Newhall, California - We ran into The History Channel's Top Shot season 2 duo George Reinas and Joe Serafini while out at the 2011 Hollywood Sporting Clays. After watching the pair do some damage with a shotgun, we cornered Serafini for a little info on this Top Shot's history.

"My father got me started when I was six years old," said Serafini. "He took me squirel hunting with a .22 long rifle. I got my first squirl and was addicted after that."

As the echo of gunfire continued to sound from the surrounding shotguns, ARs and .50 cals, the former Marine was constantly stopped by fans and eventually pulled to the archery range to show off his stuff.

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Newhall, California - George Reinas from The History Channel’s Top Shot stopped off at the Oak Tree Gun Club in Newhall, California to shoot at little shotgun during the 2011 Hollywood Celebrity Sporting Clays Invitational. Fellow Top Shot contestant Joe Serafini can be heard in the background egging George on.

The NRA's Youth Education Summit (Y.E.S.) is a once in a lifetime, seven-day, all expenses-paid educational experience in Washington, D.C. A select few sophomore and junior high school students from across the United States will meet Washington decision-makers, tour monuments and learn about the importance of being an active citizen. NRAblog met one of those lucky few students at the 2011 Hollywood Celebrity Sporting Clays Invitational in Newhall, California.

After wrapping up our interview with actor Tim Abell outside of station seven at the Oak Tree Gun Club, Abell suggested we talk to another Hollywood Sporting Clays participant ... his nephew Theodore Mumford. Turns out Ted, as Abell soon corrected himself, received his invitation to Y.E.S. a few days before packing up for the Invitational.

"Uncle Tim sent me an email about Y.E.S. a few months ago," said Ted. "I looked it up, filled out the information, sent it in and found out I was accepted the other day."

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Eddie Eagle Program Coordinator John Draper sends NRAblog the following update from the sunny state of California:

Sgt. Tony Campbell of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department in Monterey Park, Calif., submitted the winning application for the 2010 The Eddie Eagle GunSafe® Program mascot costume competition in Southern California. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department will receive an Eddie Eagle costume, at no cost, to aid them in their gun accident prevention efforts among young children.

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Sacramento, California - There were a number of interesting attendees at our West Coast session of Club University. Some up from Nevada, some down from Washington, and a number right there from gold ole California. Two I found particularly interesting were April Dias and Paula Wilson.

Unlike most attendees, these two ladies had no club or range affiliation. Instead, they were there as Friends of NRA volunteers.

“I don’t know if I can really be called a volunteer anymore,” quipped Paula. “My husband has been working for the NRA for about 16 years so attending related events is just second nature.”

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Sacramento, California - Last but most certainly not least on today's agenda is Victoria Croft, Manager of Collegiate Shooting at the NRA.

Tori provided a rundown of all competitive shooting competitions. Starting with Collegiate Championships, College Club Championships, Black Powder Championships, on to the National Shooting Championships in Camp Perry, National Police Shooting Championships, and on and on and on.

There are plenty of rules books to study for each round of competition, plenty of qualifying matches to attend and even more prizes to win. If you can get your club involved in any aspect of the competitions, it's a great way to expand your visibility in the shooting sports.

Sacramento, California - The always entertaining Amanda Millward was on hand for her adrenaline filled presentation of NRA programs.

Yes, we're all covering programs offered by the NRA, but Amanda addresses on those focuses on Women and Children.

NRA Youth Ambassadors, Youth Wildlife Art Contest, Women on Target, Women's Wilderness Escape, Refuse to be a Victim, Postal Matches, Scholarships, and more.

Not only are these programs a benefit to the community, but they are also a great way to attract new potential members down to you club.

Sacramento, California - Another aspect of operating a firearms related business is media relations.

And who is on deck for such a task but yours truly.

Media Relations focuses on the obvious -- how to deal with the media. Items to consider are website design, working with the community, volunteer efforts, and playing nice with the neighbors.

Most groups seem to be well underway with all these efforts, but there is always room to improve. And if you are seen as an asset to the community, then the local media won't be as quick to dismiss your operation.

Sacramento, California - One aspect of operation all clubs should follow is legislation. What's going on in your county, in your town, or in your state. To provide those of us here what a taste of what the NRA is doing in California, Club University brought in NRA State Legislative Liaison Ed Worley and Liaison to the Executive Vice President H. Paul Payne.

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