August 2024 Newsletter

AUGUST 2024 ALGONQUIN ARCHERS NEWSLETTER  

MONTHLY MEETING- The next monthly meeting will be held on Tuesday, SEPTEMBER, 3  at 7 p.m.    A cash prize drawing is taken at each monthly meeting. If a member's name is drawn and is not present at the meeting, that member will not receive the prize. You must be at the meeting to win. Congratulations to MICHELLE STIETZEL who was drawn at the July meeting, was present, and received $200 prize. Next month the prize restarts at $50 and will increase $10 each month without a winner.

NEWS FLASH

++Secretary Donna Rhoads has not received some members renewal payment.  Please let her know if you will be renewing or notrenewing.  If you have paid David Wilkinson while at the club please confirm with Donna.

Mail payment to. (pay to Algonquin):

Donna Rhoads

c/o Algonquin Archers

52 Kingswood Drive

Naugatuck, CT 06770

Thank you!

++ALGONQUIN 3-D TOURNAMENT will be held on Aug.17 & 18 at the club.  Registration will be 6AM –9AM, 9Am-NOON on both days. Two volunteers are still required for these days and times- contact Bob Bruno.

Cost is $30 Adult; $16 Youth

The kitchen will serve breakfast and lunch for this event.

A barbecue meal will also be offered

NOTEABLE ALGONQUIN ARCHERS

Algonquin Members and Olympic style shooters, Linda Drazen and Peter ST. Pierre. participated in the Pan American Masters International games held every 4 years.The  Multi sport event was in Cleveland Ohio. Archery was held at Cleveland Metro Polo grounds hosted by Ace Archers Club. Archers from USA, Mongolia, Sweden, Puerto Rico, Trinidad & Tobago, US Virgin Islands, Mexico to name a few. Event consisted of two 720 rounds and an elimination round. The 720 rounds rank the archers and in Elimination hi scorers shoot against low scorers in a set bracket system. 

Both Linda and Peter got to the Medal round where Linda won Silver 70+ and Peter took bronze in 60+ category. Age groups ranged from 30+,40+,50+, 60+,70+. 

Congratulations LINDA & PETER

Linda Drazen Archery History: Linda began her love of archery at age 8 when she went to overnight camp for the first time. Her Dad bought her  first bow, which was a fiberglass recurve. Many women that Linda talked to also loved archery in camp when they were girls.  

When she retired from her career in public education, she made lists of all the things that she wanted to do in her senior years. Archery came up number one in every list.

Linda bought her second bow in her 60's and began shooting indoors with two of her grandchildren. Linda upgraded equipment several times, now to an Olympic style recurve with a beautiful blue riser with short limbs to match my draw length. It is a constant challenge to keep your bow tuned with the best arrows for your target needs, preference, distance etc. Now at age 75, she has a definite preference for a 60 meter course.  I love the national competitions, where she has made friends with a similar love of archery. Her 6 grandchildren are her constant cheerleaders, which makes it so much more fun.

Linda learned from her coach, Olympian Butch Johnson, when an arrow leaves your bow, it is gone. You start all over again with each arrow. You focus on your shot and send your arrow off hoping it will hit the bullseye. 

Linda believes that Archery is a sport that you can start with JOAD or in camp, and continue to have it forever. You can let it go for some years and always come back to it. There are local clubs and lots of competitions in Connecticut and around the world. 

Peter St. Pierre Archery History 

Peter`s love for Archery actually started at 5 years old.  His Uncle Jean-Albert was a priest and ran the camp, so I wasn’t abandoned. So, shipped off to overnight seminary summer camp. Did camp until 12 years old and had my own bow  starting at age 6. Shot at home and tried hunting with 50# recurve for a few years.  At NY State colleges, gym credits, were requirements. I signed up for archery and made the University Team.   

After college, helped out SUNY Purchase Archery and Shot Empire State Games Regional team 90 meter full FITA  Olympic round for several years. Then work, house, marriage time commitments could only dabble a  little in archery until age 60. Restarted and began competing in Masters Division USA archery. 

Archery is actually a combination of physics, mechanics and material sciences with some serious athletic sports science and psychology. It’s a great sport for quiet individuals who may not be interested in team, or contact sports. You’re never on the bench, always in the game. It is fun at all levels. There is a great feeling of personal accomplishment and empowerment as you hit your first bullseye, It is a sport for life from JOAD or summer camp to 90 year olds in Masters Division. 

Competition helps give a reason to improve and meet people and learn more about Archery. Tournaments are just appointments to shoot with friends. Your only opponent is yourself. Local club, State, Regional, National and surprisingly even International levels are available to everyone in all disciplines

JOAD . 

Jason Syman has has stepped down as the Director and Coach of Algonquin`s JOAD Program.

Algonquin Archers greatly appreciate Jason`s dedication, knowledge, archery expertise, and the tremendous amount of time coaching and behind the scènes tremendous amount of arranging that the JOAD program requires..

Jason is an Olympic style archer who has competed Nationally and willingly shared his experience within JOAD and with other club members.

Jason many thanks , much gratitude, and all the very best in your future endeavors.

*Ric & Jen DeFazio are stepping up to fill the JOAD Director/Coach position.

They are now on a steep learning curve and will be sending out information in the near future.

RIC & JEN all the very best and fulfillment with your new endeavor and a hearty THANK YOU for taking on one of the clubs very important programs 

WORK HOURS

There is always a great need for volunteers to handle the large variety of work activities that are necessary to keep the club, it's property, and it's activities in operation.

The club has a program where members can receive a $10/hr credit, for a maximum of 5 hrs, $50, This will apply towards their next dues payment in the following Fiscal year, which is in the month of June.   

Donna Rhoads, dlwrhoads@gmail.com;203-233-4550 must be contacted in order to, record any work hours that a member has performed, to keep a total of a members work hours, and to assure the proper credit is applied.    

*BE ALERT----SAFETY FIRST

As an archery club, we are very fortunate to have an Indoor Range and 2 outdoor courses on our property: 3-D & Field, . All members need to remember that multiple archers, can be on any of the courses, at any given time.

** SAFETY ALWAYS COMES FIRST

Also, for your awareness, you may see hunters on the property. Do not be alarmed, as these are club members that have permission to bow hunt deer and turkey.

Have fun, Stay Alert, and be aware of other shooters at all times.

* FaCEBOOK ---- Algonquin Archers has a FACEBOOK page. Search “Algonquin Archers”

**WEB PAGE: The monthly newsletter and additional club information can be found  at  www.algonquinarchers.com