About VBA

WHAT IS the VBA?

HISTORY OF THE VIRGINIA BOWHUNTERS ASSOCIATION (VBA)

By Clinton Western

INTRODUCTION

The following information has been gleaned from various documents in the office of the Corresponding Secretary, as well as from information recorded by former VBA President, R. C. (Bob) Thompson, and from the writer’s personal records. It is being written for the benefit of the many individuals who are members of the Association who are not aware as to just what has taken place in the past that has brought the Association to where it is today. There are many blank spots in VBA’s history; however, the individuals who could have filled in those blanks are, unfortunately, now deceased. It is hoped that the preserving of this much of the Association’s history will inspire future members to keep the information updated for posterity. The record contained herein will be stored in the Association’s computer files as well as on a separate computer tape for easy updating.

IN THE BEGINNING

The idea of a state-wide archery association in Virginia began in January, 1941, when members of the Richmond Archers formed the Virginia Archery Association. The purpose of the V.A.A. was to promote hunting with the bow and arrow with the possibility of encouraging the Game Commission to permit bow hunting on some of the State Game refuges. The Virginia Archery Association was concerned only with the bow hunting aspect of archery and since the office of the Commission of Game and Inland Fisheries was located in Richmond, the local group felt they could keep bow hunting before the Commissioners at all their meetings. Needless to say, the V.A.A. met with some opposition to shooting feathered sticks at game! The Commission members warmed to the idea after that had tested the pull of some heavy bows and run their fingers along the edges of a keen broadhead. It is important to remember that many bows were handmade of wood such as hickory, Osage orange (mock orange) lemonwood, etc. In those early days, there were no sights or release aids. In fact, there were no arrow rests. Care had to be taken to insure that the leading edge of the fletching (barred turkey feathers) was glued down tight to prevent having a piece of the quill enter your ginger as the arrow was shot.

On June 17, 1941, delegation of V.A.A. members met and was interviewed by Talbot E. Clarke, Wildlife Technician, George Washington National Forest, at Murphy’s Hotel in Richmond. The purpose of the meeting was to consider the possibilities of a game refuge for bow and arrow hunting. The area most likely to be considered was known as the “Big Levels” located near Stuarts Draft in Augusta County. The area abounded in game of all kinds and, as bow hunting was considered as “excellent conservation”, Mr. Clarke promised to give the archers every consideration. Mr. Clarke was later to become the Commissioner of the Virginia Game Commission, in which capacity he continued to work for the archers. After a very short term of office in Richmond, he transferred to Golden Pond, Kentucky, and the local archers received an invitation from him to “come down and shoot some English Fallow deer.”

It was twelve years later when “Big Levels” was opened to bow and arrow hunting, November, 1953, and the townspeople of Stuarts Draft and Waynesboro, although a little skeptical, received “that crazy bunch of hunters” warmly. (As far as can be determined there were two deer harvested in Virginia with bow and arrow in the following year, 1954. Your author, while hunting with his wife, was lucky enough to have taken one of the two in the Big Levels area that year)

The years passed and field archery was beginning to move eastward from California. With field ranges being considered by the Chesapeake Bowmen and the Richmond Archery, the idea of organizing a new State Association to include both hunting and field shooting prompted the meeting of these two clubs on August 3, 1947, and the Virginia Field Archery Association was born.

Fourteen archers paid their dues and became Charter members of the V.F.A.A.

William Braswell Wallace E. Ozmar

Raymond Braswell Joseph A. Parker

Dan Cherry Lilllian Parker

George P. Diacont Stan C. Sonason

H. T. Harland John C. Stone

Percy L. O’Berry Robert C. Thompson

Preston B. Ozmar Morris Walker

The following officers were elected:

Joseph A. Parker, President; Robert C. Thompson, Vice-President; John C. Stone, Secretary-Treasurer; Morris Walker, Field Captain; and Lillian Parker, Lady Paramount.

The total paid membership at the end of 1947 was forty-one.

On October 5, 1947, the first State Championship Field Archery Tournament was held on the range of the Chesapeake Bowmen and resulted in the championship being won by John C. Stone, Lillian Parker, and Bud Smith for the juniors.

