NIPA Annual General Meeting 2009
Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2009 12:34 pm
The 64th Annual General Meeting of the NIPA will be held in the Protestant Hall, Glenavy on Saturday 14th February 2009 starting at 2.00pm sharp. Accounts are to follow as will the Secretary’s Report. The Resolutions are self explanatory they are an attempt to explain to the members what is, in fact, the proper procedure. If you need any further clarification please do not hesitate and contact Secretary Fred Russell.
Resolutions Submitted by the N.I.P.A. Committees
1. New Rule 7A
If any member has a complaint concerning the NIPA they must take it to their club in the first instance. If the majority in the club support their complaint, the club will lodge the complaint with the NIPA on their behalf. This will then be considered at the next and following meeting of the Committee. Only complaints received in writing will be considered.
2. New Rule 11B
On the day of liberation in the Old Bird French National all members or their representative must confirm the time of their arrival by telephone to their centre official or NIPA office within one hour.
3. New Rule 22A
Any member requesting permission to race mark and have and have their clocks ETS set and checked at an alternative centre must make an application in writing each year before racing commences, giving the reason for their request.
4. New Rule 49B
The results in one club only may be included in any claim for NIPA trophies.
5. Delete existing Rule 43B and replace with New Rule 43B. All clubs must submit their race result to the NIPA office by Email, fax or hand delivery within three days of the race being flown. Late results will not be included in the official results.
6. Confirmation of the results with the workings of the first six velocities. Verification cards, dials, ETS printouts and official result form giving the number of members and birds competing with the number of crates sent and also the first 18 positions with members IR number and name must be forwarded via the transporter on the following race marking night. This result must also contain confirmation of the wining pigeon being confirmed at club level.
7. New Rule
In National Classic championship and all NIPA Open Races Winners will be drug tested by feather within one week. Refusal to allow a test will mean automatic disqualification and mat entail suspension.
8. New Rule 18A
When a member uses E.T.S. A signed copy of the assignment print out must be in the hands of the Club Secretary 14 days before racing commences for old birds and young birds respectively.
Secretary’s Report 2008/2009
In the 2008 racing season weather conditions again proved difficult to predict. The weather was so unsettled, so unpredictable, and forecasts changed so quickly.
Can it get any worse in 2009? I hope not.
Listening to all the experts in weather forecasting we are to have a beautiful summer in 2009. I hope they are correct.
I quite understand the difficulties that many fanciers have with races being brought forward to a Friday and being put back to a Sunday.
These changes were unavoidable. They were difficult to make but I believe that the majority of fanciers accept that any change made was simply in the interest of pigeons.
I would like to bring to everyone’s attention that in an inland race a message is recorded on Pigeon Line at 9.00pm every Thursday evening confirming whether or not the race for that weekend continues as normal of if there is to be any changes. In channel races and Nationals etc. A message is recorded every Wednesday evening at 9.00pm again confirming what is happening that weekend.
I recommend that you use this facility especially if weather conditions are looking unfavorable.
Maybe the weather experts got it right and we will have the best summer on record. I sincerely hope so.
On your behalf I would like to thank everyone for the assistance given to our organization throughout the racing season. Especially, the Race Controller and the Convoyers.
In general our 2008 racing season was good. No disasters, some difficult races, some very fast races, and again a brilliant Old Bird National from France.
It was very disappointing we had to cancel our Young Bird National from Talbenny due to very poor sea conditions. Fog in the channel is a recipe for disaster. I was amazed at the number of fanciers urging the race controller to liberate. I soon put a stop to that.
Your pigeons were well looked after by the convoyer, they were quickly and safely brought back to Ireland and released as soon as possible.
The pigeons homed well and I would like to thank everyone who took the time and effort to phone and pass on their thanks to everyone concerned for the magnificent condition their pigeons arrived home in. It’s nice to receive a compliment.
Your 2009 race programme will be finalized over the next few weeks and should be announced at the Annual General Meeting. No new race programme has been received, so any changes can only be minimal.
We are currently looking at a replacement for Sennen Cove, possibly in the Penzance area. I will keep you informed of any developments.
During the off season we held our usual meeting with the Dublin Airport Authority, The Air Aviation Authority and the bird risk management committee. I am pleased to inform you that no air strikes with racing pigeons were recorded, the Authority is well pleased with the cooperation of the Pigeon Authorities.
In the Old Bird season an attempt was made to track a racing pigeon from release to his loft, this was funded by the Dublin Airport Authority at considerable expense.
These pigeons were fitted with a tracking system at a cost of 2000 Euros each. The first training flight took place from Belfast and all pigeons were able to be tracked home to their lofts. It was amazing to see using Google Earth the flight path of these pigeons.
