The young bird sale for the 28th March at Northwich is going
well with many top fanciers already committing either one or two to the sale,
full details will be advertised shortly. When I start the sales list most of my
time is going to be taken up so a few odd weeks may go by without a Bulletin,
not the end of the world. If you have any interesting observations by all means
drop me a line or even call me.
I had an interesting letter come my way, one that was also on the
discussions pages of the web site, this is on the way the NFC is seen by a
newcomer to the club. It was our sec Sid who pointed it out so I contacted the
author for its use in these Bulletins.
“I've been watching the debate on this site and in the fancy press for
a while now as a non-member.
I have now joined the NFC in partnership with my 4yo son and would like to say
how proud I am that we are members of this great club. We will be one of the
poorer flying teams in the NFC but none the less wish to contribute as best we
can to a thriving National Flying club and will not be afraid to express an
opinion, which at times may seem a little off the wall but will always be what
we (I) think is a good idea or constructive criticism. John suggests that the
majority of NFC members couldn't care less they just want to fly their pigeons.
Well to me that makes partial sense, what ordinary fancier wants to get involved
in the politics of a club currently shooting itself in the foot! However I
don’t believe the majority don’t care, a lot may not but I think there are
many given the opportunity that would. Does anybody realistically expect
thousands of members to turn up to an AGM? I don't think so and if they did the
club could not cope. However I am sure there are many of us around the regions
given the opportunity to attend fairly close to home that would. I would suggest
the way forward for a club like the national with a wide spread membership is to
make use of video conferencing. This would allow the AGM to be held in every
region! Each region could hire a venue and by means of video conferencing could
hear what was being said at the 'main meeting place' and then vote accordingly.
Cuckoo? No not really, video conferencing is now old hat, we have an excellent
secretary who has helped develop this technology we are currently using; yes it
would require a revamp, some new rules etc. but it would give more incentive for
ordinary fanciers like myself to 'attend'. I think the thing that stands out to
me in all the debates that I have seen is that it seems to be ignored that the
Committee is a Management Committee. The Committee should be allowed to manage
and should take the responsibility of managing. In terms of the committee being
allowed to manage anyone who has had responsibility for managing an
organisation/business/team will agree that you have to have parameters or in
other words policies to manage. You cannot manage an ‘intangible’; terms of
reference are essential. A situation where every year according to mood swings
of members the policy can change and have an adverse effect on the club is not a
sound basis for success. Take Dax for instance, my view is that it will do
damage to the NFC if it does not partake in the international next year (and in
future). My opinion is not based on a current desire to race from there myself
(eventually maybe but some decent NFC section places has to be our target over
the next few years); but for the image of the club as a forward thinking
national organisation committed to providing the finest quality racing
available.
A lot has been said of the role of the BICC, I have no doubt it is an excellent
club but British? I don't feel realistically that you can call it British, where
are the marking stations for all the British flyers? Who wants to drive a couple
of hundred miles to enter a race? When you have a man of the stature of Geoff
Cooper no longer interested in the NFC there has to be a problem somewhere? I
note Mr. Harris' comments on this thread. What difference does it make Mr.
Harris which committee members are regarded as Ostriches (last year) surely
you're question and the way forward for the NFC is ‘why do you think we were
Ostriches’, isn't it better to find out why people hold such an opinion and
then look to see if there can be improvement or defend a policy if necessary.
When I read your response I thought it was putting the lid on the debate it
appeared a threat if you like ‘Are you calling me an ostrich?’ If I have
that wrong then I apologise but that's my perception I would be happy to hear
what your intentions were in your post. We have it would seem, (from my
uninformed position), committee members blaming members for the current position
and members blaming committee. Where as I understand the most important thing
for the NFC at the moment is to resolve the short term issues at the February
meeting, I hope the executive Officers will be exploring how the club can amend
its rules and procedures and work with other organisations to modernise (where
needed) a club that should be the flag ship of Racing pigeons in this country.
The club needs to be proactive not reactive. One final suggestion, on race
programs, could we not create a rule that there will be a base amount of old
bird races and of Yb races and these can only be altered by two thirds of the
total membership voting or by a proposition by the Management Committee which
must be passed at the AGM by those members attending. The race points to be
within a certain latitude and longitude and never be outside of these. The
Committee then as a management committee will decide the race points within this
framework; there would be no need each year to have to vote on the race program
and it will allow the freedom to change the race point if it becomes
inappropriate and allow the Committee to manage. I accept there may be many
things I am ignorant of and perhaps some of what I have written may be
incorrect, this is not intentional and I'm never afraid to admit and apologise
if I get my facts wrong. Wishing everyone a brilliant racing season for 2004 and
let's hope it's not to long before we have another International winner,
wouldn't that be fantastic! Alan”.
A very interesting letter and with regards to the February meeting I can
say that it was forward thinking on behalf of the committee. They made changes
in the best interest of the club and co-opted members onto the committee where
there were spaces available. After listening to the present committee members I
feel that if the club can stick to them and stabilise the club there will be
changes for the better. We have an excellent club so lets support it to the
full.
A few more photos this week taken at the NFC presentation and are of
Eddie & Julie Froggatt plus George Hilson receiving his trophy from popular
regular guest Mrs Napolitano.
