August was on fire! The scorching temps didn’t keep our girls from training or competing between their family vacations and back-to-school activities: We trained 1,900+ women in the month of August! We hosted 350 events and membership was up 16% compared to last year! Our members celebrated National Shooting Sports Month with enthusiasm! Here are some of our highlights:
Smiles Abound at 10th AG & AG GLOCK Getaway
In August, we brought our girls to GLOCK Professional in Smyrna GA for AG & AG’s 10th GLOCK Getaway event. Fifteen women from ten different states learned from instructor Scotty Banks during a one-day armorers class followed by two days of live-fire on the range. “Training with my shooting sisters at GLOCK wasn’t just about learning the mechanics of our guns and hitting the target under expert guidance,” says Billie Hillier from Las Vegas. “It was about empowerment, skill-building, and forming bonds that make us stronger as individuals and as a collective community. The GLOCK staff went above and beyond to create an environment that was not only educational but also incredibly supportive.” The next GLOCK Getaways will take place in February and August 2024. Learn more >
AG & AG USCCA Getaway Certifies More Instructors
Another getaway in August focused on Instructor Development for our chapter leaders. Sixteen women from ten different states traveled with AG & AG to USCCA HQ in West Bend, WI, to become certified in the Concealed Carry & Home Defense Fundamentals curriculum. This group had a strong showing in shooting skills (three perfect qual scores!), as well as communication and presentation skills. We are proud of these women for bringing more professional training courses to their AG & AG chapters as well as their communities as a whole.
New Shooting Jersey Wows on the Range
This month we were excited to roll out a new American Pride Shooting Jersey featuring the AG & AG Shield Logo with an embedded flag, as well as a subtle eagle on the front. This Ladies Shooting Jersey by Maxt is a professional ¼ zip shooting jersey with a polo style collar and dye sublimated artwork that will resist fading. 100% polyester body panels and sleeves do not shrink, and wick sweat and heat away from the athlete. Customizable to include your name and your sponsor logos (if approved). They have been hugely popular! Order Yours >
AG & AG Celebrates National Shooting Sports Month
A Girl & A Gun chapters throughout the country hosted events to celebrate National Shooting Sports Month throughout the month of August. An initiative of the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), National Shooting Sports Month is a time to celebrate recreational shooting sports and encourage others to join us at the shooting range!
By the Numbers
Here is a look at our reach in August 2023:
- 590 membership packets mailed from HQ (+16% from last August)
- 1,899 chapter attendees at 348 events (+6% from last August)
- 3 virtual events with 1,143 views and climbing
- 11,056 on our smartphone app (+5.8% from last August)
- 2 new chapters were opened: Mo-Kan MO and Karnes County TX
Local Training and Media Highlights
Here are local news and media highlights for August 2023:
The Alvin TX Chapter participated in the NSSF Range Challenge in full force. Week Two yielded one of their members winning the NSSF’s random drawing! They also had several members level-up for the NRA Pistol Marksmanship Program.
The Houston Galleria TX Chapter is up and running! They had a great turn-out for their Meet & Greet and first live fire Breakfast & Bullets. The ladies are eager to learn!
The Greater Black Hills SD Chapter Facilitator, Christine Maki, and A-Team Members, Nancy Morgan & Elaine Pi, trained with Art Aplan, Advanced Training Coordinator South Dakota DCI, to enhance their NRA Basic Pistol Instructor skills.
The Middle TN Chapter is proud of members earning Pro Marksman in the AG & AG Middle TN Pistol Qualification Program: Carol McCallum, Jana Smith, Jessica Lillard, Kim Phillips, and Sandra Bratcher!
The North Austin TX Chapter had a great group of ladies out to celebrate National Shooting Sports Month in August! #LetsGoShooting
The Southeast MI Chapter traveled to Lansing, MI, to attend the Pistol Essentials class taught by Brian Hill of The Complete Combatant. Taking classes with AG & AG sisters makes learning so much fun, plus Brian photobombed our pic!
The Littleton and Centennial/Aurora CO Chapters worked the 10th Anniversary at Cabela’s in Lone Tree, CO. They spread the word about our amazing organization to both men and women and gave out A Girl & A Gun targets to everybody who stopped by!
The Douglas County NV Chapter worked on target transitions, shooting small groupings, and shooting with strong-hand only. They also had 4 quarterly match practices!
The Memphis TN Chapter celebrated National Shooting Sports month by taking the NSSF #letsgoshooting challenge! The ladies enjoy shooting the special themed target and cool hats and fun towels that were given to the chapter!
