NRA 131st Annual Meetings & Exhibits Reno, Nevada, April 26-28

Events will include exhibits, special sessions and family activities as nation`s oldest civil rights organization celebrates 131 years of freedom and service to America (Fairfax, VA) -- The National Rifle Association, America`s oldest civil rights organization, will hold its 131st Annual Meetings & Exhibits April 26-28, at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center, in Reno, Nevada. Members of the news media are invited to attend and cover the event. To reserve media credentials, please call NRA Public Affairs at (703) 267-3820. At the event, NRA`s on-site Press Office will be in Rooms B16 and B17 of the Reno-Sparks Convention Center. Media credentials may be picked up in that Press Office beginning Thursday, April 25. The on-site Press Office telephone number will be (775) 335-8936. ONLY members of U.S. news media organizations will receive credentials and be allowed to cover the convention. Due to resource limitations, no foreign media will be credentialed. Television crews and still photographers should bring necessary equipment and lenses (sports lenses) to cover some events from platforms at a distance from the stage. The NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits are traditionally recognized as one of the premier exhibitions for the shooting sports. NRA officials expect over 35,000 participants at the event. Hundreds of exhibits for hunters, competitive shooters, instructors, collectors and outdoor enthusiasts will be on display in 200,000 square feet of exhibit space. Throughout the weekend, NRA will offer a number of special sessions on topics of interest to NRA members and the general public. Entrance is free to NRA members and family members who register and wear their identification badges. Admission is also free to law enforcement, firefighters, military personnel and nationally recognized youth organizations (e.g., Boy Scouts of America) in uniform. Saturday, April 27th, the 131st NRA Members Banquet will be held, featuring Senator Zell Miller of Georgia as the keynote speaker. Country Music`s multi-Entertainer of the Year, Vince Gill, will entertain during the Banquet. The NRA Board of Directors will hold its regular meetings on April 29th and 30th at the Reno Hilton, 2500 E. Second St. The annual election of officers and any other business brought before the board will take place at the meetings. Following this advisory is a preliminary schedule of events. 2002 ANNUAL MEETINGS AND EXHIBITS PRELIMINARY SCHEDULE OF EVENTS Location: Reno/Sparks Convention Center © and the Reno Hilton Hotel (H) FRIDAY, APRIL 26 Member Registration, Information, Services & Sales: 9 am - 6 pm Exhibit Hall & Air Gun Range Open: 10 am - 6 pm 8:00 am - Clubs & Associations Continental Breakfast - Rooms Crystal 1& 2 (H) 8:00 am - Grassroots Continental Breakfast - Rooms Crystal 3, 4, & 5 (H) 9:00 am - Clubs & Associations Workshop- Rooms Crystal 1 & 2 (H) 9:00 am - Grassroots Workshop - Rooms Crystal 3, 4, & 5 (H) 9:00 am - Annual Firearms Law Seminar - Silver State Pavilion S2/S3 (H)          - LIMITED SEATING 9:00 am - 3rd Annual Great American Game Calling Challenge       - Supply One Building (C) 1:00 pm - Opening Celebration - Rooms B1-B6 (C) 4:00 pm - VIP Reception - BY INVITATION 5:00 pm - NRA Foundation Reception - BY INVITATION 6:00 pm - Friends of NRA Dinner & Auction - TICKET REQUIRED       - Grand Ballroom (H) SATURDAY, APRIL 27 Member Registration, Information, Services & Sales: 8 am - 6 pm Exhibit Hall & Air Gun Range Open: 10 am - 6 pm 7:00 am - 2002 Sportsmen`s Prayer Breakfast - TICKET REQUIRED 9:00 am - 3rd Annual Great American Game Calling Challenge      - Supply One Building (C) 10:00 am - Annual Meeting of Members - South Hall (C) 6:00 pm - Heritage Society Reception -      - BY INVITATION 7:00 pm - Members Banquet Reception - Grand Ballroom (H) 8:00 pm - 131st NRA Members Banquet - TICKET REQUIRED      - Hilton Pavilion (H) SUNDAY, APRIL 28 Member Registration, Information, Services & Sales: 9 am - 5 pm Exhibit Hall & Air Gun Range Open: 10 am - 5 pm 8:00 am - NRA Women`s Breakfast - Rooms B3/B6 (C) 9:00 am - 3rd Annual Great American Game Calling Challenge      - Supply One Building (C) 9:30 am - Special Sessions: *National Gun Collecting Awards Presentations and Special Session - Rooms B4/B5 (C) *Hunting and Shooting with the Women of the NRA - Room B2 (C) 1:30 pm - Special Sessions: *Methods of Conceal Carry - Rooms B4/B5 (C) *For the Record -- Media Commentators Speak Out - Room B2 (C)