--OGCA Meetings are strictly LIMITED to members and their guests--

Upcoming Meeting Dates
The May Meeting is cancelled due to the State of Ohio's ban on gatherings over 10 people - See Home Page
July 18-19, 2020 Tentative due to the ban on gatherings over 10 people still in effect. Please read all OGCA correspondence and check back for updates. Featuring ROCS and RSA plus Ohio Hunter Safety Education Class.
September 12-13, 2020 Special Guests, Winchester Arms Collectors Association
Nov. 21-22, 2020 (Annual Meeting/Director Election) Note: Director Nomination forms are available and the deadline has been extended. See below.
FOR A COMPLETE SCHEDULE, DIRECTIONS AND HOTELS, CLICK ON SHOWS.

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Ernie Pyle and Sergeant Joseph Toth

Sergeant Joseph Toth of Mansfield, Ohio, was one of the many brave men and women interviewed by noted WWII journalist, Ernie Pyle. Toth was an OGCA member and “professional gun collector” at a time when membership was approximately 700 members in 21 countries. Thank you to Sergeant Toth and our many veterans.  Likewise, we send prayers for safe return to our active duty members.   Wherever you are, I hope this interesting piece of history helps ease the “gun show withdrawal” until we can meet again.                                                          

 - Fred Kolb, President

In one small-arms repair section that I visited the only man who knew or cared anything about guns before the war was a professional gun collector.  He was Sergeant Joseph Toth, of Mansfield, Ohio.  He was stripped down to his undershirt as the day was warm for a change.  He was washing the walnut stocks of damaged rifles in a tub of water with a sponge.  Sergeant Toth used to work at the Westinghouse Electric plant in Mansfield and he spent all his extra money collecting guns.  He belonged to The Ohio Gun Collectors Association.  He said each one of the gun collectors back in Ohio had a different specialty.  Some collected machine pistols.  He had thirty-five in his collection, some of them very expensive ones.  Ironically enough, he had not collected any guns at all in Normandy, even though he was in a world of machine pistols and many passed through his hands.

A stack of muddy, rusted rifles is a touching sight.  As gun after gun came off the stack I looked to see what was the matter with it---rifle butt split by fragments; barrel dented by bullet; trigger knocked off; whole barrel splattered with shrapnel marks; guns gray from the slime of weeks in swamp mud; faint dark splotches of blood still showing.  I wondered what had become of each owner.  I pretty well knew.

 Infantrymen, like soldiers everywhere, like to put names on their equipment.  Just as a driver paints a name on his truck, so does a doughboy carve his name or initials on his rifle butt.  I saw crude whittlings of initials in the hard-walnut stocks and unbelievably craftsman like carvings of soldiers’ names, and many names of girls.  The boys said the most heartbreaking rifle they’d found was one belonging to a soldier who had carved a hole about silver-dollar size and put his wife or girl’s picture in it and sealed it over with a crystal of Plexiglass.  They didn’t know who he was or what had happened to him.  They only knew the rifle was repaired and somebody else was carrying it, picture and all. 

-       Ernie Pyle, Brave Men  

This thought-provoking article is a classic example of Ernie Pyle’s writing style.  He “told it like it is” primarily from the viewpoint of the average G.I.  Ernie Pyle’s newspaper columns have been compiled into several books.  Brave Men is a collection of his columns from 1943 and 1944 in Europe.  The above can be found on page 422. 

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May 2020 "Interim" Newsletter (click to read)

We have had a great response on recent articles honoring our 50 year Gold Badge members. The May "Interim" Newsletter features 5 interesting members with over five decades of loyalty.  Enjoy!

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Director Nomination Form Deadline Extended to Sept.

Director nominations for the 2021-2023 term are available now by calling Sherman Kirkland, III, Nominating Committee Chairman/1st VP, at (440) 479-7839 or emailing smk3@sbcglobal.net. The deadline to return the form and documents is extended from the May meeting to the Sept. meeting by 4 pm Sat. Sept. 12th due to the coronavirus. Complete instructions will be provided. Our goal is to encourage you to put your “hat in the ring.” Interviews will be held Sun. Sept. 13th at the Roberts Centre complex and the election will be Sat. the 21st at the Nov. 2020 meeting.

