Heartbeat of the WOMA – July 2011

My goal was to have a Heartbeat blog by the beginning of each month. I only missed that deadline by 29 days here in July (sad, so sad.) I’m not going to beat around the bush; bottom line is summer is very busy for my meeting planning business (my paying job) and we were slammed with huge camps for Babes with Bullets ™ through May, June and July. In fact our July three day camp, recently held in Chicago, was one of the largest ever with 32 women participating and varying in ages from 18 to 71. Besides being a well attended camp we also had a “pro gun” article from the Chicago Tribune (link is below in case you have an interest) which generated over 2,000 emails with requests for more camps in the Midwest. So despite Mayor Daley’s adamant “anti gun” stance it seems the women in that area want to learn how to shoot! God bless America that they have the right to do so and only because the Supreme Court basically told Mayor Daley he’s been wrong for decades on his personal interpretation of the 2nd Amendment.

Moving off the subject of our camps and back onto business for the WOMA I urge you to read the minutes each month from the board of directors’ meeting. We address issues presented to the board by the members and that’s where the discussion is held and a vote taken on how to proceed with the member request. For instance several new members wanted to know how they could become more involved in various WOMA teams. Again, read the minutes of the meeting to find out what projects are being worked for the teams of:

• Web – contact Cindy@theWOMA.com

• Moderating/Editing – contact Editor@theWOMA.com (this goes to Heide Kaser, Cindy Noyes and Deb Ferns)

• Membership – contact Melita@theWOMA.com

• Public Relations/Marketing/Sponsorship – contact Marsha@theWOMA.com

Reach out to the committee person noted, who is basically the team lead, and let them know how you would like to participate. For instance a new member, Cami Eisenzimmer, offered to take on Facebook and Twitter for the WOMA and update it weekly with a theme for each week no less.   New member Amy Carducci also volunteered to help us with the website.  Considering that the entire board is volunteers having someone like Cami and Amy step forward is huge and I love Cami’s quote of “I don’t want to rock the (WOMA) boat, just add a little wind to the sails.” FYI – in my mind Cami isn’t adding just a little wind through her involvement in the Woma’s social media; instead I think she’s like a breath of fresh air!

Moving on to other areas where we would like to see more members involved is tradeshows and assisting with sponsorships. The PR team wears many hats and marketing the WOMA at various tradeshows across the country is just one of the hats. In August in the Midwest is the ATA tradeshow, in November in Reno is the National Association of Sporting Good Wholesalers conference, and then in January is the huge SHOT Show in Las Vegas and in spring the huge NRA annual convention, this year held in St. Louis. Then in the summer we’re invited to participate in the Outdoor Writers Association of America (OWAA) which is held in Alaska next year. We have been invited to participate in each of these events with a complimentary table in the registration area along with a listing in the tradeshow program. We would love (LOVE) to be present at these large national events but again it takes members stepping forward to staff the table, hand out brochures, talk about what the mission statement is for the WOMA and on occasion doing an interview about the WOMA to local media. While at most tradeshows we can work out for you to have free “shared” housing, the member picks up their own expenses to attend in terms of airfare, rental car, and food.

If you have an interest in becoming more involved in the WOMA, possibly in the tradeshow area, please let me know. It’s easy to reach me at Deb@theWOMA.com and those of you who email me know that I’m pretty darn good about getting back to you fairly quickly. Last but not least for the month of July we had two new members join us; Doctor Dawn Obrecht and Morgan Craft. Every month I’m impressed by the members who are joining and this month with Dawn and Morgan that trend continues! Hope you are all having a great summer and that we have the opportunity to meet at either a fall retreat (still a work in progress) or at a future tradeshow. Take care…

Deb

Chicago Tribune Link: Babes with Bullets and other women who believe the Constitution …

Lady Friendly Hunts! Prois Hunting Apparel and Outdoor Connection Team Up

Prois Hunting Apparel for Women and Outdoor Connection Team Up to Form PROISHUNTINGTRIPS.COM- Offering Female Friendly and Women’s Only Hunts!

