Federation Rules
1. That this Federation be called Wolverhampton Federation Of Mid Week Flying Clubs" and shall consist of clubs whose Headquarters are within a 15 Mile Radius of St. Peters Church, Wolverhampton. All applications to be subject to Federation General Committees decision.
2. Clubs eligible for affiliation must be members of the R.P.R.A. and elected by a majority vote of those present.
3. Affiliated clubs to pay an annual subscription for every club member (Partnerships, shall be deemed as one member) whether in other clubs or not, the subscriptions together with the names and addresses of all members must be paid on or before 28th February of each year, or within 14 days after the A.G.M. should the A.G.M. be after the 28th February.
4. The object of the Federation shall be to economise in convoying birds (Combined with the undoubted advantages of a qualified convoyer accompanying same).
5. Any club wishing to resign must do so before the A.G.M. (Annual General Meeting) or they will be held liable for the ensuing years subscription, any club resigning to forfeit all claims on Federation assets.
6. The Federation shall not be dissolved except by a two thirds majority vote of the members present at a special meeting called for the purpose and of which 14 days notice has been given to all members in writing.
7. A further meeting shall be held to confirm such resolution. In the event of the Federation being disbanded under the rule, the assets of the Federation shall be realised and the proceeds divided equally amongst the then active members, one loft and one share.
8. The General Committee shall consist of a President, Chairman, and Secretary. Each affiliated club to choose a delegate from amongst their own members and no more than two other delegates. Each club to have one vote. All officials must be members of the R.P.R.A.
9. The entries administrative Management of the Federation be vested in the Committee for the time being, who shall have power to make such levies, regulations and conditions a they may from time to time deem necessary.
10. Matters of urgency shall be dealt with by the Emergency Committee consisting of: President, Chairman, and Secretary, plus 2 Club delegates. This Committee to act as transport committee and to be responsible for anything concerning Convoying and the business side of road transport. All clubs to be notified, decisions made by those delegates in attendance.
11. The Federation secretary upon receipt of a requisition, or copy of a resolution, passed by 7 or more clubs asking for a special meeting to consider any specific subject, must call a meeting within 14 days, giving the subject to be dealt with and no other business to be dealt with.
12. Should any dispute arise on any matter connected with the Federation, the same shall be referred to the secretary and Committee, who shall then decide on a meeting of which both parties shall be notified in writing and the nature of their dispute shall be set out and a meeting called giving 7 clear days notice to all members.
13. The Federation secretary has Authority to place items on the agenda of any meeting which he/she thinks will be of benefit to the Federation and its members.
14. At least Three General Meetings shall be held annually.
14.1 The Balance Sheet Meeting - the Balance Sheet will be sent out to all secretaries (as per R.P.R.A. Rules).
14.2 The Annual General Meeting - for the election of officials. Propositions to alter or amend Federation Rules, Propositions to be in Secretaries hands (in writing) at least 28 days prior to the A.G.M. The same shall be shown on the notice calling for the meeting. (as per R.P.R.A. Rules).
14.3 The Race Programme Meeting - proposed programmes to be in Federation Secretaries hands (in writing) at least 28 days prior to the meeting taking place, these must be shown on the agenda for this meeting.
15. The clubs individual members clocks must be set and re-checked against the same master clock, (Except ETS). If this is not adhered to, Federation Honours, Championship Honours, Golden Ring Honours or similar Honours will not be entertained.
16. During the time a clock is under seal, the Federation secretary shall have the power to examine and check any clock or send a representative to do so. A note of introduction made out by the Federation Secretary will be given to his/her representative and all members on production of this note must allow this representative to examine and check their clock(s), a report of such examination must be handed to the secretary and committee.
17. The club clock Committee shall have power to detain any clock of any of its members if they consider it unsatisfactory and immediately inform the Federation secretary giving cause for complaint.
18. Should any clock be tampered with in any way (as to cheat), such clock shall be disqualified, and any member party to this act shall be liable to suspension or expulsion.
19. Every club must use the clock register supplied by the Federation and enter into it the following: Time of setting, Thimble Chamber number, Variations, Members Name and clock numbers etc., before any clock is issued to any competitor, after race completed the following information to be added: Checking Time, Variation, clocking in times, Velocities, Ring number etc.
20. Result of Races (as per R.P.R.A. Rule 19) to be sent to Federation Secretary. The official form to be used and the whole of the columns to be filled any positions worked out to the second decimal, these results to be in the Federation secretaries hands within 3 days after the close of the race. Any claims for a Federation position will not be entertained unless this rule is strictly complied with.
