Okay,Well we had a great time as I am sure you know. I don't want to put down Brad and the everyone who helped at San Antonio. They did a great job and represented themselfs and LSBA very well.....it is not fair to compare them to Houston.Houston Rocked. Here are some of the pics.
I don't know how it is going to be there, but here are a few tips...my opinion.
Slip in some drinks and snacks, at Reliant it was 4 bucks for a coke and 8 bucks for a hot dog.
Take a camera, the pics are great.
Take turns helping the kids, it is very rewarding, but after a couple of hours a short break will do wonders.
Keep the line moving, but it is not a race...slow and steady and you will last.
Watch for people picking up and drawing the bows, maybe a sign saying please don't touch the bows until we hand you one.
We had a donation jar. It wasn't getting much attention so I went and put a sign up that said something like this. We are a non profit, donations will go to help buy the balloons, arrows, targets, and other equipment...so we can do this next time. Then throw a couple of seed bills in the jar. Don't let it get to full, better to look like we are starving than overflowing. And we need the money. We spent 165 bucks on balloons.
When a kid steps up, try and judge the amount of help they need. Many have bows and know what they are doing...just keep them safe. Others will need lots of help. Still, you are not giving archery lessons, but rather just giving them the experience. If they insist on holding the string wrong..so what...just keep it safe and fun.
You will need as much help as you can get. Try and think of friends or family members that can help you...even if it is for only a couple of hours. Asking people directly always gets you more help than a general call for volunteers.
Mark had great pointers, I helped at the kids shoot Friday and Sunday, The kids were great and the parents of the really little ones alway said thanks and the kids had great manners always saying Thanks. Sunday close to the end of the day I had a little guy (3-4) come in and wanted to shoot As I started to help this guy out his Dad came up and told me he KNOWS what he is doing. With all the greatful parents this one person kinda went all over me, not that it wasn't his first time but just how the man said it. Like Mark said it is also safety reason why you need to help out. As far as the weekend went I will have to give it one of the best things that I have done in a very long time.
I am not sure on the number of kids, but I know we had 12 new members by the time I left of Sat.
I tried to do a quick count on the numbers, but did not get to far on it. All I know is everytime I thought we were going to get a break, it would fire back up.
Dont get me wrong, I am not complaining at all, it was worth EVERY min.
I do not get tired of helping out with the kids.... they are the future of this sport.
I did have one little boy on Sat when he walked up I asked him if he had ever shot. Of course his answer was "Yes, I do this all the time!" Well, when I handed him the bow, he looked at it for a couple seconds, and then looked at me. He then asked.... "How do I hold it...." It was really cute.
Oh well..... It is all worth the smile on their faces.
Thanks again to everyone that helped out. It would not have turned out as well as it did without all the help.
__________________
-Brandon Ermis-
Region 77 Rep
I didn't do it... It wasn't me.... It was my evil twin brother!!!!
"It's like flyin down some back road at midnight, with your eyes closed, and the headlights off!!!"
I didn't get to come over there too often but my wife did. Thanks for helping her with learning to shoot a bow. She's been wanting to do that for a while. I wish we could have brought the kids for the weekend.
19 new members, including several 3 year & 2 dealer members, plus a possible ad
You take 1,025 kids times five arrows = 5,125 and that is alot of binding over to pick up arrows. Just think of the air it took to blow up all them ballons
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