The Virginia Field Archery Association was beginning to grow in strength as new clubs were being formed throughout the State. Continued meetings with the Game Commission were bearing fruit and in November, 1949, North River (George Washington National Forest) Game and Wildlife Refuge was opened to bow and arrow hunting. This was a separate area, consisting of roughly 16 square miles, with hunting with gun all around the archery area but not allowed within the area. Technicians and Directors from the National Forest service headquarters at Harrisonburg visited the bow hunters at North River (an old Civilian Conservation Corps campsite) to see how it was done. Their reaction to bow hunting was very favorable and they promised full cooperation.

In October, 1949, at the business meeting and banquet preceding the State shoot at Hampton, the name of the association was changed to the Virginia Bowhunters Association.

A called meeting was held at Richmond on January 29, 1955, for the purpose of incorporation, and on October 7, 1956, also in Richmond, the Virginia Bowhunters Association, Inc., was reorganized.

Here are some of the “firsts” that can be attributed directly to the perseverance and hard work of your V.B.A. officers and fellow members:

North River - First opened to bow and arrow hunting in November, 1949.

Hog Island - The V.B.A. first learned of Hog Island in August, 1953, when Mr. Charles Gilchrist, Game Technician, made it known that the island was overcrowded with deer. He was highly in favor of archers using it as a hunting area since there would be a minimum of disturbance to the wildfowl. (Letter from Joe Vrabel to R. P. Monteith, August 4, 1953).

Big Levels - First opened to bow and arrow hunting in November, 1953.

Special Season - The proposal for bow and arrow hunting was published as follows:

To amend Regulation No. 99, BOW AND ARROW HUNTING, to read

as follows:

“That it shall be lawful to hunt bear and deer with bow and arrow

from November 1 to November 10, dates inclusive, except where

there is a closed general hunting season on either or both species.

Provided, however, it shall be unlawful to use a crossbow or poison

arrows at any time, statewide, for the purpose of hunting wild

birds and wild animals.” - Commission of Game and Inland

Fisheries, Beverly W. Stras, Chairman. (May, 1954)

Hog Island - First opened to bow and arrow hunting in October, 1954.

Pre-season - First granted to bow and arrow hunters in 1956.

The Virginia Bowhunters Association was instrumental in reorganization of the National Field Archery Association along its present lines. The reorganization effort became knows as “The Virginia Plan” and was completed in 1966 after many years of negotiation

with the various States and NFAA officers.

THE OFFICERS

1941 - Virginia Archery Association

H. T. (Hap) Harland, President

Clinton M. Owen, Vice-President

Robert C. Thompson, Secretary-Treasurer

The above officers held their respective offices until the organization of the V.F.A.A., at Portsmouth, August 3, 1947.

