GROUND ZERO: PART 3

COMMENTARY: CSSA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING - OTTAWA

It's that time of the year again, and in this important election year, the CSSA Annual General Meeting is heading to Ottawa. On May 30, 2015, the CSSA AGM will kick off at 10:00am at the Ottawa Conference and Event Centre. The AGM will last until 12:00 when we will break for lunch. There are restaurant facilities attached to the conference centre in the Ottawa Marriott Courtyard East.

After lunch, attendees will be able to enjoy three seminars running from 1 - 4:30 pm. This year our seminar hosts will be world-renowned firearms researcher, Dr. Gary Mauser. Dr. Mauser will enlighten our guests to the latest and greatest statistical trends in the firearms world. Also appearing will be Natural Resources Canada Director-General Patrick O'Neill. No one in Canada knows more about the new Explosives Act handloading and ammunition regulations than D-G O'Neill and once again, we are privileged to have him share his vast knowledge with our members. Finally, CSSA Life Member and one of the stars of the hugely popular television show, "Canada in the Rough," Keith Beasley, will host a seminar regarding public relations and the image of firearms owners. Keith will bring his intimate insight into the inner workings of Canadian media to the CSSA.

Members may register for these seminars at info@cdnshootingsports.org

Lastly, the evening of May 30 brings a very special "Stick to your Guns" dinner.  Recognizing the unprecedented achievements of retiring Member of Parliament Garry Breitkreuz, this STYG Dinner is themed as a "thank you" to the best friend Canadian gun owners ever had. There will be many special guests, fabulous food, exciting draws, raffles and auctions, and a good time guaranteed to all. Tickets are $69.95 each and a table of eight is $499.95.

VOTING PROCEDURES:  All CSSA members will be receiving the AGM information in the next issue of Calibre magazine.  This will include your ballots, which will be on the inside of the wrap-around slip cover.  Ballots for those who do not receive Calibre, or to replace a lost or damaged ballot, are available from the CSSA office. The original ballot may be scanned and emailed, faxed or snail-mailed to the association but your (legible) name and membership number MUST be on it and  it must be signed. If you have a family membership only the principal member may vote. The ballot also permits the designation of a proxy if you so choose.  Ballots must be received at the CSSA office no later than 4:30 pm on Monday, May 25, 2015.

Board of Directors: CSSA's Board members serve a three year term and approximately one third of the Board rotates annually. This process is common and ensures corporate memory and continuity in CSSA's leadership. On the ballot you will find a list of six Board candidates recommended by the Nomination Committee and approved by the Board of Directors. Following is information on each of the candidates. (* indicates a current Board Member)

1. Gerry Gamble * Gerry Gamble spent 30 years employed as a high school teacher in Ontario (Toronto and St. Catharines) and has been active in the fight for Canadian firearm rights for over 25 years. He is the current president and one of the founding members of "The Sporting Clubs of Niagara", a grassroots pro-firearm political action organization which formed in 1994 and currently has a membership of over 1000 persons, most in the Niagara area. He was a member of the Canadian Firearm Advisory Committee and has met regularly with federal government personnel to provide input on firearm legislation and has served on the CSSA Board for the past six years. Gerry is an active member of three local gun clubs and is involved in handgun, rifle and shotgun shooting.

2. Herb Stone * Herb Stone is a CT specialist from Burin, Newfoundland, and currently working with Eastern Health. Herb hunts small and large game, but especially enjoys duck hunting. Herb also enjoys shooting trap and loves informal plinking.

3. Dr. Judith Ross * Dr. Judith Ross has been a CSSA director for over 10 years. She is a psychologist, now retired from the University of Toronto. Judith began shooting 30 years ago at the Hart House Revolver Club of the University of Toronto. There she shot bullseye pistol and competed in the Metro Toronto Pistol League. Judith served as vice-chair of the HHRC for many years. She has been a member of Sharon Gun Club since 1982 where she still shoots IPSC pistol, rifle, and shotgun. She represented Canada as an alternate on the Canadian Ladies Team in the IPSC world championships held in 1993 at Bisley, England. Judith was an OHA club level safety instructor and an IPSC practical pistol instructor. Judith has been politically active on behalf of the shooting sports for many years. She has written reference papers and testified at many parliamentary committees with regard to firearms legislation.

