TEAM ORION ARCHERY

8/8/2015

Hey there archers!  I bet you were expecting some great announcement in this news feed about getting out second year started.

Me too.

The story is long and sad but the end of the story is that our equipment that stays as the center has been damaged by sewer water flooding and during the business of their clean up they were broken into and robbed.

Our Kevlar curtain that is a MUST for the range and one target are missing.  The other targets have a dusty light mold and the water damage means they no longer self seal after an arrow is removed.

The replacement cost of these items is almost $1400.00, plus there are still the carriers for the bows that we needed.  Those will have to go to the back burner for now.

A parent has offered a fundraiser to help and information is on the Facebook page if you are interested.  We had planned not to do fundraising each year. 

At this time I am going to buy the curtain and hope to get donations to repay me.  The center states they will pay for the missing target.  I will have to bleach the other targets and let them work for us for a couple of months.  My concern is that so many ouf our children are sensitive and it may not be enough. 

Keep checking in and I will keep you updated. 
 

3/21/2015

While we wait for the final standings to be posted to the internet page, we know a few things from the day.

Six archers took flight today in Springfield, Illinois.  Several of them were on the top 30 list until that 5pm flight results.  BUT even at the end of the day two of our archers, Kaitlyn and Grace stayed in the top 30 of the girls elementary grouping. 

Let us review where we have been.  TOA began shooting weekly at the end of October.  When you consider holiday break and two days of cancelled gathering then TOA has only met for about 20 sessions.  Now when you think that we do not have archers who do not miss a day for illness or other needs then most have about 16 weeks of lessons. 

The main goal is to create a joy in the sport/art of archery.  Scores have never been the focus of ANY classtime.  Coach did not anticipate winning scores.  Fun was the focus in a very relaxed atmosphere at the tournament as well. 

ILDNR reports that this year 1056 archers would take flight.  TOA only had 6 of them. They were small but they were mighty. The number of smiles observed cannot be counted.  The feeling of accomplishment in each member was clear.  ILDNR staff commented to Coach Strong about the great showing that TEAM ORION demonstrated.  Clearly, TOA was more prepared than anybody expected.

Soon the results will be posted and shared here.  In the meantime let it be said that these new archers demonstrated great courage to challenge themselves today. 

Congratulatons TOA for a job well done. 
 

On March 21, 2015 the ILDNR will host the annual Illinos tournament.

Several archers from TEAM ORION are going to shoot.  They realize they are inexerienced compared to many.  It has always been the position of Coach Strong that is the about the process and not the final score. 

Weekly sessions continue but the ones who want to shoot in Sringfield will have their own flight distances.

Most are shooting at the "I can hit it distance" but many are stepping back.

 

December 2014

As TOA leaves one year and begins another they find that the needs continued.

TOA will begin 2015 with hangers for their bows and will be able to get carriers to protect them during their weekly travels.

The $500 from NWTF will be very helpful for this purpose. It is unfortunate that it will use all those funds but they gave in order for us to have what was needed by the team.

 

10/21/2014

TOA finally experienced their first shoot.  All of the equipment needed to shoot had been tested and ready to go.  Coach Strong was eager and ready as well.  After multiple sessions working with the Kevlar curtain it was finally ready to hang.

In keeping with the curtain battle that coach had won the humor of the day, which was not so funny at the time, was that the curtain did not pack itself into the truck so it got left behind.  Quickly that was fixed and students became archers.

Now comes the time to recognize all those who made it possible for these archers to enjoy this process.

1. Helitech Corporation
2. McAlister's Deli
3. Bobby's Frozen Custard
4. Leu Civic Center
5. Hy-Way Lumbar
6. Parents of the Archers
7. Multiple individuals who donated to the cause, because every dollar counts
8. Businesses of the archer's family who made donations
9 Joe Robinson and the ILDNR
10. Robbie Stouffer, coach's trainer


We are still waiting for any funds promised by the National Wild Turkey Federation.  If that money comes TOA has items that ILDNR do not consider. WE will need a bow hanger adn cases to carry the bows.

