Another Compton Traditional Bowhunters Rendezvous has come and gone, and what a Rendezvous it was. This year, the 12th Annual Rendezvous, saw the largest attendance to date, the most kids, and the most vendors. And the weather was … well, it was typical Michigan weather for this time of year: pleasantly cool, then humid and sweltering, finally a rain and wind storm, and then sun and mild temperatures again — all within five days. Still, it was an event no one should have missed.
Although Friday and Saturday were humid and hot, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday were extremely pleasant. The chili feed Friday night went the smoothest it ever has, what with Dede Smith commanding the kitchen. She did an outstanding job, and the crowd loved the food.
My buddy Fred Eichler was the keynote speaker for Saturday night, and as usual he kept the 200+ audience laughing with his total enthusiasm for what he does, and for the hunt. At the Saturday evening Campfire Chat, Fred Eichler, Monty Browning, Marv Clyncke, G. Fred Asbell, and Bryan Burkhardt fielded questions from both me, as moderator, and a huge crowd of interested bowhunters well into the evening.
One of the highlights of the weekend was the release of Compton’s first commissioned print, which is an original oil painting by renown artist Jack Paluh. The first in what is to be an ongoing series of commissioned artwork is of Fred Bear. (See the accompanying image.) There is a limited number of signed and numbered prints (300), of which the number one print sold at the Saturday evening auction for around $2,100, and number 2 for $1,300. With over 100 prints already sold, it appears that the total number of these unique, one-of-kind prints will not be around in a year.
As I sit here in my motel room, I am reflecting back on ten years of service on the Compton Board and have bittersweet feelings as I wind my final term as Board member down and finally step off. I think back to the many years and experiences I have had, some bad, but most good: the year the big top came down; watching our campfire float away in a flash flood; cooking chili for event attendees; the many meetings as we shaped and herded the club down the road from its infancy to the well-known, and highly respected organization Compton Traditional Bowhunters has become; the many, many hours of developing and implementing the Archives system … and I am humbled for having the opportunity to serve for the last decade. Yet, although I am stepping down from a Board position, I am not leaving; on the contrary, I plan on staying active in the club, but need a year to come to terms with other issues in my life at this time.
As Glenn St. Charles said to me one evening many years back, as the young kids were playing, shooting bows, and experiencing the Rendezvous, “Such a deal, isn’t it?” Indeed, it was … it is … and will continue to be “such a deal” for decades to come.
