Bowbroom wrote: Sun May 18, 2025 12:58 pm
Everyone is entitled to their opinion (unless it disagrees with some) mine is that we will NEVER attract enough to even go near replacing those lost through natural wastage, for the kids it’s too much like hard work the same applies to the newly retired.
The drop in membership is affecting all the unions in the British Isles and friends abroad assure me it’s the same in Belgium and Holland.
We must face up to the fact that ours is a dying game and enjoy it while we can, if it gives people pleasure to delude themselves otherwise than I wish them all the best.
Your opinion BB and one that typically reflects the attitude of a current or former official of the RPRA.
I'm guessing that it was under your inclusion that the "the future of the sport" committee was set up. I wonder if you can remind me what that achieved, apart from mis-using members funds.
I dont consider myself to be "deluded" because I have a more positive attitude than you.
Can you show me any evidence of newly retired ppl being targeted as potential members or can you show me any evidence of any one being targeted in any sort of campagn to seek new members by the ageing hierachy of the RPRA.? ( refrained from using the D word)
I myself have several ideas of how new members could be targeted and I dont consider myself to be deluded because I have a positive attitude.
There are hundreds of other ppl out there that are likely to have other ideas as well but with your attitude and that of the RPRA, it can only go one way.
Whats really interesting about your post is that you have actively stated that if we dont agree with you - "we are deluded" - To reflect on previous posts of yours, Id say thats a classic case of pot and kettle!!
Nothing personal intended mate.
As usual your assumptions couldn’t be further from the truth not that it will concern you
After spending the Thick end of 40 years trying to promote the sport along with many others and sadly failing, if you have the answer to the problem then why not get on with it you may be the saviour of the sport and don’t realise it.
However, when you’ve knocked your brains out and become disillusioned as I have then perhaps you’ll come to realise that some things are inevitable and as my old man used to say “don’t worry about things you can’t change tackle the things you can”
I look forward to seeing the positive results of your efforts
Fair play BB. I am not saying my ideas would be fruitful and I agree, no collection of ideas will replace the natural decline that has occurred over the last 20 years but it could be enough to keep the game going for a bit longer than your estimated demise.
You dont need to waste your time looking for anything positive from me as I certainly wont be contributing anything to the RPRA in its current format.
Aaah - you forgot to tell us what "the future of the sport" committee achieved over the 4 or 5 years of its existence.?
Diamond Dave wrote: Sun May 18, 2025 9:04 pm
Fair play BB. I am not saying my ideas would be fruitful and I agree, no collection of ideas will replace the natural decline that has occurred over the last 20 years but it could be enough to keep the game going for a bit longer than your estimated demise.
You dont need to waste your time looking for anything positive from me as I certainly wont be contributing anything to the RPRA in its current format.
Aaah - you forgot to tell us what "the future of the sport" committee achieved over the 4 or 5 years of its existence.?
Thought not, I have no idea of anything related to th FOS committee as despite your apparent misguided insistence I had nothing to do with it
Diamond Dave wrote: Sun May 18, 2025 9:04 pm
Fair play BB. I am not saying my ideas would be fruitful and I agree, no collection of ideas will replace the natural decline that has occurred over the last 20 years but it could be enough to keep the game going for a bit longer than your estimated demise.
You dont need to waste your time looking for anything positive from me as I certainly wont be contributing anything to the RPRA in its current format.
Aaah - you forgot to tell us what "the future of the sport" committee achieved over the 4 or 5 years of its existence.?
Thought not, I have no idea of anything related to th FOS committee as despite your apparent misguided insistence I had nothing to do with it
Misguided or not BB you know as well as I do exactly what the FOS committee achieved - absolutely nothing!
Why?
Could it be because they are all ageing stalwarts
( refrained from using the D word again) who dont want change and are afraid of modernisation and have a similar attitude to your goodself.
With ppl like that in control of the future of our sport,
I have to agree, there is only one direction left to go.
Thought not, I have no idea of anything related to th FOS committee as despite your apparent misguided insistence I had nothing to do with it
Misguided or not BB you know as well as I do exactly what the FOS committee achieved - absolutely nothing!
