Pittsburg Area Friends of NRA annual banquet to be held

The Pittsburg Area Friends of NRA annual banquet will be held on July 28 at the Lamplighter Inn in Pittsburg. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for a social hour and dinner will be served at approximately 7 p.m. Games and live and silent auctions continuing until 10 p.m.

Friends of NRA is a key grassroots event that supports thousands of community service projects related to firearm education, hunter safety, wildlife conservation, range improvements, youth marksmanship, law enforcement and other shooting sports interests. Working with NRA field representatives, members and volunteers organize banquets in their communities, complete with auctions, special drawings and fellowship. Much of the merchandise at the banquets is donated by local merchants and supporters.

Unique auction items include the NRA Gun of the Year, a Benelli ultralight 12 gauge shotgun; the NRA Print of the Year, "Allegiance" by Cole Johnson; a hunting arrow autographed by Ted Nugent; an 1865 drake pintail duck decoy reproduction; a Jeep pedal car and numerous guns, framed prints and other one-of-a-kind collector items.

Tickets may be purchased for $25 single, $40 for a couple or $160 for a table of eight. Send your check to FNRA, 383 230th, Garland, Kan., 66741 or order online at www.friendsofnra.org/ks.

Half the money raised at the Friends of the NRA banquet will be spent on educational and shooting programs in Kansas. The other half supports national-level programs like the Eddie Eagle Gun Safe Program, Women on Target and other educational and safety services.

State Fund Committees made up of volunteers review grant applications from local organizations and make recommendations to the NRA Foundation on how the money might best be used in their areas.

For more information about Friends of NRA, visit www.friendofnra.org.

Contact Roy Hanken at 223-3571 with questions regarding tickets or to make a donation for the banquet. Tickets will not be available at the door.

Submitted to the Tribune