Greetings Fellow Archers
This will most likely be the last issue of the newsletter you'll receive prior to the World Championship, so I'll dedicate most of our space to the upcoming event. 

Before I start however, I want to welcome all our new members. NETAA membership is growing rapidly, and there are about forty new members getting their first newsletter with this issue. The response to North American Bowhunter has been great so far and I hope you all enjoy this, and future issues. Dan and his crew work very hard to give us all a great publication and he welcomes contributions from our members. If any of you has a hunting story you'd like to share, send it along to Dan with a photo or two for us all to enjoy.

NE TRIPLE CROWN 
This newsletter is going to editing before the third leg of either the NE or NY Triple Crowns, so final outcomes will have to wait until the next issue. Because this issue will be received after the third legs are held, there is no benefit promoting the final legs in this column. I can tell all those that didn't attend, you missed two real good shoots so far! The weather co-operated better than ever before and both host clubs did a fine job setting up for us. The net result is that you can plan right now to see the same shoots at the same clubs on the same dates next season. 

You may have heard that attendance is down at all archery events in New England this season. That has not proven true at NETAA events! The NE Triple Crown events have held their numbers from last year, which actually represents about 20% growth. This is because we have had a 20% drop in attendance from New York archers who now can compete in their own NETAA Triple Crown. The numbers have stayed the same, because we have had 20% more New England archers competing this season. With the increased benefits of membership, expanded promotion, and the excitement we expect from the biggest/best Championship ever (August 20-22), we should be able to increase participation by more than 20% next season. 

NEW YORK TRIPLE CROWN
Like the NE Triple Crown, this mini tour is only 2/3 complete as this column goes to editing. The tour is already a great success however. We've met a lot of new people and qualified "tons" of archers for the Championship. We made some new friends and are picking up all sorts of great support for the organization. I only wish we had been able to reach out and bring the tour to New York a couple years sooner! There may be a few small changes for next season (for one we'll try to avoid Mother's Day!), but the NY Triple Crown is here to stay. More next issue.

SOUTHERN TRIPLE CROWN
The Southern Triple Crown "WILL" get put together for next season. We are already talking to a couple people that are interested in hosting two of the events. If any of our members can suggest good clubs that might be willing to provide hosting services for any of these three events, please contact the NETAA office. Give us the club name and contact person's address and phone number. We'll do the rest. We hope to have one shoot in New Jersey, one in Eastern PA, and one in either Maryland or Delaware. Of course, southeastern PA, or southern New Jersey would work if we can't find a suitable place further south. We have a good compensation package, and will make it worthwhile for a club to work with us on this!

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
I hope all our members have qualified and attend the Championship this year. This is going to be a great event! Many of you will see the site before the Championship by competing at the third leg of the NY Triple Crown. Bruce Miller has a great piece of property, and does a real good job setting up for a shoot.

Additionally, there are a number of new and expanded events for this year to make things more enjoyable. Those that qualify will be able to compete in both the Championship 3D and 540 Rounds. Those that compete in both games, in the money division, will automatically be entered into the brand new GRAND CHAMPIONSHIP contest. The winner (highest combined score from both games) will receive a special trophy and a $1,000.00 check due to the generosity of Northern Building Systems. This $1,000.00 is in addition to the prize money earned in each of the individual games, meaning that the top archer this year should walk away with several thousand dollars!

There will also be a NETAA BOWHUNTER PROFICIENCY ROUND available to be shot all weekend. The 30 target "unmarked distance" 3D course will be open for all registrations and can be shot more than one time during the weekend. You do not have to qualify! This event will offer great practice or warm up for the Championship contestants, as well as the opportunity for archers that didn't qualify to come and enjoy/participate in the weekend. This is an ideal opportunity for our members to bring a friend that might not be as "competitive" but that might enjoy the camaraderie of the event. Participation in this event offers the opportunity to qualify for NETAA Proficiency Awards patches. Everyone shooting a 175 or better will receive their basic Proficiency patch. Those that turn in higher scores will be able to purchase the corresponding awards bars if they wish. Master Bowhunter awards can only be earned at the annual NETAA Outdoor World Championship. The scoring is 10-8-minus five. Archers may take a "pass" from the stake (score 0) and then shoot the target for practice at any closer distance after all members of the group have shot. This is meant to encourage people to pass up shots beyond their effective range while offering practice to improve bowhunting skills. Registration fee for this event is only $10.00 with $1.00 going into the Aim For College Fund to help us increase the amount of Tuition Certificates we can give to young archers.

RAFFLES
There will be several raffles to add to the excitement of the Championship. The BISON RAFFLE has been going on all year, and the tickets will be pulled at the Championship. In addition to a brand new Mackenzie HD bison target, we will be drawing tickets for a number of new compound bows and dozens of other prizes. All members that have joined or renewed membership since January 1st already have two tickets in the drawing (part of the expanded membership benefit package) but we're hoping to sell out the remaining tickets that weekend (a total of 2,000 tickets were printed). The tickets are $3.00 each or two for $5.00. Every dime goes to the Aim For College Fund.

The AFCF HUNT RAFFLE will also be drawn at the Championship. We are still working on hunts as this newsletter goes to press, but we have two great hunts already! The first is a one on one trophy bowhunt in Montana for antelope in 2000. This is at Fort Musselshell Outfitters (Winnett, Montana) and is a "bowhunting only" ranch hunt. With limited access and lots of ground, the trophy potential on this hunt is fantastic! Regular price is $2,700.00! Fort Musselshell Outfitters has also donated a spring turkey hunt to the raffle, and this three day hunt offers the opportunity to hunt undisturbed birds that weigh in the mid twenty pound range. We'll have full details on these hunts at the Championship. Tickets are $5.00 and will be drawn at the Championship.

The first annual NETAA MEMBERSHIP DRIVE RAFFLE will also be drawn at the Championship. The lucky member will win a second trophy antelope bowhunt in Montana with Fort Musselshell Outfitters. You can not buy a ticket to this drawing! Every new member gets one ticket and an additional ticket for each new member you sponsor this year. Now's the time to get your friends to join NETAA! Every new member you sign up gives you another chance to win this $2,700.00 hunt! What are you waiting for?

MORE
There will be thousands of dollars of Aim For College Tuition Voucher Certificates given at the Championship, a couple novelty shoots, small cash awards for winners in the open divisions, free Competitor T shirts, an auction and an equipment Tag Sale. Even if you're not qualified, get to Middleburg August 20-22!

Good shooting, Roy Goodwin