Dwindling Members

[philg50]

The thing is a certain number of birds would still have to go on the transporter over the number you enter in race as these other birds would still require training and also experience ,as for paper work ,the birds entered in race go over ets your trainers go straight in basket Gordon,as is now.

[grdkeith]

The thing is a certain number of birds would still have to go on the transporter over the number you enter in race as these other birds would still require training and also experience ,as for paper work ,the birds entered in race go over ets your trainers go straight in basket .

 

 

with a 5 bird club members would still be able to compete with the team size of their choice and just duplicate their chosen 5 into a 5 bird club which would achieve your aim of a fairer playing field !! the paperwork would be accepting entries from all clubs and formulating a result-- you up for it?

[Mossgiel]

Maybe if you tried leveling the playing field would help at club and fed level ,ie,some fowk entering 30-40 + doos into a race others with 5-10 and then IMO you could put as much doos as you like on transporter but a limit should be set on race entrys ie 5 then members would have to suss out their race candidates that would even things out.

 

Whether you send 30 - 40 or 5 - 10 doos, there is only ONE winner. The small team fancier can give his birds more individual attention.

[philg50]

with a 5 bird club members would still be able to compete with the team size of their choice and just duplicate their chosen 5 into a 5 bird club which would achieve your aim of a fairer playing field !! the paperwork would be accepting entries from all clubs and formulating a result-- you up for it?

Yes so nothing changes as regards fed tickets each club would forward there result just the same ,you wouldnt be changeing any thing there.

[grdkeith]

Yes so nothing changes as regards fed tickets each club would forward there result just the same ,you wouldnt be changeing any thing there.

 

 

you want an even playing field? its within your grasp !! win a 5 bird club and you have got your ideal, the prestige of competing and winning in as even a playing field as possible, all we need is someone to run it!! are you that man?

[philg50]

you want an even playing field? its within your grasp !! win a 5 bird club and you have got your ideal, the prestige of competing and winning in as even a playing field as possible, all we need is someone to run it!! are you that man?

Whether i am that man or not i am a man with an opinion worth no less than yours and if your trying to say that if a member wishes to express his opinion on how things might be changed for the better ie to create fairness you imply with your response is he willing tae run things ,I am not just talking about our fed but all in general ,so thats your answer if things change ye run it yerself.Its not only age thats killing the sport its attitude.

[grdkeith]

Whether i am that man or not i am a man with an opinion worth no less than yours and if your trying to say that if a member wishes to express his opinion on how things might be changed for the better ie to create fairness you imply with your response is he willing tae run things ,I am not just talking about our fed but all in general ,so thats your answer if things change ye run it yerself.Its not only age thats killing the sport its attitude.

 

 

amazing !! yes it is attitude-- yours !! never once questioned your opinion or right to express it, why you have to turn it into something personal is beyond me :emoticon-0179-headbang:

[frankdooman jnr]

Lads let's not turn this into another on line bitching session this is about how we can all improve our sport and attract not just young new members but older ones aswell I'm just new to this sport but lived with it for years through my dad but the only reason I never got involved was because of all the moaning and bitching . I want this sport to get stronger and want to know how we can do this

[philg50]

amazing !! yes it is attitude-- yours !! never once questioned your opinion or right to express it, why you have to turn it into something personal is beyond me :emoticon-0179-headbang:

Ok so i apoligise i thought you were just trying to wind me up ,knowing i am disabled and not fit to help out, at one time i was sec and treasurer of banff club so paper work would have been no prob up until 2010 again sorry.I didnt realize you were asking a genuine question.

[frankdooman jnr]

I have been at this a tea break I don't know much but I can see that this great sport is suffering I have only been at this for a few years but have lived it through my late father for twenty years and the only reason I didnt take it up sooner was that I never had the disipline to put up with all the bitching but after being badly injured in Afghanistan I could not compete at a high level in football and found pigeon racing could still give me a competitive outlet, I think that there is a lot that this sport can give to younger men as well as the older generation and my question still stands is how do we advertise or educate people as to how good this sport can be . I see a lot of new members joining this site and a lot of what they see is grown men that could not agree on the colour or sh.t lol we need to find a way back to making this sport great again . I don't know enough to even start but the experience on here is vast I'm sure if we all stopped arguing for just five min we could come up with one or even two good ideas between us it can't hurt to try.

[Kyleakin Lofts]

Frank, good post and more power to your fingers.

I think we need to identify the reasons for the decline, categorise them and then start to deal with them.

Without doubt, there will be some we are able to do little about, eg raptors.

Others, eg personal fueds / gain, we are able to combat.

Advertising the sport is a non starter until we deal with the last mentioned. Nobody who does not have a pigeon background would be interested in taking part in a sport full of bickering children, it would not seem attractive or enjoyable.

 

Pigeon racing will never be fair!!! FACT.

