Newsletter Archives for the V.G.C.A.

V.G.C.A NEWS MAY '99

Membership Meeting

PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS NOW START AT 7:30 PM RATHER THAN 8:00 PM - We need extra time!!  The July meeting will be on the 22nd at NRA Headquarters as usual.  So, come early and grab some chow and enjoy the evening.   The July meeting may consist of two parts: For sure a swap meet - so bring out the junk and convince some poor indigent fellow member that he/she cannot live without the stuff you have.  Secondly - we MAY have a program by Homer Brent on bayonets.   The person who told me about this program is known but to God as I failed to note his name and, therefore, I could not follow up.  Bit if this member can make this happen, I think it would be a most interesting program.  If, however, the bayonets and Mr. Brent fail to appear, we can still have a fun swap meet.  Either way, we will have a great time.  Always do!

Do not miss the August meeting.  The NRA and VGCA will present Harry Hunter who is curator of the Smithsonian Museum of American History.   The program will begin at 7 PM rather than at the normal 7:30 starting time.

We need a program for September and October!  Any suggestions?  Let's keep up the momentum and come up with an interesting program.   Call Mo or me.

The December meeting (November and December are combined into one meeting on Dec. 2 at 7PM).  Phil Schreier of the NRA Museum will knock us out with "Capt. Sam Walker's Colts".  Bad idea to miss this one.  This will, again, be a joint NRA-VGCA sponsored program.

Archie and Marie

Archie and Marie have an e-mail address of:  archieLMAYER@csi.com    I am sure they would love to hear from you.

Nathen Starr Arms - New Book Out

I received a press release about this new book by Bernard P. Prue.  For info, you may call the author at 860-349-3327 or at bjorkind@cove.com .

Welcome to Some New Members

Please make welcome the following new members:  Henry P. Hageman (arms of the 30's and 40'); Arthur Caparn (MGs, black powder rifles); Fred Hahndorf (collects everything!); John J. Cahill (Mausers and Martinis).  We need to vote on two new applicants at the membership part of this month's meeting: Bill Haller (Jim Matthews sponsor) and Marc Gorelick, whose sponsor failed to fill out the app in a legible manner.

Phil Orem

Phil celebrated is 89th birthday on February 28, 1999.  Congratulations to Phil.   There are not many who are as active and continue to win VGCA awards as Phil.   We should all be collecting and shooting at this age!

Cartridge Show Coming Up

Jim Frigiola (703-641-9455) is sponsoring a Cartridge Show at the Ramada Inn at Quantico/Triangle on Sept. 17 - 18 (Friday and Saturday so it does not really conflict with our show in any big way).

June Picnic at the Norva Property

If you missed it, you missed a great one.  The largest crowd ever (my estimate is 160+) arrived to perfect weather - on a crystal clear low humidity sunny day in the 70s with a gentle breeze.  No bugs, no sweat, no snakes, no problems.  Ed's BBQ was extraordinary.  I have never seen so much excellent food brought to the occasion by members and guests.  We could have fed another 100 folks.  The shooting was very well controlled and everyone had a great time.  It is difficult to find room to thank all who made it happen.  Lots of folks got the grass mowed and all the weeds whacked.   Lots helped in getting all the supplies in and doing all the many things that had to occur in sequence to make the day such a success.  A very special thank you is extended to Gary Holderman and Addison Wright who manned the 100 yard range and ensured the safety of all shooters.  A very big thank you to all shooters who complied with the range rules so well.  Another very big thanks goes to Mo who fired his 1849 Dalghren Boat Howitzer many times.  (Mo we found tow missing cannon balls and I will get them to you ASAP)  A special thanks to Ed Johnson who is such a gourmet cook.

As I have often said, any NORVA-VGCA picnic you can walk away from is a good one!   This one was perhaps the biggest and best ever.

Want Ads - Help Wanted

If there is anyone out there who could make a house call and help me to get my 12 ga Ponsness-Warren Size-O-Matic 800-B shotshell loader fine tuned, I would appreciate it.   It dates to 1973 but appears unused.  I have the manual, etc.  I think it just needs some adjustments.

Lee Turner Is On The Mend

Lee fell from a ladder while pruning a tree and broke both wrists.  He has undergone extensive surgery.  For this rather short non combat flight in a non hostile theater of operation (his front yard), NORVA may award him the Order of the Golden Gooney Bird.  Gooney birds, as you may know, do not fly well.  Apparently, neither does Lee.  It is a shame that Navy submariners are not given training in flying - at least you would think that they would be trained to flap their arms rapidly when they find themselves in an unscheduled aerial flight.  Alas, this must not be the case.  However, we do hope that Lee recovers quickly.  He just received a custom built Shiloh Sharps Rifle that he has been waiting for about five years from the factory.  Too bad he can not shoot it.  Make him an offer in the true tradition of VGCA - i.e., try to cheat him out of it if possible!  Make him think he is a cripple and that you are doing him a big favor.  Just kidding of course!!  Get well soon!!  We want to see you shooting at as soon as possible.

Items For The Web Site

Send me photos (digital or non-digital) of VGCA events, newspaper articles, want ads, things for sale, etc.  Larry will put it on the new updated VGCA Web Page.   Check out the web site at www.VGCA.ORG