The pigeons were left for two weeks for them to get used with the tracking system on their backs. They were then sent to Pilmore were the tracking system was activated before release. Unfortunately two of the pigeons failed to return home while the third arrived in the next day badly injured be a hawk attack, the battery in the tracking system has a life span of approximately 5 hours. The tracking system was removed and the chip fed into the computer.
The information that appeared on screen was fantastic you could see the flight path of the pigeon heading due North and the height and speed he was fling at. Then I believe we recorded the exact moment he was attacked by a hawk. The pigeon was traveling north at a constant speed and height when he suddenly did an about turn headed South and his speed increased from 40 mph to 70 mph. We continued to monitor his flight path South after some miles he changed course to a North Easterly direction away from the strike. We continued to watch and it was obvious something was wrong he was slowing down and eventually he landed on a school roof, the battery lost power and we could not track him no more. The pigeon arrived home the next day at approx 6.00pm. The pigeon was very badly injured and I am in no doubt the injury was caused by a hawk. The other two pigeons never returned home.
At our next meeting with the Dublin Airport Authority this experiment and its findings will be examined.
I have just received a copy of the accounts for the 2008 season.
You should be aware that the NIPA held all transport charges for the 2008 and this I believe was the fourth year running that you experienced no increase in transportation costs. At the time this decision was made nobody could have forecast the immense hike in cost of maintaining at running seven transporters.
On closer examination of this account our income had fallen approx 4000, possibly due to the number of races that had to be arranged, maybe the introduction of mid-week racing.
However you will see the deficit was small and we are still awaiting a further cheque from BHW Lib-line, if this had been received the transport account would possibly be in a modest surplus.
During the year you will see how much we have had to spend on crate repairs, it is too high. Also we purchased 200 new crates at a cost of around £20,000, spent over £11,000 on refurbishing transporters.
Most expenditure did increase and there is very little I could do about it. However I am going recommend to your committee at their next meeting to hold all transportation costs for the 5th successive year.
This news should be broadly welcomed by everyone.
Surely you can see the wisdom of building your assets in times of plenty; this will see you safely through these uncertain times.
I will also be recommending a pay freeze for all employees, no capital to be spent on refurbishing transporters during 2009. Your transporters are in very good shape.
I can not work miracles on cutting costs by myself; you and your club must play their part. you could possibly repair crates at your club; give up crates you are not using so they can be distributed to clubs whom need extra crates, and possibly clubs come together to race mark their pigeons, this alone would have huge savings to transportation costs. I’ll leave the thought with you.
The general accounts are once again in deficit, a similar amount as the year before.
I was pleased to see our membership only fell by eleven and we welcome three new Club’s to our organization for 2009, Ballynahinch, South Belfast HPS and Beechpark. I hope they enjoy their racing in 2009 with the NIPA.
I will do my utmost to hold these costs down during the year.
I will be recommending to your committee a £1.00 increase per member for 2009.
The overall balance sheet shows your organization is in a very healthy state.
The overall increase in value of your organization has risen by approx £27,000. On paper your organization is now worth approx £57,700. You should be very proud being a member of a very successful organization.
You have already received your resolutions for 2009 AGM; there is nothing that is controversial. If you need further clarification please do not hesitate to contact me.
Finally I will bring you up to date with the progress of ETS, as you know the NIPA recommends the Unikon system. The interest in the system since December id greater than the year before and if any club or organization wishes a demonstration just give me a call and Ivan and myself will attend your club.
What does 2009 hold for our sport?
Thankfully no sign of Bird Flu, no restrictions by D.E.F.R.A. of D.A.R.D. this can only be good for our sport.
Climate change who knows, hopefully it will be much less of a problem than 2008.
Preparation for racing in 2009 continues and at the moment everything looks good.
Hope you all have a very successful racing season in 2009. I am sure there will be problems but there is always an answer to every problem, and please remember racing pigeons is a sport for all of us to enjoy.
Letter to all NIPA clubs,
Dear Secretary,
The committee have asked me to write to every NIPA club on the following subjects.
ETS
The committee would like every club that has members using the ETS Timing system.
To set up a committee to inspect all their members antenas, making sure that they are positioned inside the confines of the loft. If they are not sure they are positioned correctly contact your NIPA committee member and he will inspect the members loft with you.
Members race marking young birds and sending them to a racepoint in crates of their own.
All clubs must allow their members to use this facility if they wish to do so, It is now an NIPA rule. Members should not be penalised for following this rule.
NIPA National Races, etc.
