RELOAD!

MARCH 2002 NEWSLETTER
© Bruce Buck, editor

ANNUAL MEETING REPORT

February 17, 2002, East Mountain Preserve

The Connecticut Travelers function sort of the same way gravity does.
Things work reliably and no one asks too many questions. It’s not
good to understand everything. People who ask too many questions are
made chairmen and chairwomen or, heaven forbid in the absurd and
functionally illiterate world of PC dogma- chairpersons, chairpeople
and chairhumans. Still, we have the annual meeting to get our fix of
Duncan Dreadnought Fat Pills, high test Java and the chance to shoot
with our friends afterwards.

The meeting started when the Board of Directors (Al Anglace, Pres;
Don Brenton, Sec/Treas; Cyndi Dalena, Membership; Bill Drake, John
Lawlor and Lans Christensen) brought the 45 attendees to order. A
moment of silence was observed for the passing of Traveler John
DeVito, a true friend of the sport.

Many new members were introduced. Club membership is 382 (450 if you
include family shooting members). The waiting list has been started
again for 2003 admission. No new members will be admitted until
February 2003 and then only after existing members have failed to
renew by January 31, 2003. The Travelers are growing, but growth is
intentionally kept to modest proportions. The feeling at the meeting
was to continue to accept new members once a year until the quality
of the shoots starts to be affected. Then constrict a little and hold
it there. Cyndi Dalena<shotguncyndi@prodigy.net> is membership head
if you have questions about introducing a new member.

Don Brenton gave the Treasurer’s report. As befits a not-for-profit
corporation, the CTSCA ended 2001 without significant funds. Now,
since the 2002 dues are all in, we are simply rolling in gelt. This
will all be spent for the benefit of the members or our charities by
the end of the year.

Don, also the secretary, dutifully read the minutes of the 2001
Annual Meeting. Eyes glazed. Heads nodded. Coffee cups emptied. The
President’s Report by Al Anglace was uplifting as it must be when
recounting a year in the life of a successful organization. We had
116 survey questionnaires returned. As any pollster knows, a 30%
return is amazingly high. Elmo Roper eat your heart out. The
Travelers are member-driven. The opinion polls help the board steer
the Travelers ship of state from one gala port of call to another.
It’s a cruise on the love boat.

There is one MAJOR CHANGE in the modus operandi. There is no more
registration at the shoot! Here’s how it will now be handled: Squads
will be posted when you arrive at the shoot. Simply find your name
and remember your squad number. After the usual orientation talk at
9:30, go right out to your first station. Squads 10 and 10A start on
station 10, etc, just like always. The score sheets will be sent out
with the squad. There’s nothing for you to pick up. Just show up on
time.

Here’s the important part: If you arrive LATE, just find your squad
number on the squad posting in the clubhouse. You may go join your
squad in progress on the course. They will have your scorecard. BUT
latecomers may NOT make up any targets or stations they have missed.
No, NO, NO! Latecomers who have missed any targets or stations are
now shooting only for fun. They will shoot less than 100 targets.
Their scores will not be factored into their Travelers average. They
may not shoot with another squad either. Tough love, but it’s the
only way we can keep latecomers from delaying everyone else who
showed up on time. The latecomer misses a few birds and shoots for
fun, but he doesn’t hold up the other 150 shooters. Fair is fair.

Odds and ends: NSCA registration- we still can’t come to agreement
with them, but we’ll keep working on it. The general feeling of the
membership is that it would be nice if NSCA registration were an
option for those who wished, but mandatory registration isn’t going
to fly. Nor is any outside body going to decide on which dates we can
hold our shoots and which dates we can’t.

NRA: Bless them. We don’t require NRA membership, but we do encourage
it. Since the events of last fall, a little self-sufficiency doesn’t
seem to be as politically incorrect as the whining bed wetters of the
liberal media would have us believe.

Shoot-off policy: We will continue to use predetermined “tie-breaker”
stations to eliminate the need for shoot-offs at standard shoots. The
exception is that when possible, we’ll hold a top gun shoot-off at
Club Championships.

At the close of the meeting, officers were unanimously re-elected. If
it ain’t broke…

A gourmet luncheon was served by Chef Mark D’Andrea of “Chef on
Call”. The snow stopped. The sun came out. Everyone went out
shooting. Mentors were distributed among the squads to offer coaching
to those who wished it. All is right in the Travelers world as we
start our 15th year.



