Our next show is May 3rd & 4th from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Exposition Gardens, Peoria, IL.  Call Bill Fritz if you want a table, or to cancel for this show.  Bill's phone number is (309) 274-2977 or write him at P.O. Box 527 Chillicothe, IL 61523.

Range Info
Mike Barnett has scheduled the 2003 dates for the .22 rimfire youth matches.  The dates are 4/26, 5/24, 6/28, 7/26, 8/23, and 9/27.  Practice time is 8:00am – 9:00am and the match time is 9:00am – noon.  The age classes are JR Class – up to 14 yrs,  SR Class – 14 yrs and older.  Contact Mike at (309) 263-8991 or Greg Crank at (309) 248-7068 for more info.
Tom French of the Illini Muzzleloaders Inc. provided an update that they are planning on shooting every 2nd Saturday and 4th Sunday of the month.  You can contact Tom for more information at 309 246-2073.
Greg Crank will be forming a range maintenance committee.  This committee will plan maintenance the needed maintenance at the range for the current and next year.  Contact Greg if you are interested in helping.

Stop at the membership table at this show, or mail in your request for your 2003 membership and/or range pass.  The membership fee is $10.00 and a range pass is an additional $15.00.  Please make the check payable to the Midwest Gun Collectors Association.  Mail application and checks to Ed King, P.O. Box 1242 Bloomington, IL 61702.  If you know someone who may want to join, please contact Ed for applications.  We also require that members who skip a year's membership will have to pay for the previous year when renewing their membership.
Send email to: webmaster@peoriagunshow.com
We can email your newsletter and save postage, just send an email to the address above. 

Club Election and Board Meeting in May
There are four board positions that will be up for election in May.  Also, our annual membership meeting will be held May 3rd after the Gun Show.  The show closes at 4pm so the meeting will begin at approximately 4:15 pm.  Bring your suggestions, questions or interest to the meeting.  The results of the election will also be determined at that time.  Also, people have asked when positions will be voted on.  Below are your current directors, the positions they hold, and the year that their position is up for reelection.  You will see Cathy Smith for 2005, however, her position was filled by appointment so it’s on the ballot.

Carol VanWinkle	President	2003
Caryl Crank		Treasurer	2003
Mike Fritz		Secretary	2003
Ed King		Membership	2005
Greg Crank		Range	 	2005
Cathy Smith		Director	2005
William Fritz		V.P.		2007
Jim Adams		Director	2007

Legislative Alert!!!
There are several bills that we need to watch.  By the time you read this, they may have been voted on or the amendments may still have them tied up.  Make sure you let your legislator know what your opinion is.  SB 1195 is a semi-auto possession and transfer ban.  SB-1320 increases FOID fees.  HB-2356 impacts gun show transfers and HB-2532 would impose further restrictions on dealers.

We will have police protection during show hours, but you are responsible for your merchandise.

Quote of the Quarter
Mayor Daley gets this quarter’s quote.  He is quoted in the Washington Times, “As I have argued for many years, both in Springfield and in Washington, it is much too easy to obtain a gun in our society.”

Mike Fritz