Members pigeons are not entered in these races at club level. Pigeons are racemarked and entered at NIPA centres. The club only acts as an agent to collect the members fees and forward them to the NIPA. The NIPA will issue each member with a club verification card which he will take back to his club or clubs for their own club race result. The club can not make up a club result without this information. A member can ask for a club verification card for each club he is a member of and must have his pigeon included in their result. If a club has rule were its members must pay a levy for club prizes in these races and any member fails to do so then they can not take prizes.
The vast majority of all NIPA clubs are adhering to the rules on race marking young birds and pigeons being given their proper positions in National races etc.
I do hope that all clubs will inspect all their members lofts who are using ETS systems.
Enjoy your racing.
With no applications for a change of race programme the committee made some slight adjustments to the one used the year previous. All the Pilmore Beach races have been replaced by Fermoy provided permission is granted by the Irish Army as we use their training range to liberate. Permission is being sought and we will know the answer in approx 4 weeks, Fermoy is one of the few sites I have attended for a liberation and it really is fantastic, you can see for miles around. We are determined to continue with the Yearling Nat for Cocks & Hens, it is expected the entry will increase for a liberation at the end of June. Young Bird racing will commence on Saturday 11th July, three weeks of Area Liberations with the first mass liberation the fourth race on 1st August from Roscrea. All Pilmore Beach races have been replaced by Fermoy.
Old Birds: 11th April Tullamore (1), 18th April Tullamore (2), 25th April Roscrea, 2nd May Clonmel, 9th May Fermoy (1), 16th May Rosscarbery Inl Nat, 23rd May Fermoy (2), 30th May Talbenny (1), 6th June Talbenny (2), 6th June Fermoy (3), 13th June Bude, 13th June Mallow 5 Bird Championship, 20th June Sennen Cove, 20th June Sennen Cove Classic, 26th June St Malo (France) Nat, 27th June Rosscarbery Yearling Nat Cock/Hen.
Young Birds: 11th July Navan or Mullingar for Sections A, H, B, C & F. 11th July Tullamore for Sections D, E & G. 18th July Navan or Mullingar for Sections A, H, B, C & F. 18th July Tullamore for Sections D, E & G. 25th July Tullamore for Sections A, H, B, C & F. 25th July Roscrea for Sections D, E & G. 1st August Roscrea, 8th August Clonmel (1), 15th August Clonmel (2), 22nd Fermoy (1), 29th August Talbenny Nat, 29th August Tullamore, 5th September Fermoy and Fermoy 5 Bird Nom, 12th September Rosscarbery Nat, 19th September Fermoy.
Resolutions Submitted by the N.I.P.A. Committees
1. New Rule 7A
If any member has a complaint concerning the NIPA they must take it to their club in the first instance. If the majority in the club support their complaint, the club will lodge the complaint with the NIPA on their behalf. This will then be considered at the next and following meeting of the Committee. Only complaints received in writing will be considered.
2. New Rule 11B
On the day of liberation in the Old Bird French National all members or their representative must confirm the time of their arrival by telephone to their centre official or NIPA office within one hour.
3. New Rule 22A
Any member requesting permission to race mark and have and have their clocks ETS set and checked at an alternative centre must make an application in writing each year before racing commences, giving the reason for their request.
4. New Rule 49B
The results in one club only may be included in any claim for NIPA trophies.
5. Delete existing Rule 43B and replace with New Rule 43B. All clubs must submit their race result to the NIPA office by Email, fax or hand delivery within three days of the race being flown. Late results will not be included in the official results.
6. Confirmation of the results with the workings of the first six velocities. Verification cards, dials, ETS printouts and official result form giving the number of members and birds competing with the number of crates sent and also the first 18 positions with members IR number and name must be forwarded via the transporter on the following race marking night. This result must also contain confirmation of the wining pigeon being confirmed at club level.
7. New Rule
In National Classic championship and all NIPA Open Races Winners will be drug tested by feather within one week. Refusal to allow a test will mean automatic disqualification and mat entail suspension.
8. New Rule 18A
When a member uses E.T.S. A signed copy of the assignment print out must be in the hands of the Club Secretary 14 days before racing commences for old birds and young birds respectively.
Secretary’s Report 2008/2009
In the 2008 racing season weather conditions again proved difficult to predict. The weather was so unsettled, so unpredictable, and forecasts changed so quickly.
Can it get any worse in 2009? I hope not.
Listening to all the experts in weather forecasting we are to have a beautiful summer in 2009. I hope they are correct.
I quite understand the difficulties that many fanciers have with races being brought forward to a Friday and being put back to a Sunday.
