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NRA Youth Programs to Conduct RSO Training in January

The NRA Youth Programs Department will be conducting Range Safety Officer (RSO) training on January 20 at the National High School Rodeo Association’s (NHSRA) mid-winter meeting in Denver, Colo.

Upon completion of the training, students will receive RSO certification that will enable them to volunteer on the line at NHSRA’s state/provincial shooting finals, as well as at the national finals in Gallup and Farmington, N.M.

The size of NHSRA’s shooting sports program continues to grow, with participation increasing in all events by more than 292 percent in 2008 alone.

The RSO training is open to all members of the NHSRA organization and will help NHSRA to grow its volunteer base for future shooting events. For more information, or to sign up for the class, please contact Lyn Larsen at llarsen@nhsra.org or 800-466-4772 (Ext. 217).

2009 National Disabled Indoor Air Rifle Sectional Championships

NRA's Disabled Shooting Services is proud to announce the creation of the 2009 National Disabled Indoor Air Rifle Sectional Championships.

The new National Disabled Indoor Air Rifle Sectional Championship will be held at various locations between January 15 and March 30, 2009. This championship was created to replace the Beeman Grand Prix Tour, which was a stand-alone competition that had limited participation. The Disabled Indoor Air Rifle Championship was created with the hope that it can someday be combined with the National Open Indoor Air Rifle Championship that already exists.

The NRA National Disabled Indoor Air Rifle Championships give competitors with physical disabilities a chance to compete in national individual and team events by comparing their scores with those fired in clubs all over the country. Scores are compatible because of the similar conditions existing in indoor ranges.

Dates currently scheduled are as follows:
January 31 - Lakeshore Foundation, Birmingham, AL
February 7 - Louisville, KY
February 14 - Fresno Wheelchair Shooting Championships, Fresno, CA
March 14 - VA Boston Healthcare System, Brockton, MA

For more information contact Vanessa Warner, Manager of Disabled Shooting Services, at 703-267-1495 or disabled-shooting@nrahq.org.

Note on Year-end NRA Program Materials Shipments

NRA’s Program Materials Center Online Store will be closed for year-end inventory beginningThursday, Dec. 18, 2008, and will not reopen until Friday, Jan. 2, 2009.

Individuals needing program materials during the inventory shutdown period or shortly thereafter, such as NRA Certified Instructors, should note that online, telephone, or mail-in orders received prior to close of business (8 p.m. EST) on Wednesday, Dec. 17 will still ship the following day.

All online, telephone or mail-in orders placed between Dec. 18 and Jan. 1 will not be filled and shipped until the Program Materials Center Online Store reopens for business on Jan. 2.

Please be aware of the above dates and plan ahead for any materials you may need during the time periods noted.

To place an order, visit http://materials.nrahq.org or call 1-800-336-7402.

Thank you for your patience as we look forward to a great 2009!

Record-breaking 7th year in a row for Law Enforcement Instructor Schools

For the past 7 years, the Law Enforcement Activities Division (LEAD) of the National Rifle Association has seen a steady increase in the number of law enforcement firearm instructors being trained, who in-turn train the officers in their agency or unit.

LEAD was established in 1960 to provide the law enforcement community with a comprehensive law enforcement firearm instructor-training program. This year over 2,150 new students have participated in the training program. Glen Hoyer, Director of LEAD, said the following of the increased participation, “Our record-breaking attendance in 2008 shows, not only the law enforcement community’s commitment to high standards, but, also, demonstrates the NRA’s willingness to provide a necessary service to the law enforcement community.”

For those interested in learning more about sponsoring a training program, please visit our web site at www.nrahq.org/law or call 703-267-1640.

Field Representatives update

Our Friends of NRA liason Nicole was kind enough to give us an update on the recent Field Representative meetings held in Fairfax, Virginia. Field representatives are assigned to a certain geographic jurisdiction and travel throughout the United States helping NRA members to plan and execute Friends banquets and fundraisers. They meet at NRA Headquarters annually.

The Friends of NRA Merchandise Preview meeting had another successful year with new merchandise for event banquets that will take place beginning January, 2009. The preview was held during the annual headquarters meetings that take place the first week in December.

Field Representatives throughout the nation came to the Marriott in Fairfax, VA to see all the merchandise in person. The standard merchandise package was a huge hit along with the new Sponsor merchandise, Magnum Package, High Caliber firearms, and various vendor direct items. It's bound to be another big year for the Friends of NRA!

Look here to find the Field Represenative nearest you, and look here for your local Friends banquet.