Memphis Friends of NRA Banquet, 10/23

[Guest David Waldrip]

Dear Second Amendment Supporter:

The Memphis Friends of NRA plans to hold a banquet on Thursday, October 23, 2008 at Woodland Hills, 10000 Woodland Hills Drive, in Cordova at 5:30 PM. Tickets may be purchased at Guns & Ammo, Classic Arms, RangeUSA, Memphis Sport Shooting Association, Rangemaster, and the Fayette Falcon Newspaper or by contacting David Waldrip at (901) 834-8698 or david.waldrip@comcast.net.

Friends of NRA is a key grassroots event that supports thousands of community service related to firearm education, hunter safety, wildlife conservation, range improvements, youth marksmanship and law enforcement, among others. Working with NRA field representatives, the members and volunteers organize banquets in their communities, complete with auctions, special drawings, and fellowship. Much of the merchandise at the banquets is donated or provided at reduced cost by hundreds of participating vendors.

The upcoming banquet will feature three door prizes to be given away. The door prizes are Kimber Ultra Carry II .45 Pistol, Springfield Armory M1A Standard .308 WIN with 22” Barrel and a Kimber Pro Carry II .45 ACP Pistol. (Must be present to win all door prizes.)

The Friends of NRA is the face of the NRA, run at the grassroots level by people from all walks of life. At a Friends of NRA banquet, you’ll meet fire chiefs, engineers, shopkeepers, police officers and teachers—all mainstream citizens working together to support an important cause in preserving our rights and heritage.

Half of the profits raised by each Friends of NRA banquet will be spent in the state in which it was held. The other half supports qualifying national-level programs like the Eddie Eagle Unsafe® Program, Women On Target® and other educational and safety services. State Fund Committees made up of volunteers review grant applications from local organizations and make recommendations to The NRA Foundation on how the money might best be used in their areas. For more information about Friends of NRA, visit www.friendsofnra.org.

Established in 1990, The NRA Foundation, Inc. is a 501©(3) tax-exempt organization that raises tax-deductible contributions in support of a wide range of firearm-related public interest activities of the National Rifle Association of America and other organizations that defend and foster the Second Amendment rights of all law-abiding Americans. These activities are designed to promote firearm and hunting safety, to enhance marksmanship skills of those participating in the shootings sports, and to educate the general public about firearms in their historic, technological, and artistic context. More information about The NRA Foundation can be found online at www.nrafoundation.org, or by calling (800) 423-6894.

[Guest Halfpint]

Jay and I will be there. A bunch of regulars will be scattered around, as well.

/crosses fingers and hopes to win the M1A

[Guest David Waldrip]

Chance, that's some of the best news I've heard all week.

Everyone, the ticket prices are $60 each, which includes a very good dinner from the kitchen staff at Woodland Hills. Also, note that we don't have tickets at the door, as we must turn in a meal count several days in advance.

Thanks for the support!!

[Guest Halfpint]

When is the last day that tickets may be purchased? I've had a few people ask while Jay is out of town and haven't been able to give an answer . . .

[Guest David Waldrip]

We're aiming for Saturday the 18th. It might be stretched to Monday, the 20th.

[Guest David Waldrip]

Also, here's a link on the merchandise package:

http://www.friendsofnra.org/National.aspx?cid=148.

These items (except for the Weatherby shotgun) are offered on live auction or silent auction. Ken Roebuck of Asset Recovery will return again as our auctioneer, and a special thanks to him for donating his services to the Friends of NRA.

On a side note, the Weatherby shotgun was pulled to be the "pre-event" gun. We are selling chances at $10 per ticket to win a chance to participate in a game of skill. If you have the winning ticket AND you win the game of skill, you're the new and proud owner of the 2008 Gun of the Year (subject to a background check - of course).

So, please go see one of sponsors, like Chance, and get your tickets.

If that is unworkable for any reason, PM me or email me re: tickets.