These changes were unavoidable. They were difficult to make but I believe that the majority of fanciers accept that any change made was simply in the interest of pigeons.
I would like to bring to everyone’s attention that in an inland race a message is recorded on Pigeon Line at 9.00pm every Thursday evening confirming whether or not the race for that weekend continues as normal of if there is to be any changes. In channel races and Nationals etc. A message is recorded every Wednesday evening at 9.00pm again confirming what is happening that weekend.
I recommend that you use this facility especially if weather conditions are looking unfavorable.
Maybe the weather experts got it right and we will have the best summer on record. I sincerely hope so.
On your behalf I would like to thank everyone for the assistance given to our organization throughout the racing season. Especially, the Race Controller and the Convoyers.
In general our 2008 racing season was good. No disasters, some difficult races, some very fast races, and again a brilliant Old Bird National from France.
It was very disappointing we had to cancel our Young Bird National from Talbenny due to very poor sea conditions. Fog in the channel is a recipe for disaster. I was amazed at the number of fanciers urging the race controller to liberate. I soon put a stop to that.
Your pigeons were well looked after by the convoyer, they were quickly and safely brought back to Ireland and released as soon as possible.
The pigeons homed well and I would like to thank everyone who took the time and effort to phone and pass on their thanks to everyone concerned for the magnificent condition their pigeons arrived home in. It’s nice to receive a compliment.
Your 2009 race programme will be finalized over the next few weeks and should be announced at the Annual General Meeting. No new race programme has been received, so any changes can only be minimal.
We are currently looking at a replacement for Sennen Cove, possibly in the Penzance area. I will keep you informed of any developments.
During the off season we held our usual meeting with the Dublin Airport Authority, The Air Aviation Authority and the bird risk management committee. I am pleased to inform you that no air strikes with racing pigeons were recorded, the Authority is well pleased with the cooperation of the Pigeon Authorities.
In the Old Bird season an attempt was made to track a racing pigeon from release to his loft, this was funded by the Dublin Airport Authority at considerable expense.
These pigeons were fitted with a tracking system at a cost of 2000 Euros each. The first training flight took place from Belfast and all pigeons were able to be tracked home to their lofts. It was amazing to see using Google Earth the flight path of these pigeons.
The pigeons were left for two weeks for them to get used with the tracking system on their backs. They were then sent to Pilmore were the tracking system was activated before release. Unfortunately two of the pigeons failed to return home while the third arrived in the next day badly injured be a hawk attack, the battery in the tracking system has a life span of approximately 5 hours. The tracking system was removed and the chip fed into the computer.
The information that appeared on screen was fantastic you could see the flight path of the pigeon heading due North and the height and speed he was fling at. Then I believe we recorded the exact moment he was attacked by a hawk. The pigeon was traveling north at a constant speed and height when he suddenly did an about turn headed South and his speed increased from 40 mph to 70 mph. We continued to monitor his flight path South after some miles he changed course to a North Easterly direction away from the strike. We continued to watch and it was obvious something was wrong he was slowing down and eventually he landed on a school roof, the battery lost power and we could not track him no more. The pigeon arrived home the next day at approx 6.00pm. The pigeon was very badly injured and I am in no doubt the injury was caused by a hawk. The other two pigeons never returned home.
At our next meeting with the Dublin Airport Authority this experiment and its findings will be examined.
I have just received a copy of the accounts for the 2008 season.
You should be aware that the NIPA held all transport charges for the 2008 and this I believe was the fourth year running that you experienced no increase in transportation costs. At the time this decision was made nobody could have forecast the immense hike in cost of maintaining at running seven transporters.
On closer examination of this account our income had fallen approx 4000, possibly due to the number of races that had to be arranged, maybe the introduction of mid-week racing.
However you will see the deficit was small and we are still awaiting a further cheque from BHW Lib-line, if this had been received the transport account would possibly be in a modest surplus.
During the year you will see how much we have had to spend on crate repairs, it is too high. Also we purchased 200 new crates at a cost of around £20,000, spent over £11,000 on refurbishing transporters.
Most expenditure did increase and there is very little I could do about it. However I am going recommend to your committee at their next meeting to hold all transportation costs for the 5th successive year.
This news should be broadly welcomed by everyone.
Surely you can see the wisdom of building your assets in times of plenty; this will see you safely through these uncertain times.
I will also be recommending a pay freeze for all employees, no capital to be spent on refurbishing transporters during 2009. Your transporters are in very good shape.
I can not work miracles on cutting costs by myself; you and your club must play their part. you could possibly repair crates at your club; give up crates you are not using so they can be distributed to clubs whom need extra crates, and possibly clubs come together to race mark their pigeons, this alone would have huge savings to transportation costs. I’ll leave the thought with you.
