Homers Odyssey - 80th AGM for NIPA
NIPA 80th AGM held in Glenavy-
The 2025 and 80th Annual General Meeting took place in the Protestant Hall in Glenavy on Saturday 8th February commencing at 200pm sharp. Only Delegates could vote, or enter into the business of the meeting. All clubs were required to hold a meeting on the Resolutions and mandate their delegates on how to cast their vote. A letter of confirmation that each Delegate(s) club had held a club meeting to vote on Resolutions being produced at the AGM. No discussion on Resolutions.
Agenda included 1. Minutes of last AGM. 2. CEO Report. 3. Passing of Accounts. 4. Any other 2024 Business. 5, Election of Officers for 2025.
Chairman Pat McLaughlin opened the meeting and asked the members to stand and observe a moments silence in respect of those members and friends who had passed away in the past year. The attendance was poor enough with under 40 local clubs represented.
Secretary Fred Russel read the minutes of the previous AGM, these were accepted as were the accounts.
CEO Report 2024/2025 – This will be the most difficult report I have ever had to present to you, I would request to you at club level make sure it is read in its entirety to your members and not tossed to the side and marked read.
I do not wish to alarm you regarding the NIPA present finances, they are very strong with a Net worth of £688,007.
This looks like a massive amount but in real terms if the organisation must purchase new transporters etc it would seriously put a dent in your Balance Sheet and make racing much more expensive to organise.
The Bank Interest generated this year amounted to £15,778. This would pay almost 3 drivers wages, or almost one quarter of your Diesel Bill.
Depreciation will be very high for at least the next 3 years, and this will reduce our Fixed Assets.
The surplus from other organisations was £14,664, this amount is never guaranteed it is very welcome and helps to pay some of our expenses.
If you examine the accounts, it is easy to work out what it costs to keep your transporters on the road, approximately £171,000and the income generated from the crates would not cover the basic costs of keeping them on the road.
The problem facing the NIPA will have to be addressed and you are all aware of it. The membership is falling year on year and the number of pigeons being transported has fallen dramatically.
To collect our pigeons at present we are using 7 transporters which have a capacity of carrying 35,000 pigeons, our maximum number last year was 23,000 pigeons this was only achieved on two occasions, most weeks our numbers ranged from 10,000 to 18,000 birds.
It is very clear from these numbers that the number of transporters will have to decrease, how this is managed will take a lot of planning and have to have the full backing of the membership.
I would recommend that Every Section calls a meeting to discuss this major problem, and senior officers of the NIPA will attend to listen to all your suggestions. I will be arranging a meeting with the Transport Manager, Convoyer and Drivers to listen to their suggestions.
I believe it is no longer the solution to this problem to keep increasing the cost of transportation onto the membership.
We have to learn to keep our expenditure within our income, if we do not in a very few years’ time the NIPA will be in serious trouble and you will have no other option but to take drastic action.
However, if you continue to carry on as present and make no changes your losses will very quickly amount up and be unsustainable, you are being given the chance to do something about it.
You have now received a set of Transporter Accounts, please feel free to contact me if you require any amount clarified.
Moving on to our General Account thankfully it is in surplus, this amount should never be in deficit. The majority of this surplus is made up from the sale of Unikon Rings, Prize-money not claimed and a surplus from the annual Ladies Night. None of this is guaranteed income.
At this point I would like to thank on behalf of the NIPA David West, David Mawhinney, Diamond Carson, Joey Vague, for their assistance in marketing the Unikon Ting sales. Since the start of our partnership with Unikon we have lodged over £50,000 into NIPA funds. You all have benefited from this and its most welcome revenue. However, this income is starting to fall as a few of our members are switching to other systems. If you have any queries on the General Accounts, please feel free to contact me.
Finally, the Balance Sheet is very strong. The value on paper of the NIPA is up on the previous year by approximately £4,800.
In achieving this I would like to thank everyone who assisted the NIPA in achieving this., especially President Cormac, Chairman Pat, Transport Manager Paul, plus transport drivers, Race Controller Jim and every member of the NIPA Committee.
Their input is very much appreciated. Also, sincere thanks from myself and family to everyone who stepped up to the mark when I fell unexpectedly ill in July and ensured that the NIPA continued without any problems.
Now as I come near to the end of my report I must report to you all about the alarming amount of calls and visits to the NIPA Office regarding the use of drugs in our Sport. Even if a fraction of them are true our sport like many others has a serious problem.
I am now in possession of new Drug Testing Kits for 2025, I can assure you they will be used in 2025. The NIPA requires many members to stand up and be trained by the RPRA to carry out these tests. If you require further information as to how this is done please contact Noel Higginson, Cormac O’Hare, Gerald Delany or Sam Briggs. If you are unable to contact them contact myself leaving your email or telephone number and I will put you in touch with these RPRA Representatives.
The RPRA and the NIPA will receive a new list of prohibited drugs from the FCA. The NIPA will send the names of Drugs that are allegedly being used by pigeon fanciers in Northern Ireland.
I have a list of Three Drugs that are allegedly being used in Northern Ireland. We are forwarding them to the RPRA, I have a list of suppliers, manufactures, and allegedly users.
The NIPA Office is always open to any further information on Drugs. If any of this is true regarding Drugs or any form of performance enhancing products they must be eradicated from our sport and if anyone is found to be guilty they must be removed from our sport.
Our sport has to be seen as a clean sport free from all Drugs.
I will finish my report hoping that the weather we have endured over the last number of years changes for the better and we see some excellent performances in 2025. Regards Fred Russell CEO of the NIPA.
