I am ready to get back into the swing of making smoke. I hope everyone had a glorious holiday season. My family and me have been truly blessed and I want to give my Lord thanks for these blessings. As we start this new shooting season let us all pray that our events will be safe and that a good time will be had by all. I am looking forward to seeing all my old friends and making some new ones. The ASMLA has a full agenda for 2002 and we will be getting started on March 2^nd & 3^rd with our Silhouette Championship Match, in April we have the Territorial Matches then in May we have the 4-H Muzzle Loading Match. This is a pretty good start for the year, in August we have the Southeast Regional Pistol Championship and in September we have the State Championship matches. I hope everyone plans to attend one or all of these matches, by your attending these matches it lets us know that our organization is moving in the right direction and it makes the folks who work hard to put a match on appreciated. In addition to our matches our good neighbors in Mississippi, Tennessee and Georgia are putting on some good matches. All three of these state are having Territorial Matches in addition to their regular matches so if you get a chance go shoot with these folks. We also have local clubs in Alabama that are having monthly matches and we should try to get out and support them when you can, so let’s get started and make some smoke. Look at the web site for posting of these matches.

Dues are due January 1^st, if you have not sent your dues in please do so. Our active membership has grown over the past couple years to 140 active members and we appreciate all of you. You may ask what do you mean by active member, I classify an active member as one that is a dues paying member. I am fixing to send out membership card No. 251 and will be excited to do so; my only regret is out of the 251 only 140 are supporting their organization. I know that we will loose some folks over time due to life’s ever-changing demands. A few of you have been hit by work slow downs and may not be able but if you have been meaning to send in your dues and just hadn’t gotten around to it please take time to send them in. Our dues are what enable us to put this newsletter out, put on matches, work with the 4-H and Junior program and pay for our insurance. Without the support of our annual dues we would not exist so please take time.

ASMLA WEB SITE ADDRESS IS www.angelfire.com/al3/asmla

The last time I checked we had over 4800 hits on our web site. We are starting to see it’s impact on our organization, to date we have about six new members who have signed up from it. Six is not many but it is a lot more that 0 and it is a good start. I hope everyone is checking the site, if you have not done so please do. We have a message board that is for everybody use. If you have a question to ask about anything related to our sport you can post it there, if you have something to sell post it, if you have a notice post it. Remember this is YOUR web site, put it to use.

Right now we have two people advertising in our newsletter. One is Eddie May and the other is myself. If anyone out there would like to advertise in the newsletter the cost is $30.00 a year. This includes your annual membership, which runs from January to January. This gets your add to about 340 people 4 times a year plus on the web site which has reached over 2800 people in just a few months. This is one of the cheapest forms of advertising that I know of. The ads don’t have to be related to muzzle loading but I would like to keep them related to sports shooting. If anyone is interested please call or e-mail me, Jim Parker (205) 681-8353, japark50cal@aol.com.

Just returned form the Ls Vegas Antique gun show, leaving for Phoenix and the NMLRA Western Monday the 18^th, and in March will be in Kansas with shot gunner and field rep. Phil Hinger pheasant shooting. If I knew this job had so many perks I would have rolled Perry earlier…Only problem so far Bill Hall keeps returning my expense account unpaid!

Things will start with BANG at the IRON TARGET MATCH in March and keep on roll’n till fall. So plan to bring a new shooter and let’s add to our ranks. We need new blood so find a non-shooter who has no hobby (or a goofy one i.e. golf, tennis, softball, etc.) and then take them out plinking with black powder. Later, invite them to one of our shoots. The loan of powder, lead and rifle might do the job.

We will have a short meeting during the silhouette shoot to discuss any association business and ask for volunteers to work the territorial shoot.

Looking forward to seeing everyone at the Iron Target Shoot in March.

THE PRES. LARRY

MEMO FROM THE VP..

I also had a good winter. "The Chuck" hooked me on black powder skeet shooting, which I really enjoy and I’m trying to train my pet raccoon to walk on a leash. If anyone knows how to train a coon, let me know. I heard there was a coon trainer in South Alabama.

I would have accompanied Larry "The Chuck" Reynolds (ask him about his nickname) on these wonderful trips had I known about the expense account thing and if I had been invited.

I too am looking forward to this year’s shooting. I’m sure they will be as much fun as last years. I look forward to seeing everyone in March.

CALL (205) 681-8353 Home, (205) 566-1387 Cell OR E-MAIL @ japark50cal@aol.com