1947 - Virginia Field Archery Association

Joseph A. Parker, President

Robert C. Thompson, Vice-President

John C. Stone,

Secretary-Treasurer

Morris Walker, Field Captain

Lillian Parker, Lady Paramount

1948 - Joseph A. Parker, President

Preston Hundley, Vice-President

John C. Stone, Secretary-Treasurer

William Braswell, Field Captain

1949 - Virginia Bowhunters Association

James Cassell, President

John C. Stone, Secretary-Treasurer

1950 - Robert C. Thompson, President

Duke Hudson, Secretary-Treasurer

1951 - Robert Terry, President

Jay Hill, Secretary-Treasurer

1952 - Jay Hill, President

Robert D. Gillespie, Secretary-Treasurer

1953 - James B. Oglethorpe, President

Robert C. Thompson, Vice-President

Joe Vrabel, Secretary-Treasurer

1954 - James B. Oglethorpe, President

Paul McAfee, Vice-President

Mack Quarterman, Secretary-Treasurer

William LaMaster, Acting Vice-President

1955 - McKelden Smith, President

Harry W. Bunting, Vice-President

William Bedall, Secretary

Arch Cole, Treasurer

1956 - Harry W. Bunting, President

H. T. Harland, Vice-President

Mrs. Wayne Burks, Secretary

Arch Cole, Treasurer

1957 - Preston Hundley, President

Ross E. Garletts, Executive Vice-President

Clarence J. Woods, Field Vice-President

Rudolfo Nicholas, Hunting Vice-President

Pat Hamilton, Recording Secretary

Betty Hamilton Weiss, Corresponding Secretary

Mrs. Esther Cole, Treasurer

1958 - Ross E. Garletts, President

E. Eugene Limerick, Executive Vice-President

Clarence J. Woods, Field Vice-President

Rudolfo Nicholas, Hunting Vice-President

Pat Hamilton, Recording Secretary

Edna Gillespie, Corresponding Secretary

Arch Cole, Treasurer

1959 - Ross E. Garletts, President

E. Eugene Limerick, Executive Vice-President

G. B. Booth, Hunting Vice-President

Russell Forren, Field Vice-President

Pat Hamilton, Recording Secretary

Edna Gillespie, Corresponding Secretary

Arch Cole, Treasurer

1960 - Ross E. Garletts, President

Ted Grefe, Executive Vice-President

G. B. Booth, Hunting Vice-President

Harry W. Bunting, Field Vice-President

Pat Hamilton, Recording Secretary

Edna Gillespie, Corresponding Secretary

Arch Cole, Treasurer (Resigned)

Al Lipske, Treasurer (Elected by Board of Directors)

January 8, 1961

1961 - Ross E. Garletts, President

Ted Grefe, Executive Vice-President

G. B. Booth, Hunting Vice-President

Harry Bunting, Field Vice-President

Edna Gillespie, Corresponding Secretary

Arch Cole, Treasurer

Pat Hamilton, Recording Secretary

1962 - Ted Grefe, President

C. J. Woods, Executive Vice-President

G. B. Booth, Hunting Vice-President

Harry Bunting Field Vice-President

Bill McEwen, Conservation Vice-President

Sue Price, Corresponding Secretary

Pat Hamilton, Recording Secretary

Al Lipske, Jr., Treasurer

1963 - Ted Grefe, President

C. J. Woods, Executive Vice-President

William T. Marshall, Field Vice-President

G. B. Booth, Hunting Vice-President

Bill McEwen, Conservation Vice-President

Sue Price, Corresponding Secretary

Pat Hamilton, Recording Secretary

Harold Wood, Treasurer

1964 - Eugene Limerick, President

Clinton Western, Executive Vice-President

G. B. Booth, Hunting Vice-President

William T.. Marshall, Field Vice-President

Billl McEwen, Conservation Vice-President

Sue Price, Corresponding Secretary

Pat Hamilton, Recording Secretary

C. D. Tarter, Treasurer

1965 - Eugene Limerick, President

Clinton Western, Executive Vice-President

G. B. Booth, Hunting Vice-President

William T. Marshall, Field Vice-President

C. J. Woods, Conservation Vice-President

Sue Price, Corresponding Secretary

Hugh Darnell, Recording Secretary

C. D. Tarter, Treasurer

1966 - Clinton Western, President

Wyatt Mays, Executive Vice-President

William T.. Marshall, Field Vice-President

Harold Street, Hunting Vice-President

C. J. Woods, Conservation Vice-President

Sue Price, Corresponding Secretary (N. L. Western, 4/66)

