RPRA strike again!

[Kyleakin Lofts]

If this happens and we also win in the club, fed national, obviously great koudos will come our way, along with the money.  We have to ask ourselves, " Is this our hobby to give us pleasure, enjoyment and friendship, or is it solely to bring in the money."  Oh for the days when eggs, young birds, knowledge, etc were given freely for the betterment of the sport.

Sorry folks, end of rant, off the soapbox.

Please tell me where I am wrong, apart from being an idealist, which I already know.

[Guest JonesyBhoy]

Kyleakin Lofts.. great posts..

[Guest lenwadebob]

Our kids fleece the parents for £'s every day. new Playstaion games..... A play station alone would pay for their season. Designer gear, hundredsa of pounds. And to be perfectly honest Pigeons would be their cheapest sport. Even playing for the local footy team is a cost few can afford, YET do!

  Gosh a £5 year tag is lauhghable to the kids - I.e. Parents. many spend more than that a day on junk, Latest Tec Phones. And on and on we could go! Too expensive for the kids, get real! Besides the only thing we can do for them is to instill a liking for our game same as we got! Then hope after they have settled down and have a huge morgage and  dependant kids etc. etc. the wife allows their feeble justification of spending a little on their own hobby and NOT every thing on the kids!

 

I am in the real world mate. Yes kids do fleece their parents for all the things you mention, phones, play stations, X boxes, designer clothes etc etc. BUT add to that keeping and racing pigeons, even in a small way, is an extra burden on parents resources. A bag of corn a week, Club membership fees, Union fees, Training, Birdage, Rings, Transfers, Medication, etc. etc. The list goes on and on, and it only takes one straw to break a camels back. Something has to give somewhere.

Tell me Roland, in what other competitive Hobby/Sport that Kids participate in, do they have to supply ALL their own equipment, They don't, it is supplied for them, by the clubs they join, be it after school activities or facilities run by the local authorities, out of the tax payers money. Not like it in pigeon racing, Loft, clock, baskets, etc. etc. all have to be obtained by some means or another, and that's before you even get the birds. I have gone to many schools and tried to encourage youngsters into the hobby, but the one question I am always asked by the parents or teachers is "What is it going to cost" and when I tell them, THE BOOK IS CLOSED, END OF STORY.

BUT as I said in a previous post, my beef is not about one small increase the R.P.R.A. has made on transfers, ITS ABOUT PRINCIPLES AND THE WAY THEY TREAT THE MEMBERSHIP WITH CONTEMPT, and try to tell us that unless we comply, we will be banned. IT'S THE MEMBERS WHO OWN THE UNION, NOT A FEW "FATCATS" FROM THE OLD BOYS BRIGADE (many of whom have probably never owned a pigeon in their lives), OWNING THE MEMBERS. When a club wants to make an increase on birdage or annual subscription for example, a meeting is held, and a vote is taken on these matters by the membership, in a democratic way. Your not just told "This rule has changed or that has changed or things have increased in price, like it or lump it", like the R.P.R.A. do. JMHO and I am entitled to it  

 

[pigeonpete]

pigeonbasics homing union ??? .........what we waiting for let our mods run it ...........ray

 

;D ;D ;D A handful of people have different views on here, So what chance have us mere mods got of controlling you in real terms?  :-/ ;D ;D ;D

[Roland]

I think Bob your' 'Last Post' post sums up why the RPRA have to act in this way! Simply for our own protection'. Every Club concern has built in rules to protect the members from themselves.

Members decide Eek?  :-/ Should have a say!?   Members responcible etc. etc.   :o

Streuth the vast majority can even fill in a Ballot sheet! Won't even truddle of to a meeting IN their' own Best Interests'

The Chosen delegate goes with the blessings and how the club wants to vote.... and comes back saying why they voted differently - often through commonsence. Gosh just look at the extra cost we will all be paying with the rising costs of feul alone to take our birds training!

