Winning big in Vegas

Last week was an exciting time for the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) and the firearms industry. I have been fortunate enough to attend a number of Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trades Shows (SHOT Show) over the years. Not only was this year’s show packed, but I was particularly excited to see more products designed for women on the show floor than ever.

I also attended my first WOMA networking event.  What a wonderful opportunity to meet members of WOMA and talk about generating exposure for women in the outdoor industry! It was such a pleasure to meet and reconnect with some of the people who have pioneered the way into a traditionally male industry. Though not a huge gathering in number, the event hosted a talented and diverse spectrum of participants dedicated to the goals of The WOMA.

For those who didn’t have the opportunity to attend, Kim Pezzeminti of Doeville.com graciously donated several beautiful door prizes at the event. One of these prizes was a beautiful, bronze and peach, freshwater pearl and antler shed necklace with matching earrings. I admit to fully thinking, “Ooh, pick me!” for the drawing and it must have paid off.  I was a very lucky winner, not only for the beautiful jewelry, but for the opportunity to meet others dedicated to promoting women in the outdoor industry.

~Julie Golob

Job opportunity with USA Shooting

After nearly three years as the Media and Public Relations Manager for USA Shooting, Mary Beth Vorwerk will resign in March to pursue other interests.

Her tenure was highlighted by numerous improvements to USA Shooting, including all forms of print media, website updates and press releases, as well as coverage of the USA Shooting events and athletes. A veteran of two Olympic Games, Vorwerk’s work in the Olympic family helped establish USA Shooting as a media-savvy National Governing Body.

USA Shooting will accept applications for the Media and Public Relations Manager until Friday, February 5th. Applications should include a cover letter and resume, as well as writing samples or website links to recent work in the Media/PR field.

Applicants must possess at least a Bachelor of Arts degree in a Journalism or relevant field, with strong skills in writing and editing, working in a web-based environment, video and print media production, as well as photo and graphics editing. Magazine layout and publication skills desired. Coordinating with media outlets and athletes to publish interviews and features is a major element of this position. In addition, the Media and PR Manager will work closely with the USA Shooting Marketing department to increase brand recognition and exposure. A sports background and experience in the firearms industry is desired. The job description for the Media and Public Relations Manager is available for download here.

Please submit application packages to:

USA Shooting, ATTN Bill Roy, 1 Olympic Plaza, Colorado Springs, CO 80909.

Fax is also acceptable, 719-635-7989; or email to bill.roy@usashooting.org.

PRÓIS® Hunting Apparel announces Primal Adventures’ ‘Extreme Huntress’ contest winner

Próis Hunting Apparel and well known TV powerhouse Primal Adventures has been on the hunt for the most hard-core female hunter with the launch of their first ever Extreme Huntress national contest. And now, after countless submissions and with the help of your online votes — they’ve found their gal that can really bring it in the field. Taking home this prestigious title and a hunt of a lifetime is Rebecca Francis of Woodland Hills, Utah.

“This whole contest from start to finish has been an amazing experience,” said Francis. “I’m thrilled to have been a part of a program that encourages and supports women in the outdoors — and cannot wait for my hunt in British Columbia!”

In addition to taking home the most Extreme Huntress title, Francis will get the chance to bring home a prized trophy or two on her all expenses paid sheep and mountain goat combination hunt in British Columbia. To prepare her for this hunt of a lifetime, she will be fully outfitted in Próis’ high performance hunting gear, along with a slew of other great equipment provided by contest sponsors. The hunt itself will be filmed for a future episode of Primal Adventures on Versus, with the total value of the grand prize package at more than $50,000.

Francis has worked hard for this title as her hard-core adventures have led her to take down the most challenging game including a 700lb African Lion at full charge and a 10 ½ ft. Alaskan brown bear at 24 yards with her bow. You can tell Francis is a hard-core hunter at the heart as each year she looks forward to ‘suffering from a sore butt in the saddle, rubbing elk manure on her pants to cover her scent and crawling through bushes for hours while stalking game’ — as described in her thrilling essay.

Any serious female hunter who has pushed the limits and beyond in the field was encouraged to tell her story, and share her passion with the world. Countless submissions were received online and were then reviewed by a celebrity panel of judges including Larry Weishuhn, Remington’s Linda Powell, Jim Zumbo from the Outdoor Channel, Denise Miller of Otis Technology, Inc, and Prois Hunting Apparel CEO, Kirstie Pike. The top 10 finalists were then chosen and posted on the Tahoe Films website for the hunting public to vote for their favorite.

“We were thrilled at the number of heart-stopping stories we received showcasing these amazing women who really go for it in the field,” says Kirstie Pike, CEO of Prois. “These unstoppable women are truly role models for present and future women hunters out there, and we’re excited to be able to highlight their success.”

For more information about the Extreme Huntress Contest, Primal Adventures, or Próis’ innovative line of serious, high performance hunting apparel for women, contact: Primal Adventures at Thomas@tahoefilms.com · Or Próis Hunting Apparel, 28001-B US Highway 50, Gunnison, CO 81230 · (970) 641-3355 · www.proishunting.com.

Editor’s Note: For hi-res images and releases, please visit our online Press Room at www.full-throttlecommunications.com.

