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The Union Sportsmen’s Alliance, in partnership with Beretta, awarded two members with weekend trips to the Texas Motor Speedway as part of fall promotion

For Immediate Release                                          December 5, 2008

WASHINGTON—The Union Sportsmen’s Alliance (USA) and Beretta recently awarded Bob Wewers, a member of the Sheet Metal Workers International Association (SMWIA) local 10 in Roseville, Minn., and Nick Kashi, a member of the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local 639 in Parma, Ohio, with trips to the 2008 Texas Motor Speedway as part of a USA member promotion.

The two prize packages, each valued at $6,000, included an all-expense-paid trip for two to Texas Motor Speedway for a weekend of NASCAR racing excitement complete with airfare, lodging, VIP seating, pit passes and track merchandise.  To top it off, Beretta donated a limited-edition, American-made 3901 12-gauge shotgun stylishly engraved with the USA’s logo on the receiver to both winners.

“We at Beretta recognize the value of the USA as it brings together union sportsmen who share a passion for the outdoors and a desire to preserve it for future generations” said Christopher Merritt, General Manager of Beretta USA.  “The Texas Motor Speedway promotion was a tremendous success in 2007, so we were thrilled to expand the promotion to award two USA members with an incredible racing experience and an American-made 3901 this year.”

Watching NASCAR from the stands was a first for both Wewers and Kashi. “I had never been to a NASCAR race before,” said Wewers. “But thanks to Beretta and the USA, my first experience was unbelievable – everything was top-notch.”

 “Getting to meet the drivers and being down by the track was pretty overwhelming” said Kashi. “It’s a whole different experience than watching it on TV.”

The chance to win hunting and fishing gear and trips along with special packages like the Texas Motor Speedway giveaway is one of the many benefits of the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance, a unique hunting and fishing club of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership (TRCP) and 20 AFL-CIO affiliated unions for union members, retirees and their families. 

“Beretta has been extremely supportive of the USA, providing a gift certificate for each member and firearms for the USA’s Gun-a-Month program in addition to the Texas Motor Speedway trips,” said Fred Myers, Executive Director of the USA. “We are proud to have Beretta on our side, and we look forward to working with them in the future to make membership in the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance an even greater value.”

Both Wewers and Kashi mentioned the promotions and special perks as a valuable benefit of the USA, though that is not necessarily the reason either joined the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance. 

“I’m totally a union guy and it’s nice to talk to other guys who hunt and share the same passions as I do,” said Kashi.

Wewers joined the USA for much the same reason. “I am a big hunter and an even bigger union guy.  Anything to do with unions and hunting is a definite win-win.” 

Contact: Kate Cywinski, 615-831-6793, kcywinski@trcp.org

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