Executive Board
President: Artty Kinsman
Vice President: Henry Dane
Treasurer: Jim Gallagher
Secretary: Kimberly Sullivan
Financial Secretary: Robert Alpert
Rental Chairman: Carmine Lionetta NEWSLETTER
April 2004
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PDF Format for printing Board of Governors
Mike Barton
Vin Bartolomeo
Sal DeMarco
Charlie Atherton
Adrian Munoz-Bennett

Message from the Secretary

I would like to tell you that the member networking system works…

It was brought up (a couple of times recently) that there is a problem with the newsletter getting out in a timely manner, but instead of getting defensive, I listened to what the BOG members had to say and I’d like to thank Mike Barton for suggesting a solution to this problem. You see, I do not have a computer at home, thus I was working from my office in Boston after hours and it was taking a great deal of time away from my family and my Club activities. Mike brought his suggestion of finding a computer for the Secretary’s use to his wife, Mev and in a matter of hours the problem was solved.

It is solely through Mev’s efforts that a “new” computer has been donated to the club. Mev’s employer, McGraw-Hill Construction of Lexington, MA, graciously donated the computer (CPU, Monitor, and Keyboard). The computer will reside at my home through-out my tenure and be returned to the club when I leave office. Robert Alpert loaded the Microsoft Office Suite of programs onto it and with the purchase of a wireless router to hook it up to the Internet, I will be able to produce the newsletter from the comfort of my dining room. I will now be able to receive email at home, have access to GOAL’s and NRA’s websites, as well as the numerous other interesting outdoor sites that provide creative articles for the newsletter.

I will pay for the router and Internet myself.

Thank you Mev for equipping me with the necessary tools to do a great job. If you have a recipe or a story to share, please call me at 781-424-1800 or email me at Kimberly.Sullivan@parsons.com

TRAP NEWS

With the weather finally starting to ease up a bit, activity on the trap field will begin with formal "store" hours beginning this month. There will be open shooting every Sunday afternoon from 1PM to 4PM. Trap Committee members will be assigned duty for the Sunday shoots, so the field will be managed for all shooters, whether seasoned vets or novices, looking to participate in this enjoyable sport.

The Club will also be hosting two teams in the Greater Lowell Trap League for our 24th consecutive year of participation. The League shoots will be on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings.

Submitted by Vin Bartolomeo

CRIBBAGE TOURNAMENT

The 2004 Concord Rod & Gun Club cribbage tournament is in the "books." This years' winner is Corinne Kinsman, wife of our venerable President, Artty. The winner of the cribbage board for the dubious record of the most 19's is Lisa Mason.

This years' tournament had a total of 26 players, the largest turnout since we restarted the activity. The sessions were very lively, and the venue of the Club's new downstairs lounge made the experience even more pleasurable with a warm fire in the fireplace, eats for the players and much friendly needling amongst the earnest players. For a look at the total results, visit the Club's website and check out the final stats.

Also of note, the Concord Rod & Gun Clubs' team that played the Musketaquid team came home a winner again this year - that's two years in a row for our Club. For those who don't know what I'm referring to, over the last three years the top four players from the Musketaquid Club Cribbage Tournament have played a one night match against the top four players from the Concord Rod & Gun Clubs' Tournament.

Next time you're in the Club hall, check out the new plaque honoring the winners of the Tournament over the last few years.

Submitted by Vin Bartolomeo

Massachusetts Junior Conservation Camp

The Massachusetts Junior Conservation Camp is being held August 8-20, 2004. The Camp is located at the Chesterfield Scout Reservation, in Chesterfield, MA. The cost of the Camp is $500/camper--all fees included. The Concord Rod and Gun Club, through generous donations, is willing to sponsor two campers. The deadline for application (with the Camp itself) is May 1st.

This 2 week overnight summer camp for girls and boys 13 -17 years of age offers a program of conservation education and instruction in outdoor recreation skills. It introduces youth to the ethical concepts and knowledge essential to a lifetime of properly enjoying our natural resources and the leisure activities that depend on their careful stewardship. Subjects include: forestry, soil conservation, wildlife management, archery, orienteering, basic camping and more.

A state approved Basic Hunter Education Course and Boating Safety Course is also part of the program. The program is operated by Mass. Junior Conservation Camp, Inc with the assistance of state and local environmental agencies. Contact GOAL at 508/393-5333 for an application form.

Or send them an email at: Mass.Wildlife@state.ma.us

Congratulations to Christina and Adam Shibles on the birth of their second child, Paige Delaney on April 3, 2004. Paige weighed in at 9 lbs 4 oz and 22 inches long. Paige is welcomed into the family by her older brother Jared, who is 4. If you have been to the trap range, you probably have seen Christina and Jared there. Christina is learning how to shoot and Jared helps out by picking up the hulls when everyone is finished. He even has his own set of “ears”. Christina is the daughter/step-daughter of members Kimberly and Robert Sullivan.

