SCHOLARSHIP

Coop Kohli, AU Lakes Zone Director                         September 18, 2017

AU AWARDS SIX $2000 SCHOLARSHIPS

The AU Ladies National Auxiliary for years made the AU Scholarship Fund a principle part of its program, and for years the AU made an annual donation to the fund to support it. However, as the sport aged, it became increasingly difficult for NLA to maintain its own membership, and in 2014, the group approached AU President Tom Coletti seeking a commitment from the AU to take over the scholarship program, as the group had plans to disband. Funds for scholarship in past years came from bird sales, auctions, and other functions organized by the ladies themselves, but with its declining membership, staffers were being over-worked,volunteers were hard to find, and contributions were declining. At the same time, a number of regional groups began organizing their own auxiliaries and scholarships, cutting into funding sources.

$12000 in Scholarship assistance 

has been passed out by the AU since 2014.

Clearly committed to the mission of ensuring that the AU assists AU youth as they pursue their educational and professional goals, AU President Tom Coletti assured the officers of the NLA that while he was President he would see to it that the AU managed the Scholarship program and its mission of making financial contributions to deserving youth.

To that end, a new AU committee was formed, and Ron Pairan eagerly agreed to lead as Chairman, falling back on his professional expertise for 34 years as an Educator and Youth Guidance Counselor. It was decided that three (3) scholarships would be awarded each year. An application process was put in place, criteria was developed, and the first applications were received in 2016, when a total of 16 applications were received by the June 1 deadline. Educational interests ranged from attending medical school, traveling nursing, veterinary medicine to forensic accounting.

Applications are weighted, based on need, a demonstration of youth giving back to their

Chairman Ron Pairan uses his
34 year as a youth guidance
counselor to supervise the
awarding of AU scholarships.

communities, and leadership. Applicants must be 23 years of age or younger, and must be pigeon flyers, or relatives of pigeon flyers.  Applicants must provide proof of having at least a B average, must provide a personal biography, a photo, and a resume that explains their goals, community involvement and achievements.

In 2017, twenty-four applications have been received, a fifty (50%) increase in participation. To date, the AU is proud to say that the good work of the AU NLA is being continued, and that a total of six (6) scholarships have been awarded, each in the amount of $2000, to applicants from Nebraska, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Kansas and Massachusetts.

The scholarship application and criteria are featured each quarter in the AU Updates and annual Yearbook. Applications are due each year by June 1, and all applications are given careful consideration. Winners are selected and announced in the Fall of each year. Checks are sent to recipients upon proof of enrollment.

Scholarships mean everything to students struggling to pay for higher education. In my own case, I have a daughter that recently graduated from Northwestern University with a Phd. She got very little help from me, but worked very hard, risked everything, secured every scholarship she had access to, and found a way to make her dream come to fruition. Although she did not participate in this program, these small scholarships may help some struggling student, like my daughter, bide their time in the pursuit of a dream.  I am glad the AU feels a need to be there for students.

I Am Betty Logan.

FOR 18 YEARS, BETTY LOGAN HAS BEEN OUR OFFICE MANAGER. "WE DO MORE THAN JUST SELL BANDS."

Betty Logan would just love to talk to those folks that think all the AU does is just sell bands. “We try to be pretty motivated in this office, and it kills me to think someone we know would think of our mission that way. I am the Office Manager of your AU office, and I take your feelings about our work seriously.”

Lets start with this. On Betty’s first day on the job, Monday, May 3, 1999, an F5 tornado tore this place apart. After her day at work, the building disappeared. “Everything was gone. We started over”, she said. “But we put the place back together again, better than ever. How many of you even knew what we went through? We got ripped apart, and put it back so smoothly, you barely noticed.  That’s what we try to do on a regular basis. If we do our jobs right, you shouldn't even know we exist.”

Now, Betty wants you to know what she does for you every day of the week, (and she wants someone to share it with those clubs that think we only sell bands). “I love this job, the people I work with, and this crazy, beautiful sport. My sole purpose here is to help each one of you to maximize your enjoyment of your hobby. Now, this is what I do”:

•I focus on customer service, and in case there is any confusion, you are my customer. I know I need my customers. I love my customers. I hope you sense that when we visit on the phone.

•I retrieve, and answer many voice mails and emails sent to our office switchboard. Communication is the essence of good customer service. I never forget this, and I am good at this.

