Sport Promotion
At the York Racing Pigeon Club
By Warren Smith
Page 2 - Cont.
The quote reportedly by Albert Einstein on the definition of insanity,
“Doing the same thing, over and over again, and expecting different
results,” was not the road we wanted to continue going down. The dawn of a
new day was now at hand, and we knew in our hearts, that success was soon
going to follow.
First of all, we determined that growth by recruiting new people was needed.
Simply collecting or bribing club hopping malcontents from surrounding clubs
would in time, put us right back where we had started. So we set about to
immediately recruit new people to the sport, and what that required, was a
whole new attitude and method of conducting our club business. It was with
this mindset that we put together some core concepts and principals which
has guided us in this new and exciting endeavor.
Among those was the realization that our club was stacked with professional
pigeon fliers, and that as such, our efforts needed to be directed towards
helping new members become proficient in this sport, and not simply using
them as cannon fodder on race days, at the emotional expense of new fanciers
or those veteran members who were much less proficient.
One of the first official things we did was to adopt a more business like
organization. Our club amended our Constitution to adopt a more corporate
executive form of governance, and formed two classes of membership. Our club
now has a President who is empowered as a Chief Executive Officer. Lew Burns
fills that position and is credited with introducing the concept of two
classes of membership. Our “amateur“ class is designed for those members who
are very green to the sport, or are still building their proficiency, or
otherwise do not want to fly at combine level competition. The name we have
applied to this concept is our “100 Mile Club.” Our objective is to help and
assist these members to someday become proficient enough to participate in
Combine level competition, at the member’s discretion. The other class of
membership, is for those members who have become proficient enough and are
motivated to fly in combine competition, and qualify for combine and
national awards.
We realized the need for club level competition and training, when I noticed
that only about a third of all Combine members were able to complete all
nine Combine sponsored races. When some of the veterans are unable to start,
much less complete all nine races, is it any wonder why new members get
discouraged when they can’t get a bird home on race day? Is it any wonder
why such members often become discouraged and soon quit?
When a prospective new member of limited financial means is expected to some
how build a $10,000 loft, invest in a $1,000 electronic clock, spend
thousands of dollars on stock birds, and then pay three levels of dues at
the Club, Combine and National levels, and then is expected to fork over
hundreds of dollars in racing fees, is it any wonder many of these younger
working family guys quietly walk away, because our sport has thrown up to
many financial hurdles ? The idea behind “The 100 Mile” club, is to run club
level races up to 100 Miles, without much of the expense associated with
Combine races. And perhaps most importantly, to reintroduce the concept of
mentorship, sportsmanship, and social fun. Since at this level, we are not
competing for National AU awards, or running AU sanctioned type races, much
of the expense such as racing fees and timing clocks are not even necessary.
In these type of events, we envision the member calling in his countermark
number and delivering the countermark to the race secretary, much like
pigeon races were conducted over a hundred years ago.
In order to kick start the rebuilding of our club from the bottom up, we
knew that we needed a corporate type sponsor in order to finance our
ambitious marketing and promotion ideals. So Lew and I became that sponsor,
we provided the club commercial space for an office and a central shipping
location, the majority of our Smith Family Loft’s USA YB kits which we
normally sell to the public, will instead be donated to all who join, M-1
electronic clocks were purchased so that any member wanting to fly in
Combine competition will have one available to use, newspaper ads have been
purchased and will run indefinitely, a mobile bill board to advertise our
sport and the “100 Mile Club” has been purchased, and a loaner loft program
is currently under way which will allow us to deliver and set up a totally
portable loft to a new member within hours.
We are providing all prospects with video tapes and DVD’s, literature and
guided tours, introducing them to our sport, and we are developing fancier
training seminars, and arranging for future club road training. At our club
facility, a feed and supply store has been set up to provide members with
the highest quality feed and supplies at cost or below cost.
We created a diversity outreach program in order to recruit a more diverse
membership from the local community, and we have signed up three members so
far, with several more expected shortly, and many more expected over the
coming months. Our objective is to provide as much in house group, and one
on one, mentoring as an individual may want and need.
What I find encouraging, is that in just a few short weeks, we went from
having only two fliers and no promotion at all, to all of the above and six
new “100 Mile Club” members, and now five active Combine flying members
which are now signed up and committed to fly in 2008 Combine competition,
with more in the wings. This was all made possible when “It Can’t Be Done”
ideas were allowed to be put into place.
I have no doubt, that a few dedicated members, seriously interested in
growing our sport, can have success if they are willing to extend a hand of
friendship, think “Outside the Box” and mentor these new people. It will
require you to get out of your comfort zone, and be willing to try new
things, that maybe the established members of your organization say can’t be
done.
As a very tangible side benefit to this activity, we are having the time of
our lives, making it possible for others to enjoy this sport with us. It has
allowed us to also give back something to the sport, which has given us so
much enjoyment. And from my perspective, it has brought so much more fun
back into the club, the likes I have not seen since I was a kid.
These new members are fresh and green, they are excited and full of
enthusiasm and life! This excitement is also contagious, as these new people
are talking to friends, and spreading the news, that it is possible to learn
about pigeons and have fun with a pleasant bunch of people, who want
everyone to discover the joys of pigeon ownership. And you don’t have to be
an old “rich” guy to enjoy this sport anymore. Some are saying that they
thought about pigeons before, but never knew where to go, or who to contact.
It’s as if we had been running a secret organization in the past, fearful
that some new person might find us. What has happened here in our club, is a
refreshing breath of fresh air. And it has only just begun.
In conclusion, I would encourage the readers of this article to consider
extending your hand in friendship to that new prospect at your next
gathering, and keep an open mind when someone suggests an idea to attract
new people into this sport. We owe it to those sportsmen, past and present,
who helped us when we were new and green.
Yours In The Sport,
Warren Smith
Race Secretary YRPC