Why?
Could it be because they are all ageing stalwarts
( refrained from using the D word again) who dont want change and are afraid of modernisation and have a similar attitude to your goodself.
With ppl like that in control of the future of our sport,
I have to agree, there is only one direction left to go.
I do still think that pigeon racing will continue for sometime yet, with or without the RPRA. Unless those anti pigeon people have their way. There are still far too many people involved in the sport for it to completely disappear. It will change but hopefully for the better for those still involved.
Exactly,
There are already people flying and racing with being part of the union.
It will go to individual clubs/fed organising races independently long before it stops completely!
Thats my way of thinking too Andy. Having lost the "Royal" approval of the pigeon racing association the next stage will be to lose the RPRA itself (this will come sooner rather than later if they continue in this current format)
I see "governance" coming through " breakaway" regions and/or one or two of the other existing Unions and maybe having the national clubs involved in some form.
We dont need the RPRA anyway and they will soon become a victim of thier own abilities to change with the times but moreover a simple central agency will suffice to oversee ring registration and control and a few other record keeping necessaties.
This post is designed to be controvertial but no animals were harmed in its formulation - Unless of course the author gets culled because of its content. (Only joking lads - just trying to keep a bit of light-heartedness about the thread)
Diamond Dave wrote: Tue May 20, 2025 8:03 am
Thats my way of thinking too Andy. Having lost the "Royal" approval of the pigeon racing association the next stage will be to lose the RPRA itself (this will come sooner rather than later if they continue in this current format)
I see "governance" coming through " breakaway" regions and/or one or two of the other existing Unions and maybe having the national clubs involved in some form.
We dont need the RPRA anyway and they will soon become a victim of thier own abilities to change with the times but moreover a simple central agency will suffice to oversee ring registration and control and a few other record keeping necessaties.
This post is designed to be controvertial but no animals were harmed in its formulation - Unless of course the author gets culled because of its content. (Only joking lads - just trying to keep a bit of light-heartedness about the thread)
.
Devo1956 wrote: Tue May 20, 2025 8:49 am
What is needed for the sport to carry on, is a new view on the future of the sport. Looking at different parts of the UK, and making flying zones. If you look at the North east combine, they could control there own racing. Then start looking at the North west combine, and so on. It would be far better controlled, bigger races to reduce cost of birdage. Then you could look at each combine area, having a feed supplier in that area helping the community of members with cheaper prices of feed. Rings could be bought by the combines, from China saving more money for the members. I feel racing needs to change, and the way it is being run. If it is run well you may get some big sponsors for each combine. Just my thoughts.
Funnily enough I recently built a website and functional framework to handle online membership, bird transfers and stray reporting.
Dunno if you guys remember the brief survey I did a while back, but the feedback from that gave very few positives from the RPRA, however they did highlight the online transfer process and the stray reporting!
Yes Winfort I do remember - well there you go, you already have the basis of a "central agency"
Not surprised about the negative feedback from the RPRA because it involves changing the current practices.
Honestly - how easy would online registration be along with payment of subs etc etc etc.
Keep it all to hand Winsfort. I think you will soon reap the benefits of your efforts and initiatives.
Diamond Dave wrote: Tue May 20, 2025 10:41 am
Yes Winfort I do remember - well there you go, you already have the basis of a "central agency"
Not surprised about the negative feedback from the RPRA because it involves changing the current practices.
Honestly - how easy would online registration be along with payment of subs etc etc etc.
Keep it all to hand Winsfort. I think you will soon reap the benefits of your efforts and initiatives.
Will you and your friends be having another go at revolution next year? Has the efforts at collusion as happened as last year already started?
Ha - ha, wouldnt you like to know, the only thing I can say is that you better tell your own "friends" on the RPRA council to start putting your counter objectives together now.
The next 'revolt' wont use the RPRAs own inpenetrable defences which was the route to change that you recommended to me (we've already established that is like flogging a dead horse) but will come in the form of something a little more diverse that the current 'corrupt' hierachy ( just my opinion) have no control over and will not be able to stop.
Councillors ready! Contenders ready!
Who will win.....?
