We would like to congratulate the 2007 Show Recruiter of the Year, Joe Wanenmacher! This recognition is well deserved, as Joe has been a strong recruiter for many years. The Tulsa Gun Show is the largest in the world. It is held twice each year and draws in people from all over the country. In the last five years, the Tulsa Gun Show has doubled its NRA recruiting production, attaining an all-time high in 2007 with a total of 2,802 members recruited at its two annual shows.

The Tulsa Gun Show uses the popular “Join Here Get in Free” promotion to maximize the number of members recruited at each show. In addition to the free admission, another perk Joe offers those who join at the show is the ability to skip the line of people waiting to get in. Joe brings this all together by incorporating NRA in his entire marketing mix of print, radio, TV and billboards.

Joe’s commitment to growing NRA is second to none, and the flawless on-site execution would not be possible without Joe’s vision, his dedicated staff and the many local volunteers who donate their time to ensure the operation runs smoothly. Michael Phillips, a NRA Volunteer Coordinator, works with Joe to assemble a large team of volunteers for each Tulsa Gun Show.

We want to again thank Joe Wanenmacher and his son Mark for their hard work and dedication. We look forward to your upcoming show in November!

Congratulations to our Instructor Recruiter of the Year, Cheryl Lamar-Wagner! An NRA Instructor Recruiter since 2005, she racked up 326 members in 2007 after being inactive for all of 2006.

Cheryl recruits and teaches from her gun range in Cypress, Texas, which her family has owned since 1967. She is continually amazed by how little her students know about their Second Amendment Rights, and she does her part to educate her classes and promote the NRA to all responsible gun owners, especially her students. Cheryl is also doing her part to undo the anti-gun media bias, having appeared on local news and in her local newspaper for several interviews. Her motto is “practice and believe,” and she encourages everyone to stay informed and active.

When asked how she recruits, Cheryl says that she educates each and every one of her classes about the benefits of membership in the NRA and the important role the NRA plays in protecting gun owners’ rights. In fact, increasing NRA membership is so important to her that she often applies her commission to cover the cost of memberships for her students.

When asked if she has any advice for new recruiters, Cheryl said: “Get vocal! Some people in this country think gun ownership is a privilege. We have to remind them it’s a Right!”