Find out more at REQUEST INFORMATION PACKET
Wednesday, July 27, 2022
Quiet on the set . . . . . Action!
Tarentum RPC's (Pennsylvania) member, Tom Erdner relayed a story about a call he had recently. Many thanks to Tom for sharing his hobby, and sharing this story with us.
'In late June I got a call from the owner of Animal Actors, Inc. in New York asking if I knew anyone who could provide pigeons for release in a movie they would be filming after July 4 in Pittsburgh. He found me through our club website. I told him I could as we had just finished up our OB season and I had birds in plenty good enough shape to make a local flight. He said "Great!" and added that he was relieved to find me as he had some pigeons at his property in NJ but wasn't confident they could make the flight from Pittsburgh. He went on to say that over the years he's kept all kinds of animals in several barns there. He even had an elephant at one time!
He called me in a bit of a panic the next day and said that the film schedule had been moved up and they were going to shoot the scene two days later at the Leetsdale Boat Dock in Leetsdale, PA, which is about 20 air miles from my loft. I met them there with the birds. It as a very hot, sunny, muggy day.
Turns out they were shooting scenes for an episode of "The Mayor of Kingstown", a crime series about political corruption in a city surrounded by three prisons. The town's economy revolves around the activities of those prisons. Jeremy Renner plays the part of Mayor. The series runs on Paramount Plus.
The scene they were shooting opens with the Mayor (Renner) waiting at a remote boat dock for a clandestine meeting with a couple of thugs. As he walks out on the dock, he sees an old man who had been fishing there release a pigeon. He asks the old man if that was a homing pigeon. The old man says "Yes' and goes on to explain that he communicates with his son in Detroit via pigeon. He says the bird was carrying a note. (They had previously filmed the old man putting a note in the message container and then tying the container on the bird's leg). Renner wryly says, "I use a telephone." The old man makes a few nonsensical remarks (to a pigeon flyer) such as "I've missed a lot of phone calls, but I ain't never missed a pigeon" and "A pigeon can fly from Pittsburgh to Detroit and back in about four hours." They chat a bit longer and the thugs arrive. Renner wishes the old man well and walks off the dock to his meeting.
The shoot reminded of my long-ago life in the military -- "Hurry up and wait." It was along, tedious day. I arrived at 11:30 am and got home about 9:30 pm.
The old man actor was a piece of work. He admitted he was "afraid them birds would bite me." I showed him repeatedly how to reach into the crate and catch the bird, and how to hold it with one hand, but he was too distracted about remembering his lines and not "getting bit" that he didn't pay attention to what I was telling him. So later, I had to sit and grind my teeth as he pulled my magnificent birds one by one out of the crate by their wings or their necks in each take.
I was surprised that the pigeon release had nothing to do with the movie's plot, unlike the scene in John Wick where Laurence Fishburne communicates with his Bowery crew by pigeon to avoid telephone bugs and Internet IP address tracking. I guess it was just a human interest angle.
There was a tremendous amount of interest in my birds from many members of the crew. They couldn't believe that my birds would actually fly the 20 miles back to my loft. Most thought the birds would just go out, fly a couple of loops over the river, then come back to the crate. When I told them that we regularly race them up to 600 miles, they were amazed and slack jawed. "No way!"
"Yeah! Way!"
With all the standing around, I had several chances to explain pigeon racing to the curious. I don't know if we will gain any members as a result, but it was fun. The most gratifying remark -- "They're beautiful. They sure don't look like the pigeons in Central Park." '
Tuesday, January 11, 2022
The Vintage Cock - Chuck Oshaben
The following information about AU-68-WDC-2204 Blue Check cock was taken from the August 22nd issue of the Racing Pigeon Bulletin in 1977 (Oldest Flying Bird) and if you do remember this great bird there’s a good chance you’re eligible for Medicare. I may have remembered it during that time, but I sure do remember it in the late 1990’s.
I had flown home for a visit with my
folks and my Dad was all excited because he had recently acquired a bird that
was supposedly a descendant of the Vintage Cock 2204. He had pictures and
articles about this famous bird. Not only was this bird an award winning
accomplished long-distance racer…. It was Pure Trenton!!!! To my Dad, this bird
was a Super-Star and a bird most could only dream about.
This Bird was flown continuously starting as a
youngster and flew his first 500 as a yearling. He never missed a 500 or
600-mile race with the Washington Metropolitan Concourse and was flown up to the
age of nine. He had many 1st 2nd and 3rd place wins and flew 14 times the 500
and 8 times the 600. He was recognized by the AU and received the Registered
Champion Award. In his racing career he had compiled over 13,000 miles in recorded
competitive racing.