Cheers,

-David

[Guest Halfpint]

Just kinda wondering, what's an approximate head-count for attendance? I've never been to one of the banquets, kinda wondering what my chances are on winning one of the door prizes

[Guest Revelator]

Most of the time when it's a door prize, it's like a free lunch or a gift bag with a windbreaker and some crap like that. I've never even heard of door prizes like this. Wow, definitely worth the price of admission.

[TripleDigitRide]

I attended the Friends of NRA dinner here in the Hendersonville area. They gave away and auctioned some great stuff. This was the first I had attended, and was quite surprised at the number of quality guns they had to offer.

Of course, I walked out empty handed, but the food was great.

[Guest jcramin]

I have a couple question. How many people usually show up to the banquets and what goes on ? Is is just a dinner thing ? guest speakers ? ??

Just curious.

Thanks,

J

[Guest David Waldrip]

Chance and J:

Woodland Hills will hold 400 people. We've come close to that before, and, of course, we'd like to fill the place with 400 this year. Having said that, 300 is probably more realistic this year given a variety of factors.

One thing that doesn't seem to be a factor is the economy. Friends of NRA events across Tennessee are up by 22% over last year, and nationally, this is the best year ever. They've already broken their goal of $15 million for the year.

So, of the other factors affecting attendace, one is the fact that a lot of people in Memphis wait until the last minute to decide to come. The whole push is done in the last few days, just like we're doing now. When that happens, attendance can be hit or miss. Please consider helping us make it a "hit".

By the way, a couple of donors have managed to get in four Ruger LCP .380's for auction/prizes. There is a waiting list nationwide for those guns - you can't walk in anywhere and get them, I'm told.

So, we look to have eighteen to twenty guns in the total lineup.

And several of us are bringing our wives, so bring your wife/girlfriend as well. If we can get some foo foo donations for the ladies, we'll make a ladies table in the silent auction just for them.

-David

Edited October 10, 2008 by David Waldrip

[Guest David Waldrip]

Below is more information from an NRA Foundation email.

_________________________________________________________________

Memphis Friends of NRA

Presents its Annual Banquet

On Thursday, October 23, 2008

The Friends of NRA Program is a grassroots organization that operates under the umbrella of the NRA Foundation, which is a 501 © (3) charitable and educational organization. Friends of NRA Volunteers conduct banquets to raise money to fund NRA Foundation grants. These grants are used to fund nonprofit groups such as Boy Scouts, 4-H, JROTC, SCTP Trap Teams, Eddie Eagle GunSafe®, etc. The national average of NRA Foundation grants funding youth programs is 70%; in Tennessee it's 92%; and in Shelby County it's 100%.

Since the inception of this program, Shelby County has received 37 NRA Foundation grants totaling $58,085.00. Groups benefiting from these grants are the University of Memphis Rifle Team, University of Memphis Army ROTC, Wolf River Rifle Team, Briarcrest Trap Club, Arlington High School Trappers, Chickasaw Council BSA, Bolton High School, Houston High School Trap Team, MUS Owls SCTP Team, Quail Unlimited Wolf River Chapter #605, Cordova High School Shooting Team, Houston High School Trap, Christian Brothers High School, Shelby County 4-H Shooting Sports, and Memphis City Schools JROTC Program. Several of these groups have received multiple grants since inception.

The Memphis Friends of NRA banquet on the evening of October 23, 2008 will feature dinner, live and silent auctions, contests, games, and NRA Limited Edition items. There will be several one of a kind, hard to find and limited edition guns. Several of the guns available will be the 2008 Gun of the Year, Weatherby Orion D’Italia Over/Under 12 ga. Shotgun, Kimber Custom II “NRA Freedom “ .45, Smith & Wesson Model 442 Second Amendment Foundation Commemorative, Taurus Judge Night Court Edition 410 ga/.45 Long Colt, Springfield Armory MIA Standard .308 WIN with 22’ Barrel, Ruger LCP .380 ACP (4 available), plus many more!!!