21. Each competing loft shall only be allowed to take four (4) federation prize cards. Club secretaries to send all competing members information as per rule 19 and 20 to allow the federation secretary to get out a result.
22. No objections will be entertained against any competitor unless it is lodged with the Federation secretary within Fourteen days after the publication of official report of any race.
23. The Federation shall provide sufficient pigeon crates to accommodate the average number of birdage sent by each club. Not withstanding unforeseen additional birdage, these crates will be kept in Good Repair by the club.
24. Each club is responsible for the damages to, or loss of their crates and are expected to have crates in good order and are properly sealed. Any found insecure when containing race birds, or should any bird or birds escape there from, the club sending them be debarred from taking any positions in that race. The Committee request that no club will overcrowd their crates, and that as far as possible a uniform number of birds shall be placed in all crates. The Conveyor has been instructed that should he find a crate(s) that he considers Is overcrowded, he shall liberate them at the first opportunity and report the club(s) sending them. Any club so reported will be disqualified from that race.
25. The Federation shall use crates with wire mesh bottoms, which must be cleaned out fully each week.
26. All clubs must carefully seal crates with the usual club seals, and afterwards pinch with the same pincers bearing the club initials or with R.P.R.A. Seals.
27. No birds to be raced-marked unless at least three members are present, such members sign despatch form provided by the Federation.
28. All changes to charges for the pick-up service to be decided by the Transport & Finance Committee, and sent to the clubs for their approval prior to the A.G.M. No changes to be made without a majority decision at Federation level.
29. Each club will be responsible for its birds being delivered to the Federation Convoyer at the appointed time and place. Should the Convoyer through any unforeseen circumstances arrive at the race point without the birds of any club(s), those liberated shall constitute a race. Any clubs not sending must notify the Federation Secretary at least 24 hours before the pick-up time, this to avoid pick-up charges being levied to that club.
30. The federation birds shall be liberated in one (1) batch only at the convoyers discretion.
31. In the event of a holdover, pigeons shall be liberated at the earliest possible time (after 9.00 am) on the next Day.
32. The Federation Secretary will put liberation information on the lib-line service only (after 9.00 am). Updates will be put on Hourly to keep members informed as to the situation. All clubs to contact the lib-line service for this information. No such calls to be made to the Federation Secretary or Convoyer, in the event of the Federation Secretary not being able to put a message on lib-line service (breakdown of lib-line service). Then all clubs will be notified directly.
33. Each club shall be supplied with a charge account for each race as soon as possible after the return of the convoyer. Each clubs charges must be paid within seven days of receipt of the account. A covering note must accompany the cheque to indicate which Race(s) the cheque covers. Should the case arise where a club is two weeks in arrears the Federation secretary must report this to the President and Chairman of offending club.
34. No club shall be allowed to race or train with the Federation until all dues have been paid.
35. Each club competing for Federation Honours must use a master clock with an eight (8) day movement and prints a permanent record. (For Non-ETS clocks). These master clocks must be set over the telephone against B.T. Timeline (TIM) between 16:30 hrs and 19:30 hrs on Tuesday nights, and be rechecked over the telephone against B.T. Timeline (TIM) between 18:00 hrs and 19:30 hrs on the day of toss or within 30 minutes of checking members clocks. All ETS clocks as per RPRA Rules.
36. In the event of a deficit on the years working, the Committee shall be empowered to make a levy on each member to cover the deficit, not withstanding any member having sent in his resignation.
37. Under the powers of R.P.R.A. rule 199 and in accordance with the terms of Appendix G to the R.P.R.A. rules, the Federation reserves the right to carry out tests for banned performance enhancing drugs and substances, on any competing member loft of a club affiliated to the Federation. Furthermore an affiliated club can request that a test be carried out on any competing member loft in the Federation on payment to the Federation of the necessary fee.
38. The federation will make a financial allowance to each club with federation topping pigeons, based on the number of federation topping pigeons it may have. (ie. 3 fed toppers X the current price of photographs) this money to be paid to clubs as soon as the period for objections has expired.
39. Any situation not covered under these rules shall be decided on by the Federation General Committee whose decision shall be final and binding subject to the right of appeal to the R.P.R.A.
Appendix (I)
The federation birds shall where possible and subject to adverse weather conditions, arrive over the Stourbridge area at approx 13:00 hours. However if it is the majority decision of the member clubs to liberate early, advance notice shall be communicated to all clubs via text message to all club secretaries at the end of collection of said pigeons.
CLOCK RULES
The Standard Clock Rules as laid down in the current R.P.R.A. Rules Book, shall apply at all times.