•I create invoices, statements, payment receipts and credit memos. Nothing in my own world bothers me like invoices done incorrectly. I work very hard on accuracy.

•I do data entry in our 10,000+ member data base. “Garbage In, Garbage Out”. We don’t do garbage in this office, or on my watch.

•I send out quarterly membership renewal letters. This is very important. We have got to have members. I also know you are very busy. I keep after this by keeping after you. I want you to keep coming back.

•I prepare and send out membership cards. It is a confirmation that we are doing things right, and I like that feeling.

• I fill and send out all mail-orders (bands, diplomas, t-shirts, hats, posters, prints, bumper stickers, WinSpeed programs). This is one of the more enjoyable parts of my job. We want you to buy more of this product. It helps us promote the sport. I stay on top of it.

• I post payments and attach copies of payments to invoices.  Money is another area that demands accuracy. (Don’t we know!)

• I file. This I hate to do, but no snowflakes work in this office.  We do things that must be done, on time. No crying about it. I export and merge files for mailings and label orders, and process all out-going mail. I don’t really like doing that either!

• I keep a registry of ARPU band numbers (95,000 pieces), and I keep it up to date, and I keep it right. We sell 950,000 bands.

• I track band numbers for lost and found birds. This is a big job, and ties into our PR work in our communities regarding reacting quickly to lost bird calls. This is important work in our effort to stay ahead of animal rights groups.

• I keep the log of registered WinSpeed users. This is important because AU members paid for this program with their dues money.

This is the property of AU members. We need to know where it pops up illegally.

• I prepare and mail information packets when they are requested.  I understand that sport promotion is critical. I try to do my part in your effort to recruit members.

• I prepare documents and club packets for annual renewal, oversee the inventory of band orders, and prepare orders for shipping. Dates on this activity are time sensitive. I’m on top of it.

• I am responsible for ordering equipment maintenance and equipment supplies, office supplies and inventory items.

•I create and prepare Club, Combine, Concourse Charters and Lifetime and Honor certificates. I know in this area we are trying to honor people, and clubs. Some of these things are mementos. I do it right the first time.

•I prepare monthly reports for the accountant and quarterly inventory, as well as prepare Mid-year and Year-end board meeting reports. Those seem to be of increasing importance as time goes by, and they take a great deal of time to do right.

Betty adds, “I need my customers to be happy and positive about this office. You need that. We need that, and I understand that. You don’t need to worry.” So, there you go. Betty’s goal is to be there for you, prepared, when you call needing her help. We welcome your calls.

The girls in the AU office want to always be in PUSH mode, as President Coletti calls it. Betty also calls it GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE.

DEONE ROBERTS

Sport Development Manager

You are looking at the face of the person responsible for nearly everything that the AU is, visually. Deone Roberts has been sculpting the public image of our national organization for nearly 17 years, and she is very good at it.

The former legal secretary is the AU’s go-to person to plan and manage public presentations, board meetings, zone meetings, press kits, postcards, brochures, CDs, DVDs, and even creates ads, edits videos, writes articles, and does it all while looking for eye-popping, low-cost advertising and promotions.

She created, and manages, the e-newsletter called Pigeon Tracks, that targets AU youth, and she is now seeing an average of 80 to 100 new members join the AU each month. That alone is a remarkable achievement (for which she does not get nearly enough credit). I just received my 11 page, Fall 2017 version of the letter today, and it is a magnificent vehicle for the AU to communicate with its newest, and most important members.

Ever need to query information from the member data base? Ever get involved with lost birds? Ever have questions about youth promotional programs? Ever refer anyone to the national office for brochures or website information on pigeon racing? Ever need to know the latest on PETA activities? Ever need information dug up in preparation for dealing with city ordinance issues? In every case, you would be dealing with Deone Roberts.

An effective National Office can not be run without great talent. There can be no growth, or improvement without gifted people working diligently, steadily, humbly, in the background.

This optimistic marketing exec is completely devoted to saving our sport from decline, and from those who might seek to deface it. She is there to assist you, and we, as members of the American Racing Pigeon Union, are fortunate to have her on our side, guarding our flanks.

Deone is always in “push mode” and is ready to help you solve problems. We encourage you to please feel free to call her.



Degree in Marketing & Business Admin
Attended OSU. Graduated from UCO with a Degree in Marketing and Business Administration. Creates ads, articles, flyers, postcards, brochures, inserts, press kits, and is skilled in the use of social media: Facebook, Twitter, Blogger and Constant Contact. Created and manages the Junior member newsletter Pigeon Tracks.