Hugh Darnell, Recording Secretary

C. D. Tarter, Treasurer

1967 - Clinton Western, President

Wyatt Mays, Executive Vice-President

William T. Marshall, Field Vice-President

Harold Street, Hunting Vice-President

C. J. Woods, Conservation Vice-President

Nancy Lee Western, Corresponding Secretary

Hugh Darnell, Recording Secretary

C. D. Tarter, Treasurer

Ted Grefe, NFAA Director

Ralph Stevens, Field Governor

1968 - Ralph Stevens, President

William K. Bolt, Executive Vice-President

William T. Marshall, Field Vice-President

C. J. Woods, Conservation Vice-President

Harold Street, Hunting Vice-President

Nancy Lee Western, Corresponding Secretary

Hugh Darnell, Recording Secretary

C. D. Tarter, Treasurer

Frank Cohn, Field Governor

Ted Grefe, NFAA Director

1969 - Ralph Stevens, President

William K. Bolt, Executive Vice-President

W. R. Dillow, Jr., Field Vice-President

Harold Street, Hunting Vice-President

C. J. Woods, Conservation Vice-President

Nancy Lee Western, Corresponding Secretary

Hugh Darnell, Recording Secretary

Ted Grefe, Treasurer

William Enders, Field Governor

Eugene Limerick, NFAA Director

Tim Daley, NAA Director

1970 - William K. Bolt, President

William T. Marshall, Executive Vice-President

W. R. Dillow, Jr., Field Vice-President

Harold Street, Hunting Vice-President

C. J. Woods, Conservation Vice-President

Nancy Lee Western, Corresponding secretary

Hugh Darnell, Recording Secretary

Ted Grefe, Treasurer

William L. Enders, Field Governor

Eugene Limerick, NFAA Director

Tim Daley, NAA Director

1971 - William K. Bolt, President

William T. Marshall, Executive Vice-President

W. R. Dillow, Jr., Field Vice-President

Harold street, Hunting Vice-President

C. J. Woods, Conservation Vice-President

Nancy Lee Western, Corresponding Secretary

Hugh Darnell, Recording Secretary

Ted Grefe, Treasurer

William L. Enders, Field Governor

Ralph Stevens, NFAA Director

Lucille Darnell, NAA Director

1972 - William K. Bolt, President

Carey Price, Executive Vice-President

W. R. Dillow, Jr., Field Vice-President

Harold Street, Hunting Vice-President

C. J. Woods, Conservation Vice-President

Nancy Lee Western, Corresponding Secretary

Hugh Darnell, Recording Secretary

Chester Kutzler, Treasurer

William L. Enders, Field Governor

Ralph Stevens, NFAA Director

Lucille Darnell, NAA Director

1973 - Harold Street, President

Carey Price, Executive Vice-President

W. R. Dillow, Jr., Field Vice-President

Roger Mock, Hunting Vice-President

C. J. Woods, Conservation Vice-President

Hugh Darnell, Recording Secretary

Lucille Darnell, Treasurer

William L. Enders, Field Governor

William K. Bolt, NFAA Director

1974 - Harold Street, President

Carey Price, Executive Vice-President

William L. Enders, Field Vice-President

Roger Mock, Hunting Vice-President

C. J. Woods, Conservation Vice-President

Nancy Lee Western, Corresponding Secretary

Hugh Darnell, Treasurer

Murray Selby, Field Governor

William K. Bolt, NFAA Director

1975 - Harold Street, President

Louis Hudson, Executive Vice-President

William L. Enders, Field Vice-President

Roger Mock, Hunting Vice-President

C. J. Woods, Conservation Vice-President

Nancy Lee Western, Corresponding Secretary

Nina Enders, Recording Secretary

Lucille Darnell, Treasurer

Murray Selby, Field Governor

William K. Bolt, NFAA Director

1976 - Hugh Darnell, President

Louis Hudson, Executive Vice-President

Jimmy Miller, Field Vice-President

Roger Mock, Hunting Vice-President

C. J. Woods, Conservation Vice-President

Nancy Lee Western, Corresponding Secretary

Nina Enders, Recording Secretary

James Overfelt, Treasurer

Murray Selby, Field Governor

William L. Endeers, NFAA Director

1977 - Hugh Darnell, President

Norman Sparks, Executive Vice-President

Jerry Davis, Field Vice-President

John Stockman, Hunting Vice-President

C. D. Tarter, Conservation Vice-President

Nancy Lee Western, Corresponding Secretary

Nina Enders, Recording Secretary

Denny Fry, Treasurer

Roger Firth, Field Governor

William L. Enders, NFAA Director

1978 - Hugh Darnell, President

