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Executive Board
President: Artty Kinsman
Vice President: Henry Dane
Treasurer: Jim Gallagher
Secretary: Kimberly Sullivan
Financial Secretary: Robert Alpert
Rental Chairman: Carmine Lionetta |
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Board of Governors
Mike Barton
Vin Bartolomeo
Sal DeMarco
Charlie Atherton
Adrian Munoz-Bennett
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Del Ferranti’s daughter-in-law, Madonna Ferranti, passed away recently of throat cancer. The club plans to send a donation to the hospice in her memory.
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: HTUrevbacon@diomass.orgUTH or HTUmaranatha@rcn.comUTH
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At the July Members’ Meeting Tim Kilroy, (of Westford) who was sponsored by Rich Gagnon, was voted in as a regular member. If you want to find Tim on the grounds, look no further than the archery course. Welcome Tim!
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 |
Trap News
Remember that Sunday afternoons from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM are open shooting hours at the range, and all are welcome to come out and try their skill at disturbing the flight of those highly breakable round orange disks.
Committee members are reminded to check the duty schedule to be sure that the range is staffed for the Sunday hours.
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There are several items for discussion this month. The first will be the Bay State 3-D Archery Shoot held August 1st. Again the attendance was less than anticipated, only about 52 paid shooters in total. Not a very good representation from the almost 200 Bay State membership. Even our club did not participate, as fully as usual, mostly due to the fact the members were needed to work at the shoot. The money break down was: Registration $410.00 and Kitchen $212.00 – less expenses of $199 equals $423.00 net income. This amount is just about t the same as the May shoot income figure.
I would like to thank the following for their help:
| Rich Gagnon |
Tim Kilroy |
Steve Tottingham |
Eileen Facenda |
| Kim Sullivan |
Robert Alpert |
Jim Gallagher |
Artty Kinsman |
| Dennis Tavis |
Corrine Kinsman |
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Special thanks to the kitchen crew who worked breakfast, lunch, and clean-up in conditions that rivaled Devil’s Island (less the malaria): Brad Stetson, Del Ferrante, Fred Skerry
Also great big thanks to those who contributed the rotting deer carcass on the lower lot. Not only did it make for a totally enjoyable set-up of the course but also all the very complimentary comments by the shooters regarding the air quality really helped make the day.
The 2nd Annual Traditional Shoot was another story in itself. The Sunday shoot coincided with the arrival of hurricane Charlie- what luck. Luckily, some brave souls and our own members did participate even in the foul weather. And Chef Barton (AKA Mike) once again put on a great a breakfast buffet and lunch. With many non-shooting club members having breakfast or lunch at the club we managed to eke out positive net income. The breakdown was Registration $269.00 – Kitchen $288.00 less Expenses of $219.00 = Net of $338.00. There are so many people to thank for making this shoot happen that I cannot name them all. Mike probably had more people as kitchen help than we had attend the shoot. Thank you all.
A sidelight concerning our 3-D participation. It is evident from the poor attendance from both inside and outside sources (primarily at our Bay State shoots) compared to the work involved it seems to outweigh the meager monetary gains made. Is it finally time to look for other ways to improve our archery income? This decision and other questions must be resolved before the next Bay State delegates meeting in mid September. If you have any suggestions let me know at 781-899-7824 or ejfacenda@verizon.net .
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The CR&GC welcomed the newest "limited" members at the August BOG meeting.
Robin Fields of Weston, sponsored by Sheryl Read; Dennis Tavis from Burlington, sponsored by Tim Kilroy, and Paul Long of Concord, sponsored by Mike McCauley were all voted "in" as limited members.
Secretary's Corner
WOW!! What a great night it was for the 11 women and 9 teachers on August 5th! If you haven't heard by now, the CRGC hosted a NRA "Women On Target" event that introduced shotguns and the sport of trap shooting to 11 new shooters. At the start, I handed each women an embroidered visor to wear that sported the "Women on Target" logo. The event started with a ½ hour presentation by Robert Alpert, a certified NRA instructor, on the different types of guns and ammunition used on the range, 20 and 12 gauges, and the complete safe handling of them. This was the first time most of the women had handled a gun and this portion of the evening was eagerly anticipated and put many fears to rest about the firearms.