Former Legal Secretary
In this day and age, what armament and experience could be more helpful in the front office than training in legal work. God knows, times are changing, and this new fact of life keeps Deone front and center as she works on challenging issues that come before AU members.
Former Assistant to Founder of Feed the Children
Reported directly to Founder, President, and CEO of this International organization that distributed food and supplies world-wide. Served as an intermediary inside and outside the organization between representatives and the President.


By Coop Kohli, AU Lakes Zone Director, August 20, 2017

REMEMBER WHEN USPS QUIT SHIPPING PIGEONS?

Coop Kohli
AU Lakes Zone Director

THE AU IS MORE THAN JUST A PLACE TO BUY BANDS. 

I have a club in my zone that really knew how to hurt me.  They told me the AU, to them, was only a good place to buy bands, and that if their club could buy seamless bands cheaper from the IF, they were going to leave the AU. 

They could save money, they figured!  

Now, even our brothers in the IF need new members and more membership dues, and it may surprise you that Tom Coletti works closely with IF President Richy Smith whenever he can.  Furthermore, we certainly don't want to deprive relief to any of our comrades in the sport, but thank God, not all of us think this way.  Even though some of these guys are my friends that I respect as fanciers, I question their reasoning and long term vision.  I was exasperated to learn just how uninformed and unmotivated they were about the important past work done, and the important current work being done without fanfare, by the AU.  (Therein may lie the problem).

A RECAP ON AU EFFORTS IN ONE PROBLEM AREA.

You may not have known, but prior to 9/11, the United States Postal Service (USPS), I am told, had access to its own aircraft, and could schedule live animal shipments to anywhere, pretty much at any time they wanted.  Shipping pigeons was a no-brainer.  However, when animal rights activists began to pressure major airline CEO’s, the USPS also grew cautious.  Then, 9/11 happened, and air travel and shipping restrictions tightened up overnight.  Compounding the problem at the time, was the USPS decision to begin using only commercial airlines.

Greg Smith (a Washington attorney/lobbyist hired by the AU), with one of our former NW Zone Directors, Dr. Gary Braden, accompanied Karen Clifton to DC to visit with Senators, with a goal to encourage the continued shipping of pigeons through the USPS.  

Our small group sat down with the legal team of the USPS, where the USPS acknowledged that animal rights groups were our biggest source of difficulty.

We all know that during that time, the ability to ship pigeons became frustratingly difficult.  A fancier would have to call a specific post office in his area to secure a shipping permit, and the birds could only be shipped at specific times, from specific locations.  In my case, I had to drive a two hour round-trip to Akron, Ohio.

Concurrently, the AU began visiting local United Parcel Service (UPS) representatives to determine if there might be a viable alternative.  A regional UPS VP saw potential profit, and ran the idea up the flagpole to the UPS national office in Atlanta.  (The AU provided rough estimates of how many fanciers there were in the US, and estimates of how many birds were shipped, and what the potential total number of shipments might be, then had pigeons shipped to the UPS office so their people could see first hand that shipping pigeons was safe, and that it worked through the UPS system.)  Unfortunately, the UPS legal team expected future issues to develop, so shipping for pigeon fanciers was denied.

The AU continued reporting shipping problems on behalf of its members to the USPS reps in DC that Karen Clifton had cultivated.  On some occasions the USPS commercial air logistics coordinator in DC was able to correct a situation so members could ship birds, but on other occasions, nothing could be done, and birds could not be shipped to certain locations.

The AU repeatedly encouraged the USPS to identify another source so the shipping process could improve for AU members.  Finally, the USPS began working with Federal Express, who had a representative visit an Oklahoma breeder (CBS) to inspect our pigeon shipping containers, and the actual shipping process.  It was subsequently determined that FedEX would carry live birds for the USPS, and AU members have had better service ever since.

WHAT WOULD WE BE IF THE AU ONLY SOLD BANDS?

In retrospect, without the background work of the AU, where would we be as a sport, if the AU had “only sold bands”?   What was that USPS effort worth to the sport?  What effect would a lack of AU involvement have had on club fund-raising if young bird futurities all over this country had been unable to receive OOA birds?  Extend that question to one-loft races? 

