Friends of NRA Event Services Coordinator Nicole McMahon, who works directly with NRA Field Representatives throughoutthe country, brings NRAblog.com readers as many profiles of Field Representatives as possible. Mike Nevins from area 39 is this week's spotlight.

Nicole McMahon: Which geographic area(s) do you cover?

Mike Nevins: Arkansas and Northern Mississippi

Nicole: When did you start your NRA Field Rep career?

Mike: 1994

Nicole: What drew you to the job?

Mike: The mission of the organization.

Nicole: What is unique about your particular geographic area?

Mike: Relatively high firearm ownership and number of hunters, yet fairly low participation in the shooting sports.

Nicole: How many traveled miles do you average a year?

Mike: About 40,000

Nicole: What’s the best part of your job?

Mike: The opportunity to work for something I deeply believe in with some of the greatest people on earth.

Nicole: Do you have a particularly memorable story about a banquet from your area?

Mike: My Ouachita County committee this year persevered despite so many misfortunes that it’s a miracle the banquet even happened. We had horrible storms that cut the power to many homes and businesses and the rain that accompanied the storms was causing the Ouachita River to rise, threatening to make its way inside the facility. We bought propane lanterns to light up the facility and the caterer brought a small generator so he could take care of the food. Luckily, the electricity came on around 6:30 PM and the water overflowing from the river never made it past a couple of trucks in the parking lot. No one left the banquet, everyone was fine, and we had one of our most successful auctions!

Weather conditions were not the only hardship that hit the area. The son of committee chairman, Wayne Sharpe, was in intensive care in Little Rock for brain cancer. He had every reason not to participate in the fundraiser, but felt he needed to be there for the committee. With Sharpe and the enthusiasm of the committee and attendees, the banquet boasted higher attendance and net revenue than the previous year. It takes a special effort for a committee that has experienced this much catastrophe to keep going.

Nicole: Is there anything else about your Friends of NRA experience you’d like to share?

Mike: Friends of NRA volunteers are some of the most dedicated and selfless people I’ve seen in all my years working at other fundraising organizations. Even if they couldn’t own or fire a gun they would still be supporting us. The volunteers are really concerned about our personal freedoms and it shows!

Attend a Friends of NRA event in Arkansas or Northern Mississippi. Contact NRA Field Representative Mike Nevins at (479) 754-0271 or via email at mnevins@nrahq.org for more information.