News:

Want Appleseed to grow and fill our firing lines?  We need help with advertising, social media, graphics design, and administrative tasks.  An hour of time spent at this level can have a huge impact.  You can make a difference!  Send a Personal Message to Cleveland.

Main Menu

Myakka City, FL. January 22,23, 2011

Started by PHenry, January 24, 2011, 01:47:50 PM

Previous topic - Next topic
Print
Go Down Pages1
User actions

PHenry

January 24, 2011, 01:47:50 PM Last Edit: January 24, 2011, 05:53:34 PM by PHenry
25% Riflemen! Huzaaaah!

Not "hurricane" winds, nor below freezing temps could stop nine brave Americans from learning the traditions of the Founders last weekend in Myakka City at the Manatee Gun and Archery Club. What a great bunch of folks. With only 2 people signed up, I was concerned that this event would be a near-bust, but was most grateful to have 8 on the line on Saturday and 9 on Sunday in the end. Turns out some 7th stepping saved the day as is most often the case.

I can just hear our more northern Appleseeders moaning about my references to cold. Well, just wait till you view the pictures of the snow on the admin table! The wind and a high humidity made of a very chilly day on Saturday and Sunday AM was under 30 degrees - that's plenty cold to thems of us with very thin blood in our veins.

OK, enough about the weather - let's talk about a man who never fired a rifle in his entire life until Saturday January 22 at 10:05AM. Lee shot well all weekend, but by Sunday afternoon - he was knocking on the door of a Rifleman score and shot a score of 214 on his next to last AQT! Way to go Lee! See, Lee was smart - he obviously looked up what to bring and he brung a rifle well suited to the Appleseeds course of fire. He also brung the most important item on the list - a very teachable attitude.

Our second Rifleman, is a father and LEO, who scored 214 on his final AQT of the weekend - a man who obviously works well under pressure - way to go Andy! Andy's a good man and the fine cigar he gave the shoot boss has nothing to do with that assessment.  ^-^ Andy's wife and son were no slackers either - both of them shot very well and persisted the entire weekend without so mush as a disparaging word.

Josh's dad had to work on Saturday, but he was there in full force on Sunday, turning in some great scores. Josh has been around rifles most of his 11 years and is looking forward to getting an AR15 soon, after shooting a couple examples on Sunday. He seems to prefer the rifles that go BANG!, over his trusty 22, and prefers any rifle over a video game - my kinda kid for sure!

Such a great group of folks - it was not only an honor to meet and work with each of them - it was a well needed refresher for my soul. I am sure I speak for my fellow instructors when I say that our lives would be less enjoyable without spending time around the sort of folks who attend our events. Many thanks to Beth and Tracy for taking stacks of fliers to hand out at various locations - we need so much help in getting the word out to bring in more people and expose them to the fine traditions of the Founders.

Thanks to my excellent fellow instructors and a fine bunch of Americans - this was a safe, smooth, and enjoyable event. I wish everyone involved, health, happiness, and a great 2011. Huzzaaah!
Sincerely,
PHenry

PS: Pics to follow!
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit. Aristotle

Para ser Libre, un Hombre debe tener tres cosas. La Tierra, una Educacion, y un Fusil. Siempre, un Fusil!  Emiliano Zapata

ranger1968

#1
January 24, 2011, 04:53:14 PM
 Thanks, PHenry, it was an honor to attend, and something I have been wanting to do for some time....

  We had a great time, and we will be back, Tracy and Liam are determined to earn their Rifleman patch, and I look forward to working even harder to improve my marksmanship. 8)

  You guys are all excellent instructors and fine Americans, patriots every one. :)

    We'll see you soon, until then, stay safe, and keep your powder dry.

