Having now been in our current jobs for about 3 months and having placed the Federation on a more or less even keel, we have been able to put our minds to understanding what allowed the Federation to get itself into such a position that threatened its future.
The North Staffs Federation has, in the past, been recognised as one of the largest and best in the pigeon racing world and maybe because of that position, some details of good management had been allowed to lapse.
Unfortunately, some bad habits have not been completely corrected and will certainly need to be corrected in the future if the Federation is to regain its previous position in the pigeon racing world, under future management guidance.
As we said right at the beginning of our tenure as Treasures and Administration Secretaries, “Communication is the key to Success” and whilst we have gone some way towards creating better communications by way of the new website there still seems a reluctance to use it but rather to rely on the grapevine for obtaining information. The result is inaccurate Chinese Whispers that bear little resemblance to the truth and only create unrest where none is justified.
Cooperation between the Management Committee members is also vital if we are all going to sing from the same hymn sheet but old habits are hard to change and therefore the methods of the past still manage to prevail in some areas.
This, as you can imagine becomes somewhat frustrating to new officials who often find themselves being unable to carry out their duties successfully through no fault of their own.
A casual approach to detail will only guarantee that the Federation will immediately slip backwards as soon as new officials take up their positions and the Federation will soon end up in the same dire straits that it was in when we first took over.
New Officials need to be “Dedicated towards the successful future of the Federation, Diligent in everything that they do and have a Determination to carry out their duties with 100% devotion. This culture can only be arrived at if the mistakes of the past are quickly rectified.
All current and future Officials must ask themselves if they can meet these criteria.
The question of the future of our Transporter is no longer in doubt. Extensive repairs have been carried out and to all intents and purposes the engine has been rebuilt which should mean it is fit for purpose for many years to come provided it is professionally maintained after each seasons’ use and not left to just stand idle and stagnate during the closed season. The bodywork and racking are in excellent condition and so need no further action, apart from a bit of WD40 on the hinges of the crates.
The banking arrangements with Lloyds have also been brought into the modern era with Bank to Bank payments being used wherever possible and we have also discouraged cash payment as far as possible. You can’t imagine the problems that cash payments cause, especially when having to go to the Bank with sometimes hundreds of pounds in cash and especially when you have to go either Hanley or Macclesfield (there is no Lloyds bank in Leek), find somewhere to park and then walk through crowded streets with such large sums of money in either your handbag or pocket. Your cooperation in avoiding this situation would be very much appreciated.
The help we have experienced from the members of this Federation has been nothing short of amazing, especially in the areas of your patience whilst we put matters right and also in the area of birdage. Without you sending your birds and not seeking pastures new and therefore maintaining a steady income flow we could not have continued. So, thank you all from the bottom of our hearts.
Well, there you have it, an up to date report on the future of our Fedeation – past, present and future. We hope it is not too frightening but rather gives you some optimism for the future provided some fairly simple actions are carried out and the right calibre of Officials are voted into place at the next AGM.
Brian & Jill
North Staffordshire Federation News 