Auction to Benefit Youth

We can support the pigeon racing hobby by ensuring our youth have a good start and thereby perpetuate the sport for generations to come.  The Northwest Juniors Racing Pigeon Club is a great example of a project that has worked for over 15 years.  

http://www.gazettenet.com/pigeons-13187070

Jim Gabler shared that America's Dream Loft has a history of supporting the sport in many ways and their plan for the fall is an Auction of the Legions.  Jim said, "That auction will bring top donated birds and hopefully we can get only birds that are winners or who have bred winners.  It will be an internet auction followed by a live auction.  ADL will organize and do all the promotion and work with the income from the sale going to the kids."

The Northwest Juniors RPC was selected as the recipient based upon the founder's 16 years of experience doing the right things for kids.

They are looking forward to this happening in the fall, so keep an eye out for an opportunity to take part in a project that benefits the future of the hobby of racing homing pigeons.

MORE THAN JUST BIRDS

April 17, 2018

There has been a wonderful development recently in Petoskey, Michigan that must be shared.  Our hats off to the organizer, Mike Netzky for his perseverance in his desire to share the love of his boyhood pastime, racing Homing Pigeons, with youth in his city.  He may joke about this project being the only way he can win a race, but when you hear him share his story, you will know better.

In February 2018, The Racing Pigeon Digest magazine featured an article submitted by Mike, and the project information  was also featured in The Petoskey News.  The project is the new Flying Clovers 4-H Racing Pigeon Club.  It is taking shape.  Mike has traveled and interviewed extensively to get the best information to help them get started.  So now it is happening. 

Day to day reports are coming in with birds settling and the kids sending their race entry forms in to the AU office.  This year is a repeat of a double opportunity - the AU's annual National Youth Race that is held in conjunction with the AU's annual national convention, and the AU Midwest Youth Race, which is held during the annual Midwest Convention.

Here, we can enjoy a peek into their preparations . . . 

Twice a day offer food.  Are you using the feeders or just offering by hand or tray?  Leave it for about 15 minutes, then take it away.  Are they drinking water?  The training should start soon, but let them start to eat regularly and certainly make sure that you follow a very rigid schedule.  The more consistent you are with feeding times, flying times, and visits to them, you will find that they will expect those things right on schedule.  Keep a written record of what happens on a regular basis with your observations and visits with them.  As Larry Davis, a friend of mine, says, "If it's not written down, it didn't happen!" 

We are using a small Tupperware filled with feed because the birds don't want to sit still and let you hold and feed them for long but we are trying... and they are drinking not quite as much as they should I think but they are drinking. 

So, is this what you mean by settling?

And another family picked up their birds . . . 

Did you enroll the kids or your family in the AU?  I would like to send the birds to the race handlers very soon.  How are the birds doing?  Need a hand moving the loft to the penthouse level?  

Also, please make sure the birds can find the water.  If any are sitting around blinking their eyes, dip their beaks into the water.

And, the homeschool family of 8 has received their birds!

Getting the paperwork in . . . almost ready to ship.  How fun!

Next task . . . writing letters to the donors.  

May 3, 2018

Hey Funseekers, this Saturday morning I will be driving down to the Bay City-Frankenmuth area not only to pick up young birds, but to visit the loft of Gary Davis.  Gary is a member of the Frankenmuth Racing Pigeon Club.  They have 22 old bird races every Saturday for the next few months.  His and the club's birds will be released 8-8:30 am on Saturday morning.

Gary estimates that with a possible tail wind his birds could be flying 60 mph, which will bring his birds home around 11 am.  The race from the release point to his loft is 162 miles.

Gary and I would like to extend an invitation for you to go on Saturday.  Among other things we will be watching his birds return. I will be spending more time after the arrival of his birds picking up birds from various locations in the area.  

I hope some of you will take advantage of the wonderful opportunity to learn more and more.  Let me know what you think.  Mike

May 4, 2018

Hey Funseekers, today is a "Star Wars" day.

May the fourth be with you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

May 9, 2018

Hey Flying Clovers, I hope you all got the email from Tanya and have read it!!!   When I heard what she will talk about and the excitement in her voice, tears almost came to my eyes.  Tonya is a REAL expert on 4-H.  She will explain so many of the benefits of 4-H, and you will find out how they will really coordinate with our racing pigeon club.