This past November I had the honor
of attending the AU 2021 Convention in Tampa Fl. Besides all the awesome things
the AU has to offer at these Conventions I was there to pick up the AU Breeder
Elite Award for my Dad, Ed Oshaben for his many decades of dedication to his Trenton’s.
During the lunch break on the
Saturday of the banquet I spotted a table with two Gentlemen, both of whom were
my seniors and I asked if they would mind if I sat with them. After a while one
of the Gentleman said: Oh, you’re the Trenton Guy! Immediately the other
Gentlemen started telling me how much he loved Trenton’s. He said his very
first birds were Trenton’s, and he flew them for many years. Then he asked if I
ever heard of the Vintage Cock? I excitedly replied: Yes, of course I have. He
then told me he was the owner/breeder and handler of that very famous bird. My
excitement was Sky High just to be sitting with this Guy!!! What happened next
is the best part. He told me the Father of 2204 was from Art Nemechek and the
Mothers bloodline was from that Oshbern (Oshaben) guy in Ohio. I about fell out
of my chair, if my Dad would have only known… this most Famous Pigeon that my
Dad so looked up to was of some of his bloodline. The Gentlemen I was talking
with is John Celia, he lives in Silver Springs MD and is still a very active
and accomplished flyer. After I told John who I was he was also excited as
well. I pretty much latched onto his shirt tail and even later we sat together
at the banquet. John, like many of that great generation, still reveres the
old-bird long distance races.
Not only did I come home with a
beautiful plaque honoring my Father, I got to become friends with a great man
and a part of pigeon history!
Yours in Sport,
Wednesday, December 8, 2021
A Bird in the Hand - Ronnie Shumaker
The cost of clocks has prohibited many children or youth groups from participating in our sport. This new system helps eliminate that cost. This system is ideal for youth groups, such as 4-H, schools, or home school groups.
Regrettably many pigeon flyers today have never experienced the thrill of removing a countermark from the pigeon’s leg and with trembling fingers placing the small countermark in a capsule to drop in the clock. The clank noise of the old clocks being hand turned has been replaced by the multiple beeping of birds rushing across the pad and being clocked automatically. Now, a pigeon owner can be on the lake fishing and get a text or email that his or her bird has safely made it home from miles away. With today’s technology no one has to be there to witness this remarkable feat of possibly flying hundreds of miles overcoming many obstacles.
As a former teacher that has had lofts at many different schools, I know the importance of the interaction of children and our remarkable birds. This clocking system ensures this interaction because the junior member must remove the countermark and by using an electronic device enter the countermark number on the AU National Database. The bird will then immediately be clocked in the race.
If your club has countermark machines you can donate to this program, the AU will be happy to forward them to groups that will use them.
Contact me for details to help any juniors or youth groups in your area utilize this clocking system.
Ronnie Shumaker- Youth/School Coordinator- pigeonshumaker@gmail.com, 601-938-6775.
______________________________________________________
See also:
https://www.pigeon.org/pages/directors.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zHUhc7Ohh8&t=27s
https://www.pigeon.org/pages/eyetosky.html
http://americanracingpigeonunion.blogspot.com/2010/04/school-fundraiser-races.html
Monday, November 22, 2021
Wednesday, November 4, 2020
Are You Up On The Latest AU Race Calculation? EWINSPEED®
EWINSPEED®
GETTING STARTED
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVAMAzgIjNc
RACE SETUP
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8JMJv8w7Hw
RACE SECRETARY TUTORIAL
https://www.pigeon.org/pdf/ewinspeedtutorial.pdf
SHIPPING NIGHT
https://drive.google.com/file/d/16Qtsk6Dj7X0jOouDZvRiVdVPML58glql/view?ts=5e723f83
REPORTING NIGHT
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LO3tY4h8MMU&feature=youtu.be
Thursday, September 3, 2020
Homing Pigeons 101 - The Feed
What are your sources for pigeon feed?
Your local feed store - check if they will stock what you need.
Vendors by mail (in alphabetical order):
Baden Feed: http://badenfeed.com/
Des Moines: https://desmoinesfeed.com/pigeon-feed/
Foys Pet Supplies: https://foyspetsupplies.com/
JEDDS: https://www.jedds.com/
Siegel Pigeons: https://www.siegelpigeons.com/
Versa-Laga https://www.versele-laga.com/en/gb
These are just a few, but by no means all. Check with area members to see what they use.