Then it was on to the range. After gearing up each student with eye and ear protection, a gun was matched to each and then they were paired with an experienced trap shooter for one-on-one instruction. And then the birds flew…. and more than few broke! We ran shortened lines of shooting to get the "feel" of the guns and the sport. As a matter of fact, I had a hard time getting some of the women off the line at the end of the class. "Just one more time" was heard more than once!
Once back at the clubhouse we had a delicious light supper, compliments of Marge Stetson and Alice Harvey. I handed out certificates to each participant and goodie bags that the NRA had supplied that contained information pamphlets on NRA programs, gun safety for children (Eddie Eagle program) and safety in the home, as well as 3 shooting magazines and a water bottle. The press from the Lowell Sun and the Concord Journal were there as well and took numerous photographs. I have attached their articles at the end of the newsletter for those that have not seen them posted at the club.
I would like to thank the women for being so eager to try a new sport at the club. Many of them have told me that this experience has opened their eyes to how much fun trap shooting is and that they would now bring other family members up to try it. They certainly have developed a "taste" for those little orange birds. When you see Deborah Stein, Marjorie Ruben, Christina Shibles, Mev Barton, NancyRose Dow, Melody Orfei, Lisa Flavin, Anna Read, Betsy Read, Dawna Carrette-Provost, and Ellie Horwitz please encourage them to come up to the range again. I would also like to thank my teachers, without whom I could not have organized such an event: Joe Mettee, Mike Barton, Bruce Harvey, Marty Mucciaccio, Dick Bregoli, Jim Gallagher, and Vin Bartolomeo, as well as Artty Kinsman for lending a hand too. And finally a thank you to Skye Designs for embroidering the visors for the women and the shooting towels for the men. They looked wonderful.
Remember…If you have a recipe or a story to share, please call me at 781-424-1800 or email me at my new email address: www.crgcsecretary@yahoo.com
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The Pistol season is just around the corner. The league will start in late September. Last year the club put together a new team with a lot of first time shooters, making 3 teams for the club. The teams shoot in the Nashoba Valley Pistol League on Wednesday nights from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. from September 22nd (or 29th) until the end of March. If you want to shoot this year please email me at nvpl@ralpert.com, as I need to Know by September 1st, so we can notify the league.
Currently, Bill Lewis has numerous projects going on the club grounds and he is always looking for members to work. If you want to lend a hand repairing/building a project, or if you have to satisfy your work requirements, please give him a call at 978-952-6696.
MassWildlife News - ***Becoming and Outdoorswoman (BOW)***
This program focuses on the learning of outdoor skills - skills traditionally passed from father to son - but valuable to anyone wishing to enjoy outdoors pursuits. A sampling of workshop offerings may include basic fishing, beginning shotgun, kayaking, map & compass, reading the woods, archery, pond and stream adventures, nature photography, martial arts, outdoor and game cooking, edible plants and much more. Designed primarily for women, it is an opportunity for anyone 18 years of age or older who may have never tried these activities, but wants an opportunity to learn. Co-sponsored by the MA Sportsmen's Council and others.
2004 Schedule--Details and links to registration materials are provided on the MassWildlife calendar (as they become available).
- September 11--Day on the Beach, Newburyport--Birding, sea kayaking, clamming, surf casting and tide pooling sessions will be offered at the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge on Plum Island. Register by Sept 1., please check their web page for availability
- October --Shooting Sports Day --Including rifle, shotgun, archery (details TBA)
- Nov/December --Deer Hunt, Devens (details TBA)
Sign up for the "Becoming an Outdoorswoman" e-mail list and get registration materials sent to you when they are ready! All you need to do is send an email to join-BOW-Massachusetts@listserv.state.ma.us. (No subject or message is needed.) After joining the mailing list, please take a moment to complete the online form detailing your specific affiliations and interests
A note from Kristi...(This is a letter received by Deborah Stein from a young girl who attended the Family Summer Outing in June and read at the member's meeting in July)
"June 29, 2004
Dear Miss Bobbinhead (must mean Deb),
Thank you so much for inviting our family to your club on Sunday. We had a really great time. We really liked the shooting and the archery and fishing. Thank you also for letting us use your fishing rods and tackle box and everything. Your friend was so nice to help us as we didn't really know what we were doing.
