Calendar of Events

July 25, 2005                Member’s Meeting, 7:30pm
August 1, 2005              BOGs’ meeting, 7pm
August 21, 2005            Traditional Archery Shoot, long bows and recurves only
August 22, 2005            Members Meeting, 7:30pm
September 12, 2005      BOGs’ Meeting, 7pm
September 13, 2005      Intro to Shotgunning (Trap 101), 6-8pm
September 17, 2005      2005 Trap Championship
September 24, 2005      Iron Man Competition
September 26, 2005      Members’ Meeting, 7:30pm

Upcoming Elections for New President and Open BOGs’ Position

Nominees’ names for the open positions of President and on the Board of Governors will be taken at the July 25, 2005 members’ meeting and elections will take place at the August 22, 2005 members’ meeting.  Members wishing to run for these positions should notify individuals on the current Board of Governors before July 25, 2005 .

If you don’t like the way some things are being done at the Club, and/or think you could do a better job than the people currently in place, stop grousing and step up to the plate and submit your name for office. Remember, it’s always easier to sit back and complain rather than to get up and do something to make things happen.

Family Outing Bang Up Success Despite Heat and Humidity

The CR&GC 2005 Family Outing activities on Sunday June 26^th were in full swing by 11:00 a.m. with the young participants vying for the blue, red, and yellow ribbons in Archery, Air Rifle, and Turkey Shoot, as well as for the Iron Boy/Girl and Champion positions. Here are the results of their efforts:

                                    Archery                        Air Rifle                                    Turkey Shoot

Age  --- Rank              Boy                  Girl       Boy                  Girl                   Boy               Girl

7 – 10    1^st                  J. Gutwillig                    J. Gutwillig                                J. Gutwillig

               2nd                           -                                   -                                               -

               3^rd                             -                                   -                                               -

11 – 14  1st                  R. Fadden   A. Read    J. Tovrov     A. Read                J. Tovrov      A. Read

               2^nd                 J. Tovrov         -           R. Faden          -                       S. Nestor         -

               3rd                A. Gutwillig    - S. Nestor         -                    A. Gutwillig      -

15 – 17    1st                J. Smith            -           A. Smith           -                       A. Smith           -

                 2^nd               A. Smith           -           J. Smith            -                       J. Smith            -

                 3^rd               -                       -           -                       -                       -                       -

Iron Boy/Girl

                        1^st        Jake Tovrov (9pts)       Anna Read (9 pts)

                        2^nd        Jacob Smith (6pts)        -

                        3^rd        R. Fadden (5pts)          -

Champion         1^st        Jake Tovrov (13pts)

                        2^nd        Anna Read  (11pts)

                        3^rd        Jacob Smith (10pts)

Our thanks to all of the volunteers who set up the various areas and helped the young contestants do their best at sharpening their shooting skills. Many balloons were burst and targets pierced in their quest for the honor of being rated the best of their category.

Many thanks also to Corinne Kinsman and those other members who donated all of the colorful and yummy cakes that had the youngsters trotting around the circle to music for the cake walk. It’s no wonder that this event is the most popular of the Outing. Our thanks also to Victoria Preslavska for her patience and skill in face painting of the many youngsters who sported images of flowers, puppy dogs and kitty cats on their smiling faces.

This year’s Family Outing generated $670.00 in revenue, and $400.00 in profit for the Club, but more importantly, it exposed young people to various shooting sports and the enjoyment of a day’s friendly competition.

Support the Young Adults’ Pheasant Hunt

You are invited to attend an informational meeting regarding the upcoming Young Adults’ Pheasant Hunt (YAPH) being held on Thursday, July 28^th at 7:00 p.m. at the Club by Kim Sullivan, Mass. Wildlife delegate, and Barry Robinson, Middlesex County League of Sportsmen’s Clubs delegate.  Anyone interested in participating, whether as a young adult hunter, mentor, instructor, dog handler, or as a volunteer in one of the many other roles in support of this exciting event, is invited to come.  Coffee and dessert will be served.

We encourage all young hunters to attend with their parent/guardian and ask that those members who have hunted pheasants in the past to attend and share their knowledge with us as we plan this first CR&GC Young Adults’ Pheasant Hunt. This is a super program for introducing young people to the joys and exhilaration of upland game hunting.

CR&GC Appreciation Notice

We wish to thank Roy Anderson for his efforts in creating the Children’s Fund through the collection and redemption of soft drink cans over the years.  If you don’t know Roy , look for a tall dude with a fancy hat, booming voice and twinkling eyes. Thanks Roy !

Membership News

Why Become a Full Member?

Autonomy!!! Another reminder to all of the limited members – you must complete your 10 hours of work in order to become a full member. Once you’ve completed your hours, you get your own Key Card to give you personal access to the Club House, the Indoor Pistol Range , and the Members’ Lounge 24/7. Contact the individuals below to determine how you can help and fulfill your promised obligation.

Charlie Atherton: Steward 978-371-7109         Vin Bartolomeo: Trap 978-369-2428

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

Rich Gagnon: Archery 978-692-5054   Kevin Flavin: Outing 978-371-9550

Why Aren’t You Getting Your Newsletter Via E-Mail?

