Its two days drive for me to the Southern , three to Rhode Island. That's two days enroute, two days return. If I fly, its one full day and haul one gun, drive then I can haul many more for exhibit.
So last year we ran the PGCA exhibits at the PF and NRA shows, that's close to $1000 each time, each person , and it was a two day drive to Houston. After all the talk about how the PGCA never does anything beyond the east coast and how much people would like to see a Parker exhibit, the PGCA membership turnout at the NRA show and who came by the 50 gun Parker exhibit was more than mildly disappointing. There were even those who lived less than 40 miles away who had complained about the PGCA not doing anything in their area who did not show. The NRA show and Parker exhibit was a major event with evening dinners after and I counted less than 20 PGCA members who identified themselves among close to 200,000 in attendance.
Over the years , seven years of Pheasant Fests, and two of NRA shows, I figure we have brought the Parker and PGCA message to close to one million firearms enthusiasts, made close to $50,000 for the PGCA and cost the association almost nothing. We've sent the Parker message out through free radio, television and print advertising paid for by the NRA or PF....who knows how many people that went out to.
So I'm surprised when people say that the PGCA is involved in only one or two events per year at the Southern or Vintagers. I guess our efforts don't count.
Louisville is a one day drive, Ohio is one day. Much easier for me to make those, and I would. Most members are east coast but occasionally there is a good Parker out here in fly over country.
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