Monday, August 31, 2020
Wednesday, November 13, 2019
Historically Significant Medal of Bravery Ceremony
November 13, 2019
A special event is taking
place tomorrow in Washington D.C. Robin
Hutton, who has written two books on amazing war animals, has organized and
orchestrated a presentation ceremony to recognize GI Joe and Cher Ami for their
wartime service. After Robin finished
her first book (Sgt Reckless: America's War Horse (NY Times bestseller),
she nominated and received the Dickin Medal for Sgt. Reckless in 2016. At that time, she wondered why America did
not have a medal such as the Dickin.
While doing research,
Robin discovered GI Joe and all of the amazing animals that received the
prestigious Dickin Medal during World War II.
She followed with a second book, War Animals: The Unsung Heroes
of World War II. Robin began a campaign to honor the animals in
America.
That campaign has led
to a special ceremony to be held on November 14, 2019, at the Rayburn House
Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. This new award is for
animals that have served with our
military during wartime, or a police dog or first responder/fire dog that has
done an exceptionally brave act on the home front. It's called the Animals in War and Peace Medal of Bravery and
is commensurate with Great Britain's Dickin Medal that Reckless was awarded in
2016. The medal is being presented at an inaugural ceremony
and reception for 200
people. The medal has potential to possibly become
a Congressional award.
Six posthumous medals
will be given by Members of Congress and our sponsors to animals that served in
World War I (Cher Ami, pigeon); World War II (Chips, Army dog and GI Joe,
pigeon); the Korean War (Sgt Reckless, horse); Vietnam (Stormy, dog), and the
war in Afghanistan/Iraq (Lucca, dog).
In addition, two to
four medals will be given to current military animals, first responders and
their handlers. These animals are still alive and will represent any of the
five military services or police forces/first responders for their bravery and
service in defense of our nation. The first live dog will be Multi-Purpose Canine (MPC) Bass. Bass is a Belgian Malinois who served at
Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command (MARSOC) for the
past six-and-a-half years. It takes an
exceptional animal to become a Multi-Purpose Canine for a Special
Operations Command. All MPCs must be able to detect explosive materials,
perform team protection through controlled aggression, and track the movement
of a person or group with their nose. Bass is no exception. Bass went on 350 patrols in Afghanistan/Iraq
and will be attending with his handler, Staff Sergeant Alex Schnell.
For the ceremony, GI
Joe is coming out of the Army storage and will be present for honor
recognition. The Army is also going to be bringing Cher
Ami's French Croix de Guerre for attendees to enjoy. We will also have other
military working dogs there with their handlers for people to talk to. It
promises to be a very special event. The same jeweler that produces the Dickin Medal is designing and
producing the new medal. The designer is also the monarchy's medal maker.
Three members of
American Racing Pigeon Union will attend:
Robert McKenna, AU Vice President, Bob Carney, and Tommy DeRosa (one of
GI Joe’s original handlers). The
American Racing Pigeon Union has made a small donation to the International War
Animals Museum in honor of the event and members who served. Members of congress will also be in
attendance.
To honor these heroes in
a larger and more permanent way, this medal ceremony will also launch a
new International War Animals Museum, hopefully to be placed in
Washington, DC. The medals will be
displayed in a special exhibit there. (However, Cher Ami's medal will go to the
Smithsonian, and GI Joe's will go to the new Army Museum in Ft Belvoir.) Until the
International War Animals Museum has a final place, the organization will also
be providing traveling exhibits to other museums around the country that want
to feature these incredible heroes. This museum will be a wonderful place for
people, especially children, to come and learn history through the eyes of the
animals for generations to come.
For more information:
Robin Hutton,
President / International
War Animals Museum
P.O. Box 1125
/ Moorpark, CA 93020
(805) 603-2174 (cell)
(805) 603-2174 (cell)
She
wasn't a horse - She was a Marine!
BOOK: Sgt Reckless: America's War
Horse NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!
