Starting out

[Held2025]

Held, where are you located?

I’m in Liverpool mate.

[Winfort Lofts]

It really is a closed shop mate. To try and get rule changes is pathetic. Thier rules have been made over
The whole system is prehistoric and is typically served and protected by the dinosaurs within and are all about self preservation - Its 2025 ffs postal orders went out with the red telephone boxes!
This is of course just my opinion and probably that of the majority of fanciers in the UK who don't have the wherewithal or the inclination to do anything about it because they too are generally an ageing population and think they only have a couple more years in the sport anyway.
Yes, please do support "Pigeon Pathways" like you said "they are willing to work alongside the RPRA" but I can assure you that that action is not reciprocated.
Good luck mate. It's good that as a newcomer to racing pigeons you can already see the limitations of the RPRA.

Your buddy who joined the site to push his agenda last year put enough propositions in to extend AGMs by hours They were DEFEATED democratically. In fact at the Region I'm on the committee of the were defeated UNANIMOUSLY and I'm led to believe this happened at at least one other region. The mandated delegates are sent to these meetings to vote as directed by the MAJORITY of the members of their federation. So you really so need to give over with this everyone is against the current set up at the RPRA because this has been proven to be simply not true. When propositions are defeated yous hide behind its too hard to change things. Again simply not true. If the MAJORITY of the fancy wanted the change they CAN make in happen. Has it ever occurred to you that just maybe the MAJORITY don't??

Also what is this about ' designed to protect its own structure and the ppl within its confines before any consideration for the membership and well-being of the birds' I'm interested in the final part..'and the well being of the birds'

The majority of the fancy had no idea what the proposals were about!

It was in a large way undermined to a single line, that led members to choose between the current setup, or change to a 5 man panel. In a lot of cases it did not mention the overhaul of monetary savings for the sport or modernization of payments.

It wasn't given a fair platform, and only clubs that had been informed of the whole amendment fairly, understood what it was about. Before the votes, the RPRA President sent out a thinly veiled threat, that said if members voted it through then it would kill the RPRA.

Ultimately the changes were voted against and the motion defeated.

Does that mean we shouldn't try to have the rules updated to allow for the membership to be able to pay subs online?

When transfering ring ownerships, if it can not be completed for free online, then you are asked to pay via post either by cheque or postal order? How has this not been changed?? I complained about this issue publicly last year, and then got a dressing down by the RPRA over it.

The system is absolutely outdated and unfit for purpose, but changes need to come about slowly unfortunately, anything considered too radical with be shut down before given the time of day!

[goose1]

It really is a closed shop mate. To try and get rule changes is pathetic. Thier rules have been made over
The whole system is prehistoric and is typically served and protected by the dinosaurs within and are all about self preservation - Its 2025 ffs postal orders went out with the red telephone boxes!
This is of course just my opinion and probably that of the majority of fanciers in the UK who don't have the wherewithal or the inclination to do anything about it because they too are generally an ageing population and think they only have a couple more years in the sport anyway.
Yes, please do support "Pigeon Pathways" like you said "they are willing to work alongside the RPRA" but I can assure you that that action is not reciprocated.
Good luck mate. It's good that as a newcomer to racing pigeons you can already see the limitations of the RPRA.

Your buddy who joined the site to push his agenda last year put enough propositions in to extend AGMs by hours They were DEFEATED democratically. In fact at the Region I'm on the committee of the were defeated UNANIMOUSLY and I'm led to believe this happened at at least one other region. The mandated delegates are sent to these meetings to vote as directed by the MAJORITY of the members of their federation. So you really so need to give over with this everyone is against the current set up at the RPRA because this has been proven to be simply not true. When propositions are defeated yous hide behind its too hard to change things. Again simply not true. If the MAJORITY of the fancy wanted the change they CAN make in happen. Has it ever occurred to you that just maybe the MAJORITY don't??

Also what is this about ' designed to protect its own structure and the ppl within its confines before any consideration for the membership and well-being of the birds' I'm interested in the final part..'and the well being of the birds'

The majority of the fancy had no idea what the proposals were about!

