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May I take this opportunity to thank the President, Mr Bill Harris, and the secretaries Sid and Karen Barkel for their support and co-operation over the last twelve months. I am sure you all share our dismay at the substantial loss of this year compared to the profit of 2001. The committee is fully aware of the situation and have taken steps to try to rectify this loss. I am sure you all know that the interest in investment is at an all time low. There have been other problems, which we feel sure, with time, we can overcome.
My best wishes to all members for a successful season in 2003.
Stan Dangerfield
Honorary Treasurer.
Although the accounts show a loss this year, there are a few factors to take into account. The amount of depreciation is standing at approx. £6,000 and this figure will disappear within the next three years. The club stands strong with office equipment second to none. Legal fees amounting to £4,764 have also affected the balance.
We as secretaries forecast some good years to come. Overall the deficit will change to a surplus.
We bring to the memberships attention, the fact that Racing Rule 23 is delaying the payouts of prize and pool monies in the races. We urge the membership to support a change to this rule because it is creating a bottleneck of the work and lots of complaints and unfortunately this rule ties your secretaries’ hands.
We are now working with the new President Bill Harris who I can only describe as a track suit President. He has been here at the NFC office to see how things operate, he has been to the marking stations, he has been to Barcelona and the Belgium Entende. In our opinion his intentions are progressive for the NFC. On the subject of international racing, we are all for, "having a go and getting stuck in". But Karen and I also believe in tradition. We would never like it said that we have taken anything from the National especially tradition. Whilst we as secretaries would like the progress of International racing to continue, and in our hearts we would like to make anything and everything possible for the NFC membership, we would like to see the Pau Grand National kept on, as well as the Dax International introduced. We could do it and would like to do it. (Pau 1621 isn’t suitable but there is another Pau race point within the RPRA rule book.) Anything is possible, it is up to you, the membership if you want it.
In the near future, it will be possible through a program, for the National Flying Club results to compete in a world championship. A compact disc will be available with the contents including the current handbook, all race results etc., for the last five years and adding each consecutive year on. There will be many more facilities on this disc! With the latest mobile camera phones on the market and video phones due out in the new year, live or stills of the liberation will be placed onto the web site live or in good time. Special thanks to Paul O’Leary and Russell Bradford for their progressive ideas and work. This as secretaries is our aim to keep the NFC at the forefront of pigeon racing progress.
We would like to thank Bill Harris, Stan Dangerfield and the committee for their support and unity throughout the year and good luck in the 2003 season to everyone.
Yours in sport,
Sid & Karen Barkel,
Secretaries
