Top Boilermaker gunners at the USA Midwest Sporting Clays Shoot show their prizes. L. to r., IST Bill Creeden, winner of the “Journeyman Class” (individual) and the first place team, Tim Ruth, L-101 BM-ST; Rick Hastings, L-83; Kyle Evenson, ED-CSO, AD-AAIP; and Hunter Hastings, L-69.
Contest draws 150 competitors, raises $65,000 for USA, TRCP
THE 1ST ANNUAL USA Midwest Sporting Clays Shoot — hosted by the Boilermakers union — drew more than 150 competitors to the Kansas City area Oct. 23. The event raised nearly $65,000 to support the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance and the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership (TRCP).
A Boilermaker team sponsored by Local 101 (Denver) took the top team spot, shooting a combined score of 328 out of 400. . Team members included Tim Ruth, L-101 BM-ST; Rick Hastings, L-83 (Kansas City, Mo.); Kyle Evenson, ED-CSO, AD-AAIP; and Hunter Hastings, L-69 (Little Rock, Ark.). . A team from the Operative Plasterers and Cement Masons (OP&CM) Local 518 captured second place, and Appreciated Advertising took third.
In individual rankings, Ron Reiber, shooting for the Brotherhood Bank & Trust, had the best overall record, hitting 94 out of 100 birds. He was followed by Don Campell, OP&CM; IST Bill Creeden, IBB; and Clay Rogers, Painters District Council 3. Kathy Pawlina, Union Insurance Group, rated the highest overall score for ladies, and Bernie Wicklein of Nooter Construction Company “won” the — ahem — Duck and Cover Award.
The shoot was held at the Saddle and Sirloin Shooting Sports Club. Contestants braved unseasonably cold temperatures as they worked their way through 14 shooting stations, firing a total of 100 rounds apiece. A hot lunch sponsored by Brotherhood Bank & Trust followed the gunning, along with raffles, sponsored by Marco Consulting Group, and award presentations. Among the raffle items were a Beretta Urika 2 Gold shotgun, a commemorative Theodore Roosevelt Buck knife, and a Lincoln Electric welder.
Kiewit Power Constructors served as the safety sponsor. Targets and ammo for the shooters were sponsored by IBB Local 374 (Hammond, Ind.) and Union Insurance Group.
“Everyone had a great time, and we are already looking forward to having this event next year,” said Nate Whiteman, USA national director of recruitment. “I cannot say enough to thank the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers for their support and physical help with putting on this event. No way would we have had this type of success without them.”
USA Executive Director Fred Myers said, “Creating fun and memorable events for our members is just one way the USA is working to connect union sportsmen and women across the country. Through these shooting events, we hope to recruit new members while further strengthening the bond of union brotherhood.”
A program of the TRCP, the USA was created exclusively for conservation-minded union members, retirees, and their families. USA membership includes an outdoor newspaper, special discounts on merchandise and services, a Web site and members-only forum, and other benefits and offers.
“The Brotherhood actively supports the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership,” said International President Newton B. Jones, “and we are proud to be one of the charter unions of the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance. These organizations are all about creating outdoor opportunities and bringing people together.”
For additional information, visit www.trcp.org and www.unionsportsmen.org.
