Michigan Promotes

Michigan got a double dose of promotion this year, starting with the National Stamp Show in Grand Rapids. The annual event conducted by the American Philatelic Society provides an additional market for sport exposure. Many stamp collectors were already aware of the Homing Pigeons’ wartime service delivering vital messages. It was interesting to note that several show attendees actually had pigeons in the past.

American Racing Pigeon Union provided the display and literature. Grand Rapids RPC members, Randy Homrich, Russ & Burt Taylor, Chuck Bauer and Dave Linderman manned the display booth and a bird release. The event was held at the Devos Convention Center, providing a beautiful facility in the middle of scenic downtown that continuously beckoned tourists in addition to stamp collectors. What was a surprise to people attending the show was seeing the birds in person, giving them an opportunity to feel the birds and to see what type of equipment is used and the feed they eat.

To kick off the event week, information on the sport and the birds was featured on live radio with APS Stamp Talk show host, Nancy Clark.

During the convention, Randy and Chuck released birds outside the convention center. It was a terrific site to see the birds shoot out of the crates, over the water, circle higher and proceed home.

At the display booth, members had a chance to speak with a stamp magazine editor and were encouraged to hear that he would publish an article urging that letters be sent to the Citizen’s Stamp Committee for issuing a commemorative Homing Pigeon postage stamp.

Several people signed up to receive more information about the sport. Some just appreciated having more information. Others were potential new sport participants. Members immediately conducted follow up with these contacts to be sure they had ready access to club information.

This was the second year for AU members to join the stamp collector’s show. The organizers of the 2006 show are already seeking arrangements for a homing pigeon display. Next year’s show will be a world exhibition, rather than national and will be held in Washington D.C.

The next event to display the sport was the Ypsilanti Heritage Festival in the historically significant and scenic downtown Ypsilanti, Michigan. The Suburban Motor City Combine members didn’t waste any time obtaining a space at the event that boasts phenomenal attendance from people across the country. A steady stream of people made their way down the winding paths that border the riverside area allowing a very relaxed inspection of all that is offered.

Betty Cesarz, Bill Sweeney and Dave Barnes quickly set up a display area to be ready for the three-day festival. Bill, Nancy Kirk, and Bob Barnes, Sr. took turns at the display to share information with festival-goers. In spite of rain, Saturday had amazing attendance. “We felt this festival really needed to have something available about the sport. People come from all over to this one,” said AU’s Treasurer, Bob Barnes. “The response was great.”

People of a variety of ages and backgrounds took interest in the birds. Some of the kids were thrilled to have an opportunity to touch a bird and release it for home. A lot of the people requesting more information were already familiar with some of the club members and a few had actually raced before and were interested in starting up again. Information was sent to each of these people and the club members are in the process of following up to keep the information available. Betty is also coordinating a live radio interview, which will further extend the reach of their promotion efforts.

The festival was treated to a dramatic bird release to signal the start of a charity rubber duck race that closed the event.

Both clubs did a fantastic job promoting the sport in Michigan. They have increased positive awareness of the sport and may have also gained some new participants as a result.

Nancy Kirk holds a bird for people to touch.