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BVFGFA February 2024 Monthly Newsletter

‍Greetings Visitor ‍,

‍Welcome to the February 2024‍ ‍ ‍ ‍edition of the Branch Valley Fish Gams and Forestry Association Monthly Newsletter:

We hope the information contaiined in here is useful. We welcome any suggestions and thoughts you may have on how to improve the newsletter and website.

In This Edition

Presidents Corner - February 2024
February 2024 Upcoming Events
Rants & Ranges - February
Membership - February
Friends of NRA Banquets
Monthly Raffle Winners - 2023/2024
Kitchen Committee - February
New and Improved Club Website
Archery Committee - February
Pistol Team/Indoor Range - February
BVFGFA Wednesday Trap- February
Fish Committee February
Legistlative Alerts GOA February
Grounds Help Needed - February
2024 BVFGFA Rifle Matches
Branch Valley Sportswear
February 2024 Newsletter
2024 Member Renewal Form

Presidents Corner - February 2024

Good February everyone. Lets hope we have the majority of the cold and snow behind us??

If you remember a few months ago I wrote in this column about the use of drones to recover downed deer? I also mentioned that it is illegal to use the drones on state game lands.

Well it happened... the game commission set up a sting operation to nab a drone recovery company helping a client search for his deer. The Chester county man that owns and operates the business is being charged. His penalties: fines, up to three months in jail and they seized his $10,000 drone if convicted.

How could he think of breaking such an important law?

For myself, I have gone to great lengths to find wounded animals, as we all have, and if need be, I would hire a drone operator. Seem like the right thing to do.

Now on the opposite side of the coin, Pa. State Senator Jarrett Coleman, is introducing a bill this month allowing the use of drones to recover deer. He said, "Pa Game Commission appears to be taking a hostile view of the use of drones in game recovery".

For the March meeting we will be welcoming a guest, Waterways Conservation Officer Michael Blair.

See you at the meeting.

Garry

February 2024 Upcoming Events

Date	Event	Time
1	B.V. Pistol	5-9pm
2	4H Jr Rifle	7-9pm
4	Black Powder shoot	9am-noon
5	Archery	7-9pm
6	B.V. Monthly meeting	7:30 pm
8	B.V. Pistol	5-9pm
9	4H Jr Rifle	7-9pm
12	Archery	7-9pm
15	B.V. Pistol	5-9pm
16	4H Jr Rifle	7-9pm
19	Archery	7-10pm
22	B. V. Pistol	5-9pm
23	4H Jr Rifle	7-9pm
25	High Power Offhand Rifle match 100 yards	9am-noon
26	Archery	7-9 pm
27	B.V. Board of Dir. Meeting	7:30pm
29	B.V. Pistol	5-9pm

Reminder NO B.V. Trap ‘Til March

Next Meeting March 5th

Rants & Ranges - February

Black Powder shooters will meet on Sunday the 4th at 9 AM , weather permitting. if the weather isn't "permitting" show up anyway, we'll think of something to do.

The Highpower match will be held Sunday the 25th at 9AM. This match will be an offhand event and is open to any rifle be it service, match, or sporting.

Reminder: The indoor range will be occupied from 6:30 until 9PM Friday evenings starting February 9 through March 8th for the 4H and BV junior rimfire training. To participate you must be a 4H or Branch Valley member under eighteen years of age. The training is progressive so attendance at the beginning is important.

Note to new Branch Valley members: Memorize your rules and read the large signs posted at all the stations. If these things don't answer your questions your officers and directors can and will. If you wonder whether or not something is allowed, it probably ain't.

Shoot safely or not at all,

Bob Gular

Membership - February

The 2024 membership badges are bright orange, the wearable proof of membership. Please wear them at all times while on club grounds and indoor building and of course the indoor range.

Any renewals past Jan 2nd are late and as such the $50 reinstatement is charged. If there is dragging of feet on this may cost you your slot as member.

Membership at 938, with 35 juniors on record So including 976. Nearly 55 still not renewed and time is now running out to renew. Sorry.

Mail in renewal forms link is on your newsletter will drop off in this Feb newsletter mailing. Also on our website.