REVISING THE CHUTNEYGOUT…

From: Traveler Fran Gallogly

Re: "Miss Manners and the Cloven Chutneygout,"

Dear Editor:

I would like to protest a flagrant misrepresentation inherent in this
article. It could not possibly have been authored by Miss Manners.
Such sexist drivel could have emanated only from the pen of Hizzoner
Pomposo The Judge. Miss Manners - of the sharp wit, and even sharper
hatpin - never would have written such derogatory diatribe depicting
the gentler gender. Here is how Miss Manners might have ended this
story:

“The London Best twelve bore side by side Smythington Chutneygout
with the Crushope coat of arms adorned the mantle of Natalia and
Norbert's home. Whenever they entertained, Natalia removed the
Smythington from its place of honor and displayed its charms to the
adoring multitudes. Each time she did so, she found herself drawn
more strongly to the elegant firearm that her ancestor Clovis
Crushope had designed. Frequently, she found herself taking it down,
even when no guests were present, and running her fingers along its
fine ashley dashley pineknot stock and golden etched receiver,
sighting down its polished barrel, admiring its weight and balance.

The gun stirred her curiosity and stoked her imagination. Who was
this distant Pilgrim artisan ancestor capable of producing such a
thing of beauty? Natalia needed to know. Fanatically, she delved into
researching the great Crushope heritage. No rock was left unturned,
no thread unraveled nor clue unpursued. Natalia became a denizen of
Ancestor.net, Pilgrims.com, YeOlde Firearms.org but could find no
lead regarding her august ancestor Clovis. And then, quite by chance,
she came upon it. It had been lying there in her attic all these
years - the ancient diary of Mavis Gwyneth Crushope, its yellowed
water-stained pages faintly legible.

Natalia could barely contain her excitement as she read that her
great, great, great, etc. grandmother had been the family markswoman!
Indeed it was Mavis, not Clovis, who had shot the 10 turkeys, 30
pheasant, 10 grouse and 40 chukers that had been the mainstay of the
Pilgrim's Thanksgiving feast each year. Clovis had merely washed the
dishes.

At last Natalia understood her attraction to the ancient Chutneygout.
She took it down lovingly from its perch above the fireplace. "I will
carry on my family's tradition," Natalia resolved steely. The very
next day she visited with Keithly Shoulderbumper, the eminent gun
fitter. She had the Smythington Chutneygout's stock cut and bent to
fit her cloven frame and initiated a series of shooting lessons. The
closet-full of Guccis and Diors was tossed in the rubbish bin. In
their place she purchased some stylish English shooting duds from Sir
Charlechester of Snibles.

Time flew by. No longer did Natalia bother with Tutus and Froo Froos.
Out they went. She needed room for her reload press, choke tubes,
instructional videos, hunting boots, ammo bags, cleats, cleaning
kits, winter and summer weight vests, gloves, muffs and custom
prescription optics with 50 changes of lenses for all season
sun/wind/rain/snow/glare control. Nor did she have to forego the
pungent attar of melted credit cards for shooting equipment was far
more costly than the shoes and dresses she used to buy.

Natalia discovered she had a talent and passion for shooting, no
doubt inherited from her noble ancestress Mavis. Soon she entered the
annual Grand Prixie Championship Whakum Open and tied for HOA. The
winner was to be decided in a shoot-off. Her opponent was none other
than...Norbert! Poor Norbert. His old Barbeywrecka 340XG90 was no
match for the glamorous Smythington Chutneygout's sinuous 40-inch
barrels. Natalia won the match handily. Norbert took Runner Up.

Now Natalia and Norbert own a matched pair of Smythington
Chutneygouts, each with the family coat of arms. Under the
escutcheons are faintly inscribed the name "Mavis Gwyneth Crushope."
They plan their vacations around national and international shooting
venues and competitions. Together they spend happy evenings watching
shooting videos while reloading shells by the fireplace. They enter
every couples cup and courting clays competition where their joint
Smythingtons make them the team to be reckoned with. They no longer
have any friends to impress with their Pilgrim brica brack. They
bored them all to death long ago with endless chatter of battues,
chandelles, simos and report pairs.

