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Shooter ready!  Stand by!  FIRE!!  Friday, October 23rd is the date for the 2009 Thin Blue Line Invitational…and it is going to be a GREAT day to be in Anderson at the Skip-J Range.  We are going all out to make sure that you all have a really great time up here in October.  I have already submitted my weather request and it does NOT include rain, wind or any of those other elements that we had to contend with last year.

The word of the day is R-E-G-I-S-T-E-R!  Please, please register early this year.  Download the form, complete it and fax it to me ASAP.  This year’s goal is 160 officers and I am working hard to make sure that I have something for each and every one of you.  I am hitting the sponsors up and having some success despite the current economy.  REGISTER.

Mitchell is working hard to design stages that will expand your street vocabulary as well as elicit some serious smiles.  I am sure you will be impressed when you see them up close!

I can’t wait to see all of my friends on October 23rd!

Para USA has honored us by designing a special limited edition commemoriative SF-45 pistol just for the Thin Blue Line!  This top of the line .45ACP in engraved with our TBL logo and “Thin Blue Line”.  I cannot begin to tell you how proud I am that this gun exists.  A very few years ago I sat on the sofa and tried to come up with a way to celebrate my heroes - you, law enforcement.  That was the birth of the Thin Blue Line Invitational.  I am more than a little humbled by the way the Thin Blue Line has been received by LEOs across the state.  From that desire to give you folks a day that belongs to you only, the Thin Blue Line Invitational has gotten legs and grown into an event that is anticipated every year and now there is even a high quality pistol that commemorates this match!  Wow!

The retail price of this gun is $1,646.00.  Para has priced it at only $760 for LEOs…and $20 of that will be donated to the Thin Blue Line to help us prepare for the 2009 Invitational.  If you have ever owned a Para you know the quality and usual high cost.  This really is a deal, heroes!

Para has made it pretty easy to order, too.  Simply go to the order form on this site, download and complete it and then call me at 864.905.5733 for the order verification code.  (Para simply wants to ensure that all orders are from legit LEOs only).  They plan to begin shipping in June.  Credit cards will not be charged  until the gun ships!  You can bet ole Ron already has his order in…now just have to squirrel away enough money to pay for it!

Please feel free to give me a call if you have any questions about this incredible deal!

Ron

George Wedge, VP of Marketing, with Para USA has given me a verbal commitment to be our Match Sponsor for the 20090 Thin Blue Line Inviatational.  Match sponsorship is a $3000 commitment!  They are really behind what we are doing and want to be a part of it.  They are partnering with BlackHawk for this match so we should see some really cool stuff in the shooters bags!

Their move to Charlotte NC is well under way.  In fact, the TBL Para pistols we are all ordering will be shipped from the Charlotte facility. 

First, I am sorry for being so delinquent in this, but all of the charities have now been benefitted from your participation in the 2008 TBL.  PLEASE be sure on your 2009 registrtation form to include all of the contact and address information for your charities!!

Well, folks, the 2008 Thin Blue Line Invitational is in the books.  I feel like it was a great success despite sone nasty weather.  You, the officers, are one fantastic bunch of people!  There was a lot of hard work, sleepless nights and hours and hours of preparation to make this match happen…people, it was worth every drop of sweat!  When I looked out and saw over 130 South Carolina law enforcement officers ready to tackle the course, eager to win money for their charities, I felt like I was the ultimate beneficiary of your charity.  Thank you for being who and what you are.  I consider each and every one of you my friend and I am proud to be able to host you for one special day.  When I said that you are my heroes, I meant it!

There are so many people to thank!  Mike Mitchell, of course…Mike is a stage design genius and builds stages for our IDPA events on a regular basis.  But I think he invests more of himself in preparing the stages for the Thin Blue Line.  He, like I, really wants you all to have a good time shooting challenging stages that really test your skill.  Mike is a great guy, a great friend to me and a true friend to all law enforcement personnel.

I will add to the thank you list as soon as my energy level increases…. 

Please continue to check back here for updates and information about the 2009 Thin Blue Line Invitational.  Of course, all of you who shot the 2008 will have a “reservation” for the 2009 event.  Just let me know that you will be coming and I will make sure you have a slot.

Enough for now.  It’s been a helluva weekend.  I will be back here very soon with more news…

Ron

Sorry for the lack of updates recently.  Having back surgery on August 5th and that should get me back up to speed - no pun intended. 

Will report to you soon!  In the meantime, please don’t hesitate to call me at 864/905-5733.

Ron

There is a lot of preparation that goes into staging this event.  The earlier I know how many teams we will have the better prepared I can be come match day.  No need to wait till the last minute to register, folks.  If you are sending a team to Anderson in October, fax me your registration form today!  Don’t worry about sending the money…that can wait if need be.  The important thing is that we get YOUR TEAM on the roster ASAP.  Remember, there are only 45 available slots and early registration guarantees that you are one of those! 

Ron

Elite Operator Tactical, a new business owned and operated by an old friend of law enforcement, Fernando Coehlo, will be outfitting all of our match Safety Officers with tactical pants and shirts embroidered with our Thin Blue Line logo.  Fernando did this for our inaugural match in 2007.  His generous donation, valued at about $3000, makes him a Gold Sponsor of this event.  You can click on the sponsors link and check Elite Tactical Operator out!

Mike Fortune with Sig Arms called me Friday and told me that Sig will be donating a pistol for the Thin Blue Line!  Last year we raffled off the guns that were donated and raised a good deal of money for the charities and enabled 3 officers to get a great gun for a $2 raffle ticket!  I am so pleased that Sig is going to participate again this year. 

Remington is IN!  Don’t know at this point what they have planned for us but I am really glad that they are on board with us for this event. 

And the hits just keep coming…..!!

Ron

I just got back from 5 days in Oxford NC at the Carolina Cup IDPA Match.  While there I visited some of the vendors and came away loaded for bear!  Blackwater has generously agreed to be our Match Title Sponsor…yes, that Blackwater!  They are donating 2 three day classes at their facility in North Carolina.  The certificate is good for tuition, room and board, meals and all your ammo!  Two lucky officers will have the opportunity to go to Blackwater and train for 3 days with some of the best instructors in the world.  And - for an additional $300 that can be upgraded to a 5 day class!  The approximate value of the 3-day class is $1800.  Thanks, Blackwater, for your generous participation!

Ron

Stinger Systems has signed on as a Silver sponsor this year.  They will donate 2 Stinger S-200’s to the first place team in this year’s competition…that is a $1000 value!  The guns will be presented the day of the match!