Another key note that bears repeating:
Due to issues with some members violating the family membership (dependent children) policy; ages 18- 22 enrolled as Fulltime college students NOTE: BVFG has dissolved this option. This change is in effect staring with 2023 calendar year and in effect for renewing in 2023. Renewal forms for 2024 will again be requesting information on dependent in household children. 18 and over can move to an adult membership.

Still seeing some members not in synch with this. If 18 or older, kids are no longer eligible dependents under family, but can transition to adult membership fairly easily. If they miss doing at 18, 19 and older must reapply as new member.

IF MEMBERS ARE NOT GETTING EMAILED NEWSLETTER BE SURE TO CHECK YOUR EMAIL SERVICE SPAM POLICIES OR SETTINGS.

IF STILL PROBLEM CONTACT US VIA WEBSITE EMAIL. New MEMBERS, PLEASE REMEMBER TO REGISTER ON THE WEBSITE AS REQUESTED AT ORIENTATION. If you change your email address do so on the BVFG web portal by "signing in" to manage this process. If not registered, please do so if you have email. It is important to streamline the newsletter mailing process also.

Also if any news of interest please write to the club email address.
Please attend meetings.
Next general meeting for Feb is on the 6th at 7:30pm.

Otherwise refer to this newsletter for current issues on John Helfrich's calendar and general information or the website.

At meeting we will have new Pocket T shirts in Large, XL and 2XL in navy blue and medium steel grey with club emblem embroidered. Cost is $20 now on T shirts. We can order various colors and sizes, Minimum of 6 order quantity does apply per the provider in special colors and odd sizes.
Please advise at Paul Schwartz or on BVFG Hotmail address.

Most apparel comes in M, L, EX and 2XL some larger frames on most items available. BVFG Crewneck sweatshirts, Light denim shirts, T Shirts, some fleece jackets. Camo and orange baseball style hat in also in blaze orange. New spreadsheet of what's now available will be posted on the indoor message board.

We have plenty of available hooded sweatshirts, full zip. for sale at the club meeting. Let me know via email link on website if preference for more colors. Also have couple of Arctic Hooded sweatshirts, super warm and high quality made in USA, for $80. We can order them, but lead time is few months, hopefully improving soon.

Stay Warm ENJOY.Spring now less than 12 weeks away.

Regards, Paul S. PR Membership Committee/Director/Financial Secretary

NOTE: 2024 MEMBERSHIP CARDS (BRIGHT ORANGE) MUST BE DISPLAYED BY ALL MEMBERS WHILE USING THE RANGES/FACILITY AT BVFG. NO EXCEPTIONS.

Friends of NRA Banquets

Upcoming Friends of NRA Banquets

Bucks County FNRA

Saturday February 10, 2024 at 5:00 PM

Spring Mill Country Club & Manor

80 Jacksonville Rd

Ivyland, PA 18974

Montgomery County FNRA

Thursday May23, 2024 at 5:00 PM

Franconia Heritage

508 Harleysville Pike

Telford, PA 18969

Monthly Raffle Winners - 2023/2024

Month	Winner
April 2023	Kirt Stillings
May 2023	Tom Moyer
June 2023	Stacy Dam
July 2023	Joe McGinley
August 2023	Larry Baker
September 2023	Bill Quigley
October 2023	Fred Szablewski
November 2023	Michael Brzezicki
December 2023	Jacob Sprague
January 2024	Adam Brannan
February 2024	Aaron Weirbach
March 2024	Nice Easter Eggs?

Kitchen Committee - February

February Meeting Night

Sliders (with a side of creamed cabbage)

Hot dog

Pie or Muffins

Ice Cream Sandwich

Coffee, Tea, Lemonade, Iced Tea

See you soon!

Larry Myers - Kitchen Committee

New and Improved Club Website

Vector rocket launch website computer concept illustration. Business start rocket launch

Announcing the launch of our new and improved Club Website!

Much of it will seem familiar but lots of behind the scenes things are streamlined, and designed with our membership in mind.

Please take some time to explore a bit both from your PC as well as your phone. This was designed from the ground up to be mobile device friendly.

Use your original login and password. If you've forgotten it, simply click on the area for forgotten passwords.

Please take note: Website Registration and Newsletter subscription are 2 different things.

If you register for the website, you will automatically be subscribed to the newsletter.

If you only subscibe to the Newsletter, you will not be registered on the website

Watch for new features to be rolled out.

