This is a quick summary of the Instructor Bootcamp which was held in Burlington Flats, NY State. Three of us West Virginians made the trip up north for the IBC.
Spanner was kind enough to play taxi, Brickhouse, and I (Mountaineer) all went for the weekend. It was about ab 8 hour drive in good weather to Burlington.
The people of Burlington Flats were extremely hospitable. The Burlington Flats Fish and Game Club hosted us, and allowed us to sleep inside, with heat! The community they have there is really amazing.
One evening, a family made home-made venison stew and macaroni for us. The deer had been taken by a 14 year-old girl with a bow, her first year hunting, and her first deer. The stew was amazing.
It was my first venison of the season, and it was really good.
We owe a big 'thank you' to the people of Burlington Flats. A nicer group of people and patriots could not be asked for.
Those of us in attendance spent two days going over the nuts-and-bolts of Appleseed Instructing. Everything from building a good position, sling use, NPOA, and of course, the history of April 19, 1775.
We made it up to IIT3, so some of us may be looking for Red Hats before too long. kDan and Crac were the instructors, and Spanner was drafted for part of Saturday to assist. Thankfully we let him sleep on Sunday, since he'd been awake for more than 30 hours.
It was a really good experience to meet Appleseeders from other parts of the country and see how they do it. There are some regional difference, as much as we try to minimize that. The Yanks are pretty fond of the Rapid-Fire AQT, where we take things about a bit slower and prefer the stage-by-stage down South. I think both have a lot to offer, and I hope we use them both in our AS's here in WV.
There is something unique about rifle enthusiasts and people who empathize with our Founders. You can meet a person who is one of these, and know that you could be friends for life. I don't know that other interests aren't also this way; but I wouldn't expect it from shuffleboard-players, per se.
What a great group of people.
Well, I hope you'll join us in Stinson WV this weekend, Dec 12-13, where Spanner and I will be working the line under Slim, as well as possibly others. So please, go to the registration link on the right, and come down and see where Marksmanship meets Heritage.
*** Remember: women, children under 20, military, and LEO's all shoot free.
07 December 2009
25 November 2009
Stinson: Dec 12-13
As you might have noticed, the side-bar changed a little. I will be updating it, the section for the next WV AS, as needed. Which should be at a minimum of once a month. There's a link right in it to take you to the registration portal.
The next WV AS is Dec 12-13th, in Stinson.
This year at AS we've run more than 8500 people through the history and practicalities that made this country great. We set ourselves a goal of getting 8k through, but when we made that, we up'd it to 10k! So we need your help to grab that extra 1500 before January.
So if you have been waffling about going to an AS, now is the time!
But the work doesn't end there... (and trust me, it is work) Once you earn that Rifleman's Patch (and you'll stick to it until you do, right?), then we separate the men from the boys, and the women from the girls, and it's time to take an Orange Hat and become an Instructor.
Next year's goal is double last years, so that means 20k new people through AS! We can't do that without instructors, boots-on-the-ground volunteers, and ten-thousand other things.
So go for that Rifleman's Patch, take up that Orange Hat, and let's get to work!
In Liberty,
--- Mountaineer
The next WV AS is Dec 12-13th, in Stinson.
This year at AS we've run more than 8500 people through the history and practicalities that made this country great. We set ourselves a goal of getting 8k through, but when we made that, we up'd it to 10k! So we need your help to grab that extra 1500 before January.
So if you have been waffling about going to an AS, now is the time!
But the work doesn't end there... (and trust me, it is work) Once you earn that Rifleman's Patch (and you'll stick to it until you do, right?), then we separate the men from the boys, and the women from the girls, and it's time to take an Orange Hat and become an Instructor.
Next year's goal is double last years, so that means 20k new people through AS! We can't do that without instructors, boots-on-the-ground volunteers, and ten-thousand other things.
So go for that Rifleman's Patch, take up that Orange Hat, and let's get to work!
In Liberty,
--- Mountaineer
20 November 2009
Instructor Bootcamp Roadtrip?
Dec 5-6, there is a convoy heading up to the yankee state of New York for IBC. If you are an AS IIT, send us a message if you can go!