PDSA
Dickin Medal
For Facebook users, view the ceremony here: https://www.facebook.com/NowThisPolitics/videos/1372152972933312/
Churchill Loft is the coup where decorated pigeons were housed.
 |
| GI Joe being held by Specialist Carmen T. DeRosa in front of aviaries of the Churchill Loft in Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. |
 |
| GI Joe Being held by Specialist Carmen T DeRosa at the front entrance of the Churchill Loft in Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. |
 |
| Aerial Picture of Pigeon Center at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. |
 |
| Specialist Carmen T. DeRosa explaining Carrier Pigeons to representatives of a local radio station at the Pigeon Center at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. |
 |
| Liberation of Fort Monmouth's Army Pigeons in celebration of the Opening Day of the 1956 Horse Racing Season at the Atlantic City Race Track, Atlantic City, New Jersey. On the left, Retired Major Meyers. In the center, Carmen T. DeRosa. On the right, an unnamed maintenance worker. |
Tuesday, August 13, 2019
6-PACK INFORMATION BROCHURES
Our 6-Pack is a full set of six pamphlets which will give a general knowledge of Young Bird Racing, Health Care, Old Bird Flying, Breeding, Widowhood information and Feeding Methods, etc. These pamphlets are designed to offer basic information about all aspects of pigeon racing, and it's great for new folks looking for a hobby. It's also an education tool for helping the general public in understanding our sport.
Wednesday, July 17, 2019
Herb Cartmell - Running A Club
“Competition is for Testing
Pigeons, not Relationships”
A Well-Run Club is The Key to a Successful Club.
Herb Cartmell, Past AU
Constitution and Bylaws Advisor.
We all hate to have disagreements occur in our clubs
that often end in ill-feelings, lost friendships and many times can even cause
a flyer to leave our sport. Member dissatisfaction from these conflicts is one
of the top reasons that a member quits our sport. Far too often it causes a set back in our
clubs. We have to constantly remind
ourselves that the reason we got into this Sport in the first place was to
enjoy our birds and have some friendly competition and camaraderie. In short, have Fun!
I
am often surprised by the seemingly lack of operating procedures, common sense
and “protocol” that many clubs seem to try and operate with. Most of the conflicts and problems a club has
arise simply because of poor communications and a full understanding of how the
club should operate. Sometimes even the
officers don’t seem to be informed.
One
thing that stands out with the stronger clubs is that the members all have a
clear understanding of their purpose as a club and how they have agreed to
treat their members and themselves. This
is more than just camaraderie and friendship.
It’s the understanding by all the members that the club operates with
fairness and has a purpose and plan: The club’s Constitution and Bylaws.
The
C&BL establishes ground rules that will reduce dissatisfaction with rules
and race schedules, the formation of cliques within the club, and encourages
beginners in the art of racing pigeons.
Your
club’s Constitution and Bylaws is after all, the guidelines, policies and rules
that your club has agreed to use and live by.
It is the agreement the club has made with it’s members that defines how
it will be organized, and what responsibilities the clubs elected officers
have. Most importantly, it describes how
the club will deal with problems or disputes when they arise.
Here
is a brief outline of some of the main elements that your club’s Constitution
and Bylaws should encompass.
A preamble or statement of
purpose which
describes the objective and purpose of why the club exists. This can be a simple sentence or two which
will help “set the stage” and can be used to re-focus the club on its true
objective, such as: “The Purpose of this
club is to engage in the friendly competition of racing registered Homing
Pigeons. To promote the hobby of
breeding and racing Homing Pigeons, and to foster a positive social environment
for members and their families.”
It
should include a statement as to its’ affiliation with local concourses, state
and national organizations (AU) and may even include a Motto like the Burns,OR
RPC has: “Competition is for Testing Pigeons, not Relationships”
What is a member. Who can be a member and what, if any,
requirements need to be met. Some clubs
have different levels of membership such as probationary and junior members. Some clubs are by invitation only. An active member, for instance, might be described
as “Any Homing Pigeon fancier who has
participated in at least one race during the prior year, are current in all dues and fees of the club and
affiliate organizations and are of good character.”
Some clubs have a probationary period for new members. During this probationary period, the new
member should have full entitlement to participate in races and other
activities sponsored by the club, but may not have voting privileges during
this period. Usually at the first club
meeting following completion of this probationary period, the member would be
voted into full active member status.
One
of the most important areas of your club’s Constitution and Bylaws is that of
how and when you elect your officers, what officers are elected and what their
duties and responsibilities are.
Far
too many times a member is elected to a position with very little idea as to
what the office requires. Your club
needs a well-informed “team” of officers to be effective and keep the club
viable. Every office is important and
time should be spent with each new officer to be sure they understand the
duties and responsibilities of their new office. Here are the traditional ones.
President: The President presides over
all meetings and business transactions. In many cases he is the spokesman for
the club, and may be the one to meet the public should the need arise. The President will break all tie votes and is
automatically on all committees in an advisory capacity. The President is your leader and
the “cheerleader” for creating enthusiasm and participation.
