News
Update with pertinent news items
Top Stories
-
Be a part of something exciting and join us at the 137th NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits in Louisville, Ky. from May 15 to May 20, 2008. Sign up for housing today at www.nraam.org. Ticket sales for 2008 National NRA Foundation events are expected to begin in February 2008. Don’t miss your opportunity to attend the most talked about NRA Annual Meeting events and your chance to bid on many unique hunts, firearms, trips and much, much more! We look forward to seeing you there!
-
From Scott Armstrong
Dear Fellow NRA Leaders:
It is with a heavy heart that I inform you that our friend, our Central New York FNRA Chairwoman and the Co-Owner of Hart Rifle Barrels, Michelle Sutton has passed away. She was only in her mid-40's.
As many of you know Michelle had beat lymphoma an amazing three times already. Less than two weeks ago she entered the hospital to treat what was thought to be a mild run of the mill illness. It was quickly discovered that the cancer was back, this time in her liver and lung, and she was given a terminal prognosis of 60 days. In reality it was less than a week.
Michelle was an incredible businesswoman, an asset to the shooting sports and a tireless defender of the 2nd amendment. Instead of quitting her shooting, NRA and FNRA activities when the going was rough over the past decade, she channeled her energy into getting better so as to continue her business and shooting related activities.
She has touched a lot of lives and anyone who was fortunate to know her was better for it. Her business has contributed to olympic glory, law and order and the defense of our nation. Anyone lucky enough to own a hand crafted competition or sniper barrel made by Hart knows what I am I'm talking about.
Once she took the helm of the UNY-1 Central New York FNRA Committee (along with two other female officers!) she brought the committee to new heights, consistently qualifying for the "High Caliber Committee" designation. Under Michelle's leadership this committee consistently scored top fund raising honors in New York, second only to the nationally recognized Mid-Hudson FNRA. -
Loss of one of our own (click for obit)
Dear Upstate NY Friends of NRA,It is a sad day, indeed, when I have to share the news of losing one of our own. Jim Stevens has been a long time friend and volunteer. In addition to being Chairman of the Between the Lakes cmte in Ovid, NY, Jim has served as State Fund Cmte Delegate and Group Leader at the annual grant meeting. Jim's positive attitude and focus on doing what's best for the greater good was an inspiration for all who had the privilege to spend some time with him. I spoke with Deb and his wife Diane (both also cmte volunteers) on Tuesday and asked for the information attached to forward to you.
Please consider making a gift in Jim's memory on behalf of yourself as a fellow FNRA volunteer or perhaps in your FNRA cmte's name. -
Friends of NRA raise thousands for community program
Friends unite for fundraiser.
(L to R) Larry Steiner President Adirondack Catskill, Safari Club International; Bradd Vickers Events Organizer & FNRA committee chair; Assemblyman Pete Lopez 127th Assembly District; and NRA Field Representative Jay Rusnock.
The Northern Riflemen’s
According to NRA Field Representative Jay Rusnock, “It was a great night for the community to kick off the weekend celebrating our freedoms and raising important funds to support grassroots charitable and educational programs. The NRA Foundation sponsors the Northern Rifleman's Alliance Friends of NRA annual banquet which is organized by a remarkable team of local volunteers who are lead by Bradd Vickers as Chairman and Rainy Vickers as Treasurer. The team pulled off another successful event loaded with lots of big prizes for all of our guests and a good time was had by all!”
The Friends of NRA event provides an opportunity for participating clubs and individuals to support the charitable goals of The NRA Foundation and enjoy the camaraderie of others.
Larry Steiner President Adirondack-Catskill, Safari Club International, said “Organizations like ours have to work together to foster continuation of our sport and love of the outdoors with the youth.” Vickers stated, “We really appreciate the Adirondack-Catskill, SCI which provided a major underwrite for this event. They, like us (FNRA), fund a lot of community projects, many in and around
Pete Lopez of the 127th Assembly District, spent some time at the event discussing issues and concerns with individuals and confirming his support for a good cause.
“It was a thoroughly enjoyable evening, with a super American Legion buffet, good fellowship with good people from throughout the area, and an opportunity to get a look at guns and gear I’d never seen before. Everybody seemed to have a good time”, commented Norwich City Council President Terry Bresina.
Owner of Liberty Iron Works, Joseph Siegel noted, “A group of us from our Sullivan County FNRA committee enjoyed the trip to
According to Bradd Vickers, Events Organizer & FNRA committee chair, proceeds from this fundraiser event benefit The NRA Foundation, which is a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization, and will help promote such projects as youth firearms safety and education, hunter training, shooting range development, marksmanship training, Second Amendment research and education, and conservation research throughout New York including children, youth, women, individuals with physical disabilities, gun collectors, law enforcement officers, hunters and competitive shooters. Go to http://www.fnrany.org/ for information on next year’s event and other events held around
- An Integral Part of Teaching
Freedom
Guest Editorial by Gale Knull Chairman, Mid-Hudson Friends of NRA,
This year is a landmark year for The NRA Foundation’s Friends of NRA program. First, it marks the 15th anniversary of Friends of NRA; second, it marks the 100 millionth dollar raised; and third, it marks the 100 millionth grant dollar awarded to shooting education programs.
The multiple grants afforded by Friends of NRA have affected hundreds of thousands of Americans in extremely positive ways. They have funded gun club ranges, youth and women’s programs, hunter safety courses, and other myriad programs and establishments that have further procured the future of our shooting heritage. As chairman of a Friends of NRA committee, I take great pride in knowing that our fundraising program has had such an enormous effect on teaching the legacy of freedom in communities in my home state of
I have been involved in the Friends of NRA program for ten years now, serving as chairman for the past seven or eight. This program has brought together volunteers, vendors, shooting sports enthusiasts and NRA supporters who all work in harmony for the good of the cause. I have had the pleasure of seeing this grassroots movement develop from its infancy stage into the program it is today—a program in which other organizations currently use as their business model. The overwhelming growth and success of Friends of NRA center around the hearts of the people involved. Each in his or her own way plays a crucial role in the system, driven by individual commitment to the cherished belief in the right to bear arms. We would not be where we are today without the volunteers who donate so much of their time, the generous donors and sponsors who assist with such spectacular merchandise at our banquets, and, most importantly, the hundreds of thousands of attendees who are there to support the cause and who have helped build one of the strongest fundraising programs I’ve ever been a witness of.
As a result, I would like to thank and congratulate not only my committee, but also the NRA staff at headquarters and Jay Rusnock, senior field representative for upstate - FNRANY Website
New York State Friends of NRA launches new Website!
New working website has been launched to help FNRA committees find pertinent information.
-
Over the Top
- $100 million
Hello NRA Volunteers and Supporters,We have come a long way since those first two NY banquets back in 1993. Congratulations to so many of you for staying the course and making the Friends of NRA an ongoing success. Each dollar we raise translates into preserving and enhancing the future of the shooting sports and safeguarding our honored American freedoms.This Release is attached and I am very proud that one of our own (Mid Hudson) happens to be the one who pushed us over the top ($100 million).Shooting for the Future,Jay RusnockSenior Field Rep for Upstate NY