Feed is as cheap now - well certainly the Maples / Tic beans / Wheat and Barly as for 20 odd years! What one saves on a 25 K bag of Tic beans say will cover the costs of any RPRA rises alone. No wonder the RPRA and such have to have these rules iplemented. For as sure as eggs are eggs the members couldn't run a pee up in a ale house. They A. Would ballot vote, just whinge afterwards, and B. Never bother to attend meetings, just whinge afterwards etc. etc.

[greenlands]

Do the RPRA accept transfers via emails and if they don't wouldn't it be a good idea if they did,the SU do which I found easy and very quick when transfering a Scottish bird.

Lindsay

[OLDYELLOW]

Do the RPRA accept transfers via emails and if they don't wouldn't it be a good idea if they did,the SU do which I found easy and very quick when transfering a Scottish bird.

Lindsay

 

not as yet , but would be a good idea but the dinosaurs , would hav e to replaced by wizz kids to set it up

[Guest stb-]

 

;D ;D ;D A handful of people have different views on here, So what chance have us mere mods got of controlling you in real terms?  :-/ ;D ;D ;D

 

mods are gods until you get banned   :P ;D ;D  then they get a new job as barstewards ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

[stan p]

what are the increse going on more than likley wages we are geting smaller every year costs

going up yearley dose not work to meny pulling at us and we give blackpool money to people

that do not speak up for us makes sense this day and age it would be nice to be consuted once

in a while                    

 

nwhu and nehu free transferes sumthing not working some were

[Guest karl adams]

if what i was told is right that 2000 members  have dropped out  of the rpra that means that the money they get is going to be down this year so they have to make it up some how  as they wont take a drop in there pay packet  ;D ;D ;D

[Taylorsloft]

 

Hi

Very nice speech but don't forget that YOU are one of the people that tried to destroy the SHU and when you failed

run of to the RPRA

Cheers

Homer 49

 

 

nice one homer  

[Roland]

Bob asks ' ...............Tell me Roland, in what other competitive Hobby/Sport that Kids participate in, do they have to supply ALL their own equipment, They don't, it is supplied for them, by the clubs they join, be it after school activities or facilities run by the local authorities, out of the tax payers money. Not like it in pigeon racing, Loft, clock, baskets, etc. etc. all have to be obtained by some means or another, and that's before you even get the birds.

Well must be different in your neck of the woods Bob, the Athletic, charges and have to buy own kitt. The soccor clubs charges and have to by own kitt. Same as all sports I know of here. The Fishing clubs... have to join, subs etc. and buy own kitt, and gear each time they go. Photagrathy, have to pay to join, subs, weekly dues and have to by own gear. The Tran' enthusiasts, same again. Golf, no need to go there eh!.... Sorry can't think of a single  freebie ... only that as things stands now, the cheapest sport, and hobby is by far 'Pigeons'.

[Guest frank dooman]

well the thing is this the transfer cost was introduced to pay for the new computer systems and database , thats fine as members we understand that things cant go on year after year , but instead of saying well the computers are now paid for were going to stop this as unfair to charge the members who are paying there fees . But no hey we can make money and raise the transfer fee . Why do you think this is the case ? well not so long ago the R.P.R.A decided to charge each member of a partnership the union fees instead of one fee on the assumption that they could probably double there revinue , however there are those out there that fly in partnerships and carry there deceased partners names or father and son when father passed on , so alot of these have decided be cheaper to change there flying names , so this is a knee jerk reaction to hike costs up , rather than have transfer cost why not just charge a representative fee for membership ???? If we let them hike the prices up unchallenged then its a dictatorship , we the members have paid for the computers the database time to say no to the hike in transfers because they've brought it in under false pretences , i have no problem with paying more as buy very few birds so wont cost me alot at all , but could easily avoided by paying more in membership fees , then no need for charging twice for what we should be paying for by our membership anyway

 

in the same vain our feeding went up to nearly double when the fuel prices went up its been down for over 6mths has it went down no so will we stop feeding our birds nearly £15 for versalaga irish

[Guest Silverwings]

 

;D ;D ;D A handful of people have different views on here, So what chance have us mere mods got of controlling you in real terms?  :-/ ;D ;D ;D

 

The fact you responded to the post implies that you are listening to whats going on in the real world... !! can this be said of the R.P.R.A. top table ..............ray

[Pompey Mick]

I feel the two main areas in the RPRA that could be considered a financial luxury are the General Managers position and  'The Reddings'.