I was so excited to win the Barbie Cake in the cake walk. My Dad has eaten the front quarter of her skirt already. It is vanilla and strawberry cake inside with vanilla frosting. I gave the pie you gave me to my great grandmother and great grandfather and they were very happy to have it.
Joe was very excited to win the pie eating contest. He never knew he liked blueberry pie before. He and my Dad ate the little pie he won for dessert that night.
Thank you again for a wonderful day. I hope to see you soon. I hope you have a wonderful summer.
The 8th Annual Ironman Competition
Saturday, September 25, 2004 1:00 PM
Summer is here (for a bit longer I hope), so it must be time for our annual Ironman competition.
The Ironman is an overall competition encompassing many of the Club's activities. The events will be 3D Archery, Bullseye Pistol, Casting, Trap Shooting, and some other madness we can dream up. Competitors participate in all the events. The person with the highest point total is declared the Concord Rod and Gun Club Ironman, with all the associated bragging rights.
Proficiency in any or all of the events is not required and is often discouraged.
If you have your own equipment, bow & arrows, .22 pistol, fishing rod and shotgun, bring them along. If you don't own anything, show up anyhow and we'll find something for you to use.
This is a great event to try your hand at everything the club has to offer!
The competition is open to all members and their guests. So drag some friends along. The cost is $20 per person, which covers pistol and trap ammunition, clays on the trap range and dinner.
Come out, try you hand at the different events, enjoy some laughs, and the camaraderie of the club.
Please sign up on the sign up sheet in the clubhouse, so we can have enough ammo and food for all the participants.
Is there anyone out there that can dethrone the two time defending champion, Peter Dallaire?
Trap Banquet Details
This year's Trap Banquet is being held at the Westford Rod and Gun Club on September 11, 2004.
Schedule of events*:
| 9:00am-2pm |
Trap Shooting** |
| 9:00am-1:00pm |
.22 Bullseye Shoot*** |
| 9:30am-12:30pm |
Sporting Clays**** begins promptly at 9:30!!
Sign up at 9:15 2nd round starts ~ 11:00am
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| 1:00pm |
Annual "Adios" competition starts |
| 2:00pm |
Food is served |
| 3:00pm |
Awards Ceremony |
*Note: Eye and Ear Protection is required to shoot at WSC. No Exceptions.
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(The scanned article was hard to read, so I have taken the article from the Lowell Sun's internet site and pasted it on the next page.)
By ANNA PARACHKEVOVA, Sun Staff
Monday, August 09, 2004 - CONCORD
Anna Read, 13, had never loaded a gun before.
But on Thursday, the Acton resident inserted her first shell in the ejection port of a Remington 1100. She picked up the gun, tucked its butt plate under the collarbone of her right shoulder, and pressed her cheek against the stock. Her fingers pressed on the safety release and pulled the trigger.
The gunshot perforated the air, leaving a trace of hot gas, debris and the smell of gunpowder behind.
Anna was the youngest of 11 who attended the first instructional shooting clinic for women at the Concord Rod and Gun Club on Thursday. The event was sponsored by the National Rifle Association's Women on Target.
"Women have a place in the shooting sports that Women On Target is helping them find, and these instructional shooting clinics are NRA's way of showing women just how enjoyable and fulfilling recreational shooting really is," said Stephanie Henson, manager of the NRA Women's Program.
Starting at 5:30, the women spent two hours learning the fundamentals of shooting. Robert Alpert of Wayland, a certified NRA instructor, started with a short introduction on gun and ammunition types, safety rules and how to load and reload a gun.
Alpert said women tend to be better students when it comes to shooting. "They usually ask more questions and want to learn details," he said. "Men just want to shoot and skip the rest."