By: Kirstie Pike, CEO Prois Hunting & Field Apparel for Women

Throughout the years, I have seen many advertisements for a variety of booking agencies- agencies that promise the moon and stars when it comes to booking your hunting or fishing adventure of a lifetime. Huh. Call me skeptical. Maybe I am jaded by mass media campaigns. Maybe I bolster some serious trust issues. Either way, I really had a hard time believing that any booking agency would cater to my wishes, wants and insecurities when it came to setting up a world-class hunting or fishing experience. There, I said it.

As I got to know Tracey Splecther, Vice President of Outdoor Connection, through mutual friends and Prois Pro-Staff, my curiosity got the best of me. I guess it was time to really look into a top-notch agency like Outdoor Connection. After all, what did I have to lose? I started to peruse the Outdoor Connection catalog of hunting and fishing opportunities. I was amazed by the variety of expeditions they offered around the globe. I do believe I dog-eared half of the pages in my own catalog to add to my ever-growing bucket list of potential hunts.

My opportunity to utilize these services actually fell into my lap very soon after meeting Tracey as I was invited on a world class whitetail hunt with her in Saskatchewan. A dream trip, to be sure. I was immediately put at ease by one simple fact…Outdoor Connection inspects each and every outfitter that they utilize. As a woman traveling to another country to hunt, I found this fact very settling. I needed to know exactly what to expect from the outfitter, the lodging and the guides. Essentially, Outdoor Connection ensures that what the outfitter advertises is what the hunter actually experiences. What a concept- truth in advertising! But on a serious note, this is a very important feature that, in my opinion, sets Outdoor Connection apart from the rest of the pack.

Ok…I must admit it…another facet of the OC service is the fact that their diligent staff ensure all questions and arrangements are clearly communicated. Again, this was a great feature for me personally, as anyone who knows me can attest to the fact that I can tend to book myself into to “worst case scenario” hotels, motels, camps and rental cars. No lie. It was nearly a foreign concept to me to have all aspects of my hunt arranged. Not only were details arranged…they were…well…safe and quite clean in comparison to my usual traveling haunts!

In addition, Outdoor Connection has a number of ‘female friendly’ hunts and outfitters in addition to a limited number of ‘women only’ hunts. To me, this is a great draw and it is a feature that I promote loudly and proudly. I believe OC has recognized the fact that women are entering the sport of hunting at record rates. With that, they recognize that many women prefer the assurance of ‘female friendly’ camps and women’s only hunts. In addition, Tracey Splechter has teamed up with the NRA Women on Target Hunts program as a Field Hunt Coordinator. I personally find these services extremely important as it sets up many opportunities for me to book trips through my business or with friends and family where I am assured all women will feel comfortable. Over the past few years, I have been approached by numerous female hunters who may not have friends, family or significant others who hunt. The women-only hunts are a great alternative for these ladies.

A match made in heaven? Perhaps…Outdoor Connection and Prois Hunting & Field Apparel for Women are thrilled to announce their partnership with the female hunter/fisher in mind. The two companies have combined forces to create www.proishuntingtrips.com- your source for women’s only hunting/fishing expeditions and female-friendly outfitters with the Outdoor Connection seal of approval. Log on today and open up a whole new world of hunting and fishing adventures for the outdoorswoman!

OTIS Technology Wins PM100 for Second Consecutive Year!

Overwhelmed with too much work from your Boss?

Reader’s question:  I have a great job that I dearly love.  Recently, one of my 4 bosses added a task to my job that is actually a full time job on it’s own at this time.  I was unable to keep up on many of my other duties due to the priority level and time needed and this ongoing task.  I finally convinced my boss that added the task to my workload that it was way too much for one person.  However, he wasn’t happy and now he is hesitant to give me any other tasks.

 

Arizona Fires Impact on Hunting

Thanks to Jim Unmacht, President of Arizona Sportsman for Wildlife Conservation, and good friend of mine for this Wallow Fire update. Personally, our cabin is in Hunting Unit 27 and I’m happy to report that our little get away is safe.

“Thank God for the rains! They have quenched the grounds thirst and shelved the fire restrictions across Arizona.

To that end, many thanks to our Fire Fighters, Law Enforcement personnel, Game & Fish and other folks that helped make a difference in saving lives and property battling the various fires around the state. One day we can hope management practices, laws and enforcement will diminish the catastrophic nature of the fires we are now seeing!

