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Articles.
Its small change.
For a long while now it has been clear that unless we get to grips with the changes that are taking place all around us, which you must all be able to see, this sport will die beneath our feet. The comments here relate to the B.I.C.C., because that is the only racing club I have any personal interest in, but much of it has wider application and especially to the R.P.R.A. Itself.
The first thing we must establish is a management system that both reflects the interest of the membership, that is individuals and the whole, and one which is flexible, energetic, and capable of doing what is a very tough and demanding job. Make no mistake there is a lot of work involved, it is not just a matter of attending an odd meeting or two and shouting your head off. As a sport we must take on the technology available in order to both reduce the workload, improve efficiency, reduce costs and keep the membership better informed and involved at every stage.
This management team will be the Committee under our present structure. ( The entire R.P.R.A. structure of course requires a thorough overhaul but that is beyond the scope of this article.) This management team, the Committee, needs to be fairly elected by the membership, it needs to reflect that membership and it needs to be answerable to that membership. In return the Committee requires the authority of that membership to act on its behalf. Many are reluctant to place faith in committee’s, and the recent B.I.C.C. decisions do not help to diminish that scepticism, but the main cause of that problem is the very system we are obliged to work under. At the moment R.P.R.A. Rules forbid the election of committee members, in specialist clubs, by a postal vote. In effect this denies the bulk of members any say in the affairs of the Club whilst at the same time encouraging the incestuous re-election of a small clique which goes on throughout the sport right up to and including R.P.R.A. Council. It is unrealistic to expect members from all parts of the country to attend AGM’s and those who keep pointing out that this is the solution are those who live nearby or have nothing else to do. We are supposed to be democratic and so the first thing we must do is restore democracy and give all members an equal vote. The simple way to do that is to allow the election of officers by that same postal vote that we allow the changes of rules. The rule change involved is very simple but the effects will be great. I would ask everyone to seriously consider submitting the below proposal to change R.P.R.A. Rules to each and every Club they belong to:-
The following proposal to be made to Region for a change to R.P.R.A. Rules
1) R.P.R.A. Rule 182. Delete the words, “and the annual election of officers of the organisation”.
New rule to read: -
“If an organisation has members residing outside the area of a circle of 50 mile radius centred on the headquarters of the organisation, all resolutions to be submitted to general meetings of the organisation shall be permitted to be dealt with by votes submitted in writing by the members and the secretary of the organisation shall send appropriate voting papers to members for this purpose, provided that adoption of the secretary’s annual report and the annual accounts and balance sheet of the organisation shall not be permitted to be dealt with by postal vote.
To change the Rule in this way would allow each organisation to elect officers in the way that best suited them. I realise of course that many members may not take the opportunity to vote but that is not reason enough to deny them the opportunity. Once we can elect Committees that are representative and responsible to the whole membership we can begin to restore confidence in their actions.
As far as the B.I.C.C. is concerned I have felt over the past couple of years that it has allowed its objective to become confused, which was endorsed by some of the squabbling that took place at the recent committee meeting. Having a clear objective gives a focus to any discussion or plan and itself shows a way forward especially when you are confronted by difficulties or stark choices. The primary objective of the B.I.C.C. surely is to Organise, encourage and enable British participation in the Western European International Racing programme. Its secondary objective, but of almost equal importance because it goes to the heart of achieving the primary objective, is to organise a series of National races to both school and train pigeons for the International races and stimulate National competition.
Whilst its objective may have become confused the B.I.C.C. had I believe gone a long way towards achieving those objectives in recent times and this is born our by the increased membership, the increased number of pigeons sent and the slow but gradual rise in the number of pigeons sent to the International Races, shown HERE. I fear that the recent decisions by the Committee will set back this progress. What I want the Committee to do is examine all possibilities that there are to get as many birds as we can from as many parts of the country as we can at the least cost and most convenience that we can. So having made a proposal that would allow us to democratically elect a Committee that would be representative and accountable the next proposal is one to set out for them the objectives of the B.I.C.C. and the broad parameters for future planning. So I propose the following BICC Rule change:-
Delete Rule 5 and replace with.
