Fin Fur & Feather Club, Inc. September 2005 Volume 7, Issue 1 Charles Bruckerhoff Editor-in-Chief Matt Bruckerhoff Mike Bruckerhoff Copy Editors Rod & Gun Gazette Letter from the Vice-President Dear Members, very fine leadership. Fishing, shooting challenge with pistol, Inside this issue: Service on the Club’s Execu- ever the great joy of young and rifle, and carbine; skirmishers tive Board for several years and old, continues to provide are popping and cracking at members with relaxation breakable as well as paper tar- 2005 FFF Picnic 2 as the Vice-President for the past four years have been a whether they are serious about gets. The bar tends to show a distinct pleasure for me. Dur- landing a fresh catch for dinner profit, which is a good thing. Skirmshing Update 3 ing this time, we accomplished or for much-needed practice The Club’s adoption of quality a number of very notable ob- with a fly rod or spin-casting software and systematic data Trap—Summer League 4 jectives. The skeet field renova- reel. Rifle continues its unique entry and analysis keeps mem- tion project, long in the dream- offerings in high power, with bers well-informed about our ing stage, is now a remarkably special time set aside for the finances. And, events for our Beef Brisket BBQ 6 beautiful shooting sports facil- Garand match and recently the children are nothing less than ity, including opportunity for long range .22 caliber match. outstanding, whether embed- Membership News 6 trap shooting. We bought the Likewise, pistol continues to ded in the Annual Picnic or last remaining contiguous piece attract the hand gun shooters. basically reserved for the Both rifle and pistol ranges youngsters, like the Christmas Hunting Regulations 7-9 of property—for a handsome price, to be sure, but we got it offer great opportunities for Party. We have some tremen- for the Club. Sporting Clays members and guests to drill dously generous members who 6 has come a long way and arch- one-hole groups. Black powder give their time—an untold ery also has made great gains in events reawaken the desire in number of hours and days— facilities and programs under some members for a genuine (continued on page 4) Special points of in- terest: Annual Election of Officers & Executive Board • Vote on Changes to Club Dues October 11th. Members are notified that at Secretary: Richard Palmer Mike Sobol • Annual Elections Oc- the October 11 Regular Meet- Treasurer: Tom Hoagland Paul Sobol tober Membership ing the Club will hold its an- EXECUTIVE BOARD Bob Theriault Meeting nual election of Officers and Executive Board. The follow- Jim Gifford Rick Turcotte • Fall Hunting Season ing slate is presented: off to great start. Jon Guarino OFFICERS • Thanksgiving & Bob Hruskocy President: Steven Davis Christmas are just Keith Morehouse around the bend. Vice-President: Don Bajger John Pawelec Page 2 Rod & Gun Gazette Volume 7, Issue 1 2005 Annual FFF Family Picnic Was Another Tremendous Success Thanks to the hard work of the The ordinary raffle was made played by mainly older mem- 37 men and women who vol- special this year by the inclu- bers under the trees by the unteered to help with this sion of a custom-made fly rod Pheasant Pens. Dancing. year’s Family Picnic, everyone generaously donated by one of Hats off to Bobby T and his (598) who attended had a great our members, Alan Gnann, a terrific crew! He thanks all his time. crusty old lobster returned for loyal helpers! a pot boiling finish, and—new As usual, there was plenty of Next year the FFF Picnic re- great food, including the all- this year, finally, because it was promised forever—a cow to turns, of course. Make plans to “For more great photos time favorites—boiled steam- mark the spot of a lucky Cow help break an already tremen- of the 2005 FFF Picnic, ers with butter, raw clams with Chip Contestant. dous success story. Be there to go to the Club’s spicy sauce, and clam chow- help Bobby produce another website at der— and there were hotdogs, Kids especially had fun. There wonderful day for the FFF’s www.finfurfeatherclub. hamburgers, kielbasa, and trim- was the Treasure Hunt in the members, family, and friends. com.” mings. There was beer and soft Pile of Hay, Egg Toss, and so drinks aplenty. much more. Horseshoes were —Editor “Anybody care to guess what Bobby T will do to top this outfit next year? Rod & Gun Gazette Volume 7, Issue 1 Page 3 Skirmishing Update “On the Line! Skirmishers, ber 10th & 11th. The thrill of dust at 100 yards. Miniature load and