The 2015 NRA meeting will be in Nashville. A PGCA member there owns a private sporting clays course and has told me that he would love to have members shoot if they can tear themselves away.

If the directors want to give serious consideration about a venue different from the usual routine, this might be a good opportunity.

Bruce - Not directed to you alone. It appears to me that nothing new has been presented in the last two pages of postings.

The PGCA exhibits at the Pheasant Fest and NRA shows are and have been since the inception, PGCA sanctioned events, insured by PGCA insurance carriers, approved by the board, making money for the PGCA and soliciting members for the PGCA. PGCA owned guns and accessories are shown. Although expenses have been minimal, where they have occurred, they have been paid by the PGCA. For example, the Houston show, it was too far for Charlie and me to haul tables, so tables were rented by the PGCA. The monies brought in at Houston far exceeded the expenses incurred.

Past board members such as Charlie or me lead the effort and are responsible to the board for the appropriate conduct of the event, and we usually have one or more present board members assisting. We have evening dinners and have usually identified them as PGCA dinner meetings and all in the area are invited to join us. Usually Charlie or sometimes me has a short talk about where the PGCA has been and where headed, in a positive and encouraging manner.

Unless a PGCA event is defined solely as an event where there is shooting as opposed to collecting and fellowship, IMHO, these events are PGCA events.

Cody Meeting
 

"Allan, you don't have to apologize for your choices. Many Parker collectors go to Las Vegas every January regardless of where they live. It was always a cheap trip for me when I went, even though I live on the East Coast. If the PGCA annual meeting is at a California Side by Side Association event, I will consider going, even if I have to fly. I didn't like Louisville as much as Vintagers, because it was a gun show venue rather than a shooting venue, but I am an old Louisville attendee, so I went. I even liked Richmond, because we drew some collectors and guns out of the brush. I think we should go to Cody because most of us have never been there. Did we have a Cody meeting? I would be willing to do it again, even if we have been there."


Cody has a great gun club too!!

How about an annual meeting at Fort Smith, Montana, on the Big Horn River, where I can use my Parker-Hawes fly rod for brown trout?

These are all some great suggestions. I like the idea of PGCA having a smaller presence at other venues as well. The Brays Island show in SC, for example. Julia and I would be willing to volunteer for at least that Saturday if there is interest.

Gentlemen,
I have read through all the previous posts and, as a new member that has not yet attended a PGCA AGM and thus a person who some of the above ideas are directed towards, my comments:

1) Be relaxed.

I have been very impressed with the quality of the discussions, advice, and genuine support that is demonstrated across this entire forum. That is what first attracted me to become a member and subsequently gave me the confidence to make purchases from the membership. - Every single interaction, whether I ended up buying or not, has been a positive experience. I truly look forward to eventual meeting each member I interacted with over the forum.

2) Be relaxed.
ALL AGM's, shooting events, and gun shows go through a natural cycle of up and downs. Good points were made about where/when to hold the AGM whether in conjunction with shows, shoots, different regions etc. Personally I deeply regret not being able to attend this year. I wanted to, yes it was a little far for me to go and logistically not as easy as a simple fly in - out or a same day drive. But I intended to go any way and I will plan better next year in hopes of attending.

3) Be relaxed.
This club seems to me, as a new member, that the Board and the membership in general are very engaged in this club. If you hold it next year with the Vintager's Shoot, I plan to attend. If you hold it at a major collector show, I plan to attend. If you hold it in the North, South, East, West - sounds good, I plan to attend.

I am not suggesting that certain locales may or may not allow more people to attend but the reason their attending is mainly to meet the other members and get a chance to see and discuss Parker's and associated items of interest.

In short I plan to attend because I want to get to meet the people that I share an interest with and respect. The rest, for me, is window dressing.

I suspect I am not alone with that thought.

Congratulations to the Board and the dedicated members that have made this such a good association.


Cheers JG