Please, please, please, please, make it to the meeting.  You won't be sorry.  And after this May 13, 1:30 Pellston airport meeting, leave yourselves enough time to go down 'da road to Tonya's house.  You won't be disappointed.  (Among many, many other sites will be a "naked chicken")

Your wing man,

Mike 

P.S.  I want to hear all your experiences with your new birds.

May 11, 2018

Hey Flying Clovers, all your birds have been sent to the Gary Heindel in WI for the Midwest National Youth Race on October 12.  The birds will be released that day, weather permitting, from Holmen, WI and fly to Kaukauna, WI (Freedom WI)  approximately 150 miles.  When training begins you will be given monthly updates on how your birds are doing via www.midwesthpa.com.    What I found so far for your listings are numbers 194-202, 211-214, and 549-571 on the list.

I will be going downstate tomorrow to pickup more birds.  If you need birds, please let me know.  Monday or Tuesday of this coming week I will send nine more birds to the AU National Youth Race for the Oct.18 race to go with the four birds I've already sent.

Please don't forget the meeting on Sunday.

Mike

Now, a share from Tonya . . . 

Angry mother with squab.

May 13, 1:30 p.m.

(Mother's Day & Mike's birthday!)

Flying Clovers Meeting Day

We passed out very ample supplies of Primalac which was donated by Star Labs.  Tanya gave a great explanation of 4-H ideas and projects which coincide with our racing pigeon club.  Many of which take advantage of the perks of 4-H.

We discussed our young bird training program and other pertinent ideas.  After the meeting most of us went down da' road to Tonya's and "experienced" her menagerie. 

May 19, 2018

Hey Flying Clovers,

Yesterday, Friday, I started training the 11 birds I have in section #3 of my loft.  These birds have been isolated from the outside area for at least two weeks until last Monday in which I opened the #3 aviary to their "window to the world".  They spent much of the time during the days proceeding Friday enjoying the sunshine and observing their new (to them) additional (outside) environment.

Thursday I fed them about 1/3 the rations I normally feed them and of course every time they're fed the whistle is used.  Friday morning about 10:30 I opened the front of their aviary.  They were free to escape if they wished.  Of the eleven, 8 chose to leave the loft.  Two took off to "who knows where".

The remaining 6 who chose to remain outside experimented with flying either to the roof of the loft or out a small distance and then returning to the landing board/loft front.  I waited about 15 more minutes to see if the 3 inside would come out.  They didn't and I certainly did not force them to.  

Then I went inside and activated the trap opening in which prevented the 3 inside from moving out into the aviary.  Now 3 inside could not go out, but any of the birds outside could enter the loft.  I sat outside watching for a while.  One bird trapped within 10 minutes.  I went inside and gave it a small amount of food while blowing the whistle.  The 5 birds on the roof remained there all but making short flights around the loft.  Then I put a very small amount of food on the landing board.  When they looked down from the roof, they could see the small amount of feed there.

I went back inside and blew the whistle and also gave a little food to the birds inside.  This accomplished two things.  One it set off a feeding frenzy with the birds inside which I knew the birds on the roof could hear.  And second, it associated the whistle to the food with the birds on the roof.  Soon the birds on the roof came down.  Some started eating the small amount of feed on the landing board and the others trapped in immediately to the sound of the birds inside eating frantically and the whistle sound.  Within a very short time the 5 birds all came in.

That left the 2 who were off to "who knows where".  At 6:30 pm that evening I saw #10 land on the roof.  I immediately went inside the loft and started a feeding frenzy again while blowing the whistle and #10 came in instantly.  A small amount of feed went to him by hand.

#11 appeared at 8:30 pm on the landing board.  I went through the same procedure as I did with #10, and he trapped immediately.

Wow, wow, wow!!!!!  What a wonderful and fun experience!!!!!!

I'm attaching some pictures of these events.

Having Fun, fun, fun, 

Mike

Taking The Pigeons To School

Amber Posey spent the day at school promoting the sport and educating the kids on the great sport and birds.

"I was asked by Mrs. Case the science teacher at our local elementary school if I would come in and talk to all the 3rd grade science classes about raising and racing pigeons and their traits. I had the pleasure of talking to these wonderful students and they really got into what I was telling them about pigeons and they asked questions and they were still talking about what they learned about pigeons with other teachers and students throughout the school day. 