But the most fun part of the evening was going out to the trap range and firing a gun.
The club provided firearms, ammunition and eye and ear protection.
The trap field consists of a trap house and five shooting stations spaced three yards apart. The targets are thrown from the trap. They fly at a uniform speed, angle and distance. Yet, the direction of the flight is unknown to the shooter.
Mevhib Barton, 36, of Waltham had accompanied her husband to the range many times but had never tried shooting herself. "I thought it was time to try it out," she explained. "Plus, it's something different to do."
According to Alpert, the number of women at the club has quadrupled in recent years.
On a national scale, 4 million women 23 percent of the shooting population practice target shooting every year, according to a study by the National Shooting Sports Foundation.
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A Roper-Starch poll also predicts that 47.2 million women will definitely or probably accept an invitation to go target shooting. Female target shooters also tend to be younger (28.5) than their male counterparts (31).
Despite the rising number of female shooters, "many women are still intimidated and afraid of guns, afraid to even pick them up," according to clinic coordinator Kimberly Sullivan of Acton.
But the group of women at the Concord Club were anything but intimidated.
Anna said she wasn't afraid, especially since she would have an instructor next to her.
Nine volunteers gave instruction on the proper positioning and holding a gun. In order to hit the target, a shooter has to plant her feet at an angle that will allow her to swing her shotgun right or left with ease. Holding the gun correctly also helps reduce recoil.
Each shooter had two shots at each station before moving to the next position.
Many of the beginners broke targets repeatedly.
"Once you break a target, you will be hooked," instructor Marty Mucciaccio said.
Many of the women said they would return for another instructional clinic this month, and considered becoming club members.
The club also has a trap team, which competes locally. "We might be able to get a few other ladies who enjoy the sport to join the team," said Sullivan, the only female on the team.
In addition to trap, target shooting also includes clay and skeet shooting. Unlike trap, in skeet, shooters have to move to different positions. Skeet is designed after quail hunting. The clay disks have a predetermined flight path of a 27-degree angle.
For those willing to experience something different, the club also offers archery.
The Concord Rod and Gun Club is located on 77 Strawberry Hill Road in Concord.
For more information on club hours, activities or membership fees, call Kimberly Sullivan at (781) 424-1800.
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 Anna Read is a 13-year-old Acton resident and student at Grey Junior High School. Recently, a photographer for The Beacon found Anna at the Concord Rod and Gun Club, learning the art of trapshooting.
Q: Why trap shooting?
A: Well, because I've tried both archery and pistols and I had a lot of fun with those, so I decided to "give it a shot".
Later, Anna added that her aunt and her father both were shooting target pistols, which piqued her interest. Archery was something she learned one summer at camp.
Q: Did you find your first night intimidating or exhilarating? If so why?
A: Out of the two I would say that my first night was exhilarating, because my teacher was very nice and helpful. It was fun to try something new.
Q: How do you think your friends will react?
A: I don't think they know about it yet. I have no idea what they are going to think.
Q: Do you participate in any other sports?
A: I like to play soccer, shoot archery and pistols. Also in the summer I slalom behind my Dad's water ski boat. I ski in the winter at Mt. Wachusett.
Later, she added she'd played soccer up until this year but was unsure if she would continue in the fall.
Q: What did your siblings/parents think of you learning this sport?
A: Both my parents are happy that I'm learning something new and think that gun safety is important. My dad thinks that it's super, helps my hand-eye coordination, and is difficult and challenging.
Q: How'd you do your first night of trap shooting?
A: I shot three out of the first thirteen and then, a little later, shot two out of three.
Q: Is target shooting a family tradition or just something you've become interested in?
A: Target shooting is sort of a family tradition because both my uncle and my dad did it when they were younger and had lots of fun.
Q: How did you hear about the class?
A: I heard about the class when I went to a recent meeting at the Concord Rod and Gun Club.
(This article was retyped from the Thursday, August 12, 2004 edition of The Beacon newspaper.)
(Photo taken from the Thursday, August 12, 2004 Concord Journal newspaper.)
Way to go Marge!!
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