RPRA Rule Changes

[PeteDerby]

Just giving a view as a re-entrant into the sport, having been out of it since the 1970’s, I am struck by the lack of modernisation or promotion in order to attract new, younger entrants (I don’t qualify for younger by the way!).

It took quite a lot of digging, patience and chasing phone numbers to find contacts to join a club. Those new entrants the sport seeks just won’t work that hard even if we manage to get them interested in the first place. I had to order a cheque book for the first time in years to pay the RPRA. Again, young people won’t even know what a cheque book is!

It strikes me that we’ll kill it from within faster than any anti pigeon racing fanatics could do if the in-fighting and resistance to change continues along the lines I have witnessed of late.

[Ian Evans]

Just giving a view as a re-entrant into the sport, having been out of it since the 1970’s, I am struck by the lack of modernisation or promotion in order to attract new, younger entrants (I don’t qualify for younger by the way!).

It took quite a lot of digging, patience and chasing phone numbers to find contacts to join a club. Those new entrants the sport seeks just won’t work that hard even if we manage to get them interested in the first place. I had to order a cheque book for the first time in years to pay the RPRA. Again, young people won’t even know what a cheque book is!

It strikes me that we’ll kill it from within faster than any anti pigeon racing fanatics could do if the in-fighting and resistance to change continues along the lines I have witnessed of late.

Totally agree.

[Buster121]

Just giving a view as a re-entrant into the sport, having been out of it since the 1970’s, I am struck by the lack of modernisation or promotion in order to attract new, younger entrants (I don’t qualify for younger by the way!).

It took quite a lot of digging, patience and chasing phone numbers to find contacts to join a club. Those new entrants the sport seeks just won’t work that hard even if we manage to get them interested in the first place. I had to order a cheque book for the first time in years to pay the RPRA. Again, young people won’t even know what a cheque book is!

It strikes me that we’ll kill it from within faster than any anti pigeon racing fanatics could do if the in-fighting and resistance to change continues along the lines I have witnessed of late.

I had exactly the same issues when I restarted back in 2010, so totally agree

[Bowbroom]

I’m afraid that any proposals for change will not alter the situation relating to recruitment of youngsters at a sufficient rate to replace those that are leaving.
A stable base membership will be reached sometime in the future which will be a shadow of what it was 30 - 40 years ago sadly
If anybody has a magic wand to alter this please show and wave it.

[Diamond Dave]

I’m afraid that any proposals for change will not alter the situation relating to recruitment of youngsters at a sufficient rate to replace those that are leaving.
A stable base membership will be reached sometime in the future which will be a shadow of what it was 30 - 40 years ago sadly
If anybody has a magic wand to alter this please show and wave it.

We have just tried to do that Bowbroom and been shut out. We didnt have a magic wand but we had some good ideas.
Unfortunately with the heirarchy as it is the membership will diminish at an even quicker rate and I fear that there are likely to be splinter groups and the RPRA will become a thing of the past.
That might not be a bad thing as given the choice, I would prefer to join a splinter group than have this current shower block me out of my own union.

[Ian Evans]

I’m afraid that any proposals for change will not alter the situation relating to recruitment of youngsters at a sufficient rate to replace those that are leaving.
A stable base membership will be reached sometime in the future which will be a shadow of what it was 30 - 40 years ago sadly
If anybody has a magic wand to alter this please show and wave it.

That's 1 opinion

[Bowbroom]

If by good ideas you mean the current proposals for rule changes, please explain how this will have any meaningful effect whatsoever on the decline in membership for I can’t see how, perhaps it’s just me?
I’ve found in this life that generally good things don’t come easily and have to be worked for, as for you being shut out, you have managed to get your proposal on the Agenda, now it all depends on what happens 3 weeks on Friday at the Leonardo Hotel, will you be attending to see how you “baby” goes on?

[NeilA]

Just giving a view as a re-entrant into the sport, having been out of it since the 1970’s, I am struck by the lack of modernisation or promotion in order to attract new, younger entrants (I don’t qualify for younger by the way!).

It took quite a lot of digging, patience and chasing phone numbers to find contacts to join a club. Those new entrants the sport seeks just won’t work that hard even if we manage to get them interested in the first place. I had to order a cheque book for the first time in years to pay the RPRA. Again, young people won’t even know what a cheque book is!

It strikes me that we’ll kill it from within faster than any anti pigeon racing fanatics could do if the in-fighting and resistance to change continues along the lines I have witnessed of late.

Agree Pete
I was out of pigeons for 18 years many clubs had closed that I once new
There seemed very little information to find one
In the end 2 local clubs that I found refused me so the Rpra recommended the one that was 30 miles away although I later found out there was better closer options
Luckily I found one 18 miles away
Then in time members changed and I got in one 4 miles away that had previously said no to me

I often think that we have no youngsters coming into the sport as it’s hard work to do it every day when there are easier warmer options but one thing I never understand is how a young boy or girl or complete new starter is expected to compete against the area champion
Why feds don’t have a league system with cards to each leagues is a puzzle to me and then clubs become more of a marking station with maybe a 5 bird club result within in it or single nom result
All other birds sent still compete in the fed and you still get a fed result but also cards for each league so a novice is put into the bottom league to start with against other novice fanciers or more just general hobby fanciers who are not setting high standards
You wouldn’t have many sports where a boy is playing the county champions from day 1
The other option where we are missing out is not really looking to recruit from fanciers now living here particularly from Romania and Poland when you consider the Harrow club in west London have 35 Romanians through word of mouth sending 800-1000 pigeons a week that’s a success
My area has towns with large populations of Romanians , Poles etc yet we don’t have any members in the local north rd clubs that I know of so is there a opportunity missed there
Do the Rpra reach out to these groups to encourage them to go to a local club on a Friday

[Ian Evans]

If by good ideas you mean the current proposals for rule changes, please explain how this will have any meaningful effect whatsoever on the decline in membership for I can’t see how, perhaps it’s just me?
I’ve found in this life that generally good things don’t come easily and have to be worked for, as for you being shut out, you have managed to get your proposal on the Agenda, now it all depends on what happens 3 weeks on Friday at the Leonardo Hotel, will you be attending to see how you “baby” goes on?

Because I have proven that investing a little money in promotion and taking the sport to people that wouldn't have otherwise known it exists results in a small proportion of those people taking up the sport. That will help slow the decline. The current system stops and has stopped such actions. They are willing to accept its Demise without trying !

Regards to my baby as you so kindly put it. What use will it be me taking a day off work, traveling a six hour round trip to sit and listen (can't contribute)???? My mandate through the majority of others in the Welsh region had been given to our delegate. That's enough !

The issue from my point of view is that, using the East Midland region as an example, things haven't been done properly to allow a level playing field. Just 1 example. The MNFC had 3 (or more but at least 3) delegates present, as it their right under the regions standing order based on proportional representation..what isn't right is that they were not mandated by their members. Their members were never asked. The whole system is broken amd in my opinion stinks.

[Diamond Dave]

There are opportunities missed everywhere Neil. There is no initiative to change anything.
The once mighty regions had to deal with 30 -40 members to a club with 4 or 5 clubs in every town.
Now they don't deal with hardly anything by comparison - ask yourself what do they do all day.? They could use the extra time on their hands to deal with such things like recruitment, bop, etc.etc but what do they do, just find ways to protect their own existence!