I have to also thank the many sportsmen and women that answered the call to volunteer with emergency habitat work, particularly on the Wallow Fire grounds. We have a volunteer list of over 150 people ready to help make a difference when called. Thank you! (Al and I are waiting to get a call!)

As many of you have no doubt noted, the Commission has adjusted the numbers of fall turkey tags in Unit 1 and 27, and have reduced the available number of tags as a result of the fire. It hit the nesting hens at just the right time to limit the successful hatches, or for the turkey population and our hunting season, just the wrong time. The Commission made the correct move.

Many are also worried about similar impacts with the other big game hunts in the affected units, but deer, elk, pronghorn and sheep survived quite well from all reports. They moved as the fire did, and reported losses are minimal. Hunts should be good for the fall! The mosaic nature of the Wallow fire burn ensured that, and while there’s no doubt destruction, in most instances we aren’t facing total habitat devastation.

So as we anticipate the Fall Draw, good luck with your tags, and if you want to increase your odds even further, you still have time left to purchase some Big Game Super Raffle tickets!

In the meantime, we’re keeping an eye on several fronts going into the summer, from the ongoing saga on wolves, to enviro-litigants wanting to close the Cabeza to management practices that would help Sonoran Pronghorn, predator management, land agency issues and so on.” Thanks again to Jim for this update.

Let me know if you have any particular questions on the conservation of our precious forestlands.  How sad it is that the litigation from the environmentalists constrain the efforts of forest thinning, logging and grazing that keep our forests healthy.

Marsha Petrie Sue, President – TheWOMA

 

Turning Passion Into Action

As I have gotten older, I feel the need to change the world.  Well, maybe not THE world, but perhaps MY world.  I hope that I am doing just that by teaching other women how to defend themselves through the safe ownership and operation of a firearm.  I have come a long way, but I have much farther to go.  Being around some of the most powerful women I have ever known has enstilled in me the passion, compassion, and confidence to continue down roads which I might have otherwise avoided. 

Turning my passion into action is rewarding.  And I’m not alone.  Let me tell you about 3 other women who turned their passion into action.

Wendy Price and I have worked together going on 15 years.  Wendy is a tall, beautiful blonde with striking blue eyes who moved to Georgia from Alaska.  After suffering the tragic loss of her best friend and only sister, Holly Price Tobias, to leukemia at the tender age of 39, Wendy resolved to help in the fight against leukemia and other blood cancers and joined the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training Program, began training for triathlons, embraced a healthier lifestyle, and raises money in hopes of someday curing these dreaded diseases that cut short her sister’s life.  Wendy has participated in more than 60 endurance events, including running, cycling and triathlons, with many of those raising money for various cancer research funds.  This November, Wendy plans to participate in the biggest event of all so far, the Ironman Arizona, which consists of a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride, and 26.2 mile run, a total of 140.6 miles, all in under 17 hours.  Her goal is to raise $10,000, and she’s nearly there, having raised over $6,900 already.  For information on how you can sponsor Wendy, or for more information on starting your own Team in Training, go to http://pages.teamintraining.org/ga/ironaz11/wpricer8db or email Wendy at wendyloowho33@yahoo.com.  Go Wendy!

A new acquaintance was recently introduced to me by one of my best friends Chrissy Canfield.  Chrissy works in an office across the street from my office building, and while she’s not a gun person like me, she appreciates my love of the sport and tolerates my endless “gun chatter.”  Chrissy saw fit to put me in touch with one of her co-workers, Beth Waters, the wife of a Georgia Army National Guardsman and troop “mom”.  I met Beth at lunch after an email introduction and I instantly liked her.  Beth is one of those women who sees a need and does something to fulfill that need.  Recently when her husband’s group deployed to the middle east, she sent every soldier a care package.  Every soldier.  That’s devotion.  That’s passion.  That, my friends, is action.  Beth is on a new quest to raise much needed funding for supplies for our soldiers.  She is selling $5 raffle tickets for a Glock pistol and has also committed her time to sell $5 raffle tickets for a 2011 Jeep.  Dedication to a cause is the name of this military wife’s game, and she goes about it with the focus of a laser beam.  Oh, and did I mention that besides being a full-time military wife, working a full-time job, sending care packages, and raising funds for our troops, she’s also a full-time mom?  She’s my hero.  If you’d like more information on how you can help troops being deployed in your area, how you can volunteer, or how to purchase raffle tickets form Beth, email me at melita@thewoma.com or contact Beth directly at bethwaters10@gmail.com.

