We had ten real Americans turn out Saturday morning March 29th for the first Project Appleseed clinic in Kentucky for 2014. How do I know they were real Americans? Because every single person who pre-registered came out despite the horrid weather forecast. And the reality matched the forecast. For Saturday I renamed "Knob Creek Range" to "Mud Creek Range". It was bone-chilling cold and damp with constant rain almost all day, and despite the cover over the firing line, the dirt under the roof turned to puddles of water and thick mud. I also know they were real Americans because NOBODY gave up. They persisted and hung in there all day. I even saw a smile on Caitlin's face at the end of the day. This was the same young lady who began the day by saying (without a smile) that she had been dragged along to the event and had zero expectations. ;) Oathkeeper Donna had to leave a little early, but we picked up Michael who arrived later in the day.
Special thanks to EMT's Kip and Zack who volunteered all weekend for EMS if needed. They came up from Tennessee with their friend Ben. Thanks for driving all that way gentlemen! Also thanks to IIT's TheInfamousJay from Kentucky, and Rayne and brianheeter for coming down from Indiana to help with instruction.
On Sunday, Donna could not make it back but with Michael returning and Andrew walking on, we had eleven. We had MUCH better weather on Sunday. In fact, it was quite pleasant, and I think it made up for Saturday. Rayne and brianheeter were replaced by Instructors Mudcat and Red Baron, also from Indiana. We still had TheInfamous Jay who did our Sunday morning review and called the line in the morning.
While we did not have any new Riflemen, I saw tremendous improvement in everyone's group sizes. It was a pleasure meeting all of you. Also, Luke has decided to join us by taking a Blue hat! HUZZAH! And unless I am mistaken, Luke's intention is to change from Blue to Orange as soon as he shoots a Rifleman score. Thanks for stepping up Luke! That's all for now. I will let the other instructors post their comments, and I will post pictures ASAP.
An RWVA Instructor would be happy to come and speak to your club or group and present the Three Strikes. We call these non-shooting events "Libertyseeds". Here is the website for more information: www.libertyseed.org. You may use the site to request a Libertyseed event, join the RWVA or make a donation.
An Rx for all attendees:
Get a copy of Paul Revere's Ride here: http://www.appleseedstore.flyingcart.com/?p=detail&pid=16&cat_id=
Get a GI web sling here: http://www.appleseedstore.flyingcart.com/?p=detail&pid=10&cat_id=
Lots of dry fire practice, by the numbers, making sure to first go through your Steady Hold Factors.
Practice finding, shifting and verifying your NPOA.
Practice Inches Minutes and Clicks.
Please attend another Appleseed clinic and bring at least two new people with you. If every 2014 Kentucky attendee returned and brought only two new people, and each of those new people brought only two more, and so on, by the 2016 election we will have had over 20,000 NEW people who have attended a Project Appleseed event in Kentucky! Here is the 2014 Kentucky schedule:
http://www.appleseedinfo.org/search-states-display.php?qstate=KY&statename=Kentucky
Help Project Appleseed:
Promote Project Appleseed on your Facebook page. Kentucky's page is: https://www.facebook.com/KentuckyRifleman
When you shoot a Rifleman score (210 points or greater on the AQT test), become an RWVA Instructor in Training (aka Orange Hat). Until then, join Applecore (aka Blue Hats) and help at shoots with check in, range safety, and other duties, or help behind the scenes with promotional efforts. We will find a place for you if you volunteer!
A few ideas on how to help your community, state and nation:
First, start at home: Be a good spouse and parent. "Take good care of the children". Make sure your household is prepared for natural disasters.
Then, get involved in your community: Be a good neighbor and watch out for each other. Become a block captain for your neighborhood. Organize a neighboorhood watch program. Build wheelchair ramps for the disabled, and meet other special needs in your community. Attend school board and town council meetings, or better yet, run for a position! Get involved in your local Community Emergency Response Team
http://www.citizencorps.gov/cc/CertIndex.do?reportsForState&cert=&state=KY
Volunteer to help those in need:
Kentucky Changers: http://www.gocrossings.org/missions/ky-changers/
Kentucky Heartland Outreach: http://www.khohome.org/
Christian Appalachian Project: http://www.christianapp.org/
Mountain Outreach: http://www.ucumberlands.edu/mountain-outreach/
Heritage Ministries http://www.heritageministriesinc.org/
Get informed on the issues of the day:
A compilation of public notices published anywhere in the state of Kentucky:
http://www.publicnoticeads.com/KY/ (A public service by the members of the Kentucky Press Association)
Register to vote and then go vote, AFTER you research the candidates and issues you will be voting on!
Project Vote Smart http://votesmart.org/
Keep an eye on your representatives; keep them accountable!
