1st Regiment Illinois Light Artillery

De Gress’ Battery

 

January 2008

 

Next Meeting

January 11th 2008

7:30 PM

Whitehall Court, Buffalo Grove, Ill

 

Due to the busy schedule both membership and personal, the Battery did not have a November Meeting. Then with the Holidays it was deemed that it would be too difficult to get the membership together for an official meeting in December. Being that there were no contested office up for elections it was decided that the below would temporary fill those offices until officially voted on. 

 

Commander                            John Matuszek

Secretary                                 Bob Brown

Range Safety Officer              John Thatcher

Asst. RSO                               Matthew Koch

Paymaster                                Richard Koch

Quarter Master                        John Thatcher

Historian                                 John Matuszek

Board Members                      Frank Matuszek

                                                Richard Schimdt

Web Master                             Stan Jezior

 

These are the proposed officers that will be the acting body until they can be approved by the Volunteers or voting body at the next meeting. This will be the first topic to be handled at the meeting. If you can not make the meeting, please send the Commander or Secretary your vote whether you except or do not except the slate of offers.  

 

 

Western Region Meeting.

The Western Region will be holding its first meeting of 2008 on January 20th at the Wheaton VFW hall. It will start at 11AM. This year the regional units will be voting on the offices of Region Secretary and Regional Treasurer. If any member of Battery H is interested in filling one of these positions please let the Commander know. At this meeting we will confirm the date of the Matuszek Memorial Skirmish. It is believe that all are welcome to go to the meeting but the battery will only have one vote on matters. John Thatcher will be representing the Battery.  For more information on the meeting please see the Western Region Web site or contact Commander John.

 

Matuszek Memorial Skirmish

As reported the Battery has offered to run the 5th Matuszek Memorial Skirmish. They are doing this with the help of the 2nd US Sharpshooters. The Battery is taking care of the targeting and most of the other skirmish logistics. To make this skirmish more memorable, there will be some slight changes to normal shooting events.

 

The first big difference is the addition of a Gattling gun demonstration. This will be a one or two-day event. Richard said the Battery could use his Gattling Gun in the event that he is not there. Presently the Skirmish director is planning on three events. These events will be based on a point system instead of time. There will be no other firearms involved. Targeting will involve plasterboards, clay pigeons and 2 liter bottles.

 

John Thatcher and John M are working on some unique targeting for Carbine and Musket team events. There will be the standard 6 X 6 Tile at 100 yards and the pigeon board and 4 X 4 tile at 50 yards. The stake event will return for smoothbore competition with the exception that it will be a 5-minute event and a prize will be offered by the Skirmish director to the fastest team who breaks the stake in less than 3 minutes.

 

Another special event will be the Sharpshooter elimination match. Using a carbine, musket or breechloader, individuals will pay a one-dollar registration fee. They will line up on the firing line and shoot one at a time at breakable targets. If they miss, they will be eliminated. This will continue and targets will get smaller until there is one person standing. This winner will get a cash prize and maybe something else to remember their victory.

 

Unlike last time the Battery will not be hauling the cannon out for show and tell. We will try to recruit new members at this shoot. It sounds like it will be a fun event and as things get solidified, new things may be added.

 

Recruitment

In 2007 several of the Battery members took time and helped answer questions at several Kane County Sportsman Shows. The cost of these tables were donated to the Battery in hopes of recruiting new members for the Battery. Again in the early months of 2008 the same will be attempted. There are shows on the following dates: Feb 10th, Mar 16th and May 11th. A minimum of two people are needed to run a table. Three is preferred; four makes it a little crowded. The benefits are you get into the show for free and get to do some shopping. You get to talk to individuals about our sport and maybe help bring a new member into the organization. If you are interested in helping, please contact the commander.  

