RPRA Council Meeting - 26/10/18

[willie reynolds]

Brief of consultation follows (you do get two more working groups)

RPRA Members Consultation – Comments by Ian Evans RPRA CEO
The RPRA member’s consultation that was published in the British Homing World, and on the RPRA website and social media attracted 1092 responses.
Initially I was disappointed by the level of response. However, having taken into consideration that this was the first time that RPRA members had been consulted on an individual basis, such a response is a success. Hopefully there will be an even better response to future consultation exercises.
A summary of the responses is as follows:
• 60% thought that clubs should not be able to refuse membership.
• 62% were in favour of reducing the number of liberation sites and larger racing organisations.
• 85% were in favour of one member one vote.
• 76% were in favour of an Executive Committee.
• 59% were in favour of some kind of restriction to the start date of racing.
A more detailed breakdown of the results can be found within this report.
The results of the consultation were presented and discussed at the RPRA Council meeting on 26th October and the following was agreed:
• That the RPRA recommends that racing does not start before 20th April.
• That the Finance and General purpose committee appoint a working group at its December meeting with a view to improve racing and reduce losses. The group remit would include, but not limited to, the following:
1. To explore ways of reducing the number of racing organisations or encourage cooperation among such organisations leading to larger liberation and therefore less liberations.
2. Explore the possibility of reducing the number of Inland liberation sites.
3. Explore the feasibility of regional corridor racing for inland races.
4. Establish ways of monitoring the conditions experienced during transportation to the racepoint.
5. Develop guidance to help manage races.
Also establish a working group that would build a bank of data relating to health issues that that could be used to facilitate future research into pigeon related diseases.
There was also a commitment to establish the required rule change to facilitate the move to a governance structure based on one member one vote.
Ian Evans
RPRA CEO