Calendar of Events

Thurs., Feb. 23/06        Middlesex County League Meeting; 7:30pm ; Open to Members
Sun., Feb. 26/06          Annual Game Dinner & Raffle; 3 - 6pm
Mon., Feb. 27/06         Members’ Meeting, 7:30pm
Mon., Mar. 6/06          Board of Governors’ Meeting, 7pm
Sat., Mar. 11/06           Club Pistol Championship, 9am – 3pm
Fri., Mar. 17/06           Corned Beef & Cabbage Dinner, 6 – 9pm
Sat., Mar. 18/06           Youth Breakfast Tour of CR&GC, 9:30 am
Mon., Mar. 27/06        Members’ Meeting, 7:30pm
Thurs., Mar. 30/06       Middlesex County League Meeting; 7:30pm ; Open to the Public
Sun., Apr. 2/06            Bay State Archers 3-D Shoot, 6am – 2pm
Mon., Apr. 3/06           BOGs’ Meeting; 7:00pm
Sun., Apr. 23/06          Members’ Fishing Day; 10am
Sun., Apr. 30.06          Kids’ Fishing Derby ; 10am
Mon., Apr. 24/06         Members’ Meeting, 7:30pm
Sat., May 2 0/06          Youth Firearms Safety & Intro to Trap Shooting, 12:30 – 6pm
Sat/Sun., Jun. 3-4/06    Jim Levinger, Cub Scout Outing

Rentals

Fri., Mar. 4/06             Bishop Family Party, time tbd
Sun., Mar. 5/12            Julie Lion, 12-6pm
Sat., Mar. 25/06           Paul Ressler Party, 6-12pm
Sun., Apr. 9/06            Frank Gill Rental, 1 – 7pm
Mon., Apr. 17/06         Concord Independence Battery , 9am – 6pm
Mon., June 28/06         Sean Slade, Concord Newcomers’ Party, 7-11pm
Fri., July 28/06              Richard Monaghan, Wedding Rehearsal, 5 – 10pm
Fall 2006                      Mary Agnes, Wedding Reception
Sun., Oct. 8/06             Meredith Lightfoot Amadon B-Day Party, 7-11pm

CR&GC Annual Game Dinner & Raffle Sold Out!

It’s no surprise that our Annual Game Dinner and Raffle is sold out. However, for you perennial optimists and procrastinators, there is a waiting list in the event that current ticket holders turn in any surplus tickets. Contact Bruce at BruceHarveySKB@msn.com or call him at: 978-369-4990 to get on the waiting list.

For those of you who have not yet paid for your tickets, please get the money to Bruce as soon as you can. Tickets not paid for by February 18^th go into the waiting pool and will be distributed to those wait listed on a first-come, first-served basis.

Sign Up for the Annual Club Pistol Championship

Are you up to testing your pistol shooting skills? Then sign up for the Annual Club Pistol Championship scheduled for Saturday, March 11^th, from 9am to 12pm .  There are only four slots per time period, so get down to the Club and enter your name on the sheet now posted on the bulletin board. This will be the traditional 900 shoot wherein you shoot three Slow targets; three Timed targets; and, three Rapid targets – takes stamina and concentration.

Bring your own pistol and ammunition. There is a $5.00 entry fee and all proceeds will go to the three top shooters of the day.

A light breakfast of coffee, tea, juice, and pastries will be offered for sale to those who need to get their blood sugar and caffeine levels adjusted for the shoot.

St. Patrick’s Day Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner

Brad Stetson, our new Steward, has revived our annual Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner, scheduled appropriately for this St. Patrick’s Day, Friday March 17^th from 6 to 9pm .  Adults, $14.00; kids, 12 and under, $10.00.  If you’re fond of melt-in-your-mouth corned beef served with redolent cabbage, potatoes and carrots, sign up for your place at the table. There are rumors of green beer being served, but the leprechaun who started this tale couldn’t be found to confirm its veracity. Come on by to see if it’s blarney or truth and have a great meal.

New Youth Programs Committee Formed

On February 6^th, the Board of Governors approved the formation of a Youth Programs Committee that will be co-chaired by Deb Stein and Kim Sullivan .  Because the future of our sporting heritage is in the hands of the next generation, the CR&GC is committed to cultivate and encourage an interest by young men and women (ages 13 – 19) in fishing, hunting, and shooting.

Deb and Kim are seeking additional committee members across the age spectrum.  All that is necessary is that you are excited about the purposes of the committee and want to contribute your ideas, time, knowledge, etc. Additionally, the committee is forming a list of volunteers willing to assist occasionally with specific events.

