Mills, thanks for posting these. I hope to one day make it east to a meeting and the accompanying shoot.

So does anyone have comments or photos of the shoot or the annual meeting for those of us that couldn't make it?

We (Jennifer and I) had a great time and it was a wonderful event. Beautiful country and perfect weather. Shot the 12/10 gauge sporting clays course, the pigeon ring, the 2 man team flurry, the five stand and the main event. Bought an Orvis sweater and two Barbour jackets. The annual meeting banquet went off without a hitch and I thought the food was very good. Congratulations to Dean Romig on his Invincible Membership and Chuck Bishop on his shell bag. Both recognitions were greatly deserved and overdue. And congratulations to Josh Lowenstiener and Bruce Day on their Distinguished Service Awards.

Eric,
I can tell you that you likely wouldn't recognize Hausman's if you hadn't been there in a year or two. They have made many great changes including another 8 station course for 28 gauge an smaller in the woods to the left of the five stand. With all three courses running there were very little waiting. The banquet facility and meal were top notch, and the weather could not possibly have been any better. A great weekend all around.

I am sorry that I couldn't make it. I really miss seeing everyone

The banquet was very nice. Thanks to Mike Franzen organizing the banquet. I was surprised when Tom Wooden presented me with a beautiful leather shell bag. Even had my middle initial on it. I asked him how he knew what my middle initial was and said "I got it from your wife!" Margaret kept it a secret for months:) Beautiful tooling on that leather.

I was surprised again when I won the Peoples Choice Award for my SC SBT because there were so many other wonderful guns on display. The attached picture shows the bowl along with the runner-up bowl I won in 2016. Hand turned by our own Mike McKinney. Beautiful!

Dean Romig was awarded an Invincible Life Membership award for the years of work he did with the Parker Pages but the kicker was when Tom had Kathy join him at the podium and unveiled a hand drawing of their setter Grace. I believe it was drawn by Mike Franzen's daughter. Just beautiful.

A good time was had by all.

What a beautiful portrait of Grace !

I must admit I was totally caught off guard.

Tom Wooden came to me someplace in front of the RST tent and said they wanted him to say a little blurb about my service as editor and he asked me a couple of questions about myself and Kathy. I was more interested in making sure he would allow me enough time to introduce the new editors Mike and Susan Koneski and Tom said that would not be a problem.

When Tom unveiled the Invincible Life Member "certificate" I was completely blown away... and then in the next breath he asked Kathy to join us up front and unveiled that fantastic drawing/painting of "Gracie" we both got a little choked up.

I will say that in the 26 years of PGCA existence only 8 Invincible Life Memberships had been awarded and I find myself, my name, among very heady company. In many ways I feel 'unworthy' but I can't argue with the wonderful folks who came to that decision- all I can do is thank them for such an honor. :bowdown:

The picture of Gracie appears to have been done as a charcoal over watercolor but I don't know for certain. Maybe Mike Franzen can ask his extremely talented daughter, Madeline, how she accomplished such a lifelike expression - what medium she used to capture Gracie's amazing personality...


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It was very well deserved! I am sure I speak for the other board members as well!

More pictures. Harry didn't inhale. No, really