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Autographed USA Hat Raffle
OGCA PAC will run two raffles this year to raise much needed funds for pro-gun Political Candidates. One raffle is for a USA hat signed by the President of the United States. Ticket donation level is just $1/ticket or $5 for 6. Mail a self addressed stamped envelope (SASE) today with a check made out to “OGCA PAC.” We will return your numbered ticket stubs in your SASE. OGCA PAC, P.O. Box 670406, Sagamore Hills, OH 44067. The hat drawing will be held at the Sept. meeting after the big Annual 2020 PAC raffle drawing

Annual PAC Raffle
Look for Tickets in next Mailing, The Summer 2020 Newsletter

Six Great Prizes:
1st M-1 Garand CMP Korean
War Springfield Rifle
2nd Walther P-38 WWII Pistol
3rd Winchester Model 70, 7mm
4th Colt Mustang Plus II .380
5th Double Tap 9mm Pistol
6th Colt Knife

Free Ohio Hunter Education Course July 18th
We will hold an Ohio Hunter Education Course on site during the July meeting on Sat. July 18, 2020. The cost is free and the course will run from 8 am – 6 pm (1 hour lunch break) in the Hamilton Conference room of The Roberts Centre. Member, Al Overholser, will be the lead instructor. The alternate date in the event the Coronavirus forces us to cancel, is Saturday September 12, 2020.

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If you are a member and need copy of a Table Application of Guest Pass Registration form do not hesitate to contact us anytime at ogca@ogca.com or (330) 467-5733.   

Guest Passes: Guest Passes are $15 and covers both Saturday and Sunday. Members may bring up to 4 guests per meeting. Guests are limited to 2 visits per life.  Guest Passes for July and September will be on page 11 of the Summer 2020 Member's newsletter that will arrive in June. 

Table Reminders: The Table Application for July 18-19, 2020 and September 12-13, 2020 will be on page 13 of the Summer 2020 newsletter.   (Forms are not posted on the web for security reasons.) Members may reserve tables for up to two shows at a time ($80 per table). Tables may be rented via mail, phone, or in person during a meeting.   "Annual Tables" provides a discounted rate when renting for all 6 meetings January to November and must be purchased in December or earlier.

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Meeting Hours Now Start at 8:30 AM / Save on Lodging Cost with Increased Sat. Set up Time

Sat. and Sun. Meeting Hours now start at 8:30 AM, and tableholder set up hours Sat. and Sun. morning have been extended to better accommodate members who rent tables and potentially avoid the time and cost of a Fri. hotel stay.  Based on the recent Membership Questionnaire it is clear that these minor time changes will make a big impact. There are no changes to the Friday set up time.   Note the Holiday Inn at Roberts Centre still has a strict 2-night minimum (which is beyond OGCA's control) and a list of other hotels can be found on the SHOWS page.

Meeting Hours Now in Effect Saturday 8:30 am - 5 pm Sunday 8:30 am - 2 pm Set up/Exhibitor Hours Fri. 3:00 pm - 9:00 pm exhibitor Set-up Sat. 7:00 am - 8:30 am exhibitor Set-up Sun. 7:30 am - 8:30 am exhibitor Set-up

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Suggestions For a Great Display Show Exhibit

 The 2020 OGCA Display Show has been rescheduled for May 8-9, 2021 as the May 2020 meeting has been cancelled due to the coronavirus.  Please make plans to participate.  Also, based on popular demand the Display Show has been restored as an annual event by vote of the Board of Directors.  Following are some tips for a great display.

What is the real purpose of having a display show and awards for displays? To provide an interesting and informative experience for our peers, the gun enthusiasts of OGCA. Make your display visually appealing so people just have to stop and check it out!

