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

Upcoming Meeting Dates

July 18-19, 2020 is cancelled due to the State of Ohio's ban on gatherings over 10 people - See Home Page
September 12-13, 2020 Special Guests, Winchester Arms Collectors Association.  Due to anticipated changes to comply with Covid-19 restrictions the Ohio Hunter Safety Education Class will be rescheduled to a future meeting. Please read all OGCA correspondence and check back for updates. 
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.

Summer 2020 Member's Newsletter (click to read)

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A Word From Our President

OGCA was born during the great depression with a resilience that carried it through WWII. In 1944, OGCA meetings were put on hold for almost a year in order to help rationing efforts (mostly gasoline and tires) designed to bring a quicker end to the war. This devastating virus is putting us in a similar situation in that we currently cannot legally or safely hold our shows. Likewise, it is negatively effecting the ability of our PAC (political action committee) to raise much needed funds for pro-Second Amendment candidates and youth shooting. However, if we can get through WWII with some minor sacrifices, we will get through this virus as well.

With over 4,000 people coming in on a typical Saturday, OGCA falls into the same category as sporting events, concerts, trade shows and other large gatherings which remain banned. Under state law the July show is prohibited as of this writing. With few exceptions public and private gatherings are still limited to 10 people. We are disappointed, but remain concerned about the health and safety of our members and guests. We recognize the situation is constantly changing and I pray it will change for the better so that we are able to hold our September 12-13 meeting. The Board will assess the Sept. meeting in August based on whether the ban is still in effect and whether we can make reasonable changes for everyone’s protection and well-being.

If you have tables reserved for July, we will automatically roll them over to the next meeting. Annual tables will roll to next year. If you prefer a refund, no problem. Simply contact the Business Office. Likewise, the Holiday Inn at Roberts Centre is rolling existing reservations to the meeting 10 months out. See Home Page.

So, this brings me to an important question; what can we do for our members in the meantime? As you will see in the next newsletter, efforts have been stepped up to bring you good, gun-related articles. I invite and encourage you to write an article for an upcoming newsletter as it is great to hear from many different voices. Surely it will ease the “gun show withdrawal” many are experiencing.

Plus, we recently began sending emails to members with gun-related articles and/or important announcements.  Know that we will not overdo it with too frequent “eblasts,” and you can opt-out at anytime. Some of our directors have initiated a project making great, gun-related videos by and for OGCA members. Look for a video link in an upcoming eblast. Likewise, we have been putting more content of interest to members on our Facebook page, and will be improving our website.

In the Summer newsletter that will arrive in late June, we will have a form for free Classified Ads section for members beginning with the Fall newsletter until we can return to normal. This new feature is for everyone, but is especially helpful for members who do not use the internet. Let us know how else OGCA can adapt and thrive to be of service to you.

Stay strong,

Fred Kolb
President

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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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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 Moved to September
We will hold an Ohio Hunter Education Course on site during the September meeting on Sat. September 12, 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.
More information to follow.

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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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