My apologies

[Drydock]

as I will not be able to attend the Muster this year.

I was looking forward to the one of the highlights of my year, but instead find myself harnessed by one of the low lights of life.  I was informed earlier this week that the final hearing for my divorce has been scheduled for the 14th of September.  This is one of the few things that could have kept me away, I allready had vacation time from work approved, had the camper rewired, had 100 rounds of .30 US loaded up to GAF Spec.

I've been in contact with both US Scout and Pitspitter, and hope you will give him all support and understanding needed as we work our way through the complications of this Event. 

Again, my regrets, and I'll be damned if I miss next year!

Drydock.

[Gripmaker]

That's two of our members who will be sorely missed this year. However, I understand your situation and the importance of your being where you need to be at this time. Been there, done that and it was not pleasant. I'll be praying for you in the next week that all will come out for the best of all concerned. God Bless and hang in there.

[US Scout]

What I miss most about not being able to attend the Muster is meeting up with some of our members who I only get to see once, or at best twice, a year.  That this is my only chance at present to actually shoot with these people makes it even worse from my perspective.  I've had the Muster down on my calendar for the last year and have made efforts to insure I would be able to attend, but when the admiral calls and "asks" that you pay him a visit, there isn't much else to be said except "Aye, aye, Sir!"

However, as I've pointed out several times on this forum, family and work must sometimes take precedence over having fun with the GAF, whether its attending the Grand Muster or even chatting in The Barracks.  We've all been there and know this, though it doesn't make it any easier to gracefully accept.

US Scout
Bvt  Brig Gen, GAF

[Silver Creek Slim]

Sorry ta hear ya can't make it, Sgt. Drydock and US Scout. You will be missed, Sirs.

Slim

[RattlesnakeJack]

Yes indeed, I will miss seeing both of you ... and Major Matt ... and others, no doubt ... at this Muster!  For example, I am also advised by our esteemed Shootist Editor that he, too, will be unable to attend ....

However, I am trying to look on the bright side - looking forward to making new GAF friends .... and encouraged by the prospect of all the above-noted expert shootists not being in the competitor lineup!   

[Shamrock]

So what does the roster look like?
How many? And who is coming?
Regards,
Pat "Shamrock" Gannon

[Drydock]

Shamrock, we currently have 16 preregistrations.  In addition, we have at least 3 or 4 folks who will be registering on site.  I'd say we're looking at at least 20 shooters this year.

We have entries in 4 classes

-Scout, Smokeless
-Scout, Black Powder
-Mispec Single shot
-Milspec Repeater

There has been at least one person interested in shooting Staff Officer, another possible walk in.

This year I have recieved regrets from several folks who had unavoidable conflicts, such as my own.  I am hoping this will not occur to such a high degree next year. 

[US Scout]

As of last night I thought I just might be a walk-in myself.  My trip to CENTCOM ran into a major obstacle and I thought the trip might be cancelled, but as of this morning its back on track. 

While I'd like to have seen a few more attending the Grand Muster, I can't really complain since I'm one of those unable to attend.  We'll try and improve on that for next year. 

We're still in the early stages of developing the Grand Muster and the Battle Rifle concept, but I'm pleased to see half of the registered shooters are in the Battle Rifle categories.  I know these numbers will increase at future Musters, especially once the word gets out about how much fun we have. 

US Scout
GAF, Commanding