1979 Norman Sparks, Executive Vice-President

Don Walker, Field Vice-President

John Stockman, Hunting Vice-President

C. D. Tarter, Conservation Vice-President

Nancy Lee Western, Corresponding Secretary

Nina Enders, Recording Secretary

Denny Fry, Treasurer

Roger Firth, Field Governor

William L. Enders, NFAA Director

1980 - William L. Enders, President

1981 Ann Boyd, Executive Vice-President

Roger Firth, Field Vice-President

Dave Proctor, Hunting Vice-President

C. D. Tarter, Conservation Vice-President

Nancy Lee Western, Corresponding Secretary

Nina Enders, Recording Secretary

Karen Firth, Treasurer

Bill Taylor, Field Governor

Bobby Cissel, NFAA Director

James Mitchell, Va. Pro Director

1982 - William L. Enders, President

1983 Ann Boyd, Executive Vice-President

Dickie Hall, Field Vice-President

C. D. Tarter, Conservation Vice-President

Nancy Lee Western, Corresponding Secretary

Nina Enders, Recording Secretary

Denny Fry, Treasurer

Bill Taylor, Field Governor

Bob Cissel, NFAA Director

1984 - Dennis Vanek, President

1985 Dickie Hall, Executive Vice-President

Richard Dunn, Field Vice-President

David Proctor, Hunting Vice-President

James Overfelt, Conservation Vice-President

Nancy Lee Western, Corresponding Secretary

Betty Trent, Recording Secretary

Denny Fry, Treasurer

Bill Taylor, Field Governor

John Stockman, NFAA Director

1986 - Dennis Vanek, President

1987 Sam Gay, Executive Vice-President

John Street, Field Vice-President

David Proctor, Hunting Vice-President

James Overfelt, Conservation Vice-President

Nancy Lee Western, Corresponding Secretary

Betty Trent, Recording Secretary

Denny Fry, Treasurer

Kenneth Sorrels, Field Governor

John Stockman, NFAA Director

1988 - Clinton Western, President

1089 Ann Boyd, Executive Vice-President

John Street, Field Vice-President

David Proctor, Hunting Vice-President

Tom Schanbacher, Conservation Vice-President

Nancy Lee Western, Corresponding Secretary

Gail LeFever, Recording Secretary

C. D. Miller, Treasurer

Kenneth Sorrels, Field Governor

John Stockman, NFAA Director

1990 - Clinton Western, President

1991 Dave Proctor, Executive Vice-President

Gary Jenks, Field Vice-President

John Stockman, Hunting Vice-President

Tom Schanbacher, Conservation Vice-President

Nancy Lee Western, Corresponding Secretary

Gail LeFever, Recording Secretary (Scarlet Rucker 9/90)

C. D. Miller, Treasurer

Kenneth Sorrels, Field Governor

John Street, NFAA Director

1992 - Kenneth Sorrels, President

1993 Dave Proctor, Executive Vice-President

Jim Barker, Field Vice-President (James Overfelt - 9/92)

Bob Keaton, Hunting Vice-President

Gary Jenks, Conservation Vice-President (John McLaughlin - 3/92)

Nancy Lee Western, Corresponding Secretary (Ann Boyd - 3/92)

Scarlet Rucker, Recording Secretary

C. D. Miller, Treasurer

Earl McCauley, Field Governor (Dennis LeFever - 6/93)

John Street, NFAA Director

1994 - John Street, President

1995 Dave Proctor, Executive Vice-President

James Overfelt, Field Vice-President (Rob Pecora - 6/94)

Bob Seltzer, Hunting Vice-President

John McLaughlin, Conservation Vice-President

Ann Boyd, Corresponding Secretary

Scarlet Rucker, Recording Secretary

C. D. Miller, Treasurer

Dennis LeFever, Field Governor

Clinton Western, NFAA Director

John Stockman, IBEP Director

1996 - John McLaughlin, President

1997 Dave Proctor, Executive Vice-President

Mark Lohr, Field Vice-President

Bob Seltzer, Hunting Vice-President

Wayne DeShazo, Conservation/Legislative Affairs Vice-President

Ann Boyd, Corresponding Secretary

Crystal Holmes, Recording Secretary

Rob Pecora, Treasurer

Paul Vogel, Field Governor

Clinton Western, NFAA Director

John Stockman, IBEP Director

1998 - Bob Seltzer, President

1999 Dave Proctor, Executive President

Mark Lohr, Field Vice-President

Dave Burpee, Hunting Vice-President

Ann Boyd, Corresponding Secretary

Crystal Bell, Recording Secretary

Rob Pecora, Treasurer

Paul Vogel, Field Governor

Clinton Western, NFAA Director

John Stockman, IBEP Director (Al Baughman - 1/98)

