Another great year comes to an end,,,,,,

[contender]

Well, today we had our annual Western NC District Friends of the NRA Grant Fund Committee distribution workshop.
This workshop is where one rep from each of the 27 committees in the Western District of NC,,, (we have 2 Districts,) meet to distribute monies to grant requests from our district. The money was raised in 2017 in our district. Here are a few stats;
27 events;
Net money raised; $798,000.00
Money available to our District, 1/2 of that, or $397,000.00.
Grant requests total; 1.2 million dollars.
Western NC District was up over 10% over last year in net money.
National average was about 2%.
We are in the South East region of the FoNRA regions. WNC was the highest net District in the entire SE region.
My event in Asheville NC was the 3rd highest of the 27 events.
We were second highest in net per attendee. (The other events that beat us out had more attendees.)
My event in Asheville holds the National record for the highest net raised on the Founding Chapter gun. (Only 70 guns were built in 2017 for this honor. See my post here in the Lounge about the special Ruger Vaquero.) That gun & custom holster auctioned off at $6100.
That gun & 3 of it's mates were part of my ROCS display this past July.

So now,, 2107 is in the books as another very successful year for our FoNRA.

We had 115 grants to consider today, and it took us 3 hours to review & award the monies as necessary for the needy requests. Rest assured, a lot of Hunter Safety teams, FFA, JROTC, BSA, Cross Trail Outfitters & others that serve the youth in NC are getting a lot of support for the upcoming 2108 season.
Our Funding committee looks long & hard at the requests & how they benefit the youth as a main criteria.

Some of the requests were from groups outside our area,,, so we declined those,,, hoping they would apply to their own Districts for assistance. Some of the requests were for items not allowed by the 501c3 portion of our rules. These items were not allowed.

And sadly, many of the qualifying grants asked for a lot more than we could give,,, due to us trying to spread the monies to all who qualified.

So, if you ever get a chance to attend a FoNRA event,,,, give as much as you can,,, play the games, buy the tickets, participate in the auctions. Because the money raised is never enough to cover all the needs. But it does help a lot of kids get into shooting.

Look out 2018,,, as we want to top the 1 million dollar amount net raised.

 

[rugerguy]

Outstanding job TY, you guys can be proud of the great work you have been able to do.....Good for you, and good for the shooting sports............ :wink:

 

[Colonialgirl]

Florida Friends of the NRA is offering a calendar for next year; only 6000 entry/calendars available and they will be giving away TWO firearms per week for the entire year, a total of 105 guns. Each entry costs $50, we bought two entries , one for me and one for Ashley my spouse. Even if you win one week, your number is still good for all the other drawings. Sounds a LOT better than the FLA Lotto !!

 

[blume357]

Good Job Tye..........

 

[Don Lovel]

The high school trap shooting team from the Cassville Missouri area is a fine example of NRA supported programs being very successful. I just had a discussion with the head guy of the program about sending his kids to NRA Whittington Center in Raton New Mexico for a few days on the new shotgun ranges there.
It is important that these programs promote gun safety and a positive light on shooting sports and gun ownership, especially in these times when so many liberal idiots are trying to outlaw and ban such activities.

 

[WendyZXZ]

Sound like an outstanding job done!

 

[contender]

Thanks all. It's a labor of love so to speak. I like helping things that ensure the future of the shooting sports. And to be as successful as we've been,,, makes me even happier.
Our NRA rep used to be the chairman of my committee. He got the job with the NRA in 2002. His first year,,, the entire state of NC raised a net of only $78,000.00. My event,,, just a bit over $6,000.00. To say we've grown, and expanded is an understatement. About 10 years ago,,, the NRA split NC into (2) different districts. And we kept growing. Now, the FoNRA has grown all across the entire Country. But for my district to take top honors of the Southern Region, (for the first time ever,) and to be up well above the national average,, well,,, I'm proud of all our work.

BUT,,, none of this could happen without folks attending and opening their wallets to help. So I want to seriously say; "THANK YOU" to all here who attend a FoNRA event anywhere in the country.

 

[AJGUNNER]

Outstanding!!!

You deserve a huge pat on the back for all the work you do to benefit all of us.

Thank You for all that you do.