--- Mountaineer
--- Mountaineer
31 October 2009
WV's first IBC
That's Instructor Boot Camp, to the uninitiated. (-:
The IBC took place this weekend past (Oct 24-25) at the DAR in Calhoun Co, courtesy of The Machine, our resident landowner. IBC's help prepare instructors to work the line, and progress on the path from Instructor in Training (Orange Hat), to Instructor (Red Hat), to Shoot Boss (Green Hat).
We've got a lot great people working to make Appleseed in WV work. So get on down to one!
The IBC took place this weekend past (Oct 24-25) at the DAR in Calhoun Co, courtesy of The Machine, our resident landowner. IBC's help prepare instructors to work the line, and progress on the path from Instructor in Training (Orange Hat), to Instructor (Red Hat), to Shoot Boss (Green Hat).
We've got a lot great people working to make Appleseed in WV work. So get on down to one!
20 October 2009
The student turnout wasn't big for this one, but we set a new Stinson instructor record...the entire WV IC was in the same place, at the same time!
We had pretty decent weather, albeit a little on the warm, muggy side, for this time of year. The rain stayed away until everyone was ready to pack it in on Sunday, then we had one of Stinson's infamous "see ya later" showers. The good news this time; nobody got to slide around in the mud and get towed out. We don't even allow that opportunity here anymore...MudSlide was the last of that breed.
Speaking of MudSlide--with his vehicle safely on terra firma--he was able to keep focus on his PC3 evaluation, which he passed with flying colors. Alex was the recipient of some fine instructing on Sunday, by the "mud man" himself...
And his positions told the story, that he paid attention to the offhand and sitting components of instruction...
A little more work on prone and that nagging "draggin' wood" issue, then the patch will be awarded. You will be dry-firing at home Alex, right? I'll see, when you return in October.
Rewinding back to Sat...our youngest shooter ever--6 yr. old Sequoia--blasted the first Redcoats, then lost interest and passed the pink "Cricket" to mom for the rest of the day. I think Sequoia enjoyed drawing pictures on paper, rather than putting holes through it. [Unfortunately the pic of Sequoia got deleted
] Her mom Cory got "carded" by Spanner during the NPOA drills...
One of my favorite "returning champions"--Margaret--showed her joy of being back in Stinson again
...
Then, dond stepped in, and the reality of Margaret spending too much time remodeling her house and not enough time practicing, reared it's ugly head
...
In all sincerity, Margaret is one of the sweetest persons you'll meet. Sweet doesn't make up for the common error that many students make, however...not practicing dry-fire at home. I want to be the one to award you your Rifleman patch Margaret, so can you please wrap-up that remodel job and get back to Appleseed business? 
Mountaineer was a "first timer" who learned early on, the art of precision rifle shooting requires loosing the habit of "draggin' wood"...among other things...
[BTW, that's a walking stick, not a rifle, that I'm holding. I managed to sprain the tendons in my lower back 2 days before the shoot, so I needed some "props" to get the job done.] Anyhow, Mountaineer made very good progress, going from 136 on his first AQT, to 184 on his last one Sunday. With some homework and range practice, I can see Kevin getting the patch at his next AS. Mountaineer was also talking to me about grabbing a bucket...uht oh...
Standing and delivering...
Then doin' the crash-and-burn...
Spanner was going for the RH at this one, and he did a very good job of running the show, as dond supervised. Here, Spanner explains the theory of placing every shot into those little "Vs"...
Then he interjected some history to a memorized audience...
After which, it was time to see what Mountaineer was up to...
Mountaineer was up to nothing; he's down in that funky kneeling position that's not often seen in "these here parts". 
As the action rolled on, dond looks on in amazement, while I keep my head from exploding...
Dond decided to give everyone a break from the physical workout and switch gears to a cerebral exercise--"choices" and "Dangerous Old Men"...
After that moving presentation, dond wrapped the history talk up with some short stories of interest; Hezekiah Wyman being one of them...
The wvmmfalcon came to this event as a man with a well defined mission--earning the Rifleman title. He and MudSlide discussed the battle plan Saturday afternoon, under Mother Nature's "heat lamp"...
Mind focused like a laser beam, the "falcon" persisted through Sunday...