There will be a Youth Programs Bulletin Board located downstairs (next to the oars by the stairs) for the posting of youth-specific information and announcements, as well as photos from youth events. Please check it often.  Members are encouraged to submit relevant articles to the committee for posting.

Upcoming events:

• Youth Firearm Safety and Intro to Trap Shooting Clinic – May 20,2006
• Second Annual CR&GC sponsored, Mass. Wildlife Young Adults’ Pheasant Hunt – Fall 2006. (Contact Kim Sullivan at 781-424-1800 or at crgcsecretary@yahoo.com
• Monthly Teen Breakfast and Tour of CR&GC facilities and grounds – March 18, 2006

Youth Firearms Safety and Intro to Trap Shooting – the CR&GC Youth Committee will conduct a clinic for young men and women, ages 13-19, on May 20^th, 2006 from 12:30 to 6:00pm .  Teens will receive classroom instruction from Ellie Horwitz, CR&GC member and NRA certified instructor; one-on-one training in shooting trap; and then enjoy a meal together on the banks of the pond. Shotguns as well as eye and ear protection will be provided.  Although the event is open to the public, first consideration will be given to family of CR&GC members.

Youth Breakfast Tours of CR&GC – Monthly tours of the CR&GC facilities and grounds, including a brief Club history, are scheduled specifically for teens and their parents.  Current Club members are encouraged to attend a tour with their teenage kids or grand-kids to find out what is available to them from the CR&GC.  Coffee/tea, juice, bagels and muffins will be served.  The Breakfast Tours are free, but pre-registration is required.  Volunteers who are willing to give a tour are needed. The next Breakfast Tour will take place on Saturday, March 18^th at 9:30am .  Spread the word! Contact Deb Stein at (617) 308-1776.

Possible Youth Air Rifle Team – The CR&GC Youth Programs Committee is exploring the possibility of forming a Youth Air Rifle Team that would compete with youth teams from other clubs.  If you are interested in coaching or providing support in other ways, please contact Deb Stein at (617) 308-1776.

Membership News

Final Notice --Dues Are Due!

Don’t wait until the last minute. Your dues payment must be in Bruce Harvey ’s hands before the end of the March Members’ meeting on Monday, March 27, 2006 . Send your $145.00 check to: Concord Rod & Gun Club, Attention: Bruce Harvey , Financial Secretary, P.O. Box 271 ,

Concord , MA 01742 . Late payers may be subject to the reinstatement fee of $75.00. We welcome donations from dues-paying and non-dues-paying members as well.

2006 Membership Cards

Once you’ve paid your dues, please pick up your 2006 Membership Cards that are stored in the black box on the bar.

New Limited Member

Eric Collins of Concord , MA presented himself for Limited Membership and was accepted.  Eric was sponsored by Carl Repucci.

Welcome  Eric and we look forward to seeing you at upcoming events to meet other members and to work off your ten-hour work requirement towards full membership.

Getting to Full Membership

Contact the following individuals to fulfill your 10-hour work obligation:

Steward: Brad Stetson, 978-369-8926 Trap: Vin Bartolomeo , 978-369-2428

Grounds: Bill Lewis, 978-952-6696                  Pistol: Robert Alpert , 508-651-1153               

Archery: tbd                                                     Fish & Ponds: Lucas Rounds, 978-371-0260

Club Communications

Bar Area Floor Needs You! – We now have the materials needed to retile the bar area floor, and now need help from someone who can lead our volunteers in this effort. If you are knowledgeable in laying in a plywood foundation over the existing floor, and then applying the tile, please let Bruce Harvey know – call 978-369-4990 or 978-886-4688 or e-mail BruceHarveySKB@msn.com.

Save a Tree and Postal Fees -- If you’re on-line, do the Club and the environment a favor – get this newsletter via e-mail.  It’s timelier and saves the Club money.  Contact Kim Sullivan at 781-424-1800, or via e-mail at: crgcsecretary@yahoo.com.

CR&GC 80^th Anniversary -- The Concord Rod & Gun Club reaches its 80^th Anniversary this year. Any ideas for celebrating this milestone are welcome.  Contact a Club Officer or Board of Governors member.

Cribbage

The beautiful historic Cribbage Board made by Ralph Pearson and presented to Whitey Oman in 1967 will be mounted in the bar area for use by our members and guests. Pegs are stored in the board’s built-in container.

Committee Reports

The Club Still Needs More Drivers !!– We still have three openings for Committee Chairpersons for 2006: Archery; Maintenance; and Rentals. Anyone interested in helping out the Club by managing the events and projects that fall under these functions, please contact President, Lawton Read at 978-264-4869, or via e-mail at: Lawton.Read@Verizon.net.