 

There is no point in bickering about numbers sent, race points, race routes, etc. We all race to different lofts from the same race-point. Two miles from my house there is an area where you are able to drive through a curtain of rain at times. I can be shrouded in cloud, whilst the people down the road have a smir of rain falling. There are so many variations to this, so this utopia will never be found. Fairness in racing does not exist!!!

 

I enjoy learning about how to prepare my pigeons to return, breeding and rearing YB's and the enjoyment when I see them arrive and close their wings as they drop to the loft is massive. I imagine that one day the pigeon doing this and looking like a winner will be a winner. Who knows, the day may arrive when I am able to emulate your dad and win a National.

 

This dream, this joy, and no doubt many more is the essence of pigeon racing. The thrill of the arrival, the highs of a win, the lows of a lost favourite, all combine to make this sport enthralling. There is our advertising points or at least a few of them.

 

With the drop in numbers participating, the start-up cost doesn't have to be that great. T3's are becoming cheaper, lofts are becoming available, etc. Let's reverse that trend, stop bickering for personal, Club, Federation gains and work together to support our hobby.

 

I am involved with the kids, helping at the athletics Club, but they are taught to try to beat their Personal Best. This is what we should be doing with the pigeons, attempting to beat our PB. The more often we improve our PB, the closer to winning we come. The more we practice, the luckier we will get.

[bibendium]

We had our AGM a week ago on Sunday

lost 2 members to North Road Club

1 member out the sport

but gained 3 new members, none of whom were in the sport.

[Tony C]

If your going to be successful at selling something advertising is a must.

 

A weekly page in say the Racing Post for starters.

 

We need to employ someone within advertising who has expertise and not left to a group of fanciers sitting round a table making a pigs ear of it.

[geordie1234]

If your going to be successful at selling something advertising is a must.

 

A weekly page in say the Racing Post for starters.

 

We need to employ someone within advertising who has expertise and not left to a group of fanciers sitting round a table making a pigs ear of it.

Totally agree...

[blaz]

Yes Agreed with that Martin, Midlothian joined up with almond Valley this year but I think even more need to look at joining up after 200miles

 

Even a small combine type racing to for added interest

 

that move did not suit all clubs so some clubs left the fed my club was 1 of them

 

 

our club gained 3 new members

[b.massey]

that move did not suit all clubs so some clubs left the fed my club was 1 of them

 

 

our club gained 3 new members

 

Yeah that's up to the clubs Gary

 

Gained members because of a club disbanding (Whitecraig) not because of the joining up with almond Valley

[showman]

'Advertising' is a very,very powerful medium in totality. However we must always bear in mind it is, in itself, a huge banner which covers so many ways of 'getting the word out'.

 

A small sticker in/on your car....Advertising! (How many stickers could have been circulated at Blackpool ?)

 

Wearing a slogan T-Shirt....Advertising!

 

Leaving a couple of weekly / monthly periodicals in public waiting rooms......Advertising!

 

Laminated posters in strategic public places......Advertising!

 

These are just a few examples of ways you have to think in getting a message across, yet keeping it widespread and cost effective.

'Advertising' doesn't have to cost a fortune to gain major coverage, just a bit of thinking outside the 'box', and a willing group of people involved, and pro-active !

PIGEON BASICS are in a position to consider the possibility of a 'Promotion Fund' to get things going, and don't forget, all items used could carry the PB logo. I suppose the saying of 'Promotion from within' could apply, and if we as a group, were to be active as a group, surely it will be our way of helping promotion of the sport. I for one would put my name forward to act as Co-Ordinator for such a campaign, dependant, of course, on the members re-action.

 

Sincerely

 

Paul Chatterton.

[b.massey]

'Advertising' is a very,very powerful medium in totality. However we must always bear in mind it is, in itself, a huge banner which covers so many ways of 'getting the word out'.

 

A small sticker in/on your car....Advertising! (How many stickers could have been circulated at Blackpool ?)

 

Wearing a slogan T-Shirt....Advertising!

 

Leaving a couple of weekly / monthly periodicals in public waiting rooms......Advertising!

 

Laminated posters in strategic public places......Advertising!

 

These are just a few examples of ways you have to think in getting a message across, yet keeping it widespread and cost effective.

'Advertising' doesn't have to cost a fortune to gain major coverage, just a bit of thinking outside the 'box', and a willing group of people involved, and pro-active !

PIGEON BASICS are in a position to consider the possibility of a 'Promotion Fund' to get things going, and don't forget, all items used could carry the PB logo. I suppose the saying of 'Promotion from within' could apply, and I for one would put my name forward to act as Co-Ordinator for such a campaign.

 

Sincerely

 

Paul Chatterton.

 

I had wee 10 page books designed for children based on pigeon racing... Was just simple basic ways how to get birds/loft and the idea behind racing with the rubber ring and clock

 

Got Jennifer to take into Craig's School along with his blackpool trophies and rossettes to have a wee talk in his class. Heard it went down well but I still feel its hard to get new blood from outside unless there is a family member of the children involved in pigeons at present time. I must admit it would have been highly unlikely I'd have ever thought about pigeons if not for my father having them in Garden

 

Someone mentioned about the retired people out there looking for hobbies. Its getting the them and the children that we lack and surely we small measures (Like giving school talks) that could help. I remember going into school with pigeons when 9 years old and whole school took interest in them, We then let them go in school yard for all to see them let out and fly home

 

Never hear of that now!! and if it still goes on then needs promoted better

[showman]

Just thought of something else !