Upcoming Meetings

MONTHLY MEETING
April 21, 2004
7:30 P.M.

A Moment of
Silence

Carmine Lionetta's mother died on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 at the Lifecare Center of Acton. Our condolences go out to Carmine and his family.

Apart from condolence calls, Rev. Bacon has also offered his services to any one who gets sick, divorced, or otherwise needs His counsel. Rev. Bacon may be reached at either of the following numbers.

Home: 781 860-0729, Cell: 617 699-7203 or by email at: revbacon@diomass.org or maranatha@rcn.com.

CONCORD ROD AND GUN CLUB PRESENTS THE
BAY STATE ARCHERS
3D ARCHERY SHOOT

SUNDAY, MAY 2, 2004

REGISTRATION STARTS AT 7:00 A.M.

BAY STATE ARCHER MEMBERS: $8.00
NON MEMBERS: $10.00

BREAKFAST AND LUNCH WILL BE SERVED

Submitted by Eileen Facenda

The CR&GC welcomes the newest “limited” members at the April BOG meeting

George “Skip” Saideh Jr. from Concord, MA. George is sponsored by Roy Hirshland; Stacey Hamilton from Concord, MA. Stacey is comes to the club by way of Brad Stetson and Bob D’Auria; and Deborah Stein from Weston, MA. Deborah is sponsored by Paul Cooney.

GAME DINNER ACCOLADES

We had a very successful game dinner this year. In the last newsletter you saw the amount the club netted from all the hard work. That profit could not have been attained without the dedication from the membership and friends who support the dinner.

It goes without saying that without the dedication from the game dinner committee and all the cooks, this would not be a successful function. The list is long but many thanks go out to Bill Jarmulowicz/organizer and Bob Fenochetti/chief cook and the many others who helped from pot and pan washers to the lovely young ladies who served the food.

The function could not be a real success without the help of the Full Fan Lodge, Montrose, PA who donated a 5-day deer hunt. Brian Post at 1-570-934-2668 has supported our dinner for years. Our second supporter is Reedy Archery from Middleboro who helped us with the Mathews bow. Chris Reedy never fails to help us out. Give him a call at 508-947-4653 to thank him. And last, but not least, we must thank Mrs. Lillian Ferranti who donated a beautiful hand-made quilt with deer scenes. Maybe we can look forward to next year to see what will be forthcoming.

Submitted by:Del Ferranti

Special Message for All Limited Members

If you have recently joined the club and are looking for ways to fulfill your work requirements, here are some contacts who may be able to identify some chores or work that needs to be done on the grounds or at an upcoming event. There is also a list posted on the Club’s bulletin board.

Artty Kinsman: President 978-369-1379	Joe Facenda: Archery 781-899-7824
Bill Lewis: Grounds 978-952-6696	Robert Alpert: Pistol 508-651-1153

Archery News

Archery has been on a little hiatus since the close of the bow hunting and the 3-D shoot season. But spring is back and so is archery. There is some work to be done at the practice butt area and a few targets on the walk-thru course, but the first big event will be our May 2nd Bay State Shoot.

I will be looking for help on Saturday, May 1st to assist in setting up the course. There will be some pre-cooking that day (bacon etc.), so kitchen help will be needed too. Besides the usual group of workers, this is a great time for some of you new members to get some of your work time in. Please either contact me by phone at 781-899-7824, email ejfacenda@verizon.net, or watch for a sign-up sheet on the archery bulletin board. Obviously help is also needed the day of the shoot, Sunday, May 2nd, for kitchen duty at breakfast/lunch, as well as registration help, shoot monitors, and a pick-up crew.

Note: It is tough to work both days of this event and it would be great if enough workers volunteered so that everyone would work only part of the event and maybe even get to shoot their own club course. Unfortunately this usually does not happen, lets buck the trend this time!

The same will hold true for our Bay State Shoot, Sunday, August 1st and our Traditional Archery Shoot on Sunday, August 15th. Please note that the Traditional Shoot date has been changed. There was a conflict with another club on the 8th, so the change was necessary. We won’t get into the details of these shoots quite yet, let’s get this May shoot out of the way first.

Submitted by Joe Facenda

April 7, 2004

To: Concord Rod and Gun Club
Executive Board Members
Board of Governors
Committee Chairmen

From: Kimberly Sullivan, Secretary

Gentlemen:

Working on the newsletter these past three months has shown me that what I am used to in the corporate world does not necessarily transfer over well into the rod and gun club world. I have used this time as my learning curve and it is now time to settle in for the long run, and to do so I need the cooperation of all of the members on the Executive Board, the Board of Governors, and the Committee Chairmen. I have decided to streamline the newsletter process so that the needs of the club are better met. I have three goals. They are to set deadlines for 1) incoming information for the monthly newsletter, 2) final proof reading of the newsletter, and 3) printing and distribution of the monthly newsletter. They are listed below.

