B_P, the lack of articles is an ongoing issue, and sometimes a thorny one. I began writing a few single shot gunsmithing articles for the Journal back a few yrs ago, when JC was Editor. Prior to that, as I recall, I never saw any mention of Rudi needing any input from the members at large, much less asking for articles. I hasten to add that I don't remember any requests; not saying that Rudi didn't request any, just saying that I don't remember seeing any printed requests in the Journal. The only way I knew that the Journal needed anything was when JC mentioned it to a friend of mine, sayng that he could earn himself some shooting money by writing an occasional article. So I tried it too. I thought the first one or two were received quite well by both the Editor and the readers, but then I was told that there were some serious objections to JC publishing so many articles that weren't specifically about Schuetzen rifles and Schuetzen shooting and Schuetzen history. Go figure, I always thought we the club were about early single shot rifles. Like The ASSRA Mission Statement reads. Anyway shortly after that JC was replaced as Editor and things have been kinda up in the air since then. One of my articles is in the ASSRA pipeline as we speak, so to speak, and I have many more in the works. I hope that The Editorship settles down enough so that some of them can get into the Journal. I encourage everyone else to try their hand at it themselves. It ain't rocket science, it's just stringin' words together. The most difficult part for me was the photography. Many people lack the self-confidence to try to write anything more than an occasional thank-you note; they think that their product has to be perfect before an editor will even look at it, and they know that that's just not possible & so they never try. Too bad. Please, take my word for it, if the editor is any good at all then the article will look perfect when it hits print, or at least it'll look mighty darn good. Don't worry about your 'best buddy' being able to make fun of your writing disasters, it ain't gonna happen! Don't matter if yew cain't spell kat, don't matter if your tenses are subjuctified or your clauses are obfuscated, the editor will correct all of that, that's his job. If the info is there in the first place. That's your (and my) job. So I encourage everyone to try it, if it does nothing else at least it'll keep you off the streets & outa trouble for a few hours. At least that's what My Bride keeps tellin' me..... Regards, Joe
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