The Tennessee Friends of NRA State Fund Meeting and Conference was held on Saturday, February 28, 2009 at The Academy of Personal Protection and Security in Nashville. A special thanks to Buford and Judy Tune for the use of their facilities for this meeting.
There were 40 volunteers from across the state that attended and 95% of all committees were represented at the conference. The delegates reviewed 66 grants and recommended 49 NRA Foundation Grants totaling $101,600. Groups receiving funding were 4-H, Boy Scouts, JROTC, SCTP Trap Teams, Law Enforcement Agencies, NRA Y.E.S. Program and Eddie Eagle GunSafe® Programs. Since inception in Tennessee, 93% of all funding has benefited youth programs. In addition to this year’s event, a workshop was held that emphasized 5 Ways to a Successful Event which is banquet ticket sales, pre-event ticket sales, sponsorship sales, NRA Merchandise Underwriting and soliciting donations.
This year’s meeting was a day of celebration in recognizing 2008 as the record setting year for our state. Special guest Sandy Elkin, NRA Foundation National Grant Manager and Phil Gray, NRA Central Regional Director were there for the celebration. Sandy and Phil presented Bill Huff, our State Fund Committee Chairman with the Tennessee Volunteer of the Year Award as well as celebrated the accomplishments of some of our other outstanding committees.
The High Caliber Banner, which is awarded to committees with a net of $25,000 or more, was awarded to Knoxville for the first time and also to Memphis which has received this banner for the last six consecutive years. Memphis was also awarded for the sixth consecutive year, the Highest Net Revenue banner. The High Attendance banner was presented to Henry County and the 15 Year Committee banners were presented to Chattanooga and Nashville.
Smokies (Pigeon Forge), Chattanooga, Old Hickory Sportsman(Hendersonville), West Tennessee (Brownsville),Williamson County (Franklin), Tipton County (Brighton), Southern Middle Tennessee (Columbia), Cumberland County (Crossville) and Volunteer (Dickson) all received Special Achievement banners for 100% plus Net Revenue Increase. Other committees receiving Special Achievement banners this year, was Fayette County (Oakland) for the All Time Record Setting New Event in the State and Henry County (Paris) for Highest Sponsorship Sales in 2008.
The festivities continued with the presentation of two Charles Daley shotguns to the Brownsville Young Guns by the Boy Scout group in Nashville in accordance with the bylaws of the NRA Foundation. Keith Namishia of the Fayette County Committee won the grand prize, a Glock Model 19 donated by Dennis Williams of Guns and Leather of Greenbrier, Tenn. (www.gunsandleather.com) along with a 2 day training course, lodging included, donated by Tracy Hightower of Tactical Response of Camden, Tenn. (www.tacticalresponse.com).
Great things are happening in our state and the thanks and appreciation goes to our volunteers and members for their commitment to the Tennessee Friends of NRA. Congratulations to all our committees for a wonderful 2008.