 

 

 

Shooter Rankings for the First Skirmish

 

Musket Team Event                                                    Carbine Team Event

1. John V. M   =.         65.0                                         1. John V. M.  =          38.0

2. Wayne B     =          71.0                                         2.John T.         =          56.6

3. Frank S. M  =          79.2                                         3. Wayne B.    =          66.0

4 Stan J.          =          83.0                                         4. Stan J.         =          82.4

5. Matt K.                                                                   5. Matt K.

6. Jon M                                                                      6. Dick K.

7. Dick K                                                                    7. Scott C.

8. Scott C.                                                                   8. Bob B.

9. Bob B                                                                      8. Jon M.

 

Smoothbore Team Event                                            Revolver Team Event

1. John T.        =          54.3                                         1. Bob B.

2. Wayne B.    =          56.3                                         2. John T.

3. Stan J.         =          57.8                                         3. Scott C.

4. John V. M. =          58.8                                         4. Stan, John, Jon, Wayne

 

Are you happy with your standings amongst your team members? You will notice the members on top have either been shooting for a long time and/or go out and practice. Like with most sports the more you practice and compete the better you will get. See you on the firing line.

 

  

Sanitation Crew

Our commander has been elected as the 118th National Sanitation Officer. This means that we will be in charge of preparing the privies at the Fort Shenandoah. We will then keep them clean and tidy during the skirmish. Each team takes its turn in helping run a National and our number came up. Actually the rumor has it that because we did such a great job last time that we were requested to fill this position again. As some of you know there are many jobs that need to be done. Sanitation Crew is one of the more desirable tasks. It allows for a more flexible schedule and can be made into a more enjoyable task. Other wise you can find yourself standing on the line from 8 to 5, or locked in a room scoring targets. The sanitation crew goes out and cleans and then can go back to camp for a few hours and rest. Then they head out again.

 

Because of the involvement running the 118th National, no battery member will be allowed to compete in any of the events. So if you have a shooting need to fill on a national level you may want to attend the 117th Nation being held May 14 – 18. 

 

A Glance Back at 2007

The following is a list of accomplishments that the Battery did in 2007. They are in no particular order.

-          Two Fourth of July Parades

-          The 4rd Annual Frank V Matuszek Memorial Skirmish at Sandy Ford

-          2nd place in Mortar Team at Fall Nationals

-          3rd Place in Mortar Team at Spring Nationals

-          LaGrange Pet Parade with the 2nd USSS

-          Recruitment Displays at the Kane County Gun Show

-          Lincoln Birthday Party with out a silly skit

-          Civil War Display at the Wheaton Relic Show

-          The Battery’s Smoothbore rankings. 1st place, two 2nd, on the regional level

-          Fall Nationals third place in Smothbore

-          3rd place at the Long Range Match with rifled cannon

-          Individual Medal winners in many events.

-          Four Regional Skirmishes attended.

-          Two new members

 

 

FOID Cards

Please check your Illinois Firearms Identification Card. It has been reported that the Illinois State Police are behind in notifying card holders of the need to renew their cards. It would be a shame to get into hot water because of someone else’s error. So check your cards expiration date.

 

Let Your Voices be Heard and Vote!

No one has changed the world by sitting on the couch grumbling to themselves. And sometimes there are not enough choices that you like that deserve your vote. But Vote you should. Also did you ever want to let your State government know what is on your mind and how you feel about certain issues that you hold close to your heart? Now is a good time to start. If you do not know who or where to call? Go to this web site.

 

www.elections.state.il.us/DistrictLocator/SelectsearchType.aspx?NavLink=1

 

So speak up and be heard.

 

Shopping

By Natia E. Nofdenaro

Recently several “outdoors” stores have opened in the suburbs of Chicago. Even though they do not compare to the suttlers out in Virginia, they do carry many good items. I found bottom spouted lead pots for under $50. There is also a good variety of camping equipment that will allow one more comfort on those nights when sleeping on the ground. There seems to be a resurgent in the idea of Outdoor activities and these stores are catering to that surge. There were a good number of shooters checking out implements. I would suggest stopping by and checking these stores out. Let them know this change in attitude is welcome.