I had the pleasure of meeting a lady who really put her money (and time, energy and resources) where her mouth is.  She had to.  Eddie Warren (along with her husband) live near St. Petersburg, Florida and are the owners of Skyway Trap and Skeet Club.  A few years back, their passion was under fire, literally, by anti-gun groups that wanted to shut them down.  Long story short, four years and $350,000 in legal bills later, the club is still open, with a few caveats, including using only steel shot and specially-designed clays that disentegrate in water.  The club is nice, is well-staffed and is a joy to shoot.  And I will tell you that for its location, it is very reasonably priced.  Eddie is quick to make sure you are met with a smile and is especially welcoming to women shooters.  “I love to see girls come out and shoot.  There are just not enough of us lady shooters, and we need more!” she told me.  I’m in total agreement.  Her passion runs deep.  So deep, in fact, that she lives in a motor home on the property and goes home to mow the grass and check the mail.  Now that’s passion.  See for yourself — the next time you’re in St. Pete, look them up and bust a few targets — www.skywaytrapandskeetclub.com.

Now it’s your turn.  What’s your passion?  Email me, or comment below, about your passion and how you’ve turned that passion into action!  Your story could be the catalyst that fuels another person’s passion into action.  As my new friend Beth told me today, together we can move mountains, and I agree!

Haven’t Heard From You In A While

Hello.  Hi.  It’s been a while.  Just stopping by to check in on a lot of you/us.  It seems it has been a while since many of us have checked in, posted or shared what is going on.  I know we are all busy and have the most hectic schedules any one person could ever imagine, but what is it that we are all doing that is keeping us so dog-gone busy?

Take a moment to stop and share.

Has someone had a commendable success?  Tell us about it.

Have you been pubished?  Brag about it.

Do you have advice for the rest of the membership?  Let us have it.

Have you won a match, caught the biggest fish ever, had a successful hunt?  Share the story.

Has someone produced an outstanding product we can all benfit from?  Write about it here.  (If you’ve written a review on your personal blog, you can always post it here as well. “copy & paste”)

Did you meet someone who is doing great things to support our cause?  Share it with everyone.

As a member you are free to share your blog here.  You can add your podcasts and any articles or videos you may be posting.  If it is something you are proud that you did, or even proud that someone else is doing, share it.  Write about it.  Post it.  You are free to promote your outdoor products or events that are directed toward women in in the outdoors.

Update your information in the Membership Directory.  Promotion of yourself and promotion of other women in the outdoors ensures success for us all.  After all, we are here to increase awareness of women in the outdoors as well as expand and encourage the number of women who are involved in shooting, hunting, archery and fishing.  Promote the WOMA and promote yourself.  Come on!  Let’s get to bragging about how women are making leaps and bounds in the outdoor industry!

While we are at it, be proud!  Post the “Proud to be a member” logo on your web page or blog.

Just copy/paste the following code to your website or blog to display The WOMA membership badge:

<a href=”http://thewoma.com” target=”blank”><img src=”http://thewoma.com/MemberDownloads/WOMA_Badge.jpg></a>

Editors Note:  If you don’t know how to create a post for the WOMA, go to the ‘Featured Blogs’ tab and select ‘Tech Talk’ and take a look at ‘How to Create a Post in WordPress’ .  It will show you how to create a basic post with a thumbnail photo and how to resize/upload and add pictures.

How to Create A Basic Post in WordPress

If you are not familiar with posting in WordPress, but would like to be, then this post is for you.  Download this pdf document to get started creating your own posts, adding a Thumbnail photo, and resizing/uploading pictures for your post.  This document is not meant to be the ‘be all, end all’ of posting because there are many other things to be learned.  This is a basic document to get you started.  Please be sure to read through the entire document before you begin writing your post.

Click the link below to read and download the document.  You must have at least Adobe Reader version 6.0 to view this document.  You can download a free Adobe Reader at http://get.adobe.com/reader/ .

How to create a Post in WordPress