Irene Stocksdale, Publicity Director

2000 - Bob Seltzer. President

2001 Dave Proctor, Executive Vice-President

Mark Lohr, Field Vice-President

Dave Burpee, Hunting Vice-President

Ann Boyd, Executive State Secretary & Treasurer

Clinton Western, Recording Secretary

Paul Vogel, Field Governor

Cay McManus, NFAA Director

Al Baughman, NBEF Director

Irene Stocksdale, Publicity Director

2002 - Bob Seltzer, President

2003 Dave Proctor, Executive Vice-President

Mark Lohr, Field Vice-President

Kevin Reedy, Hunting Vice-President

Ann Boyd, Executive State Secretary & Treasurer

Clinton Western, Recording Secretary

Paul Vogel, Field Governor

Cay McManus, NFAA Director

Al Baughman, NBEF Director

Irene Stocksdale, Publicity Director

During the last part of 2003, VBA completed the NFAA’s Compliance Affidavit form and mailed it to our Councilman as directed. Bruce Cull, President of NFAA, had taken a position on three issues as follows: that we must furnish NFAA with a complete mailing list of all VBA members; that NFAA be permitted to directly bill VBA members for both State and National dues; and that non-NFAA members would not be permitted to shoot in VBA’s State tournaments even as a non-competing guest.

In view of this position by NFAA, President Seltzer, with approval by club Directors at a regularly scheduled meeting, wrote a letter that accompanied the Compliance Affidavit in which he stated that VBA did not agree with NFAA’s position on these issues.

The end result was that President Cull accepted a Compliance Affidavit from the Virginia Field Archery Association to represent NFAA members in Virginia. VBA was never charged with non-compliance (our Compliance Affidavit was approved by our NFAA Councilman and NFAA accepted the fee that accompanied it--later refunded) and consequently was never given an opportunity to defend itself or perhaps change its position. December 31, 2003, ended VBA’s affiliation with the National Field Archery Association.

2004 - Bob Seltzer, President

2005 Dave Proctor, Executive Vice-President

Mark Lohr, Field Vice-President

Kevin Reedy, Hunting Vice-President

Ann Boyd, Executive State Secretary & Treasurer

Clinton Western, Recording Secretary

Ed Bickham, Field Governor

Cay McManus, NFAA Director - (Resigned 3/04)]

Irene Stocksdale, Publicity Director

Al Baughman, NBEF Director

2006 - Bob Seltzer, President

2007 Dave Proctor, Executive Vice-President

Cay McManus, Field Vice-President

Kevin Reedy, Hunting Vice-President

Ann Boyd, Executive State Secretary & Treasurer

Marie Bell, Executive State Secretary & Treasurer (Effective 04/01/06)

Clinton Western, Recording Secretary

Ed Bickham, Field Governor

Irene Stocksdale, Publicity Director

NBEF/IBEP Director - Vacant

2008 - Kevin Reedy, President

2009 David Proctor, Executive Vice-President

Cay McManus, Field Vice-President

Dave Burpee, Hunting Vice-President

Marie Bell, Executive State Secretary & Treasurer

Clinton Western, Recording Secretary

Ed Bickham, Field Governor

Irene Stocksdale, Publicity Director

NBEP/IBEP Director - Vacant

2010 – Paul Vogel, President

2011 David Burpee, Executive Vice-President

Cay McManus, Field Vice-President

Ed Bickham, Hunting Vice-President

Marie Bell, Executive State Secretary & Treasurer

Joyce Cameron, Recording Secretary

Irene Stocksdale, Publicity Director

NBEP/IBEP Director - Vacant

Currently, the VBA members are composed of approximately 21 archery clubs and one Pro Shop (Hoffman Archery) throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia, as well as individual associate and bowhunting members.