[Guest David Waldrip]

From page 10 of the latest RangeUSA newsletter:

______________________________________________________________

Friends of NRA Tickets on Sale NOW!

Buy your ticket from Range USA, Inc. and save $5.00!

The annual event is being held on Thursday, October 23rd at Woodland Hills. The dinner and auction begins at 5:30pm.

Tickets are regularly $60.00. However, if you purchase your ticket at Range USA, Inc.

and request to be placed at one of Range USA’s tables, you may purchase your ticket for $55.00.

We are offering this discount to our friends as a way of saying “thank you” for your continued support. Plus, it will be fun to have several tables full of people you know, have taken classes with, and shoot with at the range. You won’t be “stuck” sitting with a group of people you don’t know.

Edited October 13, 2008 by David Waldrip
Formatting

[Guest David Waldrip]

Please see the attached form for more info. Tickets are moving. Get your's now.

-David

[Guest jcramin]

Looks like myself and a couple guys from work will be going too.

[Guest jcramin]

SO will alcohol be served for on site consumption within the confines of the building ??????? LOL just curious ????

[Guest David Waldrip]

Yes, there is a cash bar in the very back.

Now, for those of you who have read this far, don't forget that there will be four Ruger LCP .380's. One could end up as the prize of a bucket game, another the prize of a different game, one in silent auction, and one in live auction. Not that that scenario is set in stone, I'm just sayin. Four of us will fill out 4473's for those guns, for sure.

So, get your tickets and see you there.

Edited October 16, 2008 by David Waldrip

[Guest jcramin]

Yes, there is a cash bar in the very back.

Now, for those of you who have read this far, don't forget that there will be four Ruger LCP .380's. One could end up as the prize of a bucket game, another the prize of a different game, one in silent auction, and one in live auction. Not that that scenario is set in stone, I'm just sayin. Four of us will fill out 4473's for those guns, for sure.

So, get your tickets and see you there.

So I guess that means NOONE comes in with LOADED guns but many of us will be leaving with new UNLOADED guns ...... LOL

[Guest Halfpint]

Hey, works for me! One week from today!

[Guest jcramin]

Im going to just bring a holster with me so I can slide my new Kimber right in when I win it

[Guest Halfpint]

Haha nice J . . . tomorrow needs to get here!

[Guest David Waldrip]

All:

This email is going to the email list for the Memphis Friends of NRA Committee, selected friends, and is being posted to the Tennessee Gun Owners forum.

We had a great event Thursday night with 230 people in attendance. The GREAT, GREAT news is that we have so far netted over $33,000 in funds . In other words, we're about to send this money to the NRA Foundation in Fairfax where half will be spent by the Foundation and the other half will be returned to Tennessee to be allocated as grants within the state.

There is still an opportunity for you to help the Memphis Friends of NRA Committee. Please consider purchasing a 2008 Liberty Sponsorship for $200. We have eight sculptures on hand that we would very much like to sell to folks who didn't buy one earlier or didn't have a chance to participate in the event.

For the $200 price of the Sponsorship, one

• helps the Memphis Friends of NRA Committee increase our gross and net numbers,
  
• helps the NRA Foundation,
  
• helps the shooting sports and youth programs in the state,
  
• receives a remarkable sculpture of President Teddy Roosevelt, and
  
• receives $140 in tax deductibility.
  

Please either visit Guns and Ammo at 3615 Summer Avenue or contact me to purchase your Liberty Sponsorship. We'll even offer to bring the paperwork and sculpture to your house at your convenience, if that works best for you.

Also, please forward this email on to others who might be interested in supporting us.

On behalf of the Memphis Friends of NRA Committee, thank you for your help and support.

David Waldrip

Chairman

Memphis Friends of NRA Committee

901-834-8698

david.waldrip@comcast.net

Edited October 26, 2008 by David Waldrip