Wow, has this been a whirl-wind first month on the job! My thanks go out to Eileen for handing over a well organized position. She certainly will be missed by me and many others.

I would like to run two new columns each month in the newsletter. The first will be favorite recipes from club members. I have already received over a dozen!

And the second is a special section on club memories. I hope to gather recollections from long time members of the club telling us how it was in the past and quips from new members as they make themselves at home in our part of the woods in Concord.

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

Although there is not too much happening on the trap field these days, we need to start planning for the upcoming trap season, in particular, the make-up and number of teams the Club will be hosting in the Greater Lowell Trap League. We have traditionally had two teams in the League, but it looks like we may have enough members interested to sponsor a third.

The League has their annual meeting in February at which time the Clubs participating provide the details for their respective entries. So as not to wait until the last minute, I would like to have those interested in shooting competitively in 2004, who have not previously shot for one of the teams, get in touch with me so that we can accommodate all new and existing members with a desire to shoot.

The League runs from April through August and the matches are on Tuesdays (for C, D, and E Divisions) and Wednesday (for AA, A, and B Divisions). Matches must start by 6:30 p.m., except for the matches in April, which start at 6:00 p.m. due to the limited daylight during that month. It would appear that if we do sponsor a third team this year that it would be an E Division team which means Tuesday evening matches (both home and away). It is important that you desire to participate, please understand that there is a need to make a commitment to make most of the matches (we understand that there may be weeks that one cannot make it due to vacations, work priorities, etc.). Each team needs to have at least 8 members so that there is room for occasional absences and yet still enough to compete with a minimum of shooters.

So, with that said, please contact Vin Bartolomeo at 978-369-2428 or Bartolomeo@verizon.net as soon as possible so that we can establish a quorum of new shooters and submit the same to the League next month if warranted.

MONTHLY MEETING
January 28, 2004
7:30 P.M.

PHEASANT BAKED IN BEER

2 or 3 pheasants, plucked, skinned and cut into serving pieces
Pancake flour
Shortening or cooking oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
2 to 3 cups of beer

Heat the shortening or oil in a casserole. Roll the pheasant parts in the pancake flour and salt and pepper mixture and fry them in the casserole until medium brown.

Add the beer to the casserole.

Cover the casserole and bake in a 300° F oven for 1-1/2 hours. Increase the oven temperature to 350° F and bake for an additional 1-1/2 hours, basting the pheasant parts every 30 minutes.

Makes 6 servings. Submitted by Mike Barton

I will consider myself an invited guest of the landowner, seeking his permission, and so conducting myself that I may be welcome in the future.

I will obey the rules of safe gun handling and will courteously but firmly insist that others who hunt with me do the same.

I will obey all game laws and regulations, and will insist that my companions do likewise.

I will do my best to acquire those marksmanship and hunting skills, which insure clean, sportsmanlike kills.

I will support conservation efforts, which can assure good hunting for the future generations of Americans.

I will pass along to younger hunters the attitudes and skills essential to a true outdoor sportsman.