Like-minded connections

I don’t care how busy I get or how ugly my travel schedule is, making time to visit with like-minded friends, colleagues and business partners is critical to my sanity! Speaking in Northern California last week allowed me to be part of the tremendous rainstorms and took me closer to the Safari Club International (SCI)  Annual Hunters’ Convention in Reno, Nevada.

Feeling very much like a duck, I winged my way to Reno.  Al, my husband, was already there.  We were at the SCI convention hall when the doors opened, affording us time to visit friends, book another trip to Namibia and for me to attend the Sables Luncheon. I saw dear friends Jane Brown and Heide Kaser.

Thanks to WOMA member Heide Kaser, NRA’s Assistant Director for Strategic Giving, I sat right up front with Ann Schmeits, wife of NRA President Ron Schmeits, Sherrie Maddox of Louisville, Kentucky and Susan LaPierre, wife of Wayne LaPierre, NRA’s Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer.

This luncheon benefits the activities of the Sables, who are leaders in outdoor education and whose motto is “Continuing our outdoor heritage.” Our entertainment was the Beach Boys—well, maybe nowadays we should call them the Beach Men.

So the question is this.  How you maximize the little time you have, in order to eliminate the meetings that do not serve you well, either personally or professionally?  My answer is to always ask myself: “Is this the best use of my time right now?”

Connections are important, but choose wisely. Your time is too valuable to waste it. What do you think?

—Marsha

Register now for media pass to NWTF convention in February

Register now to receive your media pass for the upcoming National Wild Turkey Federation Convention & Sport Show to be held on Feb. 18-21, 2010, at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville, Tenn. Please send your request and also state the publication or media outlet you’ll be representing to Melanie Swearingen: mswearingen at nwtf.net. See www.nwtf.org

Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a photo or two

I would like to offer these great new camera bags geared toward the ladies of the photo industry. These are stylish, well made leather bags that do not look like your typical camera bag. They look more like a purse or the larger satchel shoulder bag. They are our new line from “Jill-E”. They are available in an array of sizes and colors even up to a built in roller feature if you have a lot of gear.

You can check out our website to see more variety of choices. Ladies, if you have husbands that are into photography also and would like a very well made bag they also have a “Jack” line of these bags too. If you have any questions or are interested please contact Kathryn Nazzaro  knazzaro at wbhunt.com or phone 781-662-8822 and ask for Kathryn Nazzaro.

Thank you for your support!

You can now vote for Team HuntingLife.com by phone

Wisconsin Outdoors Network Administrations has added text voting to the mix at the Battle of the Bow. Along with being able to vote once a day at www.battleofthebow.com/vote, you can send your vote by text. To vote for Team HuntingLife.com and WOMA member Terri Lee Pocernich of Camp Wild Girls.com and her son Kale, send the message team1 (no space) to 99503. See you on The Sportsman Channel!

The WOMA Press Conference and Networking Event at SHOT Show a Win-Win Situation

I just got back from our event and it was a tremendous success in spite of some of the problems getting around at the Shot Show.  We will be getting several new members from this event!  Our keynote speaker and Chairman, Deb Ferns, gave a great presentation outlining what our organization does and who we are.  We have made great strides since our launch a year ago at the 2009 Shot Show and we will continue to grow in the coming year.  I heard several comments about this being a wonderful event to meet and exchange views and ideas with other women in the outdoor world.

A big THANK YOU goes out to WOMA member Kim Pezzeminti of Doeville.com for her generous gifts donated for the event!  Some of the highlights included members Cara Peebles of Otis Technologies winning a beautiful Doeville Denim Jacket and Julie Goloski-Golub of Smith & Wesson winning the lovely necklace and earrings donated by Doeville.  Tom Scott from Remington Arms Company Freedom Group won the 2-year membership donated by WOMA board member Marsha Petrie Sue.

Thanks to our President, Barbara Baird, for putting together a killer slide show for the meeting.  We received many compliments on the slide show that showcased our organization and its members and it is posted here on the web page.  If you couldn’t make it this year, we hope to see you next year and keep talking about our organization and bring in those new members!

Podcast: Barbara Baird on ‘Cam and Company’

The WOMA now offers an opportunity to you to get your podcast out there. In this first podcast at the site, The WOMA’s president, Barbara Baird, talks to Cam Edwards, host of Cam and Company, an NRA radio show on SIRIUS Satellite Radio and XM Radio. Barb and Cam talked about her recent article in America’s 1st Freedom titled “We Just Want Our Guns Back.” The show was recorded on Jan. 4, 2010.

New Hearing Protection a Big Hit at Media Day

I am just back from Media Day at the Range.  It is held every year as a pre-event to the Shot Show for media professionals.  I had the pleasure of trying some new electronic muffs from a company by the name of Electronic Hearing Protection, EHP for short.  These muffs are some of the most comfortable ones I have ever used and they work very well too.  I was impressed with how easy it was to hear everything around me except the loud noises created by bullets from pistols, rifles and shotguns!

EHP President, Denny Snyder, was there at the booth answering any questions and was very gracious in loaning me a pair of pink, yes pink, muffs to take on the range.  One lady that tried the muffs told me that these were the most comfortable muffs she had ever worn and she had been shooting for 25 years!  These muffs are very padded and do not pinch your head.  They are also comfortable at the temples.   EHP muffs come in a multitude of different colors, including bright orange, lime green and camo, or choose the plain black ones.  Me, I am going for hot pink!  For more information go to http://www.ehphearing.com

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