I told them about showing the pigeons and my daughter proudly got to show off some of her ribbons to the other children that she won at the pigeon show last summer. I talked to them about the life cycle of pigeons and how they were used in the war and how we bred them for certain colors and how they knew where home was.

We also talked about the loft being the pigeons home and the main predators of pigeons. They learned about the AU and our local club, the High Velocity Racing Pigeon Club (HVRP). 

Those children WOW'd me! They are such wonderful, bright minded, young ladies and gentlemen. I had such a great time talking with these guys! I'm so honored that Mrs. Case, who is a wonderful, compassionate and caring teacher, asked me to speak with her students and it was a fun filled day I wont forget!"

Homeschoolers and Racing Pigeons

The AU took part in the Midwest Homeschool Convention in Cincinnati earlier this year.  As a result of that participation, some homeschool families were ready to check out homing pigeons for a potential youth project. 

Area AU members’ contact information was provided to families that requested more information.  As a result, Springfield, Ohio member, Doug Snyder, was approached by a mother requesting additional information. 

Doug did a classroom style presentation at his loft.  “Class materials” included racing pigeon books, periodicals, handling of young birds, handling birds of all ages, and ended with students taking part in a bird release.  This hands-on approach generated many interesting questions, which produced two very enjoyable hours in his day.

AU's Thunderbirds, Skypilots & Juniors Attend Annual Fly-In

by AU Youth Ambassador, Thomas Strand

This is the 3rd year that the Thunderbird 4-H Club has hosted the annual Fly-In event.  Thanks to bird donors Herb Cartmell, Rick Arrisola, Lori Malone, Terry Dry, Karl Wohlmacher, Matt Hazen and Vicki & Thomas Strand, the junior members could proceed with their fair style Fit & Show. Exhibitors displayed their birds and their knowledge.  Once the judge completed questioning, the audience was invited to ask questions of their own.

It was an amazing event.  Here is a slideshow of the day . . . 

Free slideshow personalized with Smilebox

NORTHWEST JUNIOR FLYERS FUNDRAISER AUCTION

YOUNGBIRD AND BREEDER AUCTION

SPONSORED BY

NORTHWEST JUNIOR FLYERS

Can the kids count on you?  This auction is our main fund raiser; the auction supports our Loaner Loft Program. We currently have 29 lofts in use and we have 5 in major need of repair. We use the money from this auction for free race shipping and free medication for when the kids need it. We use some of this money to make repairs to our building at the Cummington fair and some of our races ship from here as well. This also funds our annual pigeon show in august that is welcome to all kids. Our auction will be held on Saturday April 11^th 2015; both young and old birds can be shipped. Your generosity will be what carries this next generation of pigeon flyers along.

The loaner loft program was started 9 years ago to help junior flyers that could not afford or have the skill to build a coop on their own. If you ever hear someone say that this sport is dying or going away they’re certainly wrong. Please come to the auction and see the love and devotion our kids still have for this sport.

The address for this event is, Burgy Bullets Snowmobile club 12 Laurel Rd, Haydenville Ma. For more information contact Tim Tessier- Home: (413) 296-4359 Work: (413) 586- 6611 or email: (Florenceprecision@verizon.net)

When mailing birds (NOT BEFORE MARCH 31^st, 2015)

SEND TO: Tim Tessier                           George LeClerc                   Moe Litchfield

                   PO Box 325                        18 Rockrimmon St.              PO Box 444

                   Chesterfield, Ma. 01012      Belchertown, Ma. 01007     Hinsdale, Ma 01235

                                                             (413) 323-7183                   (413) 446-7939

We need to know if you are donating pigeons to the auction by March 21^st 2015, please call or email Tim by this date!! A huge thanks to Ron Seinbrenner from Triple Crown in California and CL gage from Texas Shootout who will be donating birds for the auction!

P.S. The Kids will help out the National Pigeon show which is held January of 2016 21^st-23^rd

Thank you to everyone that donated last year, and hopefully there will be more people this year that help support this youth program!

The GHC and GHCLA of Spring Hill, FL Award Scholarships

By Kathy Hackemer

May 2014 marked a milestone for the Gulf Coast Homing Club and the Gulf Coast Ladies' Auxiliary of Spring Hill, FL.  The two organizations awarded a total of nine $1000.00 scholarships to seniors graduating from four local high schools.  This makes a total of $46,000 given to deserving area high school graduates since the year 2000.

