Big Davie

Had not seen Jimmy for a few years but very sorry to hear of his passing, my thoughts are with his family at this sad time. Davie

Usually always attend this meeting but couldn't make it today, hope it's a good meeting with some sensible decisions.

it's circulating everywhere

Very sorry to hear of Ian's passing

Hey Del, you can't hide quality, it's stamped all over them

Ian Thanks for the reply, glad to see that their are options with regards how the birds should be liberated, I assume that this will not be a committee decision and that the members will have an input at the AGM as to what they deem to be the most suitable option. Also glad to hear that we won't be under pressure from the media to effect a liberation to suit them, having previously worked in television production industry for 20 years I know how good they are at applying pressure to get what they want. With regards dialogue between the SNFC and SNRPC I really hope this is not just in relation the longest race as IMO this should be developed and encouraged wherever possible. Davie

Ian As a British citizen and proud Scot I am truly appreciative of the sacrifices made by our soldiers and fore fathers during WW1 and fully support the concept of a commemorative race to mark the centenary of this terrible conflict, I also support the actions of the SNFC as far as attending the memorial ceremony and the laying of a wreath at the Menin Gate during July 2014. However, as a pigeon fancier I am not keen on single mass liberation of pigeons at Ypres on either July 5th or 12th 2014 as IMHO this is a recipe for a disaster and could be counter productive as far SNFC entries are concerned. Obviously at this stage I have no idea of the organisations who would like to be involved but if these were to include entries from Southern England, Northern England, Wales , Ireland, and Scotland then I can just imagine the chaos and confusion that this would create with all of these birds trying to clear and then break in different directions, it would also be a race controllers nightmare trying to get a favourable weather forecast and liberation to suit all the participating organisations, as I understand it their could also be planned TV coverage of this which only brings additional pressure to get the birds liberated, in support of this you only have to look at what happened at the RPRA centenary race in 1997 where only a few thousand birds returned from approx 60 thousand and it was cited that the decision to liberate was heavily influenced by the fact that TV crews were about to withdraw because a liberation on the scheduled day at the planned time could not be effected, a monumental disaster where many champion pigeons never returned and from which many lofts took years to recover. Having considered this my view is that by all means let organisations have their commemorative races from Ypres but a single mass liberation should not be on the agenda for this event. Whilst we are on the subject of pigeons , doves, and olive branches being symbols of peace, then in relation to asking the SNRPC to participate in this event my thoughts are that the SNFC should , formally, in writing, ask them if they wish to participate as part of any Scottish contingent taking part in this proposed race, now that would be a fine gesture of goodwill and could be instrumental in a truce being called between both clubs. JMOHO. Davie

Hey Moscow Pretty sure who the guy is from Blantyre that moved down beside you although I won't mention him by name, what I will say is that he should know the " golden rules of breeding and could spot a diamond of a doo easily " !!! also don't listen to Walter as their have always been good doo men in Blantyre, LOL, but you are both correct, even though I plan my season around the nationals the club wins are also nice.

Stuart, you are absolutely correct, the split within the SNFC was the biggest disaster that has ever happened to the Scottish fancy, the sport is in severe decline and on a downward spiral which will only get worse as age reduces the number of fanciers participating, as far as I'm concerned all the old vendettas and agendas should be buried in an effort to save what we have left, for me, any opportunity should be grasped that could result in the two national clubs getting back together, personally I would be perfectly happy to go to Troyes with the SNRPC in either a joint convoying exercise or to compete in a single race. Even though I am not overly keen on the concept of an " international " I would like to know if the SNRPC have been invited to compete at this proposed Ypres " international " race ??

Anytime during March for me, no particular date, see what like the weather is

Danny, their might not be any inland races and I feel Newbury will almost certainly go, it was only retained last year on the casting vote of the chairman.

Ian, thanks for the reply giving your honest view of this situation, I think the minutes relating to the subject from this meeting would have to be clarified, IMO the fact remains if it is not in the book as a rule then it is not in fact a rule and throws the issue open to discussion at the AGM, whilst I am a member of Lanarkshire Fed I am not advocating that the SNFC should use their transporters but like yourself I do believe that under duty of care to both the birds and the members that this great club must ensure that it uses the very best methods of transportation that are available and this again IMO would exclude the use of wicker baskets in an older style conventional transporter, I don't know if this would be a minority view if a poll were taken of the members at large but I doubt it.

Again, all these points were discussed

As I said it was all discussed yesterday at the AGM

Danny, that very point was given a fair airing at the AGM yesterday but I am not telling you what happened you should have been their to hear the discussion yourself, Airdrie are now members of Lanarkshire so make no mistake about that, I'm sure you will put the info up for the pilgrims once you've heard it from someone else.

Del, I think you are right, I've just had a read through the 2013 book and unless I'm missing something then I can find no reference to birds must travel in wicker baskets , IMO if it's not in the rule book then it's not a rule. IB would appreciate your view on this.

John, fully agree with both of your posts , IMO it would not be a good idea for the SNFC to purchase a transporter, the best transporters that are available currently within the Scottish Feds should be hired and used but the ( must travel in wicker basket ) rule would have to be addressed

Peter, thanks for the explanation , I was not aware of this, I agree with the general consensus of opinion on this thread, their is nothing upsets any organasitions members more than their elected officials treating them like mushrooms e.g. Keeping them in the dark and feeding them sheit , unfortunately it will be the remainder of the Midland Fed members who will suffer from this lack of consideration and transparency on the part of their elected officials.

Peter, can you tell us what grievance Airdrie had with the Midland Fed, this isn't a loaded question I would like to know.

Good meeting, well conducted from the chair, , finances healthy, management committee re - elected en - block having made all the right decisions over the past year and steered the Fed in the right direction and very well done to them, Airdrie now members with a large majority of the vote, if your waiting on anything else from Bigda then it will be second hand as he was not present, future looking good for Lanarkshire Fed, anything else ???

Hey Dell, you've definitely got an eye for a doo, liked the look of this pair myself and thought about bidding for them but I've already got far too many, touch of class about them so hope they breed the goods for you, only time will tell. Davie

That's them mate

Walter Might surprise you but a lot of guys don't know what quill mite are, either that or they can't see them or don't know where to look for them

Are we talking about mite in the loft or lice on the birds, I ask because its unusual to have a problem with red or northern mite at this time of the year ??

Jimmy, heard a story about an old mate of yours from up around the industrial estate doing it at Abington, it was a nice day and all the sheep were at the top of the hills until the rockets went off, he said it was like a stampede as they all charged down the hillside, had to make a quick exit before the farmer showed up, also know of a federation doing it at Elvanfoot this year at the start of the yb training