4. Norm Gardner * Norm Gardner is a long time shooting enthusiast, firearms collector and gun club member. A former politician, Norm was the Chairman of the Metropolitan Toronto Police Services Board and has run (and won) many elections. Today, Norm is retired and has been a member of the CSSA Board of Directors for several years. Norm served ten years in the Canadian Forces, and was a member of The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada.

5. Jack Wallace * Jack was born and raised in Victoria B.C. He was employed in the aviation industry for 37 years as a Aircraft Maintenance Engineer. Jack was employed by Field Aviation for 28 years, his last 16 years as an Inspector. He retired at the age of 59 and during his retirement, managed the Calgary Gun Show for the Alberta Arms and Cartridge Collectors Association. Jack volunteers for the Calgary Poppy Fund and serves on the executive of Royal Canadian Legion # 284. He is also a current member of the Weapon Collectors of Montana, NRA and the Military Collectors of Canada. Jack has been a member of the CSSA Board for several years

6. John Evers: John is a long-standing Regional Director for the CSSA and a past president of the East Elgin Sportsman's Association in Aylmer, ON. He is an avid IPSC and Three-Gun shooter and has a long history of involvement in local political issues. He has participated as a media representative for CSSA for several years and is a familiar persona on social media. While no stranger to the association or our members, this will be John's first term as a CSSA Board Member.

*  Also on the ballot is a proposed CSSA constitutional change to section C6-2. It is below:

Preamble:  In the interest of meeting the changing administrative demands of a growing membership, the current Board of Directors feels that a mechanism must be in place to allow the number of members of the Board to be altered as circumstances dictate.

Currently the Constitution reads thus:  “C6-2   The Board of Directors shall consist of thirteen (13) members of the CSSA, in good standing, and shall be elected at each Annual General Meeting by the members present in person or by mailed ballot.”

The Board of Directors recommends that this be changed to read thus:  “C6-2   The Board of Directors shall consist of such number of members of the CSSA as are deemed necessary by the Board, but no less than twelve (12), all of whom shall be CSSA members in good standing, and shall be elected in accordance with our Constitution and Bylaws at each Annual General Meeting by the members present in person or by mailed ballot. In the event of a change in the size of the Board, the rationale for this shall be provided to the membership for ratification at the next AGM.”

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A HUGE CSSA welcome to our newest club:  To all the members of the Canadian National Rifle and Revolver Club in Montreal, PQ.  Welcome to Team CSSA, it's great to have you on board with us.

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Annual Canadian Industry Gathering:  A tradition has developed over the last several years during the Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trade Show (SHOT Show.)  A special organized gathering has sprouted roots, assembling Canadian SHOT Show attendees in a much-anticipated social event. On January 21, 2015, the 2^nd Annual Canadian Industry Gathering was hosted by the Canadian Shooting Sports Association (CSSA) and the Canadian Sporting Arms and Ammunition Association (CSAAA). Despite this event being “invitation only,” it was the most well attended all-Canadian reception to date. Almost 200 Canadians attended the gathering, representing dozens of distributors, manufacturers, retailers, and firearms-related media.

Thank you to all the people that made this gathering possible, especially CSSA Director Mike Duynhoven, who applied a Herculean effort towards making the reception such an outstanding success. And of course, a special thanks to the wonderful industry sponsors of the event.

Platinum Level Sponsors:

Canadian Shooting Sports Association, Canadian Sporting Arms and Ammunition Association

Gold Level Sponsors:

Browning Canada, Calibre Magazine, North Sylva, Prairie Gun Works, Stoeger Canada, Think Insure

Silver Level Sponsors:

Calgary Shooting Centre, Canada Ammo, Interammo Impex, Marstar Canada, The Right Edition, Vault Distribution

It was a pleasure to be a part of such a grand event, and we are all looking forward to next year!

Please contact CSSA Director Mike Duynhoven (mike.duynhoven@cssa-cila.org) if your company is interested in sponsoring the 3^rd Annual Canadian Industry Gathering during the 2016 SHOT Show.