The primary objective of the B.I.C.C. is to Organise, Encourage and Enable British participation in the Western European International Racing programme. Its secondary objective is to organise a series of at least five National races to both school and train pigeons for the International races and provide and stimulate National competition. These races will be reviewed and determined annually by the Management Committee and will reflect the expressed wishes of the Membership.
It is clear, I am afraid, from the ultimatum recently delivered to the Committee that this might well result in the resignation of the present Chairman and Secretary. Whilst this would be greatly regrettable, because they have delivered great service to the B.I.C.C. over many years, it is equally clear from the statement made that they are finding it impossible to keep up with the workload. If that is the case then it can only be right that they should gracefully stand aside and the B.I.C.C. recruit either a person or group who both have the capability to cope with the present workload and who are either equipped to use or able to adapt to the technology that will assist in more efficient administration.
Generally speaking it is sensible to keep rules as simple as possible. Why? Simply because time and circumstances change but Rules stay rigidly until the next year, and even then are not always easy to change. We saw a good example of this within the B.I.C.C. last year. Forgetting for a moment the debacle over the introduction of the North Section, in action it did highlight a problem. It was suggested that the North Section should be a set distance from a particular race point. During the season that race point changed. Technically speaking so did the sections. If the Section boundaries had simply been declared by the Committee, rather than being set in a Rule, then they could changed with circumstances or not whichever was the most expedient. So I propose the following B.I.C.C. Rule change:-
Delete General Rule 15 and Replace with.
The B.I.C.C. shall be divided into Sections for Racing purposes. The Sections will reflect the wide boundaries of the Club, geography, race distances and membership in order to make the distribution of prizes and positions more equitable and fair to the entire membership. The sections will be reviewed and determined annually by the Committee.
In a similar way, especially in the highly volatile world that we are likely to find ourselves in through 2009, the distribution of prizes and awards should reflect changing circumstances and so I propose the following B.I.C.C. Rule change:-
Delete Racing Rule 3 and 5 and Replace with.
Distribution of Prices and Awards will be reviewed and determined annually by the Committee.
The next proposal turns on this same principal and is a very good example of why we should not tie ourselves up in Rules. Last year a Rule change was proposed, in good faith and in what was thought to be the best interest of members, that those using Electronic Timing in International Races were obliged by International Rules to time in both rubbers on each and every pigeon within 5 minutes. This in fact was not correct but whether it was correct or not is not really the point. If we are obliged to do something by an International Rule then there is no point at all in making that a domestic rule for this very simple reason, the International Rule can easily be changed before the season begins but we cannot change ours until the end of the year. So I propose the following B.I.C.C. Rule change:-
Delete Racing Rule 12 and Clock Rule 7, Replace with
All International entries and timings must comply with International Rules, which will be advised by the Secretary.
The International Rules can be set out in the Year Book for members to see but if then at anytime the International Rules are changed the Secretary can advise the membership and we can remain on an equal footing with the rest of Europe.
The next change I would like to make is to revert to the rule that required verification to be carried out within 60 minutes. This worked well for many years and continues to be the norm in many other Clubs and as far as I can see was merely changed to suit the Secretaries convenience. There are those amongst us who have difficulty in verifying within 30 minutes and we should not seek to penalise them purely for convenience. So I propose the following B.I.C.C. Rule change:-
Delete Racing Rule 6 and replace with.
International Races. Every pigeon timed must be verified within 60 minutes of timing.
National Races. The first pigeon timed must be verified within 60 minutes of timing.
When verifying the following information must be given:- B.I.C.C. Number, Name, Town, Ring number, the time clocked in and any Wing Marks when applicable.
If the race extends beyond three days then verification must be within 12 hours.
The final change to rules I would like to make, at this time, is to regularise what is happening in any case and that is to make each race result consist of the first 25% of entries. This has been the practice throughout most of the rest of the pigeon world for some time and it gives a quantitative meaning to the result. So I propose the following B.I.C.C. Rule change:-
Delete Racing Rule 7 and Replace with
The duration of all races, and the result, will extend to 25% of the entry.
We could go on and on making rules but in the long run it is self defeating. If we can establish a procedure for electing a capable and responsive management and provide them with a basic set of rules that empowers them to act then we would be entitled to expect them to deliver. We need to move on together.