Vice-President: The Vice-President will preside
at all meetings in the absence of the President, and heads up special
committees as appointed by the president, (i.e. publicity or Race committee) It
is recommended that this officer be your Constitution & Bylaws advisor
which is the one to make sure your club operates as intended. He is back up for the President.
Secretary: The Secretary is the cornerstone of the
club. He or she will send notices of all club meetings, keep the minutes, and
conduct the general correspondence of the club.
It is the Secretary that will order and issue the bands, and keep the
records, in accordance with the policies of the AU. The Secretary is responsible for keeping the
By-Laws and Race rules current and issues all revisions to the members. It is the Responsibility of the Secretary to
make sure the AU secretary kits with band orders are returned to the AU in a
timely manner. Essentially he is the
one that keeps the records and writes it down so there is no misunderstandings
down the road.
Treasurer. The Treasurer is responsible for the
financial assets of the club. He will
submit a financial accounting to the membership quarterly, or as directed by
the President, and keeps the president informed as to any delinquent (member)
accounts. He is responsible to pay the
club’s bills, usually with the president’s co-signature on check exceeding
certain amounts. (i.e. $500.) The
Treasurer keeps in his custody the books and records pertaining to the club and
deposits all monies received for dues, bands, surplus received from shipping or
any other sources into the Club’s official bank account.
To protect the integrity of
this position and avoid problems it is recommended that at the end of his
office, or even yearly, the Treasurer request an audit be made by the incoming
Treasurer and two (2) members of the Club as appointed by the President.
Race
Secretary: The
Race Secretary is, in my opinion, the most important job in the club. This is the person responsible for the
conduct of all the club’s races.
The Race
secretary is your event director. He/she chairs the race committee, which
usually includes other elected or appointed members. This committee will resolve all questions and
disputes regarding the racing competition.
The Race Secretary is also responsible for conduction and maintaining
the records of all loft surveys and ensures that the racing supplies are
adequately maintained. The Race
Secretary coordinates the liberation and makes provisions for notifying club
members of the release times. He shall
manage all race-figuring activities, and is responsible for publishing race
results and the distributing of diplomas and awards.
The
Bylaws are the club’s policies and operating procedures. This is the How, When, and Why, things are
done part of the Constitution. The
Bylaws will define the club’s policy as to rule changes, voting, dues, when to
hold elections, and what happens if the club dissolves, should that ever occur. It is designed to keep everyone all on the
same “page” and eliminate misunderstandings.
Participation and harmony is always improved when all the members
understand how things are supposed to work.
Many
club members seem to have little or no interest in their club’s rules or bylaws
until a conflict occurs and for the uninformed club this can be a
disaster. This is when the club can be “Railroaded”
or intimidated into something that may either be improper, poorly conceived or
thought through. If the club has a
strong set of Bylaws and refers to them regularly, you should already have a
procedure for handling most situations that will occur. (You also should have a procedure for adding
things that are not covered, and may want to include a built-in “cooling off
period”.)
Every
club should invest a few minutes at their annual meeting to review their
Constitution, Bylaws and Race rules and make copies available for the members
to take home and review. It is your
responsibility as a member to be familiar and understand how your club
operates, and what is expected of you and the rest of the members.
We
need to remember that people join pigeon clubs to fly and enjoy their birds,
but it is everyone’s responsibility to make the club run smoothly and fairly. Should dissension occur in your club,
remember the motto that the Burns, OR RPC uses:
“Competition is for Testing Pigeons, not Relationships” to
re-focus on your clubs purpose and the discussion. With a good Constitution and a set of Bylaws
a stronger, more harmonious club can almost be guaranteed.
So
when was the last time you reviewed your club’s Constitution, Bylaws and Race
rules?
A sample Club Constitution &
Bylaws is here: https://www.pigeon.org/organizationsampleconstitutionby-laws.htm
Tuesday, July 16, 2019
Herb Cartmell - Good Pigeon Neighbors
My good neighbor, Mr. Wilson will take all the extra loft scrapings I can spare for his garden. And it explodes every year! I give him 30 gal ( 5-6 five gal buckets), every month or so.
In turn, he always bring over some fantastic veggies.
In this bag, onions, cucumbers, squash, beets. Lettuce...
It pays to keep your neighbors happy.
Stay great, Herb
Thursday, November 29, 2018
Homing Pigeons 101 - Helpful Tips: Wing Stamps
Larry Davis shared another handy tip for beginners. It is something that is easy to do, and so practical for any bird that may have stopped on its journey back home. It is the wing stamp. It's nothing particularly fancy, but it is powerful in directing anyone to the proper owner contact information.
