NRA Annual Meeting, told us she's an avid NRAblog reader when we saw her at the 2010 NRA Annual Meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina. "I'm really enjoying the stories and the photos," she later emailed NRAblog.

Froman, the second female president of the NRA, has been asked to speak at a Friends of NRA banquet in California.

From the Fillmore Gazette:

Simi Conejo Friends of NRA 5th Annual Fundraiser

Simi Valley, CA: The fifth annual Simi Conejo Friends of NRA fundraising banquet will be held Saturday, September 18, 2010, 5:00 pm at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California. Scheduled keynote speaker is Sandra S. Froman, former President of the National Rifle Association and a current member of its Executive Council as well as a Trustee of the NRA Foundation.

“Guests will enjoy dressing up for our western themed event, along with games, auctions, and drawings for limited edition NRA firearms and collectibles,” said Committee Chairman Jason Kemmerer. “They get a great dinner, and they can also tour the Ronald Reagan Museum and Air Force One Pavilion.”

Proceeds benefit The NRA Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, and are distributed as grants to support projects such as youth firearm safety, women’s programs, law enforcement, and range development. Ticket packages start at $150 and include prize drawing tickets. Request an event flyer by e-mailing ldavis@nrahq.org or visit www.friendsofnra.org/ca/events.

Here are the Friends of NRA banquets scheduled throughout the country for the upcoming week - thanks to Nicole McMahon for the details. With the end of banquet season approaching, there are quite a few events popping up on the agenda.

If you'd like to check on whether your area plans to host a Friends event or already has, visit their website for a listing of this year's events. 

08/04/2010
Fresno, California
Hutchinson, Minnesota

08/05/2010
Birmingham, Alabama
Boone, North Carolina
Conway, South Carolina
Evansville, Indiana
Houma, Louisiana
Houston, Texas
Kingsland, Georgia
Midland, Texas
Mount pleasant, Iowa
Newcastle, Oklahoma
Pensacola, Florida
Port Clinton, Ohio
Stewardson, Illinois

My name is "Coach" Jerry and I help teach youth about firearm safety, rifle marksmanship, and coach competitive precision smallbore/air rifle. I am also a Friends of NRA volunteer.

People always want to know what happens to the money raised by the efforts of Friends of NRA. They know half the money goes to local and state programs and the other half goes to national programs, but they don’t often hear from the clubs and organizations directly affected by the support of the Friends of NRA and The NRA Foundation.

I hope I can shed light on how valuable the money raised by this program is through my story of our grant to broaden and improve the Blue Water Sportsman's Association's Junior Smallbore Division (BWSA Jr SB Division) in Port Huron, Mich.

I've been with the BWSA Jr SB Division since 2001 when my son started shooting with the club. When we joined the program the equipment included precision smallbore rifles, military surplus web slings, mats, ammo and targets hung on a cable.

Early on we recognized we needed to round out our equipment if we wanted to truly offer our youth an opportunity to learn marksmanship and experience the educational benefits of competition. More...

2009 Friends of NRA Volunteers of the Year

All volunteers are essential to the success of the Friends of NRA program, but a select few stand-out as the backbone, the base, the foundation of entire areas and regions within the Friends of NRA network. These volunteers are known as Friends of NRA Volunteers of the Year, and out of all 50 area volunteers nominated for this award, only five are selected as the Region Volunteers of the Year:

Region Volunteers of the Year:
Eastern Region: Maryland: Randy and Suzanne Lewis, Washington Co.
Central Region: Tennessee: Tracy Hightower, Kentucky Lake
Mid West Region: Oklahoma: Ron Tarrant, Southeastern Oklahoma
Southern Region: Florida (Southern): John and Jean Gettle, South Bay
Western Region: Alaska: Denny Hamann, Alaska State 

More...

Wednesday means it time for your Friends of NRA update. Here NRAblog shares a list of dinners schedule for various locations throughout the country. Thanks again to Nicole McMahon for the pertinent details.

If you'd like to attend a Friends event in your area, check out their website for a listing of this year's events.

07/29/2010
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Lake Charles, Louisiana
McAlester, Oklahoma
Mobile, Alabama
San Antonio, Texas
Trenton, Florida

Here's your Wednesday morning update on the forthcoming Friends of NRA dinners around the country this week. Thanks go out to Nicole McMahon for providing us with the list.

If you're interested in attending an event but don't know whether one has already been held, be sure to check the Friends website for all future and past events this year.

07/22/2010
Delhi, Louisiana
Fountain Valley, California
Hernando, Florida

07/23/2010
Branson, Missouri
Canton, Texas
St Maries, Idaho

More...

The Friends of Camp Perry will be hosting two Friends of NRA Dinners at Camp Perry during the 2010 National Matches. The first will be tomorrow night, Friday, July 16th and the second will be Thursday, August 5th. Both will be held at the 200th Red Horse Squadron gymnasium.

Doors open at 5:00 p.m. and dinner will be served at 6:00 p.m. The event will feature a barbeque chicken dinner, raffles, and auctions. Prizes for the raffle and auctions include firearms, artwork, and home decor.

Tickets are $20 and include dinner, one ticket for a bonus raffle and four additional raffle tickets.

Interested in attending? Contact Ralph Reichman at the NRA Range Operations Building or call 216-392-0054, or see Kathy Williams at CMP or call 419-967-0056.

Come out to have a great time, win amazing prizes, and support the NRA and Camp Perry!

Back in full swing, these are your upcoming Friends of NRA events for the upcoming week. Special thanks to Nicole McMahon, currently helping put on this year's Youth Education Summit, for the news and list of events.

07/15/2010
Coushatta, Louisiana
Guntersville, Alabama
St. Cloud, Minnesota

07/16/2010
Atkinson, Nebraska
Hanford, California
Jacksonville, Florida
Port Clinton, Ohio

More...

Doing its part in helping support the shooting sports and those who participate in them, a Friends of NRA chapter recently gave scholarships to a handful of young shooters:

West Texas Friends of NRA Scholarship Winners

For the first time, West Texas Friends of NRA handed out scholarships to deserving youth involved with the shooting sports. Miss Jill Bramlet is one of the elite few who stood to accept the honor and the funds.

The accolades for Bramlet flowed in regularly, proving that she was a worthy candidate for West Texas Friends of NRA's new scholarship awards. According to Bramlet's principal, "Jill has a strong sense of responsibility and excellent work ethic. She is extremely personable, mature, bright and full of life." The County Extension Agent, Melissa Long, remarks that, " Jill exemplifies the very best of what the 4-H organization has to offer. She has been an exceptional leader on the county level, always willing to assist with projects, workshops and tours. She has continued to be an example for younger members by her actions and efforts."

Read the rest of the article at the Friends of NRA website here.