Do we really need a 'front office' face who serves no administative duties apart from representing the RPRA in the Public Arena & Media.

Is the Reddings  cost effective or could we  downsize and realise a valuable asset.

Saying that, the general staff at the 'Reddings' always do their best, the new transfer system is a massive improvement on the previous one ( even at the cost of a pint of bitter, almost).  The Email distance provision is a godsend and they always try to help if you have a bird reported by a non-fancier.

Every Fancier has his own Agenda and we need an umbrella like the RPRA to give the Sport some kind of Unity, as the old saying goes: You can please some people all of the time, and all people some of the time, but you can't please  ALL of the people ALL of the time.

[Roland]

' .................I feel the two main areas in the RPRA that could be considered a financial luxury are the General Managers position and  'The Reddings'.

Do we really need a 'front office' face who serves no administative duties apart from representing the RPRA in the Public Arena & Media.

Is the Reddings  cost effective or could we  downsize and realise a valuable asset....

 

Simple answer yes we need a governing body. yes of course it is cost effective. Gosh where are we here? :-/ Yes it evolves very much as you say. It has too, or trest assured it wouldn't and that's the fact!

Gosh the sad fact of realism is that the members need bullying. Need a body to act in their member’s interests. One that is capable of ignoring most.... Like most I mean those that will spend a fortune anything even though 60% is rubbish. They spend on what the like saying it's my money and I do as I please... (Can’t argue with that!) Yet wouldn't even pay a pound for a P.R. Firm to act in their’ interests. Those that continually *expletive removed* and moan and can’t understand, why that those 'Rich and famous' fanciers that have successful businesses to run CAN'T even put their’ sport to rights for them?

Those that whinge and moan about what others tell them because they don't / won't even go to a meeting to vote etc. Won't even post a ballot sheet, but tell everyone else they should be doing this and that, doing so and so and such and such!

Simple reality if the RPRA didn't function as they do - like just about every other concern has to- then within 2 years there wouldn’t be a sport to whinge and moan about! Before posting codswallop, a lot ought to ask them selves when they last Voted. Went to a Club meeting - let alone a AGM and strueth certainly not a Regional meeting. A Fed meeting! But they have and want their rights! Their’ voice to be heard etc as it's their Right.... Well go to a meeting and flipping vote because if you had done A. you would have heard long time ago this was on the agenda. And B. Yes you could have exercised your rights and HAD your voice heard and a Vote.

[Guest frank dooman]

' .................I feel the two main areas in the RPRA that could be considered a financial luxury are the General Managers position and  'The Reddings'.

Do we really need a 'front office' face who serves no administative duties apart from representing the RPRA in the Public Arena & Media.

Is the Reddings  cost effective or could we  downsize and realise a valuable asset....

 

Simple answer yes we need a governing body. yes of course it is cost effective. Gosh where are we here? :-/ Yes it evolves very much as you say. It has too, or trest assured it wouldn't and that's the fact!

Gosh the sad fact of realism is that the members need bullying. Need a body to act in their member’s interests. One that is capable of ignoring most.... Like most I mean those that will spend a fortune anything even though 60% is rubbish. They spend on what the like saying it's my money and I do as I please... (Can’t argue with that!) Yet wouldn't even pay a pound for a P.R. Firm to act in their’ interests. Those that continually *expletive removed* and moan and can’t understand, why that those 'Rich and famous' fanciers that have successful businesses to run CAN'T even put their’ sport to rights for them?

Those that whinge and moan about what others tell them because they don't / won't even go to a meeting to vote etc. Won't even post a ballot sheet, but tell everyone else they should be doing this and that, doing so and so and such and such!

