V.G.C.A NEWS OCTOBER '98

Monthly Meetings

Please note that this month's meeting will be on the 4th Thursday of the month - Oct. 22nd - at 8PM at the NRA Hdqts.  Come at 7 or so and have a light dinner.   Please note that the November and December meetings will be combined as usual not to interfere with the Holidays and hunting seasons.  The date of this combined meeting will be December 3 at 8PM at the NRA Hdqts.

Upcoming Programs

Bill Edwards will present a program this month on the background of the Harpers Ferry raid by John Brown, the arms involved, and other historical information about the background of the Civil War.  Don't miss it. Bill will have some copies available.  I have both editions, and they are both treasures in my library - full of information that is well documented.  Bill's presentation will take about 30 minutes or so and will start around 8 PM.  The other part of this month's program will be a guided tour of the new NRA Museum by Phil Schrier et all.  The program for the combined November - December meeting will be Ed Costello's presentation of Broomhandle Mauser Pistols.  If you missed Ed's presentation 10 years ago, don't miss this one.  His collection is incredible and so are the stories and lies that go with them!  We need a program for January '99.  If you would be willing to be a presenter, call Mo.

Recent Information from the EXCOM meeting

There was not time left at the last meeting to tell you about some things.  The price of admission to the March 13 - 14 show will increase to $ 5.00.  Dues for annual members will increase to $20.00 on January 1, 1999.  The price of Life Membership will increase to $100.00 on January 1, 1999.  It was decided that is annual members wish to upgrade to Life Membership before the end of the year, you can simply do so by paying $75.00 to Ed Costello.  This $75.00 added to your already-paid dues for this year will get you Life Membership before the price increase.

MIA Members

If anyone has address info on David Powell or Mark Corrigan, please send it to me.

Fall Show

The gate was not good.  Advertising was not good.  However, the show was great!  Ed will have the figures at this month's meeting.  The displays were really good.  John Gebharct won 1st place with his Miniature Military Training Rifles.  Burt Sours won 2nd place with his Marlin Rifles.  Jim Anderson won 3rd place with his display of Colt Conversions.  Pete Roberts won 1st place Judges Choice Award with his display of 1908 SW Triple Lock Pistols.  Bill Thacker won 2nd place Judges Choice Award with his display of US .22 Training Rifles.  Congratulations to all winner.  They were great displays.

New Member Applications

Time did not allow us to vote on three applications last month.  We need to vote on:  Paul Joseph Martin (interest is Russian and Finnish Small Arms and ammo) who spoke at the last meeting; his sponsor is Marty Eakes; James R. Leahigh (interest is US Military Long Arms); his sponsor is John Vagnetti; Kristopher Gasier (interest is European Military weapons); his sponsor is Victor Rausch.

Kudos for Carlos

Congratulations to Carlos Davilla who recently became a member of the Board of Directors of Smith and Wesson.  Carlos, as you recall, made a very interesting presentation of his collection of FN FALs at the last picnic - until the monsoons struck and soaked them and all the members present.

SITREP on Ed Wages

If anyone has any info on Ed's progress, please let us know at the meeting.

John the Wallace

John recently presented on the History Channel a program on the Thompson Submachine Gun.  I think it aired September 20.  The series The History of the Gun often repeats, so watch for it.  If anyone taped it, I would like to make a dub of your tape.  We could make as many as requested.

See you, hopefully, on October 22. 

Addison Hurst,
Secy.