If you have questions, concerns or suggestions please don't heasitate to reach out to the Webmaster

Archery Committee - February

The Archery club gets together Monday night indoors from 7 till 9 to shoot a round of 3D targets.

The indoor range has a green arrow curtain that can be pulled in front of the pistol backstop. The curtain is rated for a 50lb bow using blunt bullet tip points. We have target bails and foam blocks to be placed between the targets and the curtain. This is to prevent damage to the curtain and to your arrows in the unlikely chance you miss.

On the outdoor archery range target houses have been placed at 20, 30, 40 and 50 yards. CrossBow speed bags are installed on all of the target houses. Please put the crossbow speed bags back on top of the foam blocks to keep them out of the weather when you are finished.

Good News! Broadheads can be shot at the Styrofoam blocks in the target houses. Just be careful when removing the broad heads and pulling out large chunks of the foam.

PLEASE DO NOT SHOOT BROADHEADS AT THE “CROSSBOW SPEED BAGS” OR ANY OTHER TARGET ON THE CLUB GROUNDS.

Joe Bosch

Pistol Team/Indoor Range - February

We are accumulating quite a supply of carboard for the target backers. If you run across backers that are “really shot up” (I trust your judgement) please put them in the dumpster. If you are offering free cardboard, let’s wait until the supply drops to about half of what we now have.

Please: Only shoot paper targets.
Approved calibers posted on the range.
Place finger on the trigger ONLY when ready to fire. SAFETY FIRST.
Unsafe practices damaging BVFG range or property may cost your membership.
Please take out the trash when the containers are full.
Clean up all your brass.

Rich Williams, Captain

BVFGFA Wednesday Trap- February

Trap Shooting Event See you in Spring!!

Please contact Larry @ 267-424-0295
Please reach out and thank Larry for continuing to make this event happen.

Direct All questions to Larry Varichione.

Fish Committee February

Cabin Fever is best treated by looking over your fishing tackle and prepping for the upcoming season.

There are opportunities in the pond for bluegills and bass, and we need to know if the catfish are there and growing.

Pennsylvania Trout Season opens on April 6. Club season opens one week later.

Junior Members special morining on the 13th and Club opens on the 14th.

Check your lines and maybe get a bigger net!

Jack Patcella

Legistlative Alerts GOA February

Members and Friends,

It's up to each one of us to keep track of what our elected representatives are up to and let them know our opinion. One of the best and easiest methods is to sign up at the Gun Owners of America (GOA) web
page:

https://www.gunowners.org/action/

There is no cost and you don't have to join the organization. GOA will send you email alerts when any bills (pro and con, US and State) come up for votes, advise you of executive actions and more.

If you also enter your physical address, it will tailor pre-written reply letters to your specific US and PA reps and senators. You can always write your own reply text or alter the pre-written version as you see fit. You can look up voting records, voter guides, legislation info, etc.. It is a great resource to help keep track and quickly let you opinion be known.

Remember, Freedom Is Never Free!

Jim Hildenberger

Grounds Help Needed - February

lawnmeme Grounds Committee Needs Your Help

The Grounds Committee is looking toward Spring. We desperately need your help with grounds care this year.

Please consider stepping up to do some mowing and grounds work. A few volunteers would make the job that much easier.

For specific details and to put your name on the list please reach out to Mike Reiner or any Board Member.

2024 BVFGFA Rifle Matches

9AM Start Time 100 Yards
Open to Public with Experience

Registration Done @ Match

Date	Event	Time
January 28	Standard Service & Match Rifle	9am
February 25	Offhand, Any Rifle Match	9am
March 24	Standard Service & Match Rifle	9am
April 28	Offhand, Any Rifle Match	9am
May 26	Standard Service & Match Rifle	9am
June 23	Offhand, Any Rifle Match	9am
July 28	Carbine Rifle Match & Service Pistol @ 50 Yards	9am
August 25	Standard Service & Match Rifle	9am
September 22	Offhand, Any Rifle Match	9am
October 27	Standard Service & Match Rifle	9am
November 10	M1 Garand Match & Service Pistol @ 50 Yards (Vets Shoot Free)	9am
December 1	Vintage Military Bolt Rifle Match (Toys for Tots Program)	9am