The
Michigan Longbow Association (MLA) was started in the early 80's by a
small group of longbow enthusiasts who wanted to join together with other
longbow shooters to enjoy camaraderie, shooting, and promoting the love of the
longbow.
Since then we
have been joined by over 300 members who have found that they also like to
share good times around the campfire and target butt with the rest of us who
find something soothing and mysterious about owning and shooting longbows.
The MLA
annually holds the Great Lakes Longbow Invitational (GLLI), the world's
largest longbow event! We gather for an extended weekend to shoot, eat & be
merry, check out the latest in traditional gear from the over 100 vendors, and
basically have a good time. For more details see
GLLI XX.
One of the
Highlights of the GLLI is the Silver Arrow Shoot. The Silver
Arrow is a modified American Round with the winner getting the distinction of
being called "Best Archer in the Realm" as well as taking home the coveted
"Silver Arrow".
The MLA
publishes a quarterly magazine called
StickTalk. The StickTalk keeps members up-to-date about the
happening of the organizations, entertains you with good writing, and
sometimes even teaches you a trick or two.
The MLA holds
1 or 2 shoots every year plus the annual GLLI.
The
membership shoots are inexpensive (free sometimes) and are always family
oriented.
However, the
MLA is more than just getting together and shooting longbows. Here is a list
of events and activities we have been or are currently involved in:
MLA
Youth program, where children can borrow longbows, arrows, etc. at shoots. We
currently have 15 longbows from 10-40 #, arrows, arm guards, quivers, gloves
and tabs. All of this equipment was made or donated by other members.
We
sponsor a youth & their mentor to attend the Pope and Young Youth Camp in
Colorado.
A
youth hunter is sponsored to the PBS Youth Leadership Hunt in Texas.
Kids
are sponsored to attend the MUCC Youth Camp.
Members
have worked with the Boy Scouts to promote archery at their area Jamboree.
$1.00
per member was donated (about $380) to the International Bowhunter Education
Program. The money was used to purchase teaching aides. Fellow member Jay
Chase runs the local I.B.E.P. Program.
We
donated $1,000 to help defeat the Bear Referendum.
A
bow was donated by longtime member Carl Johns and was raffled off at the 1998,
1999, 2000 & 2001 GLLI. The money was then donated to worthy hunting
conservation groups
A
bow was donated by longtime member Jim Reynolds and was raffled off at the
1998 & 1999 GLLI. The money was then donated to worthy hunting conservation
groups
Our
membership donated $1,000 to help defray medical costs during the illness of
primitive archery legend and MLA friend, Jay Massey.
A
special raffle was sponsored at the 1997 GLLI, which raised over $2,000 to
help out Martha Massey after the death of her husband Jay.
A
special Bear Hunt Raffle was sponsored at the 1997 GLLI which raised over $700
to help a longtime member with medical bills. Fellow member Jack Leggo
donated the hunt.
A
special raffle was held to help defer medical bills of a longtime MLA member
and supporter. All of the items offered in this raffle were donated by MLA
members, including a Thunderstick III from Jim Reynolds!
We
are always looking for new ways to help introduce kids into the sport of
archery and bowhunting.