The general accounts are once again in deficit, a similar amount as the year before.
I was pleased to see our membership only fell by eleven and we welcome three new Club’s to our organization for 2009, Ballynahinch, South Belfast HPS and Beechpark. I hope they enjoy their racing in 2009 with the NIPA.
I will do my utmost to hold these costs down during the year.
I will be recommending to your committee a £1.00 increase per member for 2009.
The overall balance sheet shows your organization is in a very healthy state.
The overall increase in value of your organization has risen by approx £27,000. On paper your organization is now worth approx £57,700. You should be very proud being a member of a very successful organization.
You have already received your resolutions for 2009 AGM; there is nothing that is controversial. If you need further clarification please do not hesitate to contact me.
Finally I will bring you up to date with the progress of ETS, as you know the NIPA recommends the Unikon system. The interest in the system since December id greater than the year before and if any club or organization wishes a demonstration just give me a call and Ivan and myself will attend your club.
What does 2009 hold for our sport?
Thankfully no sign of Bird Flu, no restrictions by D.E.F.R.A. of D.A.R.D. this can only be good for our sport.
Climate change who knows, hopefully it will be much less of a problem than 2008.
Preparation for racing in 2009 continues and at the moment everything looks good.
Hope you all have a very successful racing season in 2009. I am sure there will be problems but there is always an answer to every problem, and please remember racing pigeons is a sport for all of us to enjoy.
Letter to all NIPA clubs,
Dear Secretary,
The committee have asked me to write to every NIPA club on the following subjects.
ETS
The committee would like every club that has members using the ETS Timing system.
To set up a committee to inspect all their members antenas, making sure that they are positioned inside the confines of the loft. If they are not sure they are positioned correctly contact your NIPA committee member and he will inspect the members loft with you.
Members race marking young birds and sending them to a racepoint in crates of their own.
All clubs must allow their members to use this facility if they wish to do so, It is now an NIPA rule. Members should not be penalised for following this rule.
NIPA National Races, etc.
Members pigeons are not entered in these races at club level. Pigeons are racemarked and entered at NIPA centres. The club only acts as an agent to collect the members fees and forward them to the NIPA. The NIPA will issue each member with a club verification card which he will take back to his club or clubs for their own club race result. The club can not make up a club result without this information. A member can ask for a club verification card for each club he is a member of and must have his pigeon included in their result. If a club has rule were its members must pay a levy for club prizes in these races and any member fails to do so then they can not take prizes.
The vast majority of all NIPA clubs are adhering to the rules on race marking young birds and pigeons being given their proper positions in National races etc.
I do hope that all clubs will inspect all their members lofts who are using ETS systems.
Enjoy your racing.
With no applications for a change of race programme the committee made some slight adjustments to the one used the year previous. All the Pilmore Beach races have been replaced by Fermoy provided permission is granted by the Irish Army as we use their training range to liberate. Permission is being sought and we will know the answer in approx 4 weeks, Fermoy is one of the few sites I have attended for a liberation and it really is fantastic, you can see for miles around. We are determined to continue with the Yearling Nat for Cocks & Hens, it is expected the entry will increase for a liberation at the end of June. Young Bird racing will commence on Saturday 11th July, three weeks of Area Liberations with the first mass liberation the fourth race on 1st August from Roscrea. All Pilmore Beach races have been replaced by Fermoy.
Old Birds: 11th April Tullamore (1), 18th April Tullamore (2), 25th April Roscrea, 2nd May Clonmel, 9th May Fermoy (1), 16th May Rosscarbery Inl Nat, 23rd May Fermoy (2), 30th May Talbenny (1), 6th June Talbenny (2), 6th June Fermoy (3), 13th June Bude, 13th June Mallow 5 Bird Championship, 20th June Sennen Cove, 20th June Sennen Cove Classic, 26th June St Malo (France) Nat, 27th June Rosscarbery Yearling Nat Cock/Hen.
Young Birds: 11th July Navan or Mullingar for Sections A, H, B, C & F. 11th July Tullamore for Sections D, E & G. 18th July Navan or Mullingar for Sections A, H, B, C & F. 18th July Tullamore for Sections D, E & G. 25th July Tullamore for Sections A, H, B, C & F. 25th July Roscrea for Sections D, E & G. 1st August Roscrea, 8th August Clonmel (1), 15th August Clonmel (2), 22nd Fermoy (1), 29th August Talbenny Nat, 29th August Tullamore, 5th September Fermoy and Fermoy 5 Bird Nom, 12th September Rosscarbery Nat, 19th September Fermoy.