AMERICAN RACING PIGEON UNION CELEBRATES 97TH YEAR

What are you going to do when the Mariachi band starts playing and the buffet table overflows with the makings for tacos? Well, party, of course! The Mexican Fiesta was a spirited start to the annual celebration at the Ann Arbor Marriott in 

Alex Bieche kicked off the second day of the AU convention with a seminar, while ladies enjoyed a tour, lunch and show.

The 10th annual AU National Youth Race was held on Friday as well. The handler, Bill Sweeney and the SMCC did a great job training and caring for the birds. 66 birds went to the race and 33 came in on the first drop. Caden Flanery was the big winner! He is a Michigan resident and into his second year of racing interest. Caden will enjoy the opportunity to attend the 2008 AU Convention, in Minnesota, as a treat by the AU. After the youth race, it was time to get back to the hotel for breeders and handlers to check their convention race birds. Birds were transported overnight 400 miles, to Griffin, Indiana.

The convention race was exciting and the handlers provided great food and fun for guests. The winner of the 2007 AU Convention Race was Dr. David Chen.

During the course of the week, your AU Board of Directors held annual board meetings. Various Board Action Requests, race rules, promotion efforts, award updates and lobbying reports were shared and discussed. Be sure to watch the January edition of the AU Update to review the minutes from the meetings and summary of rule changes.

It became apparent through the meetings that the AU remains focused on its commitment to preserve the sport through proactive measures and programs, such as the AU Loft Certification program and working with our lobbyist. Your lobbyist, Greg Smith, does an outstanding job to monitor legislation that may impact the sport, as well as continue to develop and nurture relationships with key officials.

Promotion efforts and member retention continue to be a priority for the AU as well. Reported promotion and marketing efforts reflect another membership increase as we head into the end of the year.

Freddie Rivera kicked off the third day with a seminar. Meanwhile several attendees were casino bound. The day was capped off with a bountiful buffet dinner and Viva Las Vegas! to entertain. Talented entertainers took the audience from country’s George Jones to rock’s Elvis Presley.

The final day. AU members gathered for the general membership meeting and heard the latest from the AU Officers, the AU national office and the AU lobbyist, Greg Smith. With no immediate emergencies pending, the audience was reminded of the need to educate the public about the racing sport and the practice of good neighborliness to build relationships. It was also encouraging to see several members take the opportunity to share concerns with the AU Board. This input gave your lobbyist necessary information so that he may better voice our needs and requirements.

Afterward, the National Ladies Auxiliary hosted their annual brunch and the top 30 race birds were displayed and auctioned.

The 97th annual dinner and awards presentation offered up the announcements and presentations to the 2007 winners: AU Member Hall of Fame, Vernon Young and Gene Yoes; AU Publicity Persons of the Year, Mother Lode RPC and Colleen Mastony of the Chicago Tribune; AU Persons of the Year, Walt & Margaret Shaffer; AU Breeder Elite, Roger Mortvedt; Rick Phalen Leadership Award, Herb Cartmell; AU Legends of the Sport, Fred Quilitzch, Bill Lightell, Pete Barry, Larry Long, Shannon Hiatt and Dr. Jon Esposito; and Junior Member of the Year, Michaelina Kobylanski. Congratulations to a tremendous group!
All of these individuals have contributed tremendously to the sport, the national organization and local clubs. We thank you and salute you all!

As a subsidiary organization of the AU, the National Ladies Auxiliary offers scholarships to children of AU members. This past year, NLA gave away $7300 in 15 scholarships. One way the AU helps to replenish the scholarship fund is to have an auction during the awards banquet. Past AU President, Frank Greenhall stepped up to the microphone and raised over $2500 to add to the NLA fund. 

Last years Youth Race Winner, Tony Szymanek, raked it in when he was given the Crazy Al auction bird won by Frank himself. Tony was also the lucky winner of the National Junior Membership Contest, in which the prize was a Benzing electronic timing system, donated by Ed Minvielle and Siegels, as representatives of Benzing. It was a huge night for Tony – congratulations!

In the end, it was a great week. Guests appeared to enjoy themselves. Meetings were productive. Entertainment was wonderful. We thank the convention committee, handlers, volunteers and the entire Suburban Cities Motor Combine for their hard work and hospitality.

Race results for the 2007 Convention race are posted on the main page of our website (www.pigeon.org). Details pertaining to the 2008 convention are also posted.

We look forward to seeing you at the 2008 AU Convention, which will be hosted by the Heartland Federation in Minneapolis.