To view this site you need Adobe Flash Player and your browser must allow javaScripts. Go here to get the latest Flash Player. Profit From S&W Performance Center — page 32 Academy of Excellence Seeks 2009 Entries he Shooting Industry Academy of Excellence is accepting entries for its 2009 awards. The academy, in its 18th year, recognizes excellence in design, innovation and service to the industry. In 2009, the academy will present awards in 14 categories. The Academy has changed two award categories. Officials have retired the HighTech Product of the Year and Specialty Product of the Year awards, replacing them with the Hunting Product and the Self-Defense Product of the Year awards. “Because of significant advancements in technology across numerous product lines, it’s time that these products be placed in categories that reflect what they do, rather than their specific features,” said Randy Moldé, Academy director. “This also applies to the Specialty category. By adding the Hunting and Self-Defense awards, the Academy can better honor products that reflect these important segments of the marketplace.” Entries for the 2009 awards must reach the academy’s office no later than Feb. 16, 2009. Entries may be submitted by a company or anyone associated with the industry. Only one company’s product may be entered per category. All entries must include the product’s complete name and be accompanied by a photo. To be eligible T for the 2009 awards, products must have been in production no earlier than February 2008 and prior to February 2009. Academy officials stress that entries for the Manufacturer of the Year, Distributor of the Year, Citizenship Award and the Shooting Industry Award (which goes to an individual) must include justification. The Citizenship Award honors a company or dealership; non-profit and industry-supporting organizations are not eligible for this award. Entries may be delivered to the FMG Publications SHOT Show booth (6853), emailed to: siae09@shootingindustry.com, or sent to the academy’s office: Academy of Excellence, 12345 World Trade Dr., San Diego, CA 92128. The 2009 award recipients will be kept secret and revealed at a special Academy of Excellence reception July 24 at the Hartford/Windsor Marriott in Windsor, Conn. The awards will be presented in conjunction with the Shooting Industry Masters. FMG Publications, publisher of Shooting Industry, American Handgunner, GUNS and American COP magazines, established the academy in 1992. However, no one at FMG Publications has a vote in determining who receives the awards. The academy’s awards are selected by 500 voting mem- ACADEMY AWARD CATEGORIES Accessory of the Year Safety Product of the Year Hunting Product of the Year Self-Defense Product of the Year Knife of the Year Optic of the Year Ammunition of the Year Shotgun of the Year Rifle of the Year Handgun of the Year Citizenship Award Distributor of the Year Manufacturer of the Year Shooting Industry Award bers, who include corporate executives, storefront dealers and outdoor writers. A brochure outlining the academy’s history, entry and voting guidelines, and all the awards presented since 1992 is available from FMG Publications. To receive a copy of the brochure, send a request to the academy’s office. The brochure, in PDF format, may be downloaded from Shooting Industry’s Web site: www.shootingindustry.com. Click on the “Awards” button in the upper left-hand corner of the homepage and follow the “Entry Guidelines” link. Ruger Reports Third Quarter Results turm, Ruger & Co. in October filed its third quarter of 2008 results, reporting net sales of $41.8 million and earnings per share of $0.02, compared with sales of $31.9 million and a loss per share of $0.03 in the third quarter of 2007. “Our sales grew 31 percent from the third quarter of 2007 and 8 percent from the second quarter of 2008, primarily on the strength of new product shipments,” said Michael O. Fifer, Ruger CEO. “At the end of the quarter, our cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments totaled $22.6 million. Our pre-LIFO working capital of $91.6 million, less the LIFO reserve of $47.5 million, resulted in working capital of $44.1 million and a current ratio of 2.8 to 1.” Fifer said the company has taken steps to enhance and protect its liquidity in reaction to the recent turmoil in the financial markets. “In late October, we drew down $1 million from our $25 million credit facility to ensure our access to it, and moved approximately $16 million from money market funds investing in S Treasury Bills to direct investments in Treasury Bills,” Fifer said. Fifer also commented on the company’s recent recall of the LCP pistol. “The company received a small number of reports from the field that its LCP pistols can discharge if dropped onto a hard surface. Although no injuries were reported, the company recalled all LCP pistols in October 2008 to offer free safety upgrades,” Fifer said. According to Ruger, the estimated cost of the retrofit program of approximately $2.3 million was recorded in the third quarter of 2008 and had the impact of reducing earnings per share by $0.07 in the quarter. For more information, visit www.ruger.com/corporate. 12 Read SI DIGITAL www.shootingindustry.com • SHOT SHOW SUPER ISSUE 2009