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August, 2013
Archery Club Targets Fun & Friendly Competition By NOKP Staff
The Kings Point Sportsman’s Club was founded in 2010 when a few likeminded individuals with a shared interest in shooting sports began to gather informally. Within a few months, bylaws were established, officers were elected and the Club was official. The Sportsman’s Club is dedicated primarily to various shooting sports including pistol, rifle and archery. Members also enjoy hunting and wildlife conservation. Firearms shooting is not conducted within Kings Point. Pistol, rifle and target shooting enthusiasts gather at various indoor and outdoor shooting ranges away from the Kings Point campus. The Archery Club, which operates within the Sportsman’s Club, was created about a year and a half ago, John Barry, the club secretary, said. The Archery Range is located in Kings Point, behind the Garden
Archery Club members Bill Humes, Roger Niederhoff, Shirley Bardell, Mike Bardell, John Barry, Joe White, Dan Killian, Carl Meinardus and Les Raba gather to get in a few shots before the rains come down.
Club, near the South Gate. “Our range property borders Little Manatee River State Park,” Club President, Les Raba said. “This started small, with a few interested people, suddenly we had seventy people coming to the meetings and showing up to shoot. That was amazing.” Raba said.
The Archery Club enthusiastically welcomes both experienced and rookie shooters as well as those who are just interested in giving archery a try. “You can come out once or twice and see how we do things, but to use the range you need to be a club member.” Barry said. All archery club members own
and use personal equipment. Some members have extra equipment or are willing to let first timers borrow a bow and arrows to give archery a try, but after your first trip out to the range, members expect shooters to bring their own gear. “You can get started in archery very reasonably, and then spend more as you get better or more involved.” Sportsman’s Club Archery Coordinator, Roger Niederhoff said. Membership is as much about camaraderie as it is competition. More experienced archers eagerly work with rookies, explaining the pros and cons of different bows and offering constructive tips on how to improve. Target distances are marked at ten and seventy-five yards. Archers shoot into targets backed by bales specifically designed for archery butts. Initially, the club used standard Continued on Page 13
Southeastern Guide Dogs Offers Independence, Dignity & Hugs Charity Organization Breeds Partners and Nurtures Independence
By E. Adam Porter Located on a sprawling 35acre campus at 4210 77th Street East in Palmetto, FL, Southeastern Guide Dogs works every day to develop ideal guide dog partners for visually impaired individuals. Founded in 1982, Southeastern Guide Dogs is one of ten accredited guide dog schools in the United States. The goal of the non-profit organization is to offer mobility, independence and dignity to visually impaired persons by providing them with highly trained canine companions. Jennifer Bement, Media Relations Manager for Southeastern Guide Dogs, said the organization started small, but has grown tremendously in the past three decades. “Our first guide dog class in 1982 was three donated Golden Retrievers.” To date, Southeastern Guide Dogs has provided more than 2,800 guide dog teams. Currently, the organization is responsible for 400 active handler-dog partnerships.
Poem ...................................... 2 Emergency Squad........... 3 & 5 Leo Letter ............................... 5 Dixon’s Destinations ............. 6 Care & Feline ........................ 7 33573.............................. 10-12
Trainers working with dogs in Puppy raising family picking up downtown Bradenton. their pup. Photos Courtesy Southeastern Guide Dogs
Bement said the training is precise and rigorous, but the organization purposely breeds companion animals that thrive in their appointed calling. “We are specifically looking for dogs that can take initiative, that have problem solving skills. We breed and train Labrador and Golden Retrievers and a special Lab-Golden mix we call a Goldador. These dogs have
the work ethic of a Lab and the sensitivity of a Golden. They are thoughtful dogs that want to work.” Bement said. All the potential guide dogs are born and bred on campus. Breeding dogs are kept in “breeder host” homes within an hour’s drive of the Palmetto facility. Hosts bring the dogs in “when their services are needed.” Nine to ten weeks after birth,
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puppies are adopted out to “puppy raiser” homes, where they will spend about a year and a half being socialized, discovering the world around them and learning to live with all sorts of people. “For our puppy raisers, we are looking for single people, families with kids, homes with cats or other dogs. Our guide dogs need to be accustomed to all sorts of environments because we don’t know where they may end up.” Bement said. After their time with the puppy raiser families, the puppies are returned to the Southeastern Guide Dogs campus to begin formal training. After their initial harness training, the dogs are paired with potential recipients and the pair train together. “Handlers go through an extensive interview process. We want to make sure we make the proper match, the right person with the right dog. So we learn as much as we can about the person.” Bement said. The training center currently Continued on Page 14
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