CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

Greetings from the fast lane;

The year is almost half way, and several shoots are already in the record books. Congrats to all those shooters who made the Georgia, Arizona, and Kentucky Shoots, a resounding success.

Looking forward to the upcoming shoots, and will try my best to make as many as I can.

This year has been, to say the least, interesting so far, with the advent of many new shooters, programs, and contests, spread out throughout the country. Many new ideas, concepts, and proposals are in the works, all of which will be considered. If you have proposals, please submit them, as it will give all of us time to review them prior to our yearend meeting.

This year is also very important to us, as we have a firearm related sport. The outcome of the elections may adversely affect all who are involved with, shooting sports, hobbies, collecting, hunting, and personal protection. Get informed, and acknowledge your support. The N.R.A. is our best defender of firearm rights. Membership in the N.R.A. is encouraged.

The O.F.D.A. is growing, and as such we must look to the future of our sport, times change, so we should open our minds to the progression of all Fast Draw related shooting.

Several items have been discussed, and or proposed, here’s a brief of these topics;

1. Organize a committee to compile and archive the history of the O.F.D.A. and individual clubs.
I would like several individuals to be involved, please submit your interest for consideration.
2. Reorganize the constitution to be more easily understood.
Carol Bonnett is currently working on this, any help would be welcomed.
3. Membership proposal submitted by Sue Zimmerman.
4. Allowing hand rule change to ‘ lawman ready’ at host clubs discretion.
5. Changing the maverick rule to be more open to other association shooters. (This involves consideration to insurance availability)
6. Revising the constitution to allow more, host club flexibility in designing their contests.
7. Rethinking the Lewis System scoring, and how it can be the base for all the different styles and divisions.
8. Looking at the possibility of attaining corporate sponsorships.
9. Utilizing the Internet shoot concept to host a national contest of shoots hosted in several locations at the same time, same events, and rules. (Cost of travel expenses being considered)
10. Reviewing the option of giving a promotional name to the O.F.D.A. I.e.; doing business as (Fast Draw International)

These are a few of items to think about, your input is requested, remember, you are the O.F.D.A.

Yee Haw, Shoot It All,
Ron Paul Duning
Chairman O.F.D.A.

Here it is the end of another year of fast draw. The year-end championships are all planned and ready to go.
The Southern Championship will be held on Sunday in Tennessee at the Jenkins family contest, as no one was planning to hold it. It was the decision that this would work out the best for the Southern shooters and insure good attendance, although it moves the date up about a month.
Attendance at the Alabama contest wasn’t bad; there is still room for more shooters.
I want to remind the membership to get your proposals written up and get a copy to me and to the Secretary, Robert Coffey for the Southern Division, and Susie Searls, for the Northern Division, before our annual meetings.
Be sure to have the tentative dates for you’re 2008 contests, so they can be noted at the year-end meeting in November. I think there are going to be more contests in the coming year, which will generate more interest in the sport.
See you there
Dale

This year started with a fun shoot at Ron & Sue Zimmerman’s house. Had a lot of shooters in attendance wanting to get their shooting arm limbered up for Kentucky State shoot, or it may be was on account of all the food that was being served. I tried it and all of it was good.
The Kentucky contest went smooth with everyone helping out. I would like to have seen a few more shooters there. The ones, who weren’t there, missed out on a good time. Hats off to Nicholasville Toyota, Fred, Tonto and Dave.
Founder’s Day in Alabama was next on list of contests. Turn out was not up to par, where are all the Southern shooters? If it wasn’t for the Northern shooters it would have been a small shoot, as it was, it was still small. Thanks to Harry for bringing two tents to set up for shade. The contest on Saturday was over early in the afternoon, so there was time to visit and enjoy Alabama weather.
Next was Gene Autry Days in Kenton, Ohio, weather was just right for me, but to some it was cold on Sunday morning. There were quite a few people watching both days. Saturday there was time in the afternoon for spectators to try shooting at the target and there were several that tried it out. By Sunday there were some new members to the association and some who filled out applications for membership. Still I would like to see more members in attendance.
Last but most important, the N.R.A. is the only voice that congress seem to hear and it’s your voice, and the more members the NRA has the louder the voice gets. If you are not a member, join now. The NRA is fighting for your right to keep and bare arms and without our six-guns; there would be no Fast Draw. If some people have their way, your great grand children will be asking your son or daughter (What was a gun?) because there will be no more.
Dale

We’ve had some really good contests this summer with Annie Oakley Days living up to it’s reputation as the annual sweat fest. Sure wish we could do something about the weather. The Buckeye Rangers put on a great weekend of shooting in August dedicating their contests to Phil McNaughton’s memory. It just wasn’t the same without Phil, especially in the double rig competition. We had the first fast draw contest at the Urbana Wild West Festival in September and everyone had a really good time. We also lucked out on the weather and had a beautiful weekend. The Jenkins’ had their annual contest the following weekend in Tennessee. Congratulations to all the winners and a big thank you to the hosts and all of the shooters that were able to attend these contests.
The Southern Division’s year-end shoot will be October 28 and 29 in Alabama. They are being sponsored by Honea Motors and the contests look to be not only fun but challenging as well. The Northern Division’s year-end will be November 4 and 5 in Gibsonburg, OH with the annual board meeting following Saturday’s contest. If anyone has any proposals, they need to get them to me and to Becky Davenport (Northern Division Secretary) or Larry Atcheson (Southern Division Secretary) before the meeting.
I’ve noticed that more people are willing to help out at the contests and I just want them to know how much their efforts are appreciated. It’s hard enough to put a contest together, let alone run one so I would like to thank all of you that have made the hosts’ jobs easier.
I wish to let everyone know that I will not be running for re-election as Chairman. Due to unforeseen circumstances, I will not be able to do much traveling at all during the 2007 shooting season and this position requires someone who can be present at most of the contests. At this time, I already know that I cannot make any of the southern shoots next year and quite possibly most of the northern ones. I really appreciate the support of the membership and help from the executive board and thank all of you for your assistance.
That’s it for now. See you in Gibsonburg.
Carol Bonnett