WHAT DOES the VBA DO FOR ME?

From the VBA President

I have heard a lot of things over the years that all centers on one theme – The VBA officers control the organization.

These misguided thoughts are usually stated by persons outside the organization who have an ax to grind, but it is also

true that new VBA members or others who have not had a chance to personally see how the organization is managed

sometimes have the same erroneous perception.

Yes, the VBA officers have specific duties and I will address them in my next column in the spring edition. First,

however, in this column I want to emphasize that the VBA is a member-driven and member-based organization that is run

by the members and not the officers. Let me set the record straight with an overview of how it really works.

There is no question that individual members are the bedrock of the VBA. And, the vast majority of them belong to

VBA Clubs, each of which has as a part of its leadership someone who is elected by the Club members or appointed by

the Club officers to be a VBA Director.

The Directors from all the VBA Clubs and the VBA officers gather four times a year – Jan., Mar., Jun., and Sep. – to

conduct VBA business. The business meetings are conducted according to Roberts Rules of Order and a set of detailed

minutes are published and distributed via the Directors with key points posted to the VBA Web site and published in

FLIGHT magazine.

All VBA decisions are reached by a majority vote of the Club Directors present. The VBA officers do not have a vote

on items that appear on the agenda.

To further clarify, let’s take a hypothetical example. Imagine that an individual member from Club A has an idea he

or she wants the VBA to adopt. This can be an idea associated with target archery, an initiative that the person desires be

presented to the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries as a hunting idea, a recommended change to the VBA

Constitution or By-Laws, or anything else desired that would be above the Club level.

The individual must bring this idea up at a Club meeting and get them to agree. If the Club agrees, the Club’s VBA

Director will bring the proposal forward and submit it as an official agenda item at one of the quarterly VBA meetings.

After a full informal discussion, the agenda item is accepted and referred back to all the Clubs and at the next quarterly

VBA meeting it will be on the agenda for vote.

Each Club will then discuss the item and based on a vote instruct their Director how to vote. Regardless of size,

each Club will have one vote and the item will be adopted or rejected based on a vote of a majority of the Club Directors

present. The VBA officers do not have a vote. This process gives equal weight to the large and small Clubs – much like

the U.S. Senate gives equal weight to each of the individual states.

Any VBA member who wants to see the process in action is welcome to attend a quarterly VBA meeting, usually held

in Harrisonburg. The member cannot vote at the meeting – only Directors can vote – but the process will be transparent.

So, the bottom line on why the organization works as well as it does is that it operates as a democracy. Individual

votes determine Club positions on issues and Club votes determine VBA positions. Also, once every two years the VBA

Officers are elected by ballots mailed to individual members in the spring with installation of officers at the June meeting.

If you want the VBA to adopt a specific proposal, it is your duty to go to Club meetings and get your Club to agree

and then have your Director represent that initiative to the VBA. This process makes it critical that you go to Club

meetings and it is equally important that your Director bring back results from VBA meetings. Right now a potential

weak link in that chain is that Directors either do not attend the meeting or they do not provide feedback to members on

what happened. You can help this process by demanding that your Director attend quarterly VBA meetings. For example,

the only meeting that has full attendance each year is the Sep. meeting where shoots are scheduled. All other meetings

always have Director’s absent. You should also insist that your Director provide feedback. It’s not the VBA’s fault if

your Director does not attend or provide feedback. That issue lies directly at the Club level.

I look forward to increased involvement by all members in the management of VBA and its activities. It is your

organization. Participate and enjoy!

As motioned above, in my next column I will write more about the specific responsibilities of VBA officers and Club

Directors as outlined in VBA documents such as the Constitution and By-Laws. In the meantime, I encourage you to take

part in our indoor archery activities and look forward to seeing you at the State Indoor Championship.