The scholarships are funded by both organizations and administered by a committee of the Auxiliary.  Applicants are evaluated on financial need, life circumstances, an essay, recommendations, and career plans to give back to the community.  Applicants do not have to be connected to the pigeon sport; in fact, these scholarships have been a way to reach out positively and educate our neighbors.

The committee was challenged by a quote from one of our winners.  "What if the cure for cancer is trapped inside the mind of someone who can't afford an education?"  After the 2014 recipients were selected, GHC and GHCLA representatives attended each high school's awards ceremony to present the scholarships in person.

In addition, the Auxiliary hosted a luncheon at the GHC Club House for the winners, family, and school personnel.  This year Joan Blesedell served as emcee and conveyed greetings as president of the GHC.  Toni Young also welcomed the guests in her role as GHCLA president.

The class of 2014 is made up of nine outstanding young people who have faced serious challenges:  learning disabilities; death of parents; parents with disabilities or life-threatening illnesses; loss of jobs; and care of extended family members.  But these winners did not give up; they have many achievements to their credit during their high school years.  The GHC and GHCLA are proud to support them.

HOMING PIGEONS VISIT OU SOONER FLIGHT ACADEMY

Each year, AU member, Bill Jordan visits the OU Sooner Flight Academy to present homing pigeons to the kids.  Bill is a requested presenter each year.

The OU Sooner Flight Academy summer flight camps challenge students ages 6-18 to learn the principles of flight using science and mathematics. Campers engage in hands-on activities which demonstrate the science, technology, engineering and math of the exciting world of flight. 

The camp theme is Birds. Campers spend every day having fun and learning new things about the world around them. The airport provides opportunities to explore math, science, and technology from a very different perspective. In addition to learning things about all kinds of birds, campers enjoy rockets, kites, and, of course, OU's fleet of training aircraft to climb in and explore.

 

RACING YOUTH GROUPS

Two worthy groups are seeking participation in their local activities and fundraisers:

2014 Students vs Teacher Race

3 Bird Team $150

Multiple Teams Allowed

Teacher Loft                                

7th Grade Teacher

Bulldog Loft

Clarkdale School

J Bird Loft

5th Grade Student

Only Three Lofts = More Inventories, More Updates

Ship Birds to:  Clarkdale Middle School

                          7000 Hwy 145 S

                          Meridian, MS 39301    

                          601-938-6775

Birds accepted Feb – May

Do not send birds March 10-14

100 Mile Race    25 pts in 1 pt intervals for top 25           Prizes awarded for

150 Mile Race    50 pts in 2 pt intervals for top 25           top ten birds.

200 Mile Race    75 pts in 3 pt intervals for top 25           Prize awarded for

250 Mile Race    100 pts in 4 pt intervals for top 25         winner of each race.

Races start in early October and conclude Thanksgiving week.

Contact Ronnie Shumaker 
rshumaker@lauderdale.k12.ms.us

http://www.studentsvsteacherrace.com/
http://americanracingpigeonunion.blogspot.com/2010/04/school-fundraiser-races.html

_______________________________________________________________

NORTHWEST JUNIOR FLYERS

Can the kids count on you?  This auction is our main fund raiser; the auction supports our Loaner Loft Program. We currently have 24 lofts in use and we have 4 in major need of repair. We use the money from this auction for free race shipping and free medication for when the kids need it. We use some of this money to make repairs to our building at the Cummington fair and some of our races ship from here as well. This also funds our annual pigeon show in august that is welcome to all kids. Our auction will be held on Sunday, April 6, 2014; both young and old birds can be shipped. Your generosity will be what carries this next generation of pigeon flyers along.

The loaner loft program was started 8 years ago to help junior flyers that could not afford or have the skill to build a coop on their own. If you ever hear someone say that this sport is dying or going away they’re certainly wrong. Please come to the auction and see the love and devotion our kids still have for this sport.

The address for this event is, Burgy Bullets Snowmobile club 12 Rd, Haydenville Ma. For more information contact Tim Tessier- Home: (413) 296-4359 Work: (413) 586- 6611 or email: (Florenceprecision@verizon.net)

A portion of the auction sale will be donated to the Rick Mardis Legal defense Fund.

Thank you to everyone that donated last year, and hopefully there will be more people this year that help support this youth program!

http://northwestjuniorflyers.webs.com/