President's Message - March 2008

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Please make a special effort to view the National Geographic special on pigeons being broadcast on March 15, 2008 at 10pm Eastern. It is called Pigeon Genius: Brilliant Beasts. Let folks all over know about it!

More details about the program can be found on the AU website at www.pigeons.org as well as on the National Geographic site (see link on the AU site.)

This special was produced with the cooperation and in-put from the American Racing Pigeon Union. The National Geographic Society contacted the AU Offices and worked closely with the staff. Additionally, individual AU Officers and Board members (as well as general membership individuals) contributed greatly to the final product.

Thankfully, the NG Society contacted the AU national office and was very interested in gathering complete and factual information for their special and, we, from the AU, salute their efforts.

Hopefully, this presentation will provide the general public with the factual information so blatantly missing from the recent Sports Illustrated depiction of One Loft, big money style of pigeon racing. Sports Illustrated did not bother to contact the National Organization and worked exclusively through the individuals who contacted the magazine and provided all the information.

The AU was not even aware that an article was in the works until it appeared. The AU has written to Sports Illustrated stating our disappointment with the one-sided article and cited the number of positive aspects our hobby provided (far beyond the fringe element and limited scope that the big one loft futurities) that the article failed to include.

Again, be sure to enjoy the NGS special, Pigeon Genius: Brilliant Beasts, to be aired on March 15, 2008. Check the calendar of programs on the National Geographic site (http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/) to see when it will air in your area.

Sincerely,
Steve Lawler
AU President