Finally, after huge doses of encouragement and dedication to the Cause; the end result speaks for itself--mission accomplished!
...
As a side note...wvmmfalcon scored a 210 on his first Rifleman AQT, which earned him a nice shot of ice cold water down the neck! He loved every minute of it! 
All-in-all, it was another great Stinson AS. Dond had some Orange Hats on hand, so bbkf, siglite, and wvmmfalcon received the crown of flo-O to cover their domes. I also took full advantage of having the entire WV IC in one spot; posing for a group pic with "Mr. Celebrity" himself--dond!
Some of those Orange Hats will be turning to Red Hat in the very near future. I want to thank Don and his lovely wife Sarah for making the pilgrimage from TN to make this weekend special. A big thanks to our dedicated WV IC for giving our state the tools to create more Rifleman. And it was a pleasure to work with all you students...do your homework...we have a patch and hat waiting for you.
--- The Machine
We had pretty decent weather, albeit a little on the warm, muggy side, for this time of year. The rain stayed away until everyone was ready to pack it in on Sunday, then we had one of Stinson's infamous "see ya later" showers. The good news this time; nobody got to slide around in the mud and get towed out. We don't even allow that opportunity here anymore...MudSlide was the last of that breed.
Speaking of MudSlide--with his vehicle safely on terra firma--he was able to keep focus on his PC3 evaluation, which he passed with flying colors. Alex was the recipient of some fine instructing on Sunday, by the "mud man" himself...
And his positions told the story, that he paid attention to the offhand and sitting components of instruction...
A little more work on prone and that nagging "draggin' wood" issue, then the patch will be awarded. You will be dry-firing at home Alex, right? I'll see, when you return in October.
Rewinding back to Sat...our youngest shooter ever--6 yr. old Sequoia--blasted the first Redcoats, then lost interest and passed the pink "Cricket" to mom for the rest of the day. I think Sequoia enjoyed drawing pictures on paper, rather than putting holes through it. [Unfortunately the pic of Sequoia got deleted
] Her mom Cory got "carded" by Spanner during the NPOA drills...One of my favorite "returning champions"--Margaret--showed her joy of being back in Stinson again
...Then, dond stepped in, and the reality of Margaret spending too much time remodeling her house and not enough time practicing, reared it's ugly head
...Mountaineer was a "first timer" who learned early on, the art of precision rifle shooting requires loosing the habit of "draggin' wood"...among other things...
Standing and delivering...
Then doin' the crash-and-burn...
Spanner was going for the RH at this one, and he did a very good job of running the show, as dond supervised. Here, Spanner explains the theory of placing every shot into those little "Vs"...
Then he interjected some history to a memorized audience...
After which, it was time to see what Mountaineer was up to...
As the action rolled on, dond looks on in amazement, while I keep my head from exploding...
Dond decided to give everyone a break from the physical workout and switch gears to a cerebral exercise--"choices" and "Dangerous Old Men"...
After that moving presentation, dond wrapped the history talk up with some short stories of interest; Hezekiah Wyman being one of them...
The wvmmfalcon came to this event as a man with a well defined mission--earning the Rifleman title. He and MudSlide discussed the battle plan Saturday afternoon, under Mother Nature's "heat lamp"...
Mind focused like a laser beam, the "falcon" persisted through Sunday...
Finally, after huge doses of encouragement and dedication to the Cause; the end result speaks for itself--mission accomplished!
...All-in-all, it was another great Stinson AS. Dond had some Orange Hats on hand, so bbkf, siglite, and wvmmfalcon received the crown of flo-O to cover their domes. I also took full advantage of having the entire WV IC in one spot; posing for a group pic with "Mr. Celebrity" himself--dond!
Front: wvmmfalcon, bbkf, Spanner Back: siglite, dond (SB), The Machine, MudSlide
Some of those Orange Hats will be turning to Red Hat in the very near future. I want to thank Don and his lovely wife Sarah for making the pilgrimage from TN to make this weekend special. A big thanks to our dedicated WV IC for giving our state the tools to create more Rifleman. And it was a pleasure to work with all you students...do your homework...we have a patch and hat waiting for you.
--- The Machine
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