Fairfax, VA - The National Rifle Association (NRA) is pleased to announce this year’s Annual Meetings and Exhibits to be held at the Kentucky Exposition Center and the Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville, Kentucky from May 16-18, 2008.
Members of the news media are welcome to cover this year’s event. For press credentials please call NRA Public Affairs at (703) 267-3820. Credentials will be available for pick-up in the Press Office starting Thursday, May 15. Television crews and still photographers should bring necessary equipment and lenses (sports lenses) to cover events from platforms at a distance from the stage.
On Friday, May 16th NRA will thank not only NRA members, but also the whole Louisville community with a free concert featuring Grammy award-winning artist John Michael Montgomery. This event is sponsored by Gander Mountain and hosted by Louisville’s Fourth Street Live.
With an estimated 60,000 attendees and more than 400 exhibits, this year’s Annual Meetings and Exhibits promises to be among the best in NRA’s 137-year history. Leading firearm manufacturers will display the firearm industry’s latest products. Various hunting and shooting accessories, and an extensive private collection displayed by NRA-affiliated gun collector clubs, will fill acres of convention space.
Gun-rights advocacy reached new heights last September when NRA’s Celebration of American Values convened presidential candidates to state their views on firearm freedom. A similar Leadership Forum will be reprised at the Kentucky Expo Center, on Friday, May 16, at 12:30 p.m. Pro-freedom speakers currently slated to appear include U.S. Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison and Mitch McConnell, NRA Board member Lt. Col. Oliver North, and special guest Marcus Luttrell, a former Navy SEAL whose story of heroism in Afghanistan is told in his just-released book, “Lone Survivor.” Also scheduled to attend are Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear, Ambassador John Bolton, Mike Huckabee and Karl Rove.
NRA’s Celebration of American Values Banquet will take place Saturday, May 17, at 8 p.m. at the downtown Kentucky International Convention Center. TV/radio dynamo Glenn Beck will headline and focus his unique conservative wit on firearm ownership.
NRA’s Annual Meetings and Exhibits provide a safe and fun atmosphere the whole family can enjoy. The ever-popular air rifle range is a top attention-grabber -- both for participants and observers. NRA offers diverse presentations throughout the three-day convention, including methods of concealed carry; Refuse to Be a Victim® Seminars; hunting in Africa; and the Firearms Law Seminar. This year promises more Special Sessions for members and guests than ever before, and the most popular session, Methods of Concealed Carry, will be offered twice (on two different days).
2008 NRA ANNUAL MEETINGS & EXHIBITS
PRELIMINARY SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
THURSDAY, May 15 Member Registration, Information, & Services 2 pm – 6 pm
6:00 pm National NRA Foundation Banquet - TICKET REQUIRED
FRIDAY, May 16 Member Registration, Information, Services & Sales 8am-6pm
Air Gun Range: 9 am – 6 pm
Exhibit Hall: 10 am – 6 pm
8:00 am Clubs & Associations Continental Breakfast
Grassroots Continental Breakfast
9:00 am Clubs & Associations Workshop
Grassroots Workshop
Annual Firearms Law Seminar - LIMITED SEATING PREREGISTRATION RECOMMENDED
11:00 am Sportsmen's Luncheon & Auction - TICKET REQUIRED
12:30 pm NRA Celebration of American Values Leadership Forum - TICKET REQUIRED
1:00 pm Refuse To Be A Victim® Seminar
2:00 pm Special Session: The African Hunting Experience
Special Session: Methods of Concealed Carry
6:30 pm ILA - Reception and Silent Auction
7:30 pm Opening Celebration--Fourth Street Live Concert
8:00 pm ILA - Dinner and Live Auction - TICKET REQUIRED
SATURDAY, May 17 Member Registration, Information, Services & Sales: 8 am – 6 pm
Air Gun Range: 9 am – 6 pm
Exhibit Hall: 9 am – 6 pm
7:00 am 2008 Prayer Breakfast - TICKET REQUIRED
10:00 am Annual Meeting of Members
1:00 pm Refuse To Be A Victim® Seminar
2:00 pm Special Session: Guns of D-Day
Special Session: Guaranteed Whitetail Tactics
Special Session: Methods of Concealed carry
Special Session: In Their Own Words
6:30 pm Banquet Reception
8:00 pm NRA Celebration of American Values Banquet - TICKET REQUIRED
SUNDAY, May 18 Member Registration, Information, Services & Sales: 8 am – 5 pm
Air Gun Range: 9 am – 5 pm
Exhibit Hall: 10 am – 5 pm
11:00 am Special Session: Handloading Today
Special Session: NRA and the Media: It's Not the Critic Who Counts
12:30 pm Special Session: United We Stand with Ted Nugent
1:00 pm Refuse To Be A Victim® Instructor Development Workshop
MONDAY, May 19 & TUESDAY, May 20
9:00 am NRA Board of Directors Meeting
For more information, including Banquet tickets please visit www.nraam.org.
-NRA-
Established in 1871, the National Rifle Association is America’s oldest civil rights and sportsmen's group. Four million members strong, NRA continues its mission to uphold Second Amendment rights and to advocate enforcement of existing laws against violent offenders to reduce crime. The Association remains the nation's leader in firearm education and training for law-abiding gun owners, law enforcement and the military.
