Friends of NRA Banquet next month

The 2019 Friends of the NRA Banquet is scheduled for Friday, April 12 at the Whitehall Community Center with doors opening at 6 p.m.

Committee members are busy securing sponsors, selling tickets: Pre-event tickets (1911 Springfield A1 .45 ACP Pistol), dinner tickets and the popular Big Shooter Tickets.

WHAT IS FRIENDS OF NRA?

FUN -- There is something for everyone at a Friends of NRA event. From the moment you walk in, the atmosphere is brimming with excitement. Whether you're keeping an eye on that unique item in the live auction, trying your luck at one of the games, or just dining on some delicious food, you'll be sure to have a good time. It's a family-friendly event chock-full of everything from exclusive, limited edition merchandise, firearms, knives, art and more. Not to mention all the great people you'll meet in the process.

FELLOWSHIP

Nothing makes a Friends of NRA event more unique than the people who make it all happen. Working with our NRA Field Representative, Joe Crismore our local committee is made up of dedicated volunteers who are passionate and concerned about the future of the shooting sports. This year's committee is lead by Chairman Ron Howser, Co-Chair Bill Gillespie, Secretary Patty Howser, Treasurer Gini Wait, Ron Rowe, Joe Gunter, Dave Soennnichsen, Brian Howser, Colton and Sam Howser and Farley Hicks.

FUNDRAISING

Amongst the fun and fellowship, Friends of NRA comes down to one goal---fundraising for the future of shooting sports. Since its inception in 1992, Friends of NRA has held over 17,600 events, reached over 3.2 million attendees, and raised over $6oo million for the NRA Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Each year, the NRA Foundation allocates half of all net proceeds to fund projects in the state in which the money was raised and uses the other half to fund similar projects with a national scope. Committee volunteers (Ron Rowe and Bill Gillespie) go to State Fund and make recommendations for local grant funding in areas such as youth firearm safety, archery, education programs, hunter education, range development and improvement, women's training seminars, and wildlife conservation efforts. Recognizing that' America's young people represent the future of the shooting sports, State Fund grants are frequently given to youth programs (more than 6o% of grant monies). So, by sponsoring and/ or attending the banquet, you can be confident that you are helping all the kids in our community who want to participate in any of the shooting sports.