Nigel Lane
For a long while now it has been clear that unless we get to grips with the changes that are taking place all around us, which you must all be able to see, this sport will die beneath our feet. The comments here relate to the B.I.C.C., because that is the only racing club I have any personal interest in, but much of it has wider application and especially to the R.P.R.A. Itself.
The first thing we must establish is a management system that both reflects the interest of the membership, that is individuals and the whole, and one which is flexible, energetic, and capable of doing what is a very tough and demanding job. Make no mistake there is a lot of work involved, it is not just a matter of attending an odd meeting or two and shouting your head off. As a sport we must take on the technology available in order to both reduce the workload, improve efficiency, reduce costs and keep the membership better informed and involved at every stage.
This management team will be the Committee under our present structure. ( The entire R.P.R.A. structure of course requires a thorough overhaul but that is beyond the scope of this article.) This management team, the Committee, needs to be fairly elected by the membership, it needs to reflect that membership and it needs to be answerable to that membership. In return the Committee requires the authority of that membership to act on its behalf. Many are reluctant to place faith in committee’s, and the recent B.I.C.C. decisions do not help to diminish that scepticism, but the main cause of that problem is the very system we are obliged to work under. At the moment R.P.R.A. Rules forbid the election of committee members, in specialist clubs, by a postal vote. In effect this denies the bulk of members any say in the affairs of the Club whilst at the same time encouraging the incestuous re-election of a small clique which goes on throughout the sport right up to and including R.P.R.A. Council. It is unrealistic to expect members from all parts of the country to attend AGM’s and those who keep pointing out that this is the solution are those who live nearby or have nothing else to do. We are supposed to be democratic and so the first thing we must do is restore democracy and give all members an equal vote. The simple way to do that is to allow the election of officers by that same postal vote that we allow the changes of rules. The rule change involved is very simple but the effects will be great. I would ask everyone to seriously consider submitting the below proposal to change R.P.R.A. Rules to each and every Club they belong to:-
The following proposal to be made to Region for a change to R.P.R.A. Rules
1) R.P.R.A. Rule 182. Delete the words, “and the annual election of officers of the organisation”.
New rule to read: -
“If an organisation has members residing outside the area of a circle of 50 mile radius centred on the headquarters of the organisation, all resolutions to be submitted to general meetings of the organisation shall be permitted to be dealt with by votes submitted in writing by the members and the secretary of the organisation shall send appropriate voting papers to members for this purpose, provided that adoption of the secretary’s annual report and the annual accounts and balance sheet of the organisation shall not be permitted to be dealt with by postal vote.
To change the Rule in this way would allow each organisation to elect officers in the way that best suited them. I realise of course that many members may not take the opportunity to vote but that is not reason enough to deny them the opportunity. Once we can elect Committees that are representative and responsible to the whole membership we can begin to restore confidence in their actions.
As far as the B.I.C.C. is concerned I have felt over the past couple of years that it has allowed its objective to become confused, which was endorsed by some of the squabbling that took place at the recent committee meeting. Having a clear objective gives a focus to any discussion or plan and itself shows a way forward especially when you are confronted by difficulties or stark choices. The primary objective of the B.I.C.C. surely is to Organise, encourage and enable British participation in the Western European International Racing programme. Its secondary objective, but of almost equal importance because it goes to the heart of achieving the primary objective, is to organise a series of National races to both school and train pigeons for the International races and stimulate National competition.
Whilst its objective may have become confused the B.I.C.C. had I believe gone a long way towards achieving those objectives in recent times and this is born our by the increased membership, the increased number of pigeons sent and the slow but gradual rise in the number of pigeons sent to the International Races, shown HERE. I fear that the recent decisions by the Committee will set back this progress. What I want the Committee to do is examine all possibilities that there are to get as many birds as we can from as many parts of the country as we can at the least cost and most convenience that we can. So having made a proposal that would allow us to democratically elect a Committee that would be representative and accountable the next proposal is one to set out for them the objectives of the B.I.C.C. and the broad parameters for future planning. So I propose the following BICC Rule change:-
Delete Rule 5 and replace with.