Our thanks to Brad Stetson for taking on the Steward’s position and for forming a kitchen committee. The Corned Beef and Cabbage, Roast Beef Dinner, and Fishing Derby events have been revived under Brad’s stewardship. Please support these events by coming to eat and volunteering to help in the kitchen.

Our thanks also to Lucas Rounds for taking on the Fish & Pond chairmanship again. We’re sure his experience will help us make the most productive use of our aquatic resources.

Archery – Joe Facenda reports that the Concord Rod and Gun Club will be hosting a Bay State Archers 3-D archery shoot on Sunday, April 2^nd, from 6am to 2pm .

As usual there will be a need for your help to pull this event off. So, on Saturday, April 1, starting at 7:00 am or so, strong backs and weak minds will be needed to set out the targets. Joe will have the course all laid-out and only setting out the targets will be required. This should take only a couple of hours to complete. Help will also be needed in the kitchen to complete some pre-cooking of bacon, home fries, etc.

On Sunday, the actual shoot day, help will be needed primarily in the kitchen for breakfast and lunch crews. We start about 6:00 am . Also the volunteers will be needed again about 2:00 pm to pick up the course and targets. This chore is made easier if someone has an ATV and would bring it for use on both days.

Anyone who is interested in helping can contact Joe at (781) 899-7824 or at ejfacenda@verizon.com. Joe will also post a sign-up sheet on the Archery Bulletin Board at the club. This is a good opportunity for new members to get some of their work time requirements in and to meet fellow archers. Thanks.

Fish & Pond – Chairman Lucas Rounds notes two upcoming fishing events are scheduled: Members’ Fishing Day, April 23^rd at 10:00 am ; Kids’ Fishing Derby, April 30^th at 10:00 . 

Please read and adhere to the pond rules.  Pond rule #5 states, “Boats will be locked at all times when not in use.”  This applies to boats brought to the Club by members.  Please contact Lucas if you have a boat at the Club.  A boat rack will be built this spring for lockable storage of boats.  Your input and help is needed.  Materials for securing members’ boats will be charged to them after April 30^th.

Kitchen – Brad Stetson, Steward, emphasizes that HELP is the main ingredient for successful breakfast, lunch, or dinner events.  The number of members and guests who enjoy them support the Club’s future.  The primary example is the Game Dinner which is sold out with a waiting list for available tickets.

            Call Brad at 978-369-8926 if you can help at any Club function. St. Patrick’s Day, March 17^th is the next great feed of Corned Beef and Cabbage.  Please sign up before March 15^th to reserve your spot. Then on April 23^rd, we have Members’ Fishing Day, with breakfast and light lunch being served. Come on up to fish, feed and enjoy, and/or to help. And on April 2^nd, we have the Bay State Archers’ 3-D shoot, with breakfast and lunch cooked for all.

Pistol – Chairman, Robert Alpert reports that the competition within the Nashoba Valley League Pistol League is still extremely hot, most notably within the CR&GC itself.

Reminder: don’t forget to pay for your targets after shooting -- $.25/3; $.50/6; $.75/9; $1.00/12. Just drop your money in the bucket in the target locker. Thanks.

Trap – Chairman, Vinnie Bartolomeo notes that although trap shooting is a few months away, it is time to determine how many teams the CR&GC will be entering in the Greater Lowell Trap League for the 2006 season.  The League has its annual meeting in February, and we need to present to the League just how many teams we will be fielding.  Last year, the Club had three teams: AA; C; and E. With eight (8) people on a team that means we had 24 shooters – although some members had to drop out for one reason or another.  Vinnie needs to have a head count for this upcoming season to see if we will maintain the same 3 teams, or add or delete a team as needed. So if you are interested in making the commitment to shoot on a team for the upcoming season, please let him know ASAP via e-mail at Bartolomeo@verizon.net.

Delegates’ Reports

Middlesex County Sportsmen’s League – Delegate Barry Robinson points out that the regular Nantucket deer hunt was not cancelled, as reported in the last newsletter,  just the special deer hunt was cancelled.

                                                Mass. Wildlife

Massachusetts Junior Conservation Camp – Eileen Facenda reports that once again this year, the Concord Rod & Gun Club will sponsor two campers to attend the Massachusetts Junior Conservation Camp being held August 6-18, 2006 . Tuition is $550.00 per camper for the full two weeks.  If you have a child or grandchild who would be interested in attending this year, please contact Eileen at (781) 899-7824 or e-mail her at ejfacenda@verizon.net and she will be glad to explain the procedure for applying. Do not contact the camp directly as this will just confuse matters.

