From the Senior Corner

The US and International Archer -- March-April 2003

Welcome to the WINTER version of the Senior Corner. I don't know where you all live, but up here in the Northeast, we're having a real winter for a change. I'm not complaining , mind you, I just wanted you to know that Old Man Winter is still alive and kicking. 

Most years we've been able to go through the whole winter, hardly missing a day on the mountain bike, but this year I think it's going to be on the rack for awhile. 

The cross country skis have come down from the rafters, been dusted and waxed and are doing their duty after a year of non use. The snow has been staying dry and deep enough for skiing due to the longest cold snap we've had in a long time and me and my retired buddies are out there at 8 a.m. just about every day. 

If you think it would be funny to see a bunch of old geezers out there on mountain bikes, you should see us on those skinny cross country skis. I fell so much the other day, I had a St. Bernard with a keg of brandy on his collar following me, hoping to make a rescue. I made it back though, without his help and we all had a good laugh about it over a bagel and a cup of coffee ( not the dog ). I sure would miss winter if I did moved to Florida.

Speaking of Florida, they evidently don't have sun and temperature in the 70's all of the time either. I went to the ASA in Gainesville this past weekend and almost froze. Sunday morning was bad. Hard rain and 42 degrees is not prime archery weather. My hat is off to those archers who toughed it out that morning. 

I had a good tent over my head to stay dry but it sure was cold. As the vendors started packing it in to get some warmth, I kept moving my table up the line to get closer to the crowd, finally winding up next to the T.R.U Ball booth. We compete for the same business, but the vendors at these shoots are like a traveling family: meeting and greeting every other week in a variety of venues. 

The guys from T.R.U. Ball were kept busy during the awards giving out lots and lots of contingency checks and I started trying to figure a way to get involved in that kind of marketing, at least in some way a one man operation could afford.

I've come up with an awards idea and with the help of some people who's insight into archery I trust, I think I'm ready to give it a try. One of the people who's council I sought was my favorite editor Arlyne Rhode. She though the idea was a good one and graciously offered to let me introduce it as part of my Senior Corner article. 

First, I made sure that she was comfortable with putting it in the column and had no reservations about it and then made the decision to go for it. So here it is; if you have any comments or don't understand any part of it, drop me an e-mail or use my voice mail number, which is in the following text, to ask your questions.

Click here to view the rest of the column.

Joe Bauernfeind
www.zenitharchery.com

Permission for the use of this column is granted by The US and International Archer Magazine.