come to the shooting antique and an- flower pots pose a real chal- ready”… These are the tique replica Civil War fire- lenge as does the stake words that N-SSA skirmish- arms while dressed in uni- event which requires the 8 ers look forward to hearing form is addictive and hard member musket team to every season. The season to compare to any other pump enough lead down will soon come to a close shooting sport. While tar- range to break apart a 4 inch “Regional Skirmishing and all the skirmishers will gets at the N-SSA Nationals wide stake. And, who is a week-long event . have to reflect on the past held twice a year in Win- wouldn’t like the thrill of On Sunday morning season to get them through chester, VA are standard- sending a 405 grain minie activity begins with a the winter and into the 2006 ized, regional skirmish tar- ball down range to shatter a formation, playing of season. It has been a good gets can get a little funky. It Jane Fonda workout CD. the “Star Spangled season with skirmishes be- is hard to beat watching a It’s called “shooting trash” Banner,” and “Dixie.” ing held in MA & NY in hanging 16 ounce water bot- and it is great fun. Can’t Below are photographs addition to the skirmish tle explode when you deliver wait until next season! of the 15th CT Volunteer Company. th recently hosted by the 20 a direct hit at 50 yards or a 6 —David Volz CVI at the Fin on Septem- inch ceramic tile turn to Trap—Registered Shoot The FFF held its second John and Laura Pawelec Davis. A special thank you registered shoot on Aug for their great job on the to non-members: Marshall 28th. There were 20 shoot- grill, Butch Simpson, John Lussen & Kevin Cloutier. If ers that shot the event. Zemzars, John Lonergan, I forgot to mention some- Attendance was down, but John Olynk, Dave Rorrio, body: my apologies. Thank after all the expenses were Bob Frankland, Tom Ross- you once again for all your paid, the shoot still made a ing, Jay Young, Alan Perry, help. profit of $321.40. I would Josh St Lawrence, Ted Regards, like to thank the following Naumec, Bob Cooper, Don Bob Hruskocy people for all their help: O'Neil, Dan Gutt, & Steve Trap Chairman Page 4 Rod & Gun Gazette Volume 7, Issue 1 Trap—Summer League Well the first Trap sum- league. Congrats to Dan creased to $8887.00, an mer league has come to a Gutt on being the Class A increase of $4497.00 from close. A great time was Champ. Pat Buckley Class this time last year. had by all. Many new B, Bob Frankland Class Thanks for all those that friendships were made. C, Art St Lawrence Class participated to make this All the shooters improved D. happen. Hope to see ya as the season progressed. Awards were based on next year. Twenty two members the Lewis scoring system. Regards shot in the Summer Trap revenue has in- Bob Hruskocy “The Club’s 2005 Summer Trap League celebrated the end of their season—and a great many good times—with a picnic.” Letter from the Vice-President (continued from p. 1) 5) Cut back on spending; weigh, and to make this place our second home. And 1) Ambitiously pay down extra dollars monitor every expenditure over time. many have generously donated dollars on the skeet field mortgage on a when we needed money to buy things. quarterly or semi-annual basis. 6) Totally renovate the kitchen and hire a dedicated, part-time cook. But, as you all know, the work to make 2) Seriously recruit more regular our Club the best it can be is never fin- members to get the count well over 7) Regularly recognize the senior mem- ished. And, at this point, I want to wish the 450, as planned. bers of our Club who have given so much for so many years. new officers and board the very best in the 3) Create a Family Membership cate- new year of operations at the Fin. Above all gory in our dues structure to pro- My work on the Rod & Gun Gazette will else: you must set goals and finish them. vide formal recognition and pricing continue, as will my service as Chairman of What follows is a short list of things I benefits for spouses and children. the Black Powder Committee. I have thor- oughly enjoyed your support and look for- think need attention and that I hope we will 4) Do more, significant things directly accomplish in the short term. Work on ward to seeing you at the Fin. Thank you. for the needy to show that we care —CB these items should begin immediately. and that we are good neighbors. Rod & Gun Gazette Volume 7, Issue 1 Page 5 Pistol News Well folks it’s that time of the and average 6 shooters per eve- ing stages.