Congress.org
http://congress.org/congressorg/megavote/
http://www.govtrack.us
Kentucky
Secretary of State:
http://sos.ky.gov/elections/
Kentucky State Board of Elections:
http://elect.ky.gov/Pages/default.aspx
Kentucky Legislature
http://www.lrc.ky.gov/
Impartial real-time legislative tracking service designed for both public citizens and government affairs professionals
www.legiscan.com/
Write letters and make phone calls about issues that concern you. I have been informed by people in the know in Frankfort that when the the capitol switchboard gets 1 telephone call for or against a certain issue, they multiply that by 14,000! That's about the same as the number of militia that turned out by April 20, 1775! And this is for the little ol' state of Kentucky. Imagine what multiplier they use when you call Washington, DC! You can be an army of one simply by voicing your concerns and opinions to your lawmakers!
It is every American's birthright to own a .30 caliber battle rifle: Here is the CMP Garand sales page:
http://www.odcmp.com/Sales/m1garand.htm
An interesting CSPAN interview with Dr. David Hackett Fischer, author of Paul Revere's Ride:
http://www.booknotes.org/Watch/58074-
1/David+Hackett+Fischer.aspx
An interesting Sky & Telescope article about the moon and tides on April 18, 1775:
https://digital.library.txstate.edu/bitstream/handle/10877/4038/fulltext.pdf
An interesting video about the forensic evidence related to Dr. Joseph Warren's body: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdggCICMnkU
Everyone is invited to post here about your Appleseed experience. Long live Liberty! Long Live the Republic!
UL
Great weather on Sunday?!?! !@#) I missed it!!!!! :'( I've still got stuff sitting on my front porch that I'm not bringing in my house until I get the chance to hose it off in the yard.
So much mud! And such awesome attitudes from the shooters through it all. This was the first time I have been to or worked an Appleseed shoot outside of Indiana and I'm glad I got the opportunity and the experience. You guys were awesome!
See you on the trail!
brian
I can't speak for Saturday, but Sunday was absolutely BEAUTIFUL! I over heard Mudcat say that he's the one that put in the order for the sunshine. Thank you Mudcat.
Everyone made great improvement on Sunday. After the initial shock wore off of how quick we ran the first AQT, everyone seemed to settle into the groove. We had several shooters knocking on the door for a rifleman's patch. Persist and you will get there!
Pictures not cooperating. Have to do one at a time.
We had a great time despite the weather on Saturday! It was my first Appleseed and I intend to attend another as soon as possible. Thanks to all the instructors for a great Appleseed!
I'm going to hit the woods about 4:30 in the morning after turkeys, and then I'm going to get the rifle back out and do some practicing. Next time I'll get that Rifleman patch!
Quote from: Ben Towe on April 01, 2014, 12:10:38 AM
We had a great time despite the weather on Saturday! It was my first Appleseed and I intend to attend another as soon as possible. Thanks to all the instructors for a great Appleseed!
I'm going to hit the woods about 4:30 in the morning after turkeys, and then I'm going to get the rifle back out and do some practicing. Next time I'll get that Rifleman patch!
O0 Sounds like a great plan. Thanks again for coming up Ben. Hope to see you all in September in Kentucky cave country.
UL
Picture #2
Doesn't take more than one photo to see what a cold, sloppy, wet mess that place was and yet y'all were still out there saving the country.
No summertime soldiers and sunshine patriots in that lot. Huzzah!
Thank you very much to everyone for such a fun and profitable Appleseed. I am very grateful for all your help. Wish I could have made it Sunday but I was already obligated in K9 tracking. So many things to do and so little time ..:.. Maybe I should teach the mal to shoot so she can come to the Appleseed with me instead of me going to the tracking with her ;)
Thank you guys for putting on an excellent clinic. I had a great time and will be taking another course in the future for sure. Having never taken an Appleseed before, I was not really sure what to expect before the class. I think I had envisioned a shooting course similar to maybe a hunter's safety course or intro to shooting 101. That's probably because I had not researched it very much. That was not the case at all. This was the real deal and very challenging, with excellent instructors. This would be good training for any shooter, from novice to expert. Several years ago I took an M1 clinic and this Appleseed exceeded that clinic for sure. More rounds, faster pace, better instruction, and more rounds. Now, if I can just convince my friends and family to join me at the next one.
~
Rayne, I only have myself to blame for not making Rifleman. I had a malfunction, got frustrated and lost my focus. It's alright though, like mudcat said, it's a journey. I feel like I'll do better next time.
I don't what you all are talking about this rain and cold, I saw nothing but blue skies and warmth. :cool2: I guess there was a little mud still around on Sunday though, so I will go along with the rest of your stories. ;)
Wow what a great shoot lots of progress was made and some were really knocking on the door. The comment about no summertime soldiers and sunshine patriots is a true statement. It says something about the crew we had out there on the line. I really enjoyed working with you all.
Yes being a Rifleman is a journey and to continue on that journey we all must persist and continue to work on our weak areas. I look forward to seeing you on the line again in the future.
I will be the Shoot Boss for the June 7-8 shoot at Knob Creek, so come on out and enjoy the weekend with us again. I will order a full weekend of sunshine this time. :)