Simple reality if the RPRA didn't function as they do - like just about every other concern has to- then within 2 years there wouldn’t be a sport to whinge and moan about! Before posting codswallop, a lot ought to ask them selves when they last Voted. Went to a Club meeting - let alone a AGM and strueth certainly not a Regional meeting. A Fed meeting! But they have and want their rights! Their’ voice to be heard etc as it's their Right.... Well go to a meeting and flipping vote because if you had done A. you would have heard long time ago this was on the agenda. And B. Yes you could have exercised your rights and HAD your voice heard and a Vote.

 

good post roly and would thease same fanciers get up off there ar-- and actualy do any of thease jobs i think not!!!!!!!

[Pompey Mick]

I have no axe to grind against the RPRA, Roland,and I think the fees they charge for top-quality administration are a pittance in todays terms.

Of course we do need a 'governing body' I've never said otherwise, but with declining membership the financial load on each member will surely increase with each year.

What I am saying is do we need an office as large as 'The Reddings'  with the small working staff that is involved in running the RPRA.

Could there not be an almagamation with the BHW offices as both organisations are linked.

Also, will there come a time when we will not be able to afford an Executive General Manager, once again can this post be linked with the running of the BHW.

[Roland]

Some sense Mick there.... But of course as we know, or those that care to attend or read up when bulletins are posted and made aware the BUILDING of the RPRA is in dire straights of repairs or starters. Now does one move / do it up. If sold off would be a great loss in real terms - though to be truthful I was in favour of cutting losses and moving etc.

If sharing were a feasible route to have taken of course they would have already done that.

Mick, and not saying you, too many want to sit and twiddle thumbs and moan.... be better of with wool and knitting needles I guess as at least they would get a pair of sock for the pains lol.

But inflation and depreciation have an effect and costs. No two ways about that.

See a point raised where it was thought it would be beneficial and cost effective to have ALL governing bodies rolled up into one and just a central station, be it the Redding’s or whatever. makes some sense of course. A no goer after 3 seconds of thoughts as we see all the bickering, back stabbing and whinging and power, ego flaunting in every one of them already. Can you see the masses joining up and peace to reign eh! Of course not!

Mostly these peoples put into office are not stupid - they get paid to be called and to pee a few of.

   Everything in life sooner or later costs most yet determinates. So why does one still believe in magic wands and shiny white armour :-/

No millionaire, or billionaire is going to come up with the goods in any aspects, and there are as many state a few in our sport. Why should they? Indeed when their’ egos are more important that the sport it's self. When fanciers just totally can't be bothered and spout 'It makes no difference what I say or want, or VOTE (EEk) they will do as they want, always have and always will'. So stay at home and whinge is my advice and take up knitting lol.

[Roland]

Remember when I posted that I had one ‘Fund – Raisers’ etc. which bought, - with the help of just TWO others, to buy one, that was sold, and then another transporter? How then no one wanted to do another fund raiser of any kind as we had money left over and voted that way, although less than a third attended.

How 3 years down the line we held special meetings stating that the Funds was – gone, dried up, gone! That it had been used to subsidised their’ racing etc. Further that unless we raise the subs we would go under, plain and simple. How hard it was to get them to eventually voted on and pass it!

How the AGM for the first time ever had many new faces there. How it went into chaos as two propositions went in saying now that the Subs had gone up £3 they wanted it to be spent on ‘Prize money’!

Both proposition were hotly debated in disbelief via me with a couple more. 4 hours later it was agreed and voted between them that any monies over at seasons end would be added to the prize money! Of course we knew there wasn’t going be much, if any.

That I’m afraid is the mentality of many fanciers…. And these are the one spouting and whinging, self, self, and self and any left self again. Let others pay, any one but us!

They same sorts that get ripped of regularly flying and paying in sections and nationals with no chance whatsoever but gladly bolster the coffers of the able. Yet still quite happily buy useless rings and pay higher fees year in year out!

Time for some to get real, wake up and smell the coffee I think!