Well, of course if you don’t have e-mail, it’s understandable. But if you do, please let us know because it’s quicker, timelier, and saves the Club money. Contact Sheryl Read to get your Club newsletter via e-mail: 617-965-4038; shrent2@rcn.com .

Helping To Preserve the Corey Land

You can help save the Corey Land’s 27 acres of hayfields, woods, and wetlands, located just to the north of Barrett’s Mill Road , between Lowell Road and Strawberry Hill Road from development. Preserving this parcel is a direct benefit to the Club because it will maintain a wildlife corridor that feeds onto our property. These 27 acres abut private land under conservation restriction that in turn abuts our Concord Road & Gun Club property.

At the last membership meeting, the Club pledged $1000.00 towards the purchase of the Corey land. And, several members have individually pledged funds to help with the purchase of the land. Are you one of them? If not, it’s not too late to do so.  Send your pledge, identifying yourself as a CR&GC member, to: The Concord Land Conservation Trust, Preservation of the Corey Land,  P.O. Box 141 , Concord MA 01742-0141 . Do not send a cheque at this time.

Committee Reports

Archery – Rich Gagnon, Chairman, reports that he has a vendor who sells bow, arrows and leather supplies and is interested in setting up a table at our Aug. 21^st Traditional Archery Shoot. Rich has asked them to bring some intermediate weight bows for adult beginners and light weight bows for beginner children. These guys are very knowledgeable about traditional archery equipment and carry good quality stuff. Anyone interested in getting started in traditional archery and those who may need a new arm guard, tab, glove, arrows or whatever, may want to come and see what they have on hand or perhaps can order for you. Credit cards are accepted.

Just a reminder to members who would like to use the club on our August 21^st Traditional Archery Shoot -- the archery event will be an all day affair. Even if you’re not there to shoot, we encourage all members to come down and enjoy the buffet breakfast that morning. For safety’s sake, the pond will have to be closed to fishing that day because there will be targets set up around and on the pond. We ask that pistol shooters refrain from using the range at least until later on in the afternoon, after people are done eating breakfast and registrations are done. We also ask that the trap shooters to refrain from using the range for the day or at least until all archers are off the course. Some of the archers will be traveling up from Connecticut and coming down from New Hampshire and perhaps Maine too. We would like to allow them plenty of time on the archery course so that they will feel it was worth the trip. Thank you all for your cooperation and patience.

Other Archery Business -- Earlier this year, around March, Rich checked out all of our Genisis bows to be sure that they are all ready to shoot. At that time, we had 8 right-handed bows and 2 left-handed bows. On the day of the Family Outing, Rich found only 9 bows in the locker. One of the left-handed bows was missing. Club member may borrow any of the archery equipment, as it belongs to the Club, but, Rich needs to know who has it and when we can expect to get it back. If the person who has the bow would please contact Rich and let him know where it is, it would be greatly appreciated. Rich’s phone number is (978) 692-5054 or you can contact him by e-mail at riggnn@comcast.net.

Do You Need A Piano?

Do you tickle the ivories in your spare time?  The Club wishes to donate its upright piano to any member who would like to take it home.  Our piano gets little if any use and takes up valuable room. Please contact Lawton Read @ lread@bellatlantic.net or call him @ 978-264-4869.

Hazards of Lead Exposure on Firing Ranges

Exposure to lead dust and fumes at the firing range can present a potential health risk to shooters and firearms instructors.  Protecting your health while minimizing environmental contamination from lead exposure is an important element in the safety plan for firing ranges.

How does lead affect the body? 

Adults are exposed to lead by breathing in lead dust or fumes from shooting or work activities, by eating, drinking or smoking in work areas, or by handling contaminated objects – and accidentally swallowing lead dust. Workers and shooters in many firing ranges have so much lead in their bodies that they are slowly being poisoned.  The symptoms may hardly be noticeable at first, but over time, lead can damage the brain, blood, nerves, kidneys and reproductive organs.  This damage can cause serious disability: memory loss; extreme tiredness; emotional problems; even kidney failure, coma, or death.

Young children are especially vulnerable to lead poisoning.  Lead dust can collect on clothes during a shoot or while working on the range.  When those clothes are worn home, the lead can contaminate shooters’ and workers’ cars and homes.  Young children can then be poisoned by the lead-contaminated dust.

How Do I Know If I Have Too Much Lead in My Body?

Lead poisoning can occur when people are exposed to large or small amounts of lead over time.  Lead builds up in the body and may cause temporary or permanent damage.  A blood lead test can show whether your body has absorbed a dangerous amount of lead. A high blood lead level is an indication that lead is building up in your body faster than it can be eliminated.

Early Signs and Symptoms of Lead Poisoning

There are many symptoms or signs that suggest a problem with lead, but they can also be symptoms of other illnesses.  It’s also possible to have lead poisoning without noticing any symptoms. But if you shoot or work around lead dust  regularly, you should see your doctor for testing whether or not you are experiencing the following symptoms:

Further installments on the Hazards of Lead Exposure will address Later Signs and Symptoms, and other aspects of Lead Exposure. (Extracted from a publication from the Division of Occupational Safety, Massachusetts Department of Labor and Workforce Development.)