AmericanRifleman.org is literally bursting with exclusive content. The monthly series titled “I Have This Old Gun...” is something we're pleased to be able to link. These gems were filmed during the 2009 season of American Rifleman TV and are being rolled out the beginning of each month.

This month, watch as our friends in NRA Publications unveil the Savage Model 110.

The Model 110 was designed for the hunting community in 1958 to compete with Remington's Model 700, Winchester's Model 70, and other repeating bolt action rifles.

When you have a chance, take the time to watch this month's edition of "I Have This Old Gun..." for the full scoop on the Savage Model 110.

The NRA's Law Enforcement Division is turning 50!

You've read about the commemorative coin police officers will receive when attending an armorer school or training school, or taking part in one of the division's many competitions.

The NRA Program Materials Center offers a few items anyone can purchase, including the badge in the photo at left.

Sheri Judd comes to the NRA from Oak Harbor, Ohio, where she worked with the Civilian Marksmanship Program for eight years. During the snow storm in late December, Judd made the drive to Virginia to begin her position in our Education & Training Division. "I'm afraid I brought some of Ohio's weather with me, and I'm sorry about that," Judd joked.

This energetic mother of three has years of experience in national youth shooting sports programs and training. This, along with her knowledge of national and club competitions and relationship with military shooting teams, shooting industry vendors and equipment manufacturers will be an asset to NRA Youth Programs, Youth Programs Manager Larry Quandahl said.

Here at the NRA, Judd will be working with Cooperative Youth Programs – specifically with the Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force JROTC Commands and high schools throughout the country; the American Legion shooting sports program; the VFW and YMCA youth marksmanship programs; and the Outstanding Achievement Youth Award.

Judd is a long-time "team mom," from many years ago when her oldest son was an air rifle competitor. Today, youngest son, Remington, 12, keeps Judd busy. After a busy workweek, Judd packs up her car with Remington and his high power rifle gear and the two head to Quantico, VA, where Remington practices with his new team, VFEMI Jr High Power team. Does Remington feel pressured to follow in his older siblings' footsteps in the shooting sports world? "Not at all," Judd said. "This is what he wants to do."

Judd and her three children are adjusting to the northern Virginia area. "There's more to do here as a family than back in Ohio," she said. "We like it here just fine." We're glad to have you here, Sheri! Readers, stick around. We'll be hearing plenty more from the talented folks in our Youth Programs department.

MidwayUSA and its CEO, Larry Potterfield, have pledged $50,000 to become a Friends of NRA 2010 National Corporate Sponsor.

The donation will be used to provide funding for NRA Foundation programs dedicated to youth and women’s shooting sports, range development and law enforcement such as the Eddie Eagle GunSafe® program, Refuse to be a Victim® and Women on Target®.

MidwayUSA is a world leader in shooting and reloading supplies which it sells online and through mail-order catalogues. Founded in 1977 and headquartered in Columbia, Missouri, they have maintained their strong commitment to Friends of NRA and the shooting sports over the years. Brenda Potterfield, co-owner and wife of Larry, has previously served as the Vice President of the NRA Foundation's Board of Trustees.

Friends of NRA is a grassroots fund-raising program that fosters community involvement, raises money, and gives 100% of the net proceeds to qualified local, state, and national programs. Working with the NRA's field staff, thousands of volunteers nationwide participate in the program by organizing committees and planning events in their communities.

Larry Potterfield was instrumental in the startup of Friends of NRA with the founding of the first chapter in Columbia, Missouri, in 1992. Since then, Friends of NRA has expanded to hold over 12,000 events. The original chapter still holds its monthly meetings at the MidwayUSA building.

More...

As NRAblog told you yesterday, tonight marks the first in a new six-part series of our weekly feature "Curator's Corner."  This section is all about movies. Last year you saw as Curator's Corner went Film Noir -- now watch as Curator's Corner Goes to the Movies.

As luck would have it, first up to the plate is February's fill in -- the shotgun from "No Country for Old Men."

The "No Country" shotgun is a Remington 11-87 semi-auto fitted with a faux suppressor and will surely be a highlight in the National Firearms Museum's new "Hollywood Guns" exhibit. Shown here in the hands of NRANews Executive Producer John Popp, it was used in the movie when Javier Bardem was violently collecting stolen drug money from a rival gang.

But for all the details on Javier's Remington, you'll have to tune in tonight at 10:20 p.m. for this week's edition of Curator's Corner on NRANews.com or Sirius Patriot channel 144.

From Nicole McMahon:

Every state does something different in order to raise money at Friends of NRA banquets, but Tennessee does something unique – it focuses on quality donations that are raffled or auctioned off at each of its 24 banquets. In the past, Tennessee may have had one or two statewide donations; this year, it had a remarkable 16, and the numbers keep growing.

One of the more coveted items added this year, a 1911 Pistol .45 ACP, is being produced by C.O. Arms exclusively for the Tennessee Friends of NRA. Each pistol is engraved with the words “Tennessee Friends of NRA 2010,” the Friends of NRA patriot logo, and a serial number TNFNRA01 through 24.