It is done with a simple stamp purchased from an office supply store. Using permanent ink, the stamp is placed on the outside of the 3 or 4th primary feather, where it will show up easily.
Friday, November 16, 2018
Homing Pigeons 101 - Helpful Tips: Self-Loading Birds
When you're ready to load up the birds, here's a tip for you to make life easier.
Do you see that panel opening that slides up, in the corner, to the right, just above the steps?
Do you see that panel opening that slides up, in the corner, to the right, just above the steps?
That slides up.
This little fellow is going the wrong way, but he'll catch on in no time.
Now, note the panel he is about to pull up on the crate below. That is the side of the crate the birds walk into.
Outside the loft, on the other side of the opening, the crate awaits the birds, with panel pulled up for the birds to walk through.
And they're in! Ready to go.
Homing Pigeons 101 - Helpful Tips: The Cleanup
Are you looking for an easy method of cleaning the loft perches? Look no further!
Larry Davis shares what he has found to save much time and increase his enjoyment of the pigeons.
Note the edge and style of the scraper.
Larry Davis shares what he has found to save much time and increase his enjoyment of the pigeons.
Note the edge and style of the scraper.
Now, note the configuration of the perches,making a long motion clear across a section very easy. Voilà ! You're done in no time.
Tuesday, November 13, 2018
Homing Pigeons 101 - Helpful Tips: Nest Bowls
Here's a handy tip to make nest bowl cleaning a breeze. Wrap your nest bowls in newspaper thusly. Newspaper ink is typically soybean based, thereby making this wrapping safe for use with the pigeons.
Now you have a clean nest bowl to re-wrap and start again.
Fasten with 2 inch wide masking tape this way.
When it is time to change the nest bowl, cut under the tape edge to release the newspaper, peel it away and toss it. If you have used silicone free masking tape, you can put the used nest bowl wrapping in your garden compost.
Now you have a clean nest bowl to re-wrap and start again.
Monday, November 5, 2018
Homing Pigeons 101 - Helpful Tips: Feed Hoppers
AU member, Larry Davis, offered some helpful tips for beginners. When it is time to keep the birds penned over the cooler months, let's say October through February for many, it is not necessary to have the birds out to exercise regularly, but rather it is important to provide the proper food for the pigeons to retain their fit and vigor. This is what he suggests.
4-H Volunteer of the Year Award Presented at annual Awards Banquet
At the November 3rd Emmet County 4-H Awards Night program, the “2018 4-H Volunteer of The Year ” award was presented to 4-H volunteer Mike Netzky.
Mike began his involvement in 4-H over 3 years ago when he
inquired about becoming a leader. The
county leader’s council was excited to have a new club start up, and were very
interested in having something so new become a part of the program - a 4-H
Racing Pigeon Club.
Mike really enjoys working with young people, providing
educational opportunities, teaching about every aspect of pigeon raising, while
promoting the mission of 4-H. He
especially enjoys getting the word out about the club and the cool things they
are doing.
Since the club was formed, there have been six articles in
the local newspaper, a multi-page story in a national pigeon publication
featuring every member of the club, and most recently a video presentation on
TV 9 & 10's segment on northern living.
Mike encourages his members to participate in county events
and to volunteer for jobs at various county programs. For the past two year’s, he has coordinated a
club tent outside of the small animal booth during fairweek. He had informational handouts, colorful
brochures and even pigeons. They had
timed races each day to see who’s pigeons arrived home the fastest. During this past year’s fairweek, the pigeon
releases occurred with a new twist. For
a donation to the club, fair visitors could write out a note that was then
carried by the pigeon back to the members’ home. The 4-H’er took the note and mailed it back
to the author with a personal note as to when the note arrived and a
hand-written thank you from the club member.
All day, every day - there was a line up at the club tent. The club members were all great ambassadors
for their project and for 4-H.
Whether it’s in club meeting, a competitive event or a club
outing, Mike stresses education, safety, personal responsibility and continuous
learning, all while having fun and making memories.
Mike is always working in the community spreading the good
news of 4-H, interacting with the youth and supporting their efforts and
accomplishments. He is a flag waver for
4-H and is well-deserving of this recognition.
Diane M. Brazier
Emmet County 4-H Program Coordinator
P.S. by Mike: This could not be done without the wonderful parents, kids and 4-H programs.
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