The same question could be asked about the AU’s work on:

• Winspeed which has been used by both national organizations for over 25 years;
• on the AU’s crown-jewel, the National Data Base;
• on the nationwide PR effort associated with lost bird recovery;
• with the veterinarians in the USDA on Avian Influenza research;
• or on perhaps our most difficult, no-win, pursuit, the AU Infractions Committee, as it interprets club constitution and by-laws in membership dispute settlements? 
• In Ohio and Michigan, how could any club not be aware of the effort and funding the AU put into reducing the Avian Influenza restrictions when the AU retained Dr. Glyde Marsh to guide us through that effort. 
• And, what about the Washington lobbying effort, and the push-back and monitoring of PETA?
• Does anyone remember the $50,000 the AU spent fighting the city of Chicago on ordinance issues?

Thinking about it seriously, it is apparent to me, that my wife and I can’t eat one Saturday morning breakfast in an Ohio Bob Evans restaurant for the cost of my AU annual membership. 

Next to my shipping fees, it has always been the best investment in pigeon racing.  My conclusion: the AU needs to spend more time telling members what it does for them.   

AU Board President Tom Coletti

Coop Kohli, Lakes Zone Director                                                July 10, 2017

I DIDN’T USED TO LIKE THIS GUY.

FORMER SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC WORKS,

BEST PREPARED AU PRESIDENT IN HISTORY.

SOME THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THIS

PUGNACIOUS CHAMPION OF THE BACK-YARD FLYER.

Just My Opinion: For clarification, I need to say that after spending 25 years in corporate America, for nearly another 20 years, I have owned a small business in Ohio, employing just under 40 employees. I have in that time developed an improving sense about people, and I understand the need that all my partners in the business make a contribution, as we work to survive and make a profit. When you pay the bills yourself, you are motivated to quickly sort the productive types from the talking types. The same thing applies to our ARPU. Tom Coletti is one of the productive types.

I am also in my third year as a zone director, and have no illusions of grandeur about being a long term board member, although it clearly takes several years to develop board members well rounded and well versed in navigating the challenges facing the sport, especially challenges that are taking on a different face.  When my contributions level off, I will gladly vacate my seat to someone better equipped to contribute. I serve on the board without compensation because I feel I can help. I am a volunteer that loves the sport. I do not subscribe to the thinking by some Facebook talking-heads that being a board member automatically makes one a free-loader, a crook, a charlatan, lazy or stupid. I find that simpleminded talk to be patently offensive to the good men working hard on the AU board for the improvement of the sport. The talking-heads forget that board members aren't paid for their services like board members in many commercial companies. And, good luck with that attempt to establish election platforms and impact re-elections. A number of us had to be appointed to our board positions because not enough members in our zones voted to make the elections functional the first time around.

We currently are facing some challenges, but tough times don’t last. If, several years ago, I had been

asked to help design a robot with AI to lead the AU, I would not have recommended that you create

another Tom Coletti. In fact, in 2004, when a younger Coletti became our National Race Secretary, I

clearly did not like the man, or his aggressive style of interpreting race rules. Our poor race

secretaries didn't stand a chance in rules challenges against the man.

Now, however, after having watched Coletti for 3 years as Lakes Zone Director, I have a new

perspective. I sit here tonight wishing I had someone like him for a business partner. My business

could use some of that PUSH and raw determination. As a CEO, this pugnacious style is an asset.

The man is very knowledgeable about previous challenges the sport has faced, is very opinionated

about how best to deal with those challenges, and defends his beliefs vigorously. Tom Coletti is cut

from a different cloth, and leads our organization from a management perspective much more

managerial than in times past, reflective of his vast experience and training as Superintendent of

Public Works for the city of Millbrae, California, where for 34 years, he managed people,

budgets, negotiated contracts, managed streets, water, buildings, and the Department of Public

Works Emergency Response.

Where could we have found a man with that background to contribute so generously for so many

years to our sport without making us pay him? You couldn't possibly have found a more sincere man,

more perfectly prepared to volunteer to head up a small national organization with an annual budget

of $500K. Tom Coletti is exactly the right man for our organization, at the right time, and he is a bull-dog fighting for the interests of the small back-yard flyer that races pigeons for the love of it, that is losing his voice.