Mike Webb, the NRA Field Representative for Tennessee, received news from another high-end donor whose donation package would start at a minimum bid of $1,000. Included in the package is:

• A tour for up to 10 guests of the Barrett Firearms plant, which would include shooting the world famous Barrett .50-caliber rifle.
• Each winning bidder will be eligible for a drawing at the end of the year for one FREE Barrett 98-Bravo 338 Lupua Rifle. The 98-Bravo has been named the NRA Publications’ Golden Bullseye Rifle of the Year for 2010.
• Each of the top bidders from the Friends’ chapters (while they did not win the FREE rifle) may purchase the 98-Bravo during 2010 with a discount of $500 from Barrett.

More...

Women On Target National Coordinator Beth Hellmann recently wrote NRAblog to commend long-time Women On Target Clinic Director Brenda Schmale.

“Brenda is one of the most prolific clinic directors in Women On Target,” Hellmann said. “She often schedules a dozen clinics per year! The women of Sonoma County are lucky to have such a dedicated leader.”

Schmale, from Sonoma, California, wrote Hellmann to report a positive trend Hellmann says is taking the program by storm:

"I want to tell you that our class sizes are doubling as Women on Target popularity spreads. I have 2 Women's Empowerment groups who want to advertise our clinics on their websites.”

"Our volunteers are so dedicated to this program that if I ask them about doing something nice for them to show our appreciation, like a group dinner, they say that being involved in Women on Target is reward enough. I have never been involved in anything that has been so rewarding and I hear that from all the other volunteers in our program as well."

Read all NRAblog coverage of Women On Target! 

Jeremy Greene, Event Services Manager for NRA's Field Operations, was kind enough to update us on the Annual Meeting. It will be here before we know it -- start making your travel plans now!

"The NRA Foundation gets the Annual Meeting off to a roaring start on with two fun, family-friendly events," Greene explained. "The National NRA Foundation Banquet and Auction will be held Thursday, May 13, and the Sportsmen’s Brunch and Auction will be on Friday, May 14. You'll find both events in the Charlotte Convention Center’s Crown Ballroom."

"Thanks to the generous support of donors from around the world, the two auctions will include custom firearms, unique merchandise, and once-in-a-lifetime hunts and trips," Greene continued. "This year The NRA Foundation is excited to provide attendees with a brand new Online Auction Catalog." View it here!

All funds raised at both of these events directly impact the shooting sports in communities nationwide. For more information or to purchase tickets, contact Sarah Young at (703) 267-1417.

Always there to lend a hand promoting the National Firearms Museum's (NFM) latest efforts, NRANews stopped by to film the next few segments of Curator's Corner. And what theme did they go with this time? Why the museum's new Hollywood Guns exhibit due to come online later next month of course.

Hollywood Guns is a collection of firearms seen in some of the more popular movies over the last eighty years. Everyone from NFM's Director Jim Supica to Assistant Curator Amber Lammers have been scrambling over the last six months to gather guns from movies like 1934's The Thin Man to 2010's The Pacific. In true 'at the movies' style, we shot the series in our headquarter's conference center for a more balcony-like effect.

Just make sure to tune in tomorrow night for the first in a six part serial presentation of Curator's Corner Goes to the Movies at 10:20 p.m. on NRANews.com or on Sirius Patriot channel 144. Until then, the balcony is closed.

Thanks to Nicole McMahon for the following:

The University of Wyoming’s shotgun team, Cowboy Shootout, recently received a grant for $10,000 from The NRA Foundation. Wyoming NRA Field Representative Dave Manzer was on hand this past weekend at the Invitational Match held at Cheyenne Trap Club to present the grant. Ten other teams from throughout the country were in attendance to witness the grant presentation, which Manzer says helps spread the word about The NRA Foundation’s grant program to provide much needed funding to youth shooting sports.

“Our grant presentation last year to the [Cowboy Shootout] shotgun team spawned a grant request from Colorado State University to the Colorado Friends of NRA,” said Manzer. “Their team eventually was awarded about $8,000. They never would’ve received that money if it weren’t for our grant presentation to Cowboy Shootout.”

Supporting teams like the Cowboy Shootout is a win-win situation for the Wyoming Friends of NRA. It experiences the satisfaction of helping develop and support a youth shooting team and the team comes out to Friends of NRA banquets where extra help is always appreciated.

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While in Washington DC attending a conference, NRAblog had the pleasure of meeting a young man by the name of Joshua Wander. Like all of our NRA Certified Instructors, Wander has a great story.

Born in Mckeesport, PA, Wander has called Pennsylvania home for more than twenty years. He received his bachelor's degree in Talmudic law with honors from a prestigious rabbinical college in Jerusalem and spent several years as a political correspondent for The Jerusalem Post. Wander served as a commander in the IDF and officer in the United States Air Force aux. before graduating from the University of Pittsburgh with a master's degree in public and international affairs with concentrations in global studies and the Middle East.