Deadline for Incoming Article Information	Deadline for Final Proofreading	Deadline for Printing and Distribution
May 3, 2004	May 6, 2004	May 7, 2004
June 7, 2004	June 10, 2004	June 11, 2004
July 5, 2004	July 8, 2004	July 9, 2004
August 2, 2004	August 4, 2004	August 6, 2004
September 6, 2004	September 9, 2004	September 10, 2004
October 5, 2004	October 7, 2004	October 8, 2004
November 2, 2004	November 4, 2004	November 5, 2004
December 7, 2004	December 9, 2004	December 10, 2004

I have set the deadline for incoming information the same as the date of the Board of Governor’s Meeting. During the summer months the meeting will be changed to the first Monday of the month and the schedule above reflects that. I know that there are a couple of holidays near some of the dates, so I suggest you prepare your items beforehand.

These deadlines will be published in the next newsletter for the general membership’s knowledge and hopefully some members will submit articles of their own.

Since the club membership takes this newsletter seriously and expects me to do the same, (as evidenced by the comments at the last General Membership meeting and last night’s Board of Governor’s meeting) I am in turn challenging all of you to submit something to me each month. If you truly have nothing to say, please do me the courtesy of letting me know that much. The bottom line is that if there is no news in the newsletter and I have to fill the pages with “other stuff” the members will read between those few lines and know that I did not receive it in a timely manner.

Recently I have been contacted by a couple of members that would like to help out with the newsletter. With their help and your news items, we can work together to have a very creative and fact filled newsletter for the remainder of the year.

If you have any submittals, questions or ideas, please leave them for me behind the bar or send them in the mail to 1 Drummer Road, A-2, Acton, MA 01720 or email me at Kimberly.Sullivan@parsons.com or by fax to 617-457-7888. Carrier pigeon is not feasible at this moment.

Fondly,

Kimberly Sullivan
Secretary

Fishing News

The opening day for Members Only fishing is Sunday, April 18th. Breakfast will be served in the clubhouse at 6:30 a.m. Fishing will start promptly at 7:00 a.m. There is a three (3) trout limit. No catch-and-release.

The Children’s Fishing Derby is planned for Sunday, April 25th from 10:00a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Plan on arriving early and staying late! It’s a lot of fun!! Registration is required on the day of the event at the clubhouse. The fishing is free for all children under the age of 15.

There is a three (3) fish limit for this event as well. T-shirts will be available again this year for all entrants.

The pond is open to all fishing (members and their guests) on June 1st. The limit at that time is 5 trout per day.

Again, you catch’em…you keep’em.

If you have any questions about the pond, Warren Soar, the Pond Chairman may be reached at the club or by phone at 978-897-7827.

So… come cast your line and cook up a big one!

Submitted by Warren Soar

Spring Turkey Season is just around the corner. April 26 – May 22 and April 26 – May 8

Tips for a Safe and Successful Turkey Hunt

The hunt is by permit only so that hunter density can be kept to an optimum low level - thus insuring a quality hunting experience. With eleven counties now open in spring, virtually all hunters who apply are successful in getting a permit.

Spring gobbler seasons are a challenging way to hunt these wary birds. Because toms can breed with several hens - and the season is timed to coincide with the period when the protected hens are already on their nests - gobblers can be taken without adversely affecting production. A well established turkey population can easily withstand a limited either-sex hunting season without adverse effects. Spring or fall, turkey hunting requires a high degree of skill in imitating the calls of the birds to lure them within range. It is a challenge found in few other types of hunts, and with fewer than one in fifteen hunters being successful, the turkey is truly a bird of trophy status.

Turkey Hunting can be an exciting and memorable experience, but it has associated dangers that the hunter must keep in mind. The wild turkey has a keen sense of sight and can easily detect movement and colors that are out of place in the woods, making the use of complete camouflage or drab colored clothing almost a must. Camouflage not only reduces the turkey's chance of seeing the hunter, but also has the same effect on other hunters. Each year hunters somewhere in the U.S. are mistaken for turkey's and are shot. Several factors are responsible for these accidents. Hunters sneaking up on other hunters (stalking) who are calling and hunters who are wearing turkey colors (red, white, blue, and even black.) are involved in a high percentage of the accidents. Three solutions to these problems are:

- don't stalk, call the turkey to you;

- don't wear the colors red, white, blue, or black on anything that might be exposed during your hunt

- don't hide where your view is obstructed

Being completely sure of your target and what is beyond it before you shoot will reduce the number of hunting accidents and the number of hens that are mistakenly killed during the spring season. Peer pressure and the underlying human desire to succeed sometimes contribute to hunting accidents. If you or your hunting companions feel you must be successful to prove some point, it is best you stay out of the woods. The true sportsman knows that HUNTING IS NOT A COMPETITIVE SPORT. Remember to 'HUNT DEFENSIVELY'.