RPRA Rule Changes

[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?

[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!

[Diamond Dave]

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?

[Diamond Dave]

I really am beginning to see you in the same light as the shower that run the RPRA Bowbroom ( I didnt want to because you seem like a decent bloke) but you seem to follow all the same patterns and just because you dont have any ideas, like the dinosaurs that run the show - it doesn't mean that no one else does!!