I have been in conversation with Paul O’Leary about the proposed young
bird sale on behalf of the NFC and the general feeling is that many fanciers
with the Nationals in mind are only just pairing up. So we are looking for your
support in raising funds for the future of the National FC and you can either
contact Paul or myself with details. There is always the option of an auction
plus you would also be able to send in your commission, or we can have the sale
on a postal bid for all birds. Which ever way it ends up we are looking for
donors, we shall let you know the full details as soon as possible with the
calibre of fanciers in the club I am confident that we will have a good sale at
the end of March. If we have one or two sales Richard Green & Anna Crowley
are the first to come forward with a definite answer, much appreciated.
We now go onto the latest news from the Secretary who has a great deal
of work to do with the stationary for the season. Gold Rings are selling well
this season with the figure approaching the 2,000 mark at the time of going to
press, this is an indication that last year’s total will be passed. At £5 per
ring it looks like being a bumper payout therefore members need to be aware and
get their orders in without any delay. Normal rings issued total around the
130,000 with membership ring orders being received daily. There are still a
number of members who are paying short for their subscriptions so if you have
still not paid please note that the subscriptions are £15.00 for this season. Also
a few members are requesting their RPRA cards. RPRA fees have been
forwarded to the relevant regions covering dates up to the 21st
January. The regions will be sending cards out directly and to the NFC in
due time. Registration of rings is literally up to date. Sid was
saying that after some heavy snow fall and bitterly cold weather, members need
to be aware that the post woman delivered mail with tennis rackets tied to her
feet, it just shows you that your orders are getting delivered.
12.0pt"> The Secretary has received a letter from Her Majesty the Queen
thanking the President, the Committee and the Membership for their kind message
of Christmas and New Years greetings and for a get well card sent on the
occasion of her recent operation. In return the Queen as the National Flying
Club Patron, sends her warm wishes for the coming year.
Sponsors are a big advantage to any club and even the premier club in
the UK is always looking for additions in this area. At the present moment there
are a number of previous sponsors who have agreed to extend their sponsorship
into the coming season. A report on the sponsors will appear shortly and
should you know of anyone who would like to be included on the list please do
not hesitate to contact the Secretary.
The National Flying Club website is being geared up for some changes and
advancements. Shortly, members can safely and securely pay by credit card
on the website. The initial pages will allow for subscriptions etc and the
race entries would follow afterwards. Voting on the website will also be
achieved but prior to the AGM vote the website will take surveys on different
points. Although photos of the lib sites and the journey to and from the
race sites have appeared on the website, the state of the art camera phone used
doesn’t produce the best quality stills. The officials are now looking at
the new generation phones that use a broader band connection and can display
live pictures that will give you a better insight on each liberation. A
further report on this will appear shortly when the final details have been
gathered and agreed. With everything going on, it’s worth members getting
online and keep checking the site to see what the changes are, after all why
hear it second hand. You can logon to the NFC web-site at www.NationalFlyingClub.Co.Uk
and know what your club is doing.
After the AGM, and the last committee meeting in February, I must point
out that the National Flying Club have a lot of new committee members. The overall team are looking forward to implement some new and innovative
ideas. Members should take note and
support the new committee in their endeavours. In some members opinions the faith and trust in the committee wasn’t
there but now the National Flying Club have turned the corner, read on: - The
New Committee are looking at a number of ways in which to put the voting papers
out at the end of the season. Not
allowing a vote against a race point so that a positive and biggest majority
wins, is just one way the New Committee for 2004 are contemplating. This would take away the onus and the problems encountered in the
previous years. Another item on this
point is being looked into. Certain section
committeemen are looking to hold sectional meetings to be mandated by the
section members to vote at the committee meetings. This may stop many misconceptions and create a more togetherness within
the club, allowing the general membership at grass root level to participate in
its running. If each section did
this and the members participate, the race rules could be deleted, the committee
mandated by their section members to vote at the management committee meeting
for the race program. It could be
sorted without a hitch! A few more
ideas are on the boil. If any
members have progressive thoughts, creative ideas or just some good points of
view, then contact your local committeeman to put your idea forward.
The New Committee for 2004 are looking into everything regarding the
transportation of racing pigeons. Once
a dossier is produced, the New 2004 Management Committee
will look at exactly what steps to take the National Flying Club forward. Fine details on this point are that the National Flying Club are looking
at and working with DEFRA with regards to the regulations re the transportation
of Racing Pigeons. Costs are being
looked into the building and / or purchasing of transporter units.
The New 2004 Management Committee has mandated the Secretary to
negotiate with the British International Championship Club re the Dax
International Race. Both clubs could
travel across to France reducing both clubs costs. Who knows what more can be achieved. United together, great.The
members of both clubs will benefit.