"Therefore class," said Miss M., our prim paradigm of perfect
politeness, "let that be a lesson to you. Bring home a Smythington
Chutneygout by stealth, and your wife may well outshoot you with it!"

MISS MANNERS ON HOLD...

"Hello. You have reached the automated voice mail system of
Heartless High-tech, Incorporated. Push button number one for
information on our software products. Push button number two for
information on our hardware products. Push button number three for
..." The tinny, mechanical voice droned on as it assigned a purpose
in life to each push button on the phone. It covered every
conceivable request except, of course, the question that Miss Manners
had in mind.

Finally, after discussing all the email and fax-back options in
excruciating detail, the phone mail system confessed, "If you have a
question not covered here, please hold for an operator." The midget
voice clicked off and a midget Mantovanni started to play elevator
music. After ten minutes the voice mail system warned, "We are
currently busy with other customers. Don't hang up. You will lose
your place in line." Miss Manners picked up her knitting and began
counting "Knit one, pearl two" as the long distance charges mounted.
After another fifteen minutes on hold, there was an arbitrary "click"
and the phone line went dead. "Aarrgghh!" she muttered.

Miss Manners carefully placed her knitting in her lap. She closed
her eyes and thought for a moment. Then she briskly thrust the large
knitting needle into the vitals of the telephone. The telephone made
a "zap" or two and fell silent. With a nod of satisfaction, she
arose and went shooting.

On the course, squadded as usual with the Judge and the Technoid,
their round of sporting was proceeding nicely. Miss M was in fine
fettle. The earlier trial by telephone was forgotten. Part way
around the course, they caught up to a squad in front and sat down on
the benches to wait their turn. And waited. And waited.

Myron Sepsis had been shooting sporting clays for a bit more than one
season now. He had won his first class C trophy and felt that he had
a pretty good handle on the game. Like many almost new shooters, he
delighted in sharing his newfound knowledge with those few who were
even less informed than he. In fact, Myron now fancied himself quite
the sporting clays coach. He was determined to see to it that every
member of his squad derived full benefit from his expertise.

This time Sepsis was in heaven. His squad had three beginners.
Myron gave unsolicited advice before, during and after each shot.
Every shot. Every shooter. Every station. He demonstrated how to
swing the gun, how to raise it, where to start the muzzle. Every
shot. Every shooter. Every station. No amount of fidgeting on the
part of his squad mates could turn him off. Instruct he could,
should and would. Every shot. Every shooter. Every station. Myron
never thought of asking Miss Manners' waiting squad to shoot through.
In fact, he rather liked the added audience and often tried to
include them in his little lectures.

The day dragged as the sun god Helios seemed to lose interest in
urging his steeds across the sky. Heat beat down. Birds fell
silent. Dust covered all. Miss Manners and her party were marooned
for eternity behind the prating pedantic Myron and his glacial squad.

Delays at stations became so long that Miss Manners produced knitting
from her shell bag and began to work on the "Death from Above"
screaming eagle appliqué for her new shooting vest. The only sound
to be heard was the drone of Myron’s voice pointing out yet another
shooting error. Her mind wandered back to her bout with the phone
mail that morning. At least phone mail played music while you
waited, she mused as she began to doze.

"No! No! No!” said Sepsis to one of the novitiates. "When you hold
the trigger, it goes "Click" and the sear will disconnect." Miss
Manners' head snapped up as she started from her drowse. "Hold?"
"Click?" "Disconnect?" "Aarrgghh! They aren't doing that to me
again!" Too fast for anyone to stop, the sunlight flashed on the
knitting needle as it darted home. Myron Sepsis made a zap or two
and then fell silently upon the shell strewn ground.

Moral: Instructing others during a shooting session is fine just as
long as they wish it and you are not inconveniencing others. Break
these rules and it may be "knit one, pearl you."





SPRING TRIP- Y’all come!

2002 North/South Skirmish, April 12-14

hosted by the Connecticut Travelers and Georgia’s Social Shooting
Club

Friday, April 12, 1:30 PM PINTAIL POINT (410-827-7029) Queenstown,
Maryland. Arrive Friday afternoon to shoot 5-Stand and Sporting at
this fabulous Orvis-endorsed facility. Then stay for cocktails and a
dinner buffet. It’s our own private shooting party! (Cost to be
determined). Go south on I-95 to Route 896 East, Exit 1A, Middletown,
Delaware. Turn right at Route 301 intersection - South and follow for
approximately 45 miles. At intersection 301/213 take Route 213 South
to Route 50 West. Follow 50 West for approximately 2.5 miles, turn
left on Carmichael Road. Pintail Point is located 1.5 miles on the
right.