From the Executive Vice-President

A strength of the VBA is the diversity and energy of the individual members and Clubs. Recruiting, community

relations, archery events, social opportunities, voting on VBA issues and many other activities all take place primarily at

the Club and member level. As I travel throughout the Commonwealth and visit various Clubs, I see and hear about many

great ideas being implemented to improve Clubs and give them their own distinctive identity.

You will notice elsewhere in this issue of FLIGHT the first example of what will be a constant effort to share some

of these successful ideas that might be adopted by other Clubs. After all, why not – if a Club has a good idea that helps

recruiting or participation in events, why not share the idea?

Of course, not all ideas will apply to all Clubs. The intent is to make Clubs aware of programs and activities that

work at one location and then let other Clubs adopt them – either entirely or in a modified form – for use in their own

particular circumstances.

The idea discussed in detail comes from the Bowhunters of Rockingham. Their “Southern Bowhunter” award has

been very popular and is an innovative approach to encourage hunting diversity – something that is always important

to the Virginia Bowhunters Association. In the next issue, you will find an article that has several short paragraphs that

highlight a few of the good ideas “out there.” Many of these ideas center on Club-level initiatives that improve facilities

or just plain made it easier or more fun to participate in an archery event.

The effort to share information will be best served if Clubs and members will send me items they want to see

published in FLIGHT. Input can be provided by mail, e-mail, phone or via each Club’s VBA Director who attends the

quarterly VBA meetings. You can see that this a not too thinly veiled effort to say that the spread of future good ideas is

up to YOU. YOU know the good things your Club is doing and FLIGHT is a great forum to politely brag while at the

same time provide the VBA a service by sharing ideas. Get your ideas to me and I’ll take care of the rest.

In the meantime, the indoor season is well underway and the State Indoor Championship looms at four sectional

locations. This is s super time for those who enjoy tournament archery to participate in lots of competitive events. It

is also an ideal opportunity for those who primarily hunt to go to a range and keep their shooting skills sharp and, who

knows, maybe even learn something.

Also, if each person took one friend with them to the range just once during a practice session to introduce them to the

sport…… Well, the results would certainly be much better than not being a proactive recruiter. Remember, the VBA is

not the officers. It is the individual members and Clubs. Success for the VBA has to happen via success at the local level

and like it or not, that’s YOUR job. I’ll publish the magazine and do my best through it to give you a good recruiting tool.

It is up to YOU and your fellow members to do the rest. Good luck. It is an honorable pursuit.

WHAT HAS the VBA DONE?

The VBA has enjoyed more than five decades of success while representing the interest of Bowhunters to the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF). Listed below are examples of hunting related milestones the VBA helped achieve:

1. In 1949, North River area (16 square miles) in Rockingham County was the first area opened to bowhunting in Virginia.

2. In 1953, “Big Levels” in Augusta County was opened to bowhunting.

3. In 1956, a statewide bowhunting season enacted.

4. In 1985, a separate archery license for the Bowhunters, allowing two additional deer to be harvested.

5. In 1994, additional week of bow season was added with the opening date of archery season moved from the second Saturday in October to the first Saturday in October.

6. In 1994, became legal to harvest turkey with a bow during the early archery season.

7. In 2003, became legal to harvest a black bear during the early archery season state-wide.

8. In 2005, opposed the effort to legalize the use of crossbows in the regular archery season. Although the VBA and others were not successful, many valuable messages about hunting safety and ethics were reinforced with all involved.

9. In 2007, the new “Urban Archery” regulations expanded the archery season by months in many locations, and included harvest incentives such as “earn a buck.”

The VBA is interested in conservation and protecting our hunting rights. With a mounting movement against hunting, the more members we have to fight this movement, the stronger will be our position.

VBA Membership - to become a member of the VBA, click below and fill out the 'Application for Membership'.

Print an Application for Membership

VBA Membership Dues:

    Head of Household/First Adult Member    = $ 20.00
    Spouse                                             = $    8.00
    Second Member/Youth (Under 18)         = $    5.00

Family Membership = $ 32.00

Independent Youth (under age 18) = $ 10.00

Note: $32.00 is for a family who joins through a club.

The Bowhunters dues are $30.00 per person regardless of the numbers in the family.