Friends of NRA Event Services Coordinator Nicole McMahon, who works directly with NRA Field Representatives throughout the country, brings NRAblog readers a profile of a different Field Representative every week – or as often as the Field Representatives’ schedules allow.
“Grandpa, what is an NRA Field Representative?” This question was asked of Michigan Field Representative Al Herman by his grandson when Al missed his 8th birthday party. While Al tried to give him the best answer he could at the time, he ended up putting it down on paper so his grandson could have a better understanding of his job.
Instead of the normal “NRA Field Representative Focus” written by NRA staff, below are questions Herman’s grandson asked and answers written in Herman’s own words to help his grandson understand the elements of the sometimes demanding and always rewarding job of NRA Field Representative.
“What does a NRA Field Representative do?”
While I work for the NRA, a lot of my work is done for The NRA Foundation. This is a part of the NRA that helps to raise money for grownups and kids that want to shoot and hunt with their firearms. Remember when grandpa took you to that NRA Shooting Sports Camp and you got to shoot at targets with a BB gun and then you won all those neat gifts and got that tee shirt? All those prizes, Daisy Red Ryder BB guns, hot dogs, and other things cost money. One thing I do is help raise money for groups that put on events like the NRA Shooting Sports Camp.
“How do you raise the money for grownups and kids?”
Grandpa has people all around the state that are volunteers, called “Committees.” They get together once a year to hold a banquet. Remember grandma taking you to that big hall where you got to eat and look at all that neat stuff on the tables? You got a ticket and when your name was called, you went up in front of everybody and claimed your prize. The smile on your face would have made any grandpa proud!
Those banquets are how grandpa helps The NRA Foundation raise money for all those groups that want to help people shoot more, learn more about firearms and have kids, like you, grow up to understand and believe in our firearm rights.
“So why do you like being a NRA Field Representative, Grandpa?”
One of the reasons is because I get to work with some of the best people on earth. The NRA has some of the most dedicated and loyal people that any organization could want. I know you have never seen any of the people I work with, but they are the best. And you want to know why, grandson? Because they are all working together toward a common goal, and that goal is our “Second Amendment Rights.” I know you have not been taught that yet in your school, but when you get to your Government or history classes in the next few years, you will learn about the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
The Second Amendment is why your grandpa works so hard and is gone so much. It is the most important reason I do my job. I believe, as do many Americans, the Second Amendment must be protected and preserved. The NRA has some of the best men and women, as well as volunteers, working toward that common goal of preserving our rights, so that you can grow up in a free country to pursue your dreams. All of the other Field Representatives and the Field Operations Division of the NRA, work very hard at supporting gun owners like me, your dad and yes, even you, in everything that all of us may need in our quest for the preservation of the Second Amendment and our firearms heritage. It makes me happy to be working for and with people who are leaders in the world in the fight to protect our most basic right, to own and use our firearms.
I hope this helps you to understand what it is and what I do as a NRA Field Representative. I know that your grandma understands why I work so hard and am gone so much, but it is tough for you to understand at your age. I can only hope that when you grow up you will be lucky enough to find a job that is fulfilling and meaningful as the one your grandpa has being a NRA Field Representative!