The South Houston TX Chapter had a small but mighty Girls Night Out to participate in the NSSF Range Challenge. #LetsGoShooting
Six AG & AG Chapter Facilitators joined forces to host a training day their members. There were 12 classes by 6 instructors. It was a wonderful day of networking, learning, and getting to know our AG & AG sisters.
The Henderson & Las Vegas NV Chapters’ leadership teams enjoyed a night out with the North Las Vegas Fire Station #51. They enjoyed sharing a meal and lots of laughter with the first responders.
The Grand Junction CO Chapter celebrated Breakfast & Bullets with plenty of reloading and sight acquisition drills, then headed to 357 Reloaded for brunch.
The Sierra Foothills Chapter CA took the NSSF Range Challenge! They fired one shot in each of the 10 sunflowers and submitted them to #RangeChallenge for a chance to win prizes!
The Central WI Chapter worked from the Shooting Journal and practiced target transitions. For two ladies, this was the first AG & AG event. They both loved it and became members!
The Delaware OH Chapter hosted a very successful Meet & Greet! They had a great turnout and a number of on-site new member registrants!
The Broward County FL Chapter have been working on one-handed shooting at GNOs.
The Columbia MO Chapter hosted their GLOCK rep, Phil Goldsmith, and district manager, Mike Kingsford, for a Demo Day. They brought several models for everyone to try, and swag for all. It was unanimous that the GLOCK performance trigger is an awesome upgrade!
The Hot Springs AR Chapter withstood the heatwave and tried their hands at the AR-15! Chapter sisters brought in their various AR-15s and coached each other. It was a memorable event and a first time for several to shoot one.
The St. Louis MO Chapter hosted their local Sig Sauer representative and members were able to shoot several Sig guns, including an MPX with a suppressor!
The High Desert CA Chapter celebrated National Shooting Sports Month and continued to impress with their questions, continuing growth and knowledge, excitement for new friendships, new firearms and gear, and their consistent efforts to make events welcoming, educational, excellent, and just not worth missing!
The Southeast MI Chapter had an awesome Girls Night Out practicing for the A Girl & A Gun National Quarterly Match and enjoying dinner afterwards.
The Northern CO Chapter hosted Rebby Donnelly, who presented a Dry Fire clinic on the MantisX systems. They also celebrated National Shooting month.
The Central NJ Chapter has been greeting a lot of new members and working on speed and ‘Calling Your Shots.’
The Chattahoochee AL Chapter worked on accuracy and the importance of balancing speed with accuracy. They were excited to welcome new members – AG & AG is definitely more than shooting!
The Montgomery County PA Chapter tackled the 5x5x5 drill using the AG & AG playing cards. Everyone shot well, gained confidence with the shot timer, and loved the drill!
The League City TX Chapter raised $760.08 for the AG & AG Back the Women in Blue program, which provides female law enforcement with 3 days of exceptional training and camaraderie. Congrats to Mandy for winning the Zuca Cart; Brenda for winning the purse and wallet; and Angie for winning the Mantis! #givingback
The Chicago IL Chapter had a great Meet & Greet at another area range. There are several chapters in the Chicagoland area and AG & AG is taking over!
The San Antonio TX Chapter kicked off its Fall Sock drive at Tuesday Night’s GNO. Women’s and children’s socks are being collected through December 14th for their local Battered Women’s Shelter. #givingback
Congratulations to leaders from the North Austin and Lufkin TX Chapters who earned their NRA Chief Range Safety Officer instructor-level certifications.
Congratulations to Flagler County FL Member Stephanie Esposito for earning NRA Expert Marksman!
Congratulations to Sharon Miller of the League City TX Chapter for earning her NRA Distinguished Expert! That smile says it all. Now she’s ready for new goals, and knows she has the support of our community to help her achieve them.
Published Articles and Videos
The following content pieces were published in August 2023 (Active membership may be required to view some pages:
- Book Club: The Ranger Way
- Target Transitions with Tatiana Whitlock
- You’re Invited to Fall Fest 2023
- Determined with Tonya Franklin
About A Girl & A Gun
A Girl & A Gun (AG & AG) is a membership organization whose events are successful stepping stones for thousands of women entering the shooting community by fostering their love of shooting with caring and qualified instructors who coach them. AG & AG breaks barriers for women and girls in self-defense, and in pistol, rifle, and shotgun shooting sports by welcoming beginners to learn the basics of safe and accurate shooting and providing experienced shooters with advanced-level opportunities. The club has members in all 50 states and hosts recurring Girl’s Nights Out at hundreds of ranges throughout the United States.
For more information about A Girl & A Gun Women’s Shooting League, or to learn how to join, please visit AGirlandAGun.org. Follow AG & AG on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and Pinterest for social media and corporate news.