The primary objective of the B.I.C.C. is to Organise, Encourage and Enable British participation in the Western European International Racing programme. Its secondary objective is to organise a series of at least five National races to both school and train pigeons for the International races and provide and stimulate National competition. These races will be reviewed and determined annually by the Management Committee and will reflect the expressed wishes of the Membership.
It is clear, I am afraid, from the ultimatum recently delivered to the Committee that this might well result in the resignation of the present Chairman and Secretary. Whilst this would be greatly regrettable, because they have delivered great service to the B.I.C.C. over many years, it is equally clear from the statement made that they are finding it impossible to keep up with the workload. If that is the case then it can only be right that they should gracefully stand aside and the B.I.C.C. recruit either a person or group who both have the capability to cope with the present workload and who are either equipped to use or able to adapt to the technology that will assist in more efficient administration.
Generally speaking it is sensible to keep rules as simple as possible. Why? Simply because time and circumstances change but Rules stay rigidly until the next year, and even then are not always easy to change. We saw a good example of this within the B.I.C.C. last year. Forgetting for a moment the debacle over the introduction of the North Section, in action it did highlight a problem. It was suggested that the North Section should be a set distance from a particular race point. During the season that race point changed. Technically speaking so did the sections. If the Section boundaries had simply been declared by the Committee, rather than being set in a Rule, then they could changed with circumstances or not whichever was the most expedient. So I propose the following B.I.C.C. Rule change:-
Delete General Rule 15 and Replace with.
The B.I.C.C. shall be divided into Sections for Racing purposes. The Sections will reflect the wide boundaries of the Club, geography, race distances and membership in order to make the distribution of prizes and positions more equitable and fair to the entire membership. The sections will be reviewed and determined annually by the Committee.
In a similar way, especially in the highly volatile world that we are likely to find ourselves in through 2009, the distribution of prizes and awards should reflect changing circumstances and so I propose the following B.I.C.C. Rule change:-
Delete Racing Rule 3 and 5 and Replace with.
Distribution of Prices and Awards will be reviewed and determined annually by the Committee.
The next proposal turns on this same principal and is a very good example of why we should not tie ourselves up in Rules. Last year a Rule change was proposed, in good faith and in what was thought to be the best interest of members, that those using Electronic Timing in International Races were obliged by International Rules to time in both rubbers on each and every pigeon within 5 minutes. This in fact was not correct but whether it was correct or not is not really the point. If we are obliged to do something by an International Rule then there is no point at all in making that a domestic rule for this very simple reason, the International Rule can easily be changed before the season begins but we cannot change ours until the end of the year. So I propose the following B.I.C.C. Rule change:-
Delete Racing Rule 12 and Clock Rule 7, Replace with
All International entries and timings must comply with International Rules, which will be advised by the Secretary.
The International Rules can be set out in the Year Book for members to see but if then at anytime the International Rules are changed the Secretary can advise the membership and we can remain on an equal footing with the rest of Europe.
The next change I would like to make is to revert to the rule that required verification to be carried out within 60 minutes. This worked well for many years and continues to be the norm in many other Clubs and as far as I can see was merely changed to suit the Secretaries convenience. There are those amongst us who have difficulty in verifying within 30 minutes and we should not seek to penalise them purely for convenience. So I propose the following B.I.C.C. Rule change:-
Delete Racing Rule 6 and replace with.
International Races. Every pigeon timed must be verified within 60 minutes of timing.
National Races. The first pigeon timed must be verified within 60 minutes of timing.
When verifying the following information must be given:- B.I.C.C. Number, Name, Town, Ring number, the time clocked in and any Wing Marks when applicable.
If the race extends beyond three days then verification must be within 12 hours.
The final change to rules I would like to make, at this time, is to regularise what is happening in any case and that is to make each race result consist of the first 25% of entries. This has been the practice throughout most of the rest of the pigeon world for some time and it gives a quantitative meaning to the result. So I propose the following B.I.C.C. Rule change:-
Delete Racing Rule 7 and Replace with
The duration of all races, and the result, will extend to 25% of the entry.
We could go on and on making rules but in the long run it is self defeating. If we can establish a procedure for electing a capable and responsive management and provide them with a basic set of rules that empowers them to act then we would be entitled to expect them to deliver. We need to move on together.
Nigel Lane