After his retirement, preparation for his current role as AU President was also time-consuming and

significant. It took 9 years, in this form; Chairman of the AU Competition Standards Committee

for 9 years, AU National Race Secretary for 9 years, AU Constitution and By-laws advisor for 2

years, and Northwest Zone Director. During much of that time Coletti received 8 to 10 phone calls

a week creating its own back-log of additional duties. If one seeks consistency in policy-making and

decision-making, you do not reinvent the wheel with green personnel every term. An organization

cross-trains, and promotes from within if qualified people are available, and prepared. Coletti is a

good example of that kind of training coming to fruition.

During his time as AU President, Coletti has focused on cost-cutting: he has eliminated the AU

Historian, cut the travel and expenses of past Presidents, is trying to cut the term of the President ex-officio and the expenses associated with 4 more years of travel, cut our membership in the FCI and its associated European travel expense, reduced the staff in the AU office, and centralized the mid-summer meeting location to minimize yet more travel expense.  When is the last time you saw serious cost-cutting get done? Coletti has no sacred cows, EXCEPTING WINSPEED DEVELOPMENT, a topic for another article.

Tom Coletti is certainly very capable of defending himself, but it boggles the mind to think that a man that has given so much of himself to this great sport for so long should have to tolerate, for even a minute, the verbal abuse and disrespect some uninformed fanciers throw his way. I am very aware of his contributions, and this sport will miss him when he steps down in Chicago. I want to assure the

people that know me, that your AU Board is comprised of some fine men with backgrounds that can

help the sport progress, and they are very generous with their time. I am honored to sit among them.

Don’t let the loud few confuse and obscure the good works done by these seasoned, high quality

board members.

President Tom Coletti and this Board of Directors deserve your continuing confidence and support.

Tom Coletti has mine. I wish I could find a 35 year old Tom Coletti to run my business with the

same tenacity he manages our union.

In the words of former President, Steve Lawler, “GO AU”.

Who Is Joyce Stierlin?

Get to know the AU board members

Joyce is the diamond that has been added to the ranks of AU board members and is truly looking to the future of the sport.  Her professional accomplishments and experience are a huge benefit to all pigeon flyers. Read on to see what she is working on to make the sport better for all.

Most of California already knows a lady named Joyce Stierlin.  She has devoted herself to the state organization for many years.  California State Racing Pigeon Organization members probably don't recall a time without Joyce in a position of service. 

To give you an idea of how long she has been involved, she started racing with her husband, Roy, in 1974, with the Sacramento RPC.  They had a team of pigeons racing from their Windancer Loft.

Back then, Joyce helped institute automated race result calculations via a computer program run on a Texas Instruments hand-held unit.  Remember those?  Joyce's background, a Management Information Systems degree from Sierra College and 30 years as a computer programmer-analyst and manager of large computer projects, armed Joyce well to take on the calculation task.  Were any of us actually thinking of automating race results back then?  That was a brilliant step into the future to make lives easier on the finish-line-figuring duties.

Joyce co-founded the Auburn RPC in the greater Sacramento area.  It was during that time period that she managed the High Sierra Classic Loft for 3 of the 4 years that the event was sponsored by the Auburn Club.  This lady is pigeon devoted!

Not one to "rest on her laurels," she progressed to serving as the secretary of the Auburn Club, the Camellia City Combine, the NORCAL Concourse and the California State Racing Pigeon Organization (CSRPO) - and that has been going on since 1978.  Are you picturing the Eveready Battery Rabbit yet?

And still, that is not where she stopped!  In the state organization role, she was able to simplify communication with the group by instituting the CSRPO Email Group and database to promote pigeon racing by distributing email flyers to all CSRPO members with email addresses on file.  As a result, 60% of the membership was included in those communications, which was a faster and more efficient way to transmit important and entertaining information.  Members were informed about upcoming events, lost/found birds, racing equipment for sale, and memorial services for flyers that passed.

Joyce currently serves as statistician for Camellia City Combine.  She uses WinSpeed© to merge clocking data from 4 area clubs.  She has worked with Mike Tobin on several occasions, documenting WinSpeed© bugs and beta-test Mike's resolutions.

In 2014, Joyce joined the AU Board of Directors as the Mountain Zone Director.  She intended to assist the eWinspeed© effort and, in fact, has volunteered as technical support for WinSpeed© desktop issues since August 2016, fielding an average of 15 calls in a month!

As a technical advisor for WinSpeed© and National Database software, she has been a tremendous asset in assisting in the development of database changes and providing WinSpeed© support.  Additionally, she has analyzed and documented technical requirements for progressing to eWinspeed©.