The point of this article is to provide some displaying advice, especially to those that are not familiar with the OGCA displaying methods. The scoring criteria gives points to things other than guns. OGCA’s scoring is different than a lot of collecting association display shows where the guns displayed are paramount, and the related material and overall presentation not nearly so important. This has been borne out in the past by the fact that displays that have done well in collecting club display competitions, have not done well at OGCA.

The concern I hear the most, in various forms, is that a displayer is disappointed because their display included the greatest whatever, and how could that be overlooked and not given some type of award. The answer is the competition is not just about presenting the greatest gun or most complete collection of a particular model. Great guns and completeness are important, but what usually differentiates the high scores from the lower scores, is the presentation of related items, an orderly display, a display that communicates the story well, and one that followed the requirements of judging.

The Display needs to engage the audience.

A successful display is one that engages people reviewing the display. This begins with a visually interesting presentation. What is interesting:
1. Presentation of firearms so that they can be easily viewed. Generally, with a side view, when viewed from normal standing position. This requires positioning the gun at different angles depending on what level they are displayed at.
2. Use of non-firearm materials such as advertising, period holsters, factory accessories, period ammunition, etc.
3. Non-firearm visual props that make the display engaging.
4. Period photographs of the firearms in use and blowup photographs of special features of the displayed firearms to communicate easily the feature being emphasized.
5. Telling a story that is interesting through the display as a whole.

Present the collection with a diversity of information in a way that is easily understood and appreciated.

A large collection can be presented as an engaging display, by not displaying every gun. This can be accomplished by selecting 8 to 10 common models that represent significant variations in the production of the model. Noting in the descriptions the specifics of the variations available, such as caliber, barrel length etc. In addition, displaying a limited number of special guns to emphasize unique features. Along with these guns present relevant accoutrements, advertising and photographs. A theme that brings the story together is a great benefit as well. 10 to 20 guns well presented is more engaging than 50 guns that are very similar.

To receive a high score on the display, particular attention needs to be given to the judging criteria.

In creating the display, attention needs to be given to the criteria used for judging the displays. This criterion emphasizes the use of additional materials, clear presentation of information, and a visually engaging display, in addition to scoring for the firearms presented.

The judge’s scoring worksheet is provided to you in advance in the Information Packet. Per the article on page 3, there are many benefits of being part of the 2020 Annual Display Show. Take the next step by contacting Member Services Coordinator Sandra Schwab at (330) 467-5733 or sschwab@ogca.com.

- Sean McCarter,
2020 Display Show Chairman

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The judges will use the following criteria in judging the displays:

EDUCATIONAL FACTORS

A. TITLE: Is the title clearly visible and does it reflect the contents of the display? 10 points

B. CONTENTS: Is the display explained with supplementary text in a well-balanced manner (i.e. is it too much to digest or just right?) 20 points

C. LABELING: Are individual items properly and adequately identified? 10 points

D. COLLECTOR IMPORTANCE/HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE. 30 points

MATERIAL OF THE DISPLAY (WEAPONS)

A. COMPLETENESS 30 points

B. CONDITION: How does condition compare to material available?
• Have any items been restored? 20 points
• Rarity of items displayed 30 points
• Related items 30 points

GENERAL APPEAL
Are neatness, general appearance, relative skill and creativity evidenced in the presentation of the display? 20 points

Total points available 200

The next display show will be in 2022. So, if you are considering having a display, now is the time.

To obtain a display show packet, including the rules, please contact Member Services Coordinator Sandra Schwab at the Business Office (330) 467-5733 or at sschwab@ogca.com. If you have questions regarding displaying you can also contact Display Show Chairman Sean McCarter via phone (614) 395-2919 and in person at the meeting hall, table P-21; committee member Chris Rohal via phone (440) 223-2725 and in person in the OGCA Registration Room at the hall, as well as any other member of the Display Show Committee including Rod Kirian I-1, Marty Capito W-14, and Chuck Benton G 3-4.

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