It was in a large way undermined to a single line, that led members to choose between the current setup, or change to a 5 man panel. In a lot of cases it did not mention the overhaul of monetary savings for the sport or modernization of payments.

It wasn't given a fair platform, and only clubs that had been informed of the whole amendment fairly, understood what it was about. Before the votes, the RPRA President sent out a thinly veiled threat, that said if members voted it through then it would kill the RPRA.

Ultimately the changes were voted against and the motion defeated.

Does that mean we shouldn't try to have the rules updated to allow for the membership to be able to pay subs online?

When transfering ring ownerships, if it can not be completed for free online, then you are asked to pay via post either by cheque or postal order? How has this not been changed?? I complained about this issue publicly last year, and then got a dressing down by the RPRA over it.

The system is absolutely outdated and unfit for purpose, but changes need to come about slowly unfortunately, anything considered too radical with be shut down before given the time of day!

The RPRA president gave HIS opinion not a threat HIS opinion different to yours but he's allowed to give it all the same.

And an assumption that the majority of members didn't understand the propositions. Perish the thought they did but again had a different opinion to yours and quite simply didn't want them.

Absolutely members should try to change rules, they have changed rules successfully for as long as there's been an RPRA. Not breaking any new ground here. I totally agree (as I said last year on here) that certain aspects of the organisation do need modernising. Hopefully propositions are put in to bring about such changes and if a majority want them they will happen.

[Bowbroom]

It’ll be interesting to see if the prime movers from last year show themselves this year and if they will attempt to orchestrate regional propositions again

[Diamond Dave]

Ha-ha. Look what I caught.....

[Diamond Dave]

Well there you have it Held, sorry that your post has been hijacked.
But now you have a couple of options on the state of the RPRA.
One from someone who is trying to get change for the sport and bring it into the 21st century by recognising the value of technology and one from someone who is living in the cretaceous period.

[CHARLTON34]

As I see it you pay your membership to join, but all people really want to do is just race there pigeons, unfortunately that's about as far as it gets at club level, the interest to change isn't there to drive it forwards.
As long as you can basket the birds at a club, get a lorry to come & pickup & take to a race point that's all they worry about, my club members didn't have a clue & to be onest with you they didn't care that much about rule changes.
So moving forward yes I think changes should happen for the improvement of the current membership at 13K but I think it won't happen quick enough if at all I think in it's current format it's outdated .

[Bowbroom]

I too am so sorry that this has gone off topic but if the thread is read thoroughly it can be seen where and when it happened.
Dave C is absolutely correct that the vast majority just want to fly their birds when and where they want and couldn’t care less how that is achieved, we have the same conversation every year and nothing will change unless it is changed using the structure that exists.
Will we see the same mountain of propositions that were submitted by the Prime movers and their disciples last year?

[Held2025]

Well there you have it Held, sorry that your post has been hijacked.
But now you have a couple of options on the state of the RPRA.
One from someone who is trying to get change for the sport and bring it into the 21st century by recognising the value of technology and one from someone who is living in the cretaceous period.

It’s good to get other people’s thoughts and opinions on it. Some things definitely need changing ask a 20 year old what a postal order is and I’m sure they wouldn’t know. I watched a video about who the target flyer should be and while it could be everyone what was suggested is a good idea, people retiring who will have time and potentially money to get set up and hopefully gets the grandkids involved which in turn may get their parents involved. Another thing I’ve read about or heard is plenty of people talking but when positions become available no one wants to step up. Not sure of the ratio regarding younger to older flyers on committees? Let’s hope whatever happens it moves in the right direction and is in the best interest of the sport.

[goose1]

I too am so sorry that this has gone off topic but if the thread is read thoroughly it can be seen where and when it happened.
Dave C is absolutely correct that the vast majority just want to fly their birds when and where they want and couldn’t care less how that is achieved, we have the same conversation every year and nothing will change unless it is changed using the structure that exists.
Will we see the same mountain of propositions that were submitted by the Prime movers and their disciples last year?

You are correct at least he said he was sorry for hijacking the thread with his own narrative.