2011 is in the books as another strong year for the Northeast Region. We have seen growth everywhere from Indiana up through Maine. Go ahead and give yourselves a pat on the back! Be sure to extend thanks to everyone who has assisted in making this year another success. Congratulations are well deserved by all the top recruiters, especially Harry Jacobs who has again claimed his position as number one in the Northeast Region! Special recognition should also be given to Dale Emerick, who has increased his membership totals over 85% compared to last year! What is the key to Dale's success? Implementing his first "Get in Free" promotion at the October C&E gun show in Monroeville, PA! Keep up the great work, Dale!

While we celebrate great success, we cannot let our guard down. The opposition is waiting for us to show weakness. With the 2012 elections quickly approaching now is the time to build our ranks. There is strength in numbers, so be sure every freedom loving American is signed up, including spouses, kids, cousins, neighbors, co-workers and everyone else who wants to maintain their rights! Remind members and potential members about the uphill battle we face, keep up to date with hot topics through the ILA website at http://www.nraila.org/, and use the discounted membership pricing as a sales tool.

My busy travel season is here so I will be out of the office quite a bit until May. Don't forget that you can always get immediate assistance by calling our Recruiter Hotline at 1-800-672-0004, otherwise you can leave me a voicemail or send me an e-mail and I'll do my best to get right back to you.

Hopefully most of you received my letter but for those who didn't, I'm the new Marketing Representative managing the Southeast Region. I look forward to getting to know all of you and working together to grow the NRA.

Looking forward to 2012 we have the opportunity to dramatically increase NRA membership. As I'm sure you're all aware, we are approaching the most important election of our lifetimes. The NRA is leading the fight against the Obama administration and his anti-gun cohorts. NRA measures its strength in membership and the more members we have the louder our voices at the polls. Take a look at your upcoming calendar and make sure you fill any holes with recruiting opportunities.

In addition, be thinking about different ways in which to recruit members. Dave Fitzmorris and Alan Bagley as well as our friends at Southern Classic and SunCoast Gun Shows have been using the join NRA, get in free method to tremendous success. If you think this type of recruiting suits you, please give me a call so we can discuss details.

With January comes my heavy travel season. If you have any questions or concerns during this time, please email me for the quickest response. I will also have my office phone forwarded to my mobile for more urgent matters. Thank you all for the hard work you've put in and I look forward to working with you throughout 2012.

In 2011, the Central Region improved significantly over 2010, ending as the second best year ever. This year we need to beat all membership recruitment records as we approach the most important election of our lifetime. Use the elections and the buzz around them to continue the momentum. Make more people aware of what we are fighting for and what stands in the way of our rights and freedoms and watch your membership totals skyrocket!

Be sure to explore all options to sign up more members. Ralph and Linda Celia have cracked the Top 10 using sporting goods stores as a venue to recruit, and with over 1350 memberships their impact is incredible. The Celia's started recruiting just over a year ago. They found a niche to recruit and turned it into a gold mine for new members. Find new venues and shatter the goals you set for yourself, just like Ralph and Linda.

No matter where you recruit, always look to sign up a wife or girlfriend, a son or daughter, a friend or brother. These are potential members who are waiting by the table until the others in their party finish with their membership renewal. Never waste the opportunity to talk to them about membership, even if their first response is no. Sometimes the hardest part of the sale is getting the potential member to the table.

Please email me with any questions or concerns as I enter the busiest part of my travel season. Be sure to book events far in advance and order your supplies with time to spare as winter weather may slow deliveries. Thanks again for all your hard work and I look forward to new membership records being set in 2012.

I want to thank all of you for your 2011 recruiting efforts. The Western Region brought in roughly 25% more members than 2010! That is something to be very proud of. Without the countless hours and energy spent by all of you, the NRA would not be what it is today. However, the battle continues. Unfortunately, as we all know, the anti-gun crowd is relentless. This is why we need to stay one step ahead. 2012 needs to prove to be another productive year, especially with the upcoming elections.

Motivation is one of the keys to productivity. The 2012 elections will be historic and we need to make sure we do our part to bring about real change. Personally, that's all the motivation I need. As usual, I will be traveling most of the first quarter and am excited about meeting other like-minded individuals looking to stand up and fight for what we believe in. Another great way to stay productive is by setting goals. This allows you to measure your efforts and provides a trackable method of achievement. You should always try to surpass the number of recruits from the year prior. If we make a conscious effort, I am very optimistic 2012 will be another successful year.

Preparation is a huge factor that will contribute to your success. To best service the crowds, you should have at least two people behind your table. One person alone will miss opportunities. Big numbers are attainable if you are appropriately prepared and strive to meet your preset goals, but it can't be done alone. It takes a combination of devoted and energized recruiters plus accommodating venues. As I have highlighted all year, keep opportunities other than gun shows in mind for 2012. Many recruiters had great success in 2011 at retail stores; Cabela's, Bass Pro Shops, Sportsmen's Warehouse, etc. You see a lot of fresh faces at places like these that you may not see at gun shows. As always, if you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact me (703) 267-3784.