The Massachusetts Sportsmen’s Junior Conservation Camp program is open to boys and girls, ages 13 to 17. Campers need to be prepared to function in an environment which, like school, requires good behavior, teamwork and attentiveness.  Much of the time is spent in an educational environment.  Campers are expected to be attentive, courteous, and non-disruptive.

A large portion of the instruction is “hands-on”, and students will all participate in instruction that includes different types of firearms, archery tackle, fishing gear, camping equipment, and wildlife interaction.  Campers are expected to understand the seriousness of handling such equipment and interacting with wildlife.       

Experience has shown that the happiest and most productive campers are those who are personally interested in the outdoors and in wildlife management before attending the Massachusetts Junior Conservation Camp.  Teenagers who are sent because a relative is an avid outdoorsman may dislike the camp curriculum unless they personally have an interest in the outdoors.  If you are unsure of your child’s interest in the camp, we suggest you let him or her browse the materials on the camp program’s website located at www.juniorconservationcamp.org.

Extracts from Mass. Wildlife News

2006 Becoming an Outdoorswoman (BOW) Workshop Schedule – Feb. 25 – Snowshoeing, Tracking and Reading Wildlife Signs, Holden; March – Potpourri of Shooting/Hunting Related Skills; April/May – turkey Hunting Workshop and Hunt; June 9 – 11 – Lenox – 11^th Annual Becoming and Outdoors-Woman Weekend; July 8 – Springfield – Mini BOW – one day event with 5-6 outdoor workshops; July 22 – Wild Edible Plants – gathering and enjoying wild edibles; September 9 – 10 – Camping for Beginners; October 14 – Marksmanship for Hunters – how to hit ‘em; November/December – Deer Hunting Workshop and Deer Hunt.

BOW in Massachusetts is co-sponsored by the Mass. Sportsmen’s Council, Safari-Club New England Chapter, Gun Owners Action League and other conservation minded organizations and businesses.  To receive registration materials by e-mail, send and e-mail to join-BOW-Massachusetts@listserv.state.ma.us.

Preliminary Deer Harvest Totals – 2,113 deer were taken by muzzleloader shooters; 3,001 deer during the archery season; 6, 128 by shotgun, and seven taken by paraplegic sportsmen. Total, 11,249 white-tails during the 2005 season, not including the 117 taken during the controlled hunt at the Quabbin reservoir.

Turkey Tally – Fall figures – 163 birds were bagged during 2005’s six-day season compared to 212 in 2004. Seventy-eight were toms; 85 hens.

Parting Shots

With the increase of the moose population throughout the Northeast, you might want to try your luck in the respective state’s lotteries to secure a permit and bag a freezer full of moose meat. Jim Gallagher submitted the following dates and web links.

State    Deadline          Fee      Web Link to Apply

Maine    3/31/06             $15.     http://www.maine.gove/ifw/hunttrap/moosehunting/index.htm

N. Brunswick , 4/29/06 , Can$40.25  http://www.gnb.ca/0078/fw/NonResMooseFactSheet e.pdf

N. Hampshire, 5/26/06   $10.     http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/

Vermont            6/1/06     $25.   http://www.vtfishandwildlife.com/hunttrap lottery.cfm

CR&GC Directory of Club Officers and Board of Governors Members

Officers:
President: Lawton Read; tel.978-264-4869; e-mail, Lawton.Read@Verizon.net
Vice President: Henry Dane; tel. 978-369-3093; e-mail, HDane@DaneLaw.com
Treasurer: Jim Gallagher; tel. 978-369-7126; e-mail, bt99@rocketmail.com
Financial Secretary: Bruce Harvey ; tel.978-369-4990; e-mail, BruceHarveySKB@msn.com
Secretary: Kim Sullivan ; cell 781-424-1800; e-mail, crgcsecretary@yahoo.com.

Board of Governors:
Ned Berube: tel. 978-369-3231; e-mail, nedberube@comcast.net
Del Ferranti: tel, 978-897-7425; e-mail, DEL508abn@msn.com
Kevin Flavin: tel. 978-371-9550; e-mail, Kevin.Flavin@comcast.net
Bill Jarmulowicz: tel. 978-443-8148; e-mail, RhonaHill@worldnet.att.net
Carl Repucci: tel. 978-371-7913; e-mail, Carl.Repucci1.Verizon.net
Dave Schaefer: tel. 978-369-8212; e-mail, Schaefer3@gis.net