Networking

Compiled by Gila Hayes

In Iowa, Network Affiliated Instructor Darin Van Ryswyk keeps busy teaching CCW permit training courses, but he also works hard to take his students beyond that minimum training requirement. One of his programs, Principles of Armed Self-Defense, caught my eye, because instead of being hyper focused on gun skills, it addresses a strong fighting stance, foot work for creating distance and angles, as well as weapon retention. See http://cwrfirearmstraining.com. Kudos to Darin and his staff for providing solid self defense training for folks in the Ames, IA area.

Long-time Network Affiliated Instructor Steve Eichelberger of Bend, OR was the subject of a complimentary and informative feature article written by southern Oregon’s prominent outdoor writer Gary Lewis.

Read it all at http://www.bendbulletin.com/outdoors/3980794-151/handgun-safety-and-responsibility-starts-with-training and if you’re ready for a handgunning fundamentals tune-up, give Steve a call.

In Wisconsin, Fred Yulga and Jim Burgess have built a cadre of a half dozen enthusiastic firearms instructors at Armed Citizens Network of Wisconsin (ACNOW) to teach the WI concealed carry license class and the Utah concealed firearm permit course. They’re available to go to the students’ locations to make it easy for the learners. It’s obviously a recipe for success, because their website shows programs–many times more than one–going every weekend.

Fred recently send me a thank you note for a fresh supply of our Foundation’s educational booklet What Every Gun Owner Needs to Know About Self-Defense Law to give each student that takes an ACNOW class. He also takes the Network’s materials along with him when he works a gun show. If you’re in WI and haven’t met Fred or Jim, or the rest of the crew, Jeff, Gabe or Tony, don’t wait any longer. They’re good guys! Their course completion certificate is also accepted as the training requirement for the FL concealed carry license, which also offers broad reciprocity. See their schedule at http://www.acnow.us and make plans to get to know one of them.

Michelle Quesada, one of our IL Affiliated Instructors, got in touch with me and let me know that in addition to her classes at Triton College in River Grove, IL, she keeps very busy teaching gun safety and marksmanship at the College of DuPage, Homeland Security Training Institute, which offers a very full curriculum for private armed citizens. Scheduled programs include a number of NRA classes, plus seminars with interesting names like Concealed Carry With Confidence, Physical Security and Asset Protection, Soft Target Hardening, Senior Citizen Crime Prevention, Shooter Decision Making and the Law, to name just a few. Program announcements are also made on the HSTI Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/hsti425/.

According to her bio on the College of DuPage faculty page, Michelle is the head firearms instructor for the college’s concealed carry program. Her focus is in precision pistol and defensive handgun shooting as well as the development of junior pistol athletes and female shooters, the college website explains.

Jon Thompson, our affiliate in Elk River, MN runs a gun shop and teaches gun safety classes, too. In addition, he is a strong pro-gun voice at a number of community events, which in the past have included open houses at the Harley Davidson dealership, and every year, he has a booth at the Game Fair in Minnesota. Jon’s getting ready for Game Fair early this year, since he’s already ordered his supply of our educational foundation’s booklets for this August event (see http://www.gamefair.com).

When he’s not busy running his gun shop, Jon also teaches gun safety and shooting skill development, a venture in which he partners with another Network affiliate, Bob Jahn. Jon also enjoys competing in the International Defensive Pistol Association and keeps current by taking training from high-level trainers including John Farnam and Mike Seeklander, to name only a few. All this to say, Riverside Sporting Gear is run by one of our own, so give their website a gander at http://riversidesportinggear.com/index.php.

Affiliates please send me an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you have any special events like open houses, seminars, classes or other interesting tidbits that we can announce in this column. If announcing an event, about 60 days advance notice is best since we publish only once a month.

Click here to return to April 2016 Journal to read more.