2024 business - A new trophy has been presented form the Moore Family Bangor to be competed for in Section F 2025 also a new trophy has been presented by a former President and now a life Vice President Malcolm Livingtone of Portadown and will be competed for by Members of Section E
NIPA OFFICE BEARERS 2025
Patron: Mr. Diamond Carson (Banbridge HPS), President: Mr. Cormac O'Hare (Ballyholland HPS). Senior Vice President: Mr. Jim Ramsey (Derry & District)
Mr Cormac O’Hare from Ballyholland HPS in Newry, NIPA President.
Life Vice Presidents: Mr. D Mawhinney (Beechpark Social), Mr. A. McDonnell (Coleraine Prem), Mr. D. Carson (Banbridge HPS), Mr. M. Livingstone (Portadown & Drumcree HPS), Mr P Murray (Killyleagh Cent), Mr. Alan Darragh (Cullybackey), Mr. H. Boyd (Coalisland), Mr. S. Briggs (Lisburn & District) Mr J Hanson (Coleraine Prem)
Chairman: Mr. P. McLaughlin (Maiden City), Vice-Chairman: Mr.W Seaton (Ligoniel HPS)
CEO: Mr. Fred Russell (Dromore West End). Assistant Secretary: Mr. Joe Vage (Dromore HPS)
Fleet Supervisor: Mr. Paul Howard, Convoyer: Mr. Paddy McNeice (Annaghmore)
FINANCE, TRANSPORT AND GENERAL PURPOSES MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
Section A - J. Hanson (Coleraine Premier)
Section B - K. Kernohan (Ballymena & District) / S. Murphy (Kells) / J. Greer (Cullybackey HPS)
Ballymena & District Secretary Keith Kernohan is a member of the NIPA Committee representing lofts in Mid Antrim and NIPA Section B.
New member in Cullybackey Sam Murphy completes the NIPA Sect B reps for Section B.
Secretary of Cullybackey Jamie Greer is on the NIPA Committee
Section C - W. Seaton (Ligoniel) / D. Campbell (Eastway) / G. Robinson (Carrick Social)
Section D - D. Aiken (Dromara) / M. Mairs (Lisburn & District) / I. Gibb (Glenavy)
Section E - G. O'Dowd (Gilford & District) / S. Corrigan (Loughall) / G. Donaldson (Edgarstown)
Section F - P. Murray (Killyleagh) / C. Watson (Killyleagh Central)
Section G - J. F McCabe (Newry & Dist.)/ G. Delaney (Ashfield)
Section H - P. McLaughlin (Maiden City) / J. Ramsey (Derry & Dist.)
Press Officers: Mr. W. Reynolds / Mr J. Hughes
Race Controller - Mr. J. Ramsey. Race advisors - Messrs G. Hughes, W. Seaton
Auditors - G McG, Portadown
NIPA delegates to the Irish Region RPRA: Cormac O’Hare (Ballyholland), Samuel Briggs (Lisburn).
NIPA 2025 Resolutions
Resolution Number One submitted by the NIPA Committee
Delete NIPA Rule 35 in its entirety and replace with new Rule 35.
Any member making malicious statements on social media regarding the nipa its officials/committee members or club member and subsequently found to be incorrect shall be brought before the committee and found to be guilty of such practises shall be suspended for a period of time as determined by the committee. Passed by 42 votes in favour to 2 against.
Resolution Number Two submitted by the NIPA Committee
On race marking and race checking, all clubs must print 3 copies of each members race entries and race arrival print out.
These all must be signed by the club official and the member concerned or their proxy. These signatures by the member or proxy confirm that you are accepting responsibility that all your pigeons have been race marked correctly and are entered into the race. Passed by 42 votes in favour to 1 against.
Resolution Number Three
Delete NIPA Rule 3a in its entirety and replace with a new Rule 3a
The delegates representation shall be one delegate for club`s with a membership of 3 to 15 members (any club with less than 3 members will not be entitled to delegate representation). Two delegates for club`s with a membership of16 to 30 members.
3 delegates for club`s with a membership of 31 to 45 members and 4 delegates for club`s with membership above 45. Passed by 34 votes in favour to 7 against.
After the AGM the CEO outlined possible changes in collections for 2025 to try and reduce our fleet of Transporters by two Travelling to the Race points, He made it quite clear that nothing had been agreed , but change was coming over the next few Seasons and a start is required immediately.
The ideal start would be for club`s to amalgamate their race marking in their areas, this would be a brilliant first step and would permit 5 Transporters to do the Job of collecting pigeons. There will be more on this subject in the next few months.
Stop Press: Bird Flu Restrictions - On reading the update on Avian Flu, I understand from it that all birds must be housed from Monday Morning at 00.01am . If you see anyone flying their pigeons on Monday morning onwards please inform them their birds must be housed until further notice.
Applications are open for the post of INFC Secretary, deadline is 1st March 2025. Job description can be downloaded from the INFC website. Write to or e-mail the INFC Chairman Cormac O’Hare. Address 4 Moore Hill Road, Newry Co Down. Northern Ireland BT34 2QJ. E-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
What A Story This Boy Has ......
* 1st Ever Race Of His Life. * Light Northeast Wind. * Returned Home 20mins After Expected Arrivals. * Quietly Ushered In. * Went and Seen His Hen. * Got Himself a Drink. * Then Caught & Clocked In.
RESULT NIPA 1st OB Roscrea (18,753 b), 1st Club, 1st Section H, 1st Open NIPA.
'UNBELIEVABLE', bre4d and raced by Victor Gourley, Omagh & District. Photo Gary Donaldson.
HOMER - Willie Reynolds
Tel/Fax: (028) 256 44683
Mobile: 07538 238364
Twitter: willie reynolds@homerbhw>
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http://www.irishnationalflyingclub.com