PHenry

#2
January 24, 2011, 05:40:31 PM Last Edit: January 24, 2011, 06:19:19 PM by PHenry
Roger that Ranger - I'll look forward to seeing ya'll agin and next time - I'll be sure to bring a fine cigar for you!  O0


See the post that Ranger did while he was waiting for the slacking shoot boss to post this AAR - his is better than mine, so I figured I'd link it here!
http://appleseedinfo.org/smf/index.php?topic=20274.0
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit. Aristotle

Para ser Libre, un Hombre debe tener tres cosas. La Tierra, una Educacion, y un Fusil. Siempre, un Fusil!  Emiliano Zapata

RickB

#3
January 25, 2011, 10:30:09 AM
PHenry,
Nicely done, sir!
And a big thanks to Ranger for his fine post.
See you in Hernando!
RickB

Sly223

#4
January 25, 2011, 11:04:58 AM
Both Rifleman Took the Yaughnottin' Ranger Patches.Jaqualine Wells still reporting for duty!God bess you Maddam!
"Smoakin'2" IBC11/12
"Plattka 3-12"(IBC)FL
What have you done for this program lately?
IBC-Tampa 8,'10
RBC-"Myakka12'10"RCR
C-1, Do-1, Teach many!
"Run all you want, you'll just die tired"!
There is U.S. & there is Dems!

ranger1968

#5
January 25, 2011, 03:56:14 PM
Quote from: Sly223 on January 25, 2011, 11:04:58 AM
Both Rifleman Took the Yaughnottin' Ranger Patches.Jaqualine Wells still reporting for duty!God bess you Maddam!

  That patch had a special rural Florida type meaning, Sly...here a lot of people actually sound like that- coldbeer is one word, and yotnottin' be doin' that is exactly the sort of thing folks say around here....

   When I was down in that awful sitting postion, (awful for me, I'm built like a bear) thighs cramping, back hurting, trying to get the sights jussssst right on that target, I would hear a little voice telling me, yotnottin' be squeezin that trigger just yet, boy......let allllll that air out. Now! And I knew the shot would be on.

   It was fitting that patch, and her story and commitment were inspiring. I'm sorry I never got to meet her, I think we would have gotten along fine.

Heimdhal

#6
January 25, 2011, 10:33:40 PM
Im determined to actualy get to shoot an AQT again sometime in my life (some one borrow my orange hat for a minute!  ;)) so I can get a yotnottin ranger patch.

I never did meet her, but I've heard the stories and Im sorry I didnt get the chance.  All of the instructers that worked the first appleseed I had ever attended had been brought into the fold by Madam Yotnottin and it was them that convinced me of the merits of Appleseed.  She definintley meant a lot to appleseed and I was very proud to see that both of our first time appleseeders and rifleman took the Yotnottin Ranger patch.

A great event all around.  I dont think I saw a single frown the whole weekend.  Everyone left with a warm smile on a cold day and a little fire burning inside them.  Couldnt ask for a better event than that.

337

#7
January 26, 2011, 03:34:03 AM
Hey, guys! I'm the other guy that score Rifleman that day.

I just wanted to comment on the patch.

I was so excited when I found out that I made it over 410! (baaaaarely.) So I just grabbed the same green patch that my friend had shown me, that he had earned before. Then the words "Florida only" started to sink in, and that changed my mind into exchanging it for the Yotnottin patch.

After researching the meaning of the word, I'm glad I chose the one I did! From what I've read about her on different parts of this forum, I'm proud to have her name on this patch; I'll do my best to live up to it!

I had a great time. And PHenry, you really got me with that false honorable mention...

337

#8
January 26, 2011, 04:13:31 PM
oops, I mean "210" not "410" ++)

PHenry

#9
January 26, 2011, 04:55:38 PM
We knew that - 'sides, we allow certain dispensations for thems who shoot well.  ^-^
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit. Aristotle

Para ser Libre, un Hombre debe tener tres cosas. La Tierra, una Educacion, y un Fusil. Siempre, un Fusil!  Emiliano Zapata

BrownBess

#10
January 27, 2011, 02:47:08 PM
PHenry, looks like you had a wonderful bit of snow.......sorry to have missed the event, but I will make it up to you this weekend, Congratulations to all who got off the couch and braved the cold to learn some new stuff.......Huzzah!!!!!!
Print
Go Up Pages1
User actions