Volume 45, MARCH/APRIL 2007 Issue By: Smith n’ Jones
It is with mixed emotions that I begin a new phase in my career with SHOOT! Magazine, that of Editor. When Chucky approached me with the idea over a year ago, I pretty much blew it off as some half-baked idea that he was ruminating on and figured that it would go away after a while. Not to say that the idea of new challenges and responsibilities wasn’t somewhat intriguing to me, but I have been rather comfortable and happy with the role that I have played in the formulation and ongoing production of the finest Western-action shooting periodical on the market today. Having completed and retired from one full-blown career, I have been content to just do my job here and let things work out as they might. As a chief officer in the largest Fire Department in the state of Idaho, my last eight years of my employment there entailed making a lot of decisions, planning budgets, attending never-ending meetings, and supervising one-third of the department’s fire suppression activities, and I’ll tell you, I got just plain tired of it all. I loved the fire service and the men that I worked with, but the red tape, the politics, and decision making wore me out. After my retirement in 1996, my plan was to work a little, hunt and fish a little, write a lot, and go to a bunch of cowboy action shoots with my ever-faithful companion, Marshal’s Lady.
But as they say, “the best laid plans of mice and men…” etc. So, once again I find myself making decisions and helping direct the future of another organization, but this time under the guidance and direction of the man who has done this job for the past seven-plus years, Chucky. I look at this new assignment as something I can do to help remove some of the load from my good friend and employer so that he can have more time to pursue some of the other ideas that he has been developing over the past few years. Do not fear. The direction, intent, and focus of SHOOT! Magazine will not change any time soon. This is more of a shifting of responsibilities than anything else. Same folks, same attitude, and same quality product that you have come to expect.
As with all things new or changing, there will be some subtle changes as we work to improve the magazine using new ideas and listening to input from our readers. With ever changing demographics, attitudes, and market, we will make every effort to keep up with the new, as well as remain faithful to what has gotten us to this point. Yes, there will be some articles and/or advertisements that may not be exactly what some of our readers want to see, but the realities of life and business are what they are. And, any minor deviation from hard-core cowboy/Western-action themed material will still relate to the Western/outdoors type of activities that the majority of our readers tell us they are also involved in. You won’t see anything about planting bulbs in your flower garden, but you may see material on new, more modern firearms, vehicles, or other outdoor equipment that you won’t necessarily see on the firing line at EOT, but that most of us use and play with from time to time. The Western-action shooting market is definitely a small niche market that is not endless in its resources, participants, and potential, but it is what we know and love and what we are determined to work within. As time goes on and the market changes, we will do our best to keep up with those changes and bring you the best coverage possible.
So, I hope I can depend on your support and encouragement as I attempt to fill shoes that are way too big for me. Let me know what you like, what you don’t, and what you would like to see change. I won’t make any promises but I will surely listen and try to satisfy at best I can.
SASS Convention 2006
Another year is over and the single most important social gathering of the Single Action Shooting Society has come and gone. The fifth annual gathering of the SASS faithful was, by all accounts, a rousing success. With a record number of vendors and visitors, this is the one place you can get it all and see everything that you can’t yet afford. The highlight of the ’06 event was the first ever indoor wax SASS cowboy action shooting championship. Held in one of the ballrooms on the main floor of the Riviera Hotel and Casino with over 80 participants blazing away, this was the perfect opportunity for visitors and the curious to see just exactly what CAS is all about. A hearty “well done” must be given to Chiz and all the hard working staff and support folks who made the shoot and the Convention a great success.
And if the highlight of the convention was the shoot, then the crowning achievement was the Scarlet Ball. More well dressed men and lovely ladies you will not see anywhere. It was simply fantastic. With T-Bone Duely and Sweetwater doing a splendid job as co-emcees, the night was most delightful and entertaining with SHOOT! Magazine’s own Marshal’s Lady winning the Best Dressed Lady crown for 2006. This was the perfect frosting on an absolutely wonderful evening.
To all the vendors, sponsors, workers, SASS staff, and folks behind the scenes, we want to give a heart felt “WELL DONE!” See you in December!
Good shootin’. |
