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Your NRA State Association

The Governor's Gun Raffle

The Vermont Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs raffled off the NRA "Gun of the Year" generously donated by Governor James Douglas to benefit Vermont's youngsters. The raffle raised money for the two State of Vermont Conservation Camps.

Governor Douglas won the gun at a Friends of the NRA Banquet in Milton in October, 2003. The NRA Foundation provided a Certificate of Authenticity confirming this shotgun to be the only Friends of the NRA "Gun of the Year" ever won by a sitting governor.

The federation sold raffle tickets for the Governor's Gun and matched the first $1,000 raised. On June 23, 2004, the federation was able to present Governor Douglas with a check for $9,300. The check was presented to Governor Douglas at his weekly press conference

The NRA 2003 "Gun of the Year" is a limited edition Beretta AL391 Urika 20 Gauge semi-automatic shotgun which bears the number 464 of 950 of this one-time production run. The NRA Seal, a hunting scene and 2003 Friends of the NRA "Gun of the Year" are etched on the receiver of the gun. The winning raffle ticket was drawn by Governor Douglas at the Federation Banquet on March 20th. Tim Ward of Vershire, Vermont was the lucky winner of The Governor's Gun.

The money raised raffling off this unique firearm, together with the federation's $1,000, were donated to benefit the two State of Vermont Conservation Camps. The Buck Lake Camp is located in Woodbury and the Kehoe Camp is located in Bomoseen.

Click for larger image	LEFT. Federation President Henry Holmes shakes the hand of winner of the Governor's Shotgun. raffle, Tim Ward of Chelsea. Gov. Jim Douglas (right) just handed Ward the 2003 NRA Gun of the Year, an engraved Beretta Urika semi-auto 20-guage. The presentation was made during the Annual Federation Banquet. The raffle raised $8,300, to which the Federation Fund for Conservation & Training added $1,000. The $9,300 total goes to improve Fish & Wildlife Conservation Camps providing outdoor education to Vermont teachers and over 900 kids a year.
RIGHT. A book, written by Charleton Heston and autographed by that famous actor and international gun rights leader, was a special presentation to raffle winner Tim Ward. The autographed Heston book was thoughtfully obtained and donated by Clint and Mary Gray. Ward also received raffle tickets signed by National Rifle Association President Kayne Robinson, Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre, and Chris Cox, NRA/Institute for Legislative Action.	Click for larger image
Click for larger image	LEFT. A $9,300 oversized check was presented June 23 to Gov. Jim Douglas by the Federation's Henry Holmes (right). Destined to improve Fish & Wildlife Dept. Conservation Camps, the money came from the Federation's raffle of a Beretta Urika shotgun. That NRA Gun of the Year was donated by Gov. Douglas for this special raffle. The check included $1,000 contributed by the Federation Fund.
RIGHT. Also presented was a framed photo of Eddie Eagle standing with the governor. Eddie Eagle is part of your Federation's ongoing statewide action to promote safety in Vermont by getting the NRA Eddie Eagle program into Vermont schools to teach our children gun safety. This program has proved to be the most effective child gun safety effort in the U.S.	Click for larger image

[All photos courtesy of Charles M. Ferry.]