NRA Board Election Endorsement

[Charles L. Cotton]

There are a lot of good people up for reelection to the NRA Board of Directors, many of whom are very well known. There are also Directors whose work on behalf of the Second Amendment is critical, but whose names are not household words. I would like to express my support for two such Board Members and I you will consider doing so as well.

Thanks,
Chas.

M. Carol Bambery, General Counsel

Carol has served as in-house counsel for eight years to the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, Washington, D.C. and was former Chief of Legal Services for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and its legislative director. She is a law professor at Thomas M. Cooley Law School where she developed and taught law courses on the Second Amendment, natural resource law, and oil and gas law. She currently supervises the D.C. law student externship program for Cooley Law School and is an adjunct professor at Michigan State College of Law, Lansing, Michigan where she teaches wildlife law and the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. She served for 12 years as in-house corporate counsel for Michigan United Conservation Clubs, representing 470+conservation and gun clubs during which time she successfully argued Michigan's first Firearm Preemption challenge and Sport Shooting Range Protection Act challenge in the appellate courts; was instrumental in passing Michigan's "shall issue" carry concealed handgun law and was involved in key ballot initiatives that strengthened Michigan state fish and wildlife agencies’ authority over natural resources. She is involved in numerous national and state conservation and firearm advocacy organizations including president of the Michigan Coalition of Responsible Gun Owners Foundation; counsel and vice president of Great Lakes Outdoors Foundation and long-term board member of the National Rifle Association. She serves on several key NRA board committees including chair of NRA's National Firearms Law Seminar; vice-chair and Trustee of NRA's Civil Rights Defense Fund and Executive Committee; and Trustee of NRA’s New Mexico Whittington Shooting Facility. NRA committee work includes chair of Bylaws, vice chair of Women's Policies; Legal Affairs; and Hearings. She is counsel to the Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports. She is a co-author of Common Sense Guide to Michigan Firearm Laws. She is a strong spokesperson for women and youth participation in the shooting sports and has participated in the six-year development of the Industry/Agency Relations Steering Committee which has been funded by this multistate grant program.

Deputy Dwight Van Horn, Ret.

Current NRA Board member since 1998. Member of Executive Committee. Nominated by Nominating Committee. Current Chairman of Action Pistol Committee and Jeanne Bray Memorial Scholarship Committee. Current Vice-Chairman of NRA Law Enforcement Committee, current member Competition Rules and Programs Committee. NRA Benefactor member. Member Idaho Rifle & Pistol Association. Life member California Rifle & Pistol Association. 10 year member of CRPA Board of Directors and past Chairman of CRPA Law Enforcement Committee. 1993 CRPA Law Enforcement Officer of the Year. Retired Los Angeles County Deputy Sheriff. Current Independent Firearms Examiner, worked 18 months assisting US Military in Iraq. Longtime defender of The Second Amendment. Has served as an NRA spokesman since 1988 in opposition to the Brady bill, “assault weapons” and “Saturday Night Specials.” Recently testified before legislative bodies against “ballistic fingerprinting.” Frequent guest on talk radio shows speaking in support of NRA and The Second Amendment, Concealed Carry Reciprocity, reckless lawsuit protection for the firearms industry and against ill conceived gun control schemes. Avid game bird and elk hunter. Life Member California Police Pistol Association. 3 term President of CPPA. Winner of 1991 CPPA Sportsman of the Year award. 16-year member of California Governor’s Twenty. Former NRA Police competitor, double Police Distinguished, member PPC 1490 Club. Current NRA PPC Chief Range Officer and Camp Perry Pistol Protest Committee. Strong supporter of NRA programs and efforts to defend America’s original Homeland Security Act -- the Second Amendment. Responsible for helping to establish the Idaho NRA license plate.

If reelected Dwight’s goals are to continue working towards strengthening our Second Amendment Freedoms through established and successful NRA programs. To continue to contact shooting clubs to make sure they are aware of the benefits of receiving NRA Friends and Foundation grants for worthwhile endeavors such as range improvements, youth shooting programs, Eddie Eagle Gun Safety, Refuse To Be a Victim and others.

[jimlongley]

I have always researched the various candidates before placing my vote, but your endorsement carries a lot of weight.

[Charles L. Cotton]

Don't forget to vote folks!

Chas.

[Charles L. Cotton]

Additional NRA Board Endorsement:

I want to add Jim Porter to my endorsement for reelection to the NRA Board of Directors.

Jim is the current 1st Vice-President and he should be elected as NRA President at the NRA Annual meeting in Houston this year. Jim has served on numerous committees as well as the Board of Trustees of the NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund. Jim is a major player in fund raising for the NRA Foundation and his work as an attorney on various NRA matters is invaluable.

Please join me in voting to keep James "Jim" Porter on the NRA Board of Directors.

Chas.

[Charles L. Cotton]

Remember to vote.

Chas.

[hpcatx]

Don't forget to vote folks!

Chas.

Charles, would you mind briefly running through the process? I've only been a member for a few years (although now proudly a life member) and have never voted for the board before. Is this done online, by mail in ballot, etc.? Pointing me in the right direction would be greatly appreciated.

[Skiprr]

Don't forget to vote folks!

Chas.

Charles, would you mind briefly running through the process? I've only been a member for a few years (although now proudly a life member) and have never voted for the board before. Is this done online, by mail in ballot, etc.? Pointing me in the right direction would be greatly appreciated.

Members eligible to vote receive a pre-printed ballot form and instructions by surface mail. If you receive either of the NRA's magazines (American Rifleman, American Hunter, or America's 1st Freedom) in hardcopy, the ballot form is in the current (March) issue. The magazines also contain brief biographies of each of the nominees.

If you don't receive a hardcopy magazine, I believe you'll receive a ballot as a separately mailed item...I've never been part of that process, so don't hold me to that. The NRA has added so many new life members recently, I can clearly imagine that the processing of some eligible member info lagged behind print runs of the magazines. All ballots must be received by Deloitte & Touche no later than April 14...so if you did not receive a ballot, you have time to call NRA HQ and inquire.

You simply fill-in the circles by the candidates you want to vote for, sign the certification statement on the ballot envelope, stick a stamp on it, and drop it in the mail.

Each year, one-third of the 75 total BoD members are up for expiration. This year, there are 29 named nominees. Members are free to write-in candidates, but as you can imagine, that's pretty much futile. You may vote for no more than 25 nominees, whether named or write-in.

My only comment is a recommendation to do your research and vote wisely. You don't have to vote for 25 nominees; you just can't vote for more than that. So every vote you chose not to cast is also important. I don't think I've ever voted for more than half or two-thirds of the names on a single ballot. If I can't find out much about them beyond the brief profiles in the magazines, they aren't likely to get my vote. Like virtually every large nonprofit BoD, I'm sure the bulk of the real work is done by a small percentage of the participants, and I want to make sure that my vote goes to the folks who really can get things done.

[hpcatx]

Thanks, Skiprr, for such a thorough answer!

[Wes]

I just received the standalone paper ballot. It comes in a standard legal size white envelope with a return envelope. It lists the 29 people running for you to select your 25. I will say this is my first time to actually vote and I'm a bit overwhelmed with making that many correct choices.

[Skiprr]

I just received the standalone paper ballot. It comes in a standard legal size white envelope with a return envelope. It lists the 29 people running for you to select your 25.

Thanks for the clarification, Wes. I admit that I've always enjoyed my copy of American Rifleman, so I've never received a standalone ballot. Wasn't entirely sure how that worked, but I'd assumed you'd receive a ballot in the mail exactly as you described.