V.G.C.A NEWS SEPTEMBER '00

General

Please remember that in the months where we sponsor the VGCA Gun Show, we do not have a Regular Meeting.  The show will be at Hugo's Skating Rink in Bealton on 16-17 September, and the next Regular Meeting will be on 26 October at the NRA.

August Meeting

I am sorry to have been out of town during the recent meeting.  Those who attended were treated to a presentation given by Colonel Keith Gibson from my alma mater, where he is the VMI museum curator.  His program was on air rifles made by Isaiah Lukens and Jacob Kunz.  One of the rifles had strong documentation as having been with Lewis and Clark on their famous 1803-1806 eight thousand mile expedition.

Show and Tell

As always, this portion of the meeting can stand alone.  That's why it gets a separate paragraph heading in every newsletter.  Larry Hare showed a few of his Mauser .22 caliber training rifles.  Vince Rausch shared some of the rare military ammunition from his collection.  Hal Prucha let everyone see his hi-wall musket, and Paul Martin talked about his Moisin-Nagant sniper rifle with a grenade launcher attached.

New Members

Two new candidates, Everett Oesterling and Ben White were voted in as new members.  As of this date we have an application from Dominick Casciano, who is sponsored by Ernie Lyles.

Our Gun Show

Setting up will take place on Friday, 15 September, starting at 10 a.m. with Jim Burgess on duty, and takedown and cleanup will be right after the show closes at 4 p.m. on Sunday.  If you have the time, please consider helping at either end, even if you have not signed up to do so.  Moving and stacking tables and chairs is not an easy job, especially if only a few are doing it.  Julian Ayler will be in charge of door security this time.  Please call him or Addison if you can spend some time checking in guns and people at the entrance.  Even if you have not signed up for a particular hour or so, your help will be greatly appreciated if you volunteer to do so at the show.  In the past too few have worked at the entrance.  Nobody should have to sit there all day and not see what is available at the show.

VSSA Election

If you are a VSSA member and have not yet voted you might want to consider doing so and also consider any VGCA members who are candidates for the Board.  At least one, King Von Schilling, is a candidate who is always there when the hard work of moving and stacking tables at our shows needs to be done.

Other Events

If this gets to you in time, there is a Northern Virginia Cartridge Show on Sept 8-9 at the Ramada Inn in Quantico. Take Exit 150A off I95.

The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms and the Second Amendment Foundation are sponsoring the 2000 Rights Policy Conference at the Crystal City Marriott on September 29 and 30 and October 1.  For more information call 435-454-4911.  The conference is free.

EXCOM

At the meeting on 6 September, the EXCOM voted to give Jim Matthews $300.00 for support of the Boy Scouts shooting program.  The old .22 caliber single-shot rifles need repair, and at least one new rifle (really two) is needed.

The revised Bylaws are almost ready and will be mailed with the next Newsletter.  They will be voted on at the October meeting.

Secretary's Subtleties

When one of the members asked about VGCA hats two meetings past, the crowd was just about unanimous in its approval to support getting them.  Remembering my previous life as the Executive Director of a not-for-profit organization, I blurted out that most of the so-called good ideas do nothing more than cause the loss of dollars for the organization.  The response to the hats has been a crescendo that is more like the last few drops of a brook about to run dry.  At last count, 15 people responded that they would buy a hat.  Well fellow members, the hats are going to be bought.  At least one gross will be purchased.  How about proving me wrong and buying at least one hat.  Better yet, prove me wrong and order enough that we have to make a two-gross purchase.  See Addison at the show to sign up.  I already did.

President's Corner

Our first show in 2001 will be on 24-25 March at Hugo's.  But first things first.  Our show on 16.17 September deserves our attention.  Let's make it even better than the last.  Everyone can help with security.  If you see guns that are untied on tables, politely point it out to the person responsible for the table.  After a few minutes, if nothing is done to correct it, notify one of the Security people.

The dealer packets will have a reminder about the BATF and State rules for selling firearms.  There will also be signs posted on the doors.  Please do not do anything other than what the laws allows.  Residents of Virginia who do not have an FFL can legally sell to Virginians only.  Don't let anybody tell you different or talk to you into breaking the law.  The VGCA wants no part of anything that hints at being wrong.

What it amounts to is that as far as the BATF, State Police, and the VGCA are concerned, there are no gray areas in regard to the sale of firearms.  That goes for licensed dealers, as well as for our members who lawfully sell from their collections at our shows.  The VGCA will not support or come to the aid of anyone either caught or suspected of wrongdoing in their firearms transactions.

In previous Newsletters Mike has talked about the great shows in Baltimore and Fort Washington, Pennsylvania.  Others have commented about other great shows.  One thing those shows have in common is the support, in all aspects, rendered by the members of the sponsoring organizations.  We are getting there, but we are not there yet.  Come on out, enjoy the show, and help us make it better.

Addison