Saturday, April 13, 9:00 AM ALEXANDER SPORTING FARM (410-928-3549)
13503 Alexander Road, Golts, Maryland ­ just off Route 299, 2 miles
North of Massey, MD. The folks at Alexander’s will also have lunch
available (soup, sandwiches, etc., cost: TBD) for those who want to
eat before heading out to…

Saturday, April 13, 2:00 PM CHESAPEAKE CLAYS (410-758-1824). Wanda
and Bill have been terrific over the years and they are really
looking forward to our visit.

Saturday, April 13, 7:30 PM ANNIE’S STEAK HOUSE (410-827-9500) A
short drive or long walk from the Comfort Inn. Cocktails, dinner. A
gustatorial three ring circus!

Sunday, April 14, 9:00 AM J&P HUNTING LODGE (410-438-3832), 1105
Benton Corner Road, Sudlersville, MD, 21668. Always fun, great
5-Stand and the folks here couldn’t be nicer or more accommodating.
There’s a snack bar available before heading home. Coming from the
South on US 301, Benton Corners Road is located 1.6 miles off US 301
on MD 300 to the Right. Take a Right onto Benton Corners Road and J&P
will be on your Right in 1/4 mile. All directions above are from the
internet, so do a reality check and bring a map.

HOTEL INFORMATION: We have 20 rooms on hold until March 20th at the
centrally located Comfort Inn (410-827-6767) in Grasonville, MD about
20 minutes outside of Annapolis. Tell them that you are with the
Connecticut Travelers to get the group rate of $78 (two double beds)
or $83 (king or queen). There are also rooms at Chesapeake Clays
(800-787-4667). Their group rates with the Travelers range from
$75-$95 per night.

You can make plans to join the tour on any day, but you must tell
Danni Jesudowich (tel: 508-896-9655; email: jesudowich@earthlink.net)
by the deadline of April 5. No later, please! Make your own hotel
reservations directly (by March 20), but please tell Danni you are
coming so that she can make meal and clays arrangements. If you
don’t, Miss Manners will see to it that you eat at a squat-n-gobble
and sleep in a tent.

The spring trip is always a marvelous time. We’ll meet our Southern
friends who will be coming up from Georgia’s Social Shooting Club and
duke it out for bragging rights. By the time you come home, we
guarantee that you will have shot yourself short and that the flowers
will be coming up in your garden. Well, we’ll guarantee the shooting
part anyway. Winter’s over. It’s a great trip. Come on! Who deserves
it more than you?



*** 2002 CONNECTICUT TRAVELERS SHOOT SCHEDULE ***

MAR 17 MID HUDSON TRAP & SKEET, NY-MARCH MADNESS
APR 12-14 SPRING TRIP TO MARYLAND, MD-NORTH SOUTH SKIRMISH
APR 21 OLD NEWGATE COON CLUB, CT-TAX TIME REVOLT
MAY 5* EAST MOUNTAIN, NY-COURTING CLAYS
MAY 19 TAMARACK PRESERVE, NY-MAY MINUET
MY 31-JU2 PEACE DALE PRESERVE, RI-TRAVELERS FITASC CHAMPIONSHIPS
JUN 23 TAMARACK, NY-NAT’L WILD TURKEY FED CONCURRENT SHOOT
JUL 21 SANDANONA/ORVIS, NY-SUMMERTIME, SUMMERTIME
AUG 9-11 ADDIEVILLE EAST, RI-GREAT EASTERN LOBSTER CLASSIC
SEP 15 FAIRFIELD COUNTY F&G, CT-SMALL GAUGE CHAMPIONSHIPS
OCT 5-7* SITE PENDING-FALL TRIP
OCT 20 MILLBROOK ROD & GUN, NY- OKTOBERSCHUTZENFEST
NOV 17 EAST MOUNTAIN, NY-CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS
DEC 1 EAST MOUNTAIN, NY-KOEHLER SOC. FUNDRAISER THREE SHOT
DEC 15 MID-COUNTY, NY-DICK LOSEE MEMORIAL CHRISTMAS PARTY