He was kind enough to grant us an interview:

NRAblog: What got you interested in shooting?

Wander: I started shooting bb guns when I was very young. Since I am a dual citizen of the US and Israel I was drafted into the army. (At age 18 there is a mandatory draft for all Israeli citizens male and female). It was in the IDF that I really trained and became interested in shooting. Later in life, my political career has expanded my horizons to a lot of the theory behind the practical knowledge.

NRAblog: When and where did you become NRA Certified Instructor? In which disciplines?

Wander: I have taught firearm training for years, but I became an NRA Certified Instructor this year. I have begun with pistol, but hope to soon complete rifle, shotgun and self defense. I am also an NRA life member and recruiter.

NRAblog: How would you describe the courses you offer? Do you cater to a certain audience?

Wander: My courses are catered to the Jewish community (although all are welcome) and are advertised within the communities. Unfortunately, many liberal Jews are gun control advocates and don't understand the necessity to train, own and carry a firearm, ESPECIALLY within our community.

I likewise have a website that caters to preparing the Jewish Community. Among other topics, it deals with firearm knowledge and training.

Wander provided us with the accompanying photos. At right, he is pictured serving in Lebanon in 1992.

It was our pleasure to cross your path, Mr. Wander! Keep in touch.

It's Wednesday, which means here your list of the upcoming Friends of NRA events this next week, courtesy of Event Services Coordinator Nicole McMahon.

03/04/2010
Billings, Montana
Effingham, Illinois

03/05/2010
Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania
Latham, New York
Missoula, Montana
Riverton, Wyoming

03/06/2010
Artesia, New Mexico
Ashland, Wisconsin
Auburn, California
Chillicothe, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Danville, Virginia
Danville, Indiana
Enon Valley, Pennsylvania
Eugene, Oregon
More...

Officer Shay Wash of the Wichita Police Department held a press conference yesterday to introduced Eddie Eagle® to the community. A product of the 2009 nationwide Eddie Eagle® mascot costume contest, Wichita is one of many departments around that nation that received a mascot costume free of charge. So now that he's in town, where will Eddie be appearing?

"Our hope is to include a visit from Eddie Eagle at school assemblies, safety fairs, and other special events we are presenting to children," proclaimed Officer Wash.

Reaching over 23 million children since its inception in 1998, the Eddie Eagle GunSafe® Program teaches pre-K through the third grade children simple, effective rules to follow should they encounter a firearm in an unsupervised setting: “If you see a gun: STOP! Don’t Touch. Leave the Area. Tell an Adult.”

You can watch the press conference here.

For more on the Eddie Eagle GunSafe® Program, call the Eddie Eagle® Department at (800) 231-0752 or visit www.nrahq.org/safety/eddie/.

‘Love’ means shooting pistols for local GI eyeing Olympics

WESTMINSTER — U.S. Army Spec. Tyler C. Imig cannot believe he gets paid to do what he loves best: shoot pistols.

“I am still surprised that I get to do this,” he said. “How often do you get paid to do something like this?”

With a goal to qualify for the 2012 Olympic shooting team, the 24-year-old pistol shooter currently ranks No. 8 in the country.

A 2005 graduate of Oakmont Regional High School, Spec. Imig said he enlisted in the Army shortly after graduating from the University of Massachusetts at Lowell last year to start his career as a shooter.

“I got a letter from the Army telling me that I could enlist and be placed on the national team, so that’s what I did,” he said.

Today, he is under a four-year contract with the Army and stationed at Fort Benning, Ga.

As a member of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, Spec. Imig is one of six shooters in his division. He shoots both air pistols and free pistols, which are classified as international precision events.

While other young adults his age look for employment in their fields, Spec. Imig is literally in the field, spending his days shooting and training other soldiers to shoot.

Continue reading here.

From the Brownells website:

Brownells Expands

Brownells is growing. The company is proud to announce a 37,000 square foot expansion of their Montezuma, Iowa warehouse is well underway.

According to company President, Pete Brownell, "The extra space makes room for the additional inventory needed to maintain our industry-leading in-stock position and to also help us get our orders out even more efficiently."

Along with the new space, plans call for the addition of several people, plus more technology to assist order picking, packing, and bulk warehouse staff with their jobs.

CEO Frank Brownell told us, "I remember working for Dad in the basement of the old movie theatre on the town square. We couldn't imagine filling the current building when we moved in back in the 1970s and we've had to add on every five years. What's really neat is we've been able to expand without losing the personal service that our customers deserve."

At Brownells Everything is Guaranteed period! ...Forever, 100%, with no restocking fees. Founded in 1939, they supply more than 30,000 firearms parts, accessories and gunsmithing tools to armorers, gunsmiths, and shooters worldwide. Brownells provides free tech help and there's no minimum order size or small order fees. To order, or for more information, call 800-741-0015 or visit brownells.com.