Years ago the RP had a system called 'Pigeons for Youth' could that be something to be considered ?

[duncow]

i dont think bird levys would be the way foward

as its the birdage that keeps clubs and feds going

and would mean big flyers subcidyce our sport i cant see

this being fare how do yous see this

[Kyleakin Lofts]

It's pigeons, what's fair?

 

If someone wants to keep and race a lot of pigeons then he or she will have to pay the costs to do that, alternatively keep less.

 

We have to live within our means and if that means it costs x to run the club, Fed or whatever, then the members of the club, Fed or whatever have to cover that cost. If that cost is covered in some way by a birdage charge, then the person with a lot of pigeons will automatically pay more.

Depending on the type of racing and Federation spread, weight of numbers could have an effect on the result, so a birdage charge would be fair, but a per loft charge is also fair.

Both charges are completely different and fair in different ways, or unfair in different ways.

 

As stated earlier, nothing is fair with pigeons and I very much doubt fairness will ever be achieved.

The wrangling by everyone to have their own way is not good for the sport and compromise must be our watchword. If the guidelines are followed a fancier stands to state their case which should be listened to politely. The next fancier stated their case, again listened to politely and so on. Collectively, we should then look for the middle ground which would suit the overall position.

 

Money is a problem and big up-front costs could force fanciers to give up. Most go for some form of up-front payment and top it up with birdage to allow a weekly payment and a spread for the costs. Very few think about the money they spend on drink and smokes, etc when it comes to the cost of keeping their pigeons.

 

Seems there's nowt like pigeon fanciers.

[St Finnan Loft]

your right wullie the doo games worse enemy is the doo men

 

Yes, certain doo men are killing the game. just heard that Grangemouth Homing Society have turned down a potential new member, no reason given. The new guy is moving into their area and has flown pigeons for 60 years. At their AGM 4 members turned up 2 voted for and 2 against, the president had the deciding vote - this seems very hard when we are trying to encourage people into the sport. Perhaps someone from the Grangemouth Homing Society can give a reason for this or maybe even reconsider this decision.

[Guest stb-]

i dont think bird levys would be the way foward

as its the birdage that keeps clubs and feds going

and would mean big flyers subcidyce our sport i cant see

this being fare how do yous see this

yes stupid idea , and what about members who maby pay there fees but send elsewhere , do they not have to contribute not quite the same amount of big teams now but why should they be penalised when by sending bigger birdage there already contributing more . if theres 10 members and need £200 to break even then £20 a head if fair ifyou send none or a 100 birds

[R.A.M.C.63]

Alot of valid reasons given within clubs+feds but since coming into sport i always thout the Unions

were there to Police, Promote, defend, the Sport but over the years you Never Really Hear of them,

I know they report ur strays, an supply Rings, but both these could be done with Wing Stamps And

sourceing rings Straight from Suppyers ) probaly cheaper ) Its not very often if at all you hear

them Fighting Fanciers Corner, in Papers on TV anyware, mayb am wrong and thier are Members out

thier who can persude me am wrong, who have had alot of help and assitance from Unions, Please tell us.

They have for years been very Quiet concerning (DEFENDING) sport against BOP, at the moment they seem

to be very Quiet concerning (POLICE-ING) sport ie SNFC carry on which wouldn,t attract many new members.

then we get to (PROMOTE-ING ) Sport non exsisting, not point promoting it in racing post as non-members

probaly dont get it or read it, adverts in main papers, social media, schools, ANYWARE !!!! but all seem

missing, i wonder with the Membership Dwindleing will the Union Officeals still expect same WAGE ?????.

I totally agree the Sport F**ked but i thinks its because people put in charge of JOB have done very LITTLE.

JMO,

[scottym7]

Yes, certain doo men are killing the game. just heard that Grangemouth Homing Society have turned down a potential new member, no reason given. The new guy is moving into their area and has flown pigeons for 60 years. At their AGM 4 members turned up 2 voted for and 2 against, the president had the deciding vote - this seems very hard when we are trying to encourage people into the sport. Perhaps someone from the Grangemouth Homing Society can give a reason for this or maybe even reconsider this decision.

 

Hi

I am the sec of GHS and i would like to point out that the statement above regarding the votes is incorrect, i was informed after the meeting that the boundry for GHS was the river carron and as the new loft would be over the boundry they could not become members also as was stated on the evening as the loft would be on the North side of fed and located next to Airth club it would be more beneficial for the fliers to join Airth or another club in the North as GHS is located in the South side of Fed.

I can only state the correct facts and therefore do not want involved in any politics.

 

Scotty M