9/23/14

It has been reported that the ILDNR received the order package on 9/22/14, in the afternoon.
So TOA waits.
TOA is also still waiting on that check that was coming to us from the NWTF.  Not reported in the news before now is that two families who participate in the program donated some substantial funds to the team, which made the wait from NWTF an insignificant factor.
Still, we wait for those funds as there are other cost to start up beyond the basics.

 

9/18/2014

While we still patiently wait for the fund from NWTF to arrive, we have enough and have sent the order in. Soon we will  be free to shoot to our hearts content. 
 

9/16/2014

Today team members gathered for the second time. They celebrated with frozen custard and frozen custard cake.  Lessons continued even without equipment. New members also completed their String Bow lesson.
The crew learned the core muscle strengthening exercises and will need to continue these as a part of their individual homeschool curriculum.

Several more donations have come in and while the people who help us do not seek recognition it goes without saying that their willingness to share is going to make an impact on many more children in the future and not just this group of team members. 

TOA will meet again when we have our equipment.  If there is one thing Coach Strong has learned in this process is that we must be patient and know that it is all falling in line.  All in its own time.

Sept. 10, 2014

The National Wild Turkey Federation, Illinois Chapter had donated to the start up equipment fee. 

When Coach Strong is asked what this mean for the program she says, "while the students worked hard to raise the almost $1400.00 needed for the start up equipment, they fell $236.00 short of goal"  She further explains that they are now able to order the equipment approved by the ILDNR and purchase the bow hanger and the one extra left handed bow that is needed.
 

September 9, 2014

After almost two year in the planning TOA had their first gathering.  Twenty-two students joined the team this day.  At the end of the day one more sibling decided to join in and of course two families were kind enough to keep their germs at home.

At the end of the day the team has twenty- seven members.  While the lack of equpiment was known it did not make a difference with the first lesson .
 

Students made their string bow, learned international archery range safety rules and determined their partner's dominant eye. 

Over all it was a huge success.  The Leu Civic Center staff was a huge help to the intake process.  Their assistance permitted Coach Strong to focus on the students. 

Overall it was a huge success. 

September 7, 2014

After seeking unsuccessful grants the team began to do the dreaded sales of product to obtain the money needed for the start up equpiment.  Between sales and donations the team managed to make a huge dent into the need. 

Even with the dent that was made we continued to hold onto the hope that we will soon hear back form the NWTF.  They typically provide $500.00 to schools who use the NASP program.  So far we have not heard back from them.

Don't loose hope on that however, because today a kind hearted individual made a donation that would make it happen.  To make it even better, he also is a member of the NWTF.  Feeling confident we will hear back from them soon.

BUT that will not stop us.  The team earned $652.00 of the $1380.00 needed.  The gift that was given was a $500.00 gift to the team. Friends and family continue to offer support. TOA is greatful for any amount that a person has been able to offer.  While it would appear that we do not have the money raised yet there is a final kicker to the gift.  All Coach Strong  has to do is to ask for the amount we are short, then when the NWTF finally helps the team will have a little cushion and purchase the bow hanger that is not  included in the start up  kit.

For the record: the start up through the IDNR is $2760.00 with the state paying the other half.  

July 2014

Six months ago Coach Strong committed her time and money to obtaining her Basic Archery Instructor Certification through the ILDNR.  She promoted the idea for months when the new school year began to unfold. Several families had said yes months before but we needed to set up a few things.
 

It was decided that TOA needed a bank account and an EIN so we could conduct business.  That was going to make it "more real".  It did just that .  Several families sent coach a check to open a bank account.  Coach set up a paypal online to streamline some of the processes.  Students began to work on shirt designs. 

We found Josh, from Gateway Expressions, in our own backyard. He was supportive of the process and took the design, made is hover like the the constellation in the sky. He even set us up with our product on his store site so the team could be free of the burden.