*** OTHER SHOOTS OF INTEREST ***
ALWAYS, ALWAYS, CALL AHEAD TO CONFIRM

MAR 29 NEWGATE COON CLUB, CT (860-738-3619)- EASTER SHOOT
APR 7 WALLKILL R&G, NY (845-895-9206) SPRING TEAM SHOOT
APR 28 FAIFIELD COUNTY F&G, CT (203-426-8508) GATOR SHOOT II
APR 28 MID-COUNTY, NY (845-677-5736) NSCA REGISTERED FUN SHOOT
JUNE 1,2 MID-COUNTY, NY (845-677-5736) EMPIRE STATE CUP- NSCA
SEPT 8 MID-COUNTY, NY (845-677-5736) NSCA REGISTERED FUN SHOOT


CONTACTING THE TRAVELERS...

CTSCA Home Office: Email <CTSCA@email.com> (by far the best way) or
telephone 860-354-9351 if you absolutely must.

Membership, Address Changes and Shooting Class status: Contact Cyndi
Dalena at 860-582-3142 between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM. Leave message.
Or Email shotguncyndi@prodigy.net

Guide Book questions, contact Dick Orenstein at <rho@usa.com> or call
203-454-4724.

To place an ad, post a shoot date in Reload! or simply heap abuse on
the editor, contact Bruce Buck at tel: 203-454-1080 (worst way), fax
to 707-215-0668 (adequate way) or email <bcb23@columbia.edu>
(marvelous way, you clever Traveler you!).

The current and previous issues of Reload! are posted on the internet
at <www.ShotgunReport.com>. You will also find megs and megs of other
useless Technoidal drivel there. Great literature never dies. It just
sort of lurks around.





**** THE UPCOMING TRAVELERS MONTHLY SHOOT ****


SUNDAY, MARCH 17, 2001
MARCH MADNESS SHOOT
MID-HUDSON GUN CLUB
NEW PALTZ, NY

You have all heard the phrase "mad as a March hare". Well, it is
March, we are dealing with some rabbits and besides, and a little
eccentricity is good for the soul. As Montaigne essayed four hundred
years ago- "A man must be a little mad if he does not want to be
even more stupid." The Frenchman poses a Hobson's choice if ever
there was one.

Mad or not, March is always an interesting time to hold a shoot.
Those of you who have become bored shooting hundred straights may
rest assured that Mid-Hudson’s Mike Maglio will keep you entertained.
If you don’t think so, you satisfy both of Monsieur Montaigne's
requirements.

NOTE THE NEW REGISTRATION FORMAT! There is no registration or
sign-in! Just find your name on the posted squad sheets and note your
squad number. Your squad number is the same as your starting station.
After the 9:30 shooters’ safety briefing, everyone goes directly to
their starting station. If you arrive late, you may find your squad
in progress and join them. BUT you may NOT make up any stations you
missed. Since you will not be shooting a full 100 targets, your score
will not be recorded. Just have fun and show up early next time. You
must shoot with your assigned squad. If you want to shoot with a
particular group, mention it on the sign-up form below. The shoot
committee will attempt to put you with your friends, but please
realize that this is not always possible.

The cost is $55 and will include continental breakfast, challenging
targets, sumptuous lunch and the usual lavish prizes from Tiffany and
Cartier. Suchadeal! Naturally, you have to get your prepaid
reservation in to the home office no later than Thursday, March 14.
Same with cancellations. No-show’s entry fees are donated to our
children’s charity. GUESTS ARE WELCOME AT THIS SHOOT.

Directions to Mid-Hudson Trap and Skeet Club, New Paltz, NY: Take
the New York State Thruway to Exit 18 “New Paltz”. After the
tollbooth go 100 yards to the traffic light on Rte 299. Turn Right
onto Rte 299. Go about _ mile on Rte 299 to the next traffic light.
Turn Left at that traffic light onto N. Ohioville Road. Go 2.7 miles
on N. Ohioville Road to the Mid-Hudson club entrance on your left. If
lost call the club at 845-255-7460.

NOTE: EYE AND EAR PROTECTION IS MANDATORY AT ALL TRAVELERS’ SHOOTS!