THE STATE OF THE PGOA BRIEF AND TO THE POINT: OUR ORGANIZATION IS FINANCIALLY SOUND, POLITICALLY STABLE, AND ENJOYING BETTER ACCEPTANCE ACROSS THE STATE THAN WE HAVE HAD FOR YEARS. OUR EFFORTS TO UNIFY PRO GUN ACTIVE GROUPS AT A MEETING LAST AUGUST HAVE HAD VERY GOOD RESULTS. (A larger follow up is in the works.) I MUST ACKNOWLEDGE, THE RESULTS COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH GREATER IF EITHER OUR FUNDING WERE A LITTLE HEALTHIER, OUR MEMBERS A LITTLE MORE ACTIVE, OR HAD I BEEN ABLE TO GIVE 30 HOURS A WEEK IN EFFORTS. IF I WERE TO PICK OUR MOST SERIOUS SHORT FALL, I WOULD SAY SLOW GROWTH IN MEMBERSHIP. MOST LIKELY DUE TO ME NOT BEING ABLE TO MOTIVATE MEMBERS TO GET INVOLVED IN SOME FORM, AND RECRUIT OTHERS TO JOIN. I KNOW SEVERAL MEMBERS THAT ARE PUSHING HARD AND DOING WELL AT RECRUITING. I ALSO KNOW THAT 85% OFFER NONE OF THEIR TIME BEYOND SELLING RAFFLE TICKETS. THAT HAS TO CHANGE FOR US TO MOVE AHEAD. WE ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK, THE TIMING IS RIGHT, AND IT IS CRUCIAL THAT WE CONTINUE TO EXPAND AT AN ELEVATED RATE. AS A GRASS ROOTS ORGANIZATION WE HAVE FOUR KEY ITEMS THAT DETERMINE OUR EFFECTIVENESS, OUR MEMBERS, OUR LEADERS (WHICH ARE MEMBERS), COMMUNICATIONS (ALL DONE BY MEMBERS) AND ALL MADE OR APPROVED BY OUR MEMBERS! OUR LARGEST PROJECT SINCE THE MEETING LAST AUGUST, HAS BEEN TO DEVELOP A SERIES OF CONTRACTS FOR A PROJECT THAT MAY WELL BOTH HAVE POSITIVE RAMIFICATIONS FROM COAST TO COAST, AND OFFER FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO US LIKE WE HAVE NEVER HAD BEFORE. THIS MAY BE A "BIGGIE" AND WILL BE COVERED IN DEPTH, IN OUR NEXT MAILING TO CURRENT MEMBERS ONLY. WE HAVE MANY MEMBERS THAT HAVE NOT RENEWED FROM YEAR BEFORE LAST. WE HAVE CARRIED THEM FOR WELL OVER A YEAR . THIS HAS PUT A DENT IN WHAT WE ARE ABLE TO SEND OUT TO PROSPECTIVE NEW MEMBERS AND ISN'T FAIR TO THOSE THAT HAVE PAID ALL ALONG. SO CHECK YOUR CHECK BOOKS. IF YOU HAVEN'T RENEWED FOR THIS YEAR ( 2001), PLEASE DO SO AT THIS TIME. EVERY MEMBER IS IMPORTANT TO US AND WE DON'T WANT TO LOSE ANYONE! Report from PGOA President, Roy D. Pittman A NOTE TO OUR CURRENT AND FORMER MEMBERS: To the many that "burned out" from pressure years ago: from those of us that have filled the gaps; "we hope you have enjoyed your rest, now if your able, how about a little help!" We are still in a fight, and we're primed for some victories, join in! To those of you that always meant to help but were always just to busy, "your time has come." To those that pay dues to a couple of clubs or organizations and think you've done your share, wake up and feel ashamed! This is a war on the rights of every Pennsylvanian alive and yet unborn. Dues, membership, and help on raffles are very important, but only maintains the base which we must continue to expand. PITCH IN, THE RIGHTS YOU HELP SAVE, ARE YOUR OWN ! There have been many recent turns to the good for the pro gun rights movement. Such as: the repeated court decisions in several federal and states denying the law suits against the gun manufacturers; the headway being made by several states to gain concealed carry legalization; the movement in the federal legislature to legalize interstate carry by licensed individuals; lawsuits against the "Zero Tolerance" fanatics; a widening suspicion towards the bias of the national mainline news media and; an ever growing movement to support our sovereignty and to get the legislators under control. These and many other seriously important topics will be reported in our comming newsletters.