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0001 24 Mar 2020 21:31:00: Posted by GAVIN HARRIS from SAHPA CHAIRPERSON,
Coronavirus Update - The SAHPA Committee of Management has met via a zoom and phone hookup and resolved to postpone by 4 weeks, that is the start of training to 24th May, with racing to possibly commence on 20th June. We continue to be hopeful of a racing season during 2020. This will continue to be reviewed based on Government advice and the members advised. Thank you for your patience. Please keep in contact with your club members and if you are able to assist each other that would be great.' We plan to review this plan again on 14th April and will keep members up to date. At this point of time the committee has discussed reverting to a pay as you go racing rather than a prepaid scheme. Sports SA has granted approval of all clubs to delay their Annual General Meetings for at least a further 3 months and that will be reviewed. ' Councils have also declared that we must not attend our club rooms based on Prime Minister announcements for stage 1.
0002 23 Mar 2020 16:51:46: Posted by JOHN HARPER from GENERAL SECRETARY,
Any Clubs wishing to pick up their Year Books can do so on Tuesday mornings from 10:30 am - 12:00 at the Assoc hall or alternatively make arrangements with the Secretary by phone. Thanks
0003 18 Mar 2020 17:37:14: Posted by GAVIN HARRIS from SALDC SECRETARY,
SALDC Sires Produce - The closing date for Prepaid Entries has been changed from 27th March to now be 2 days after the SAHPA AGM which is scheduled for 1st May, so closing date is now 3rd May. Copies of the entry forms were given to Club Secretaries to hand out to their members, plus you can print them off this website under the Sires Produce Tab. Nomination Fee of $50 per bird up to 8 birds, nominate 8 and get one free $350 in total.
0004 17 Mar 2020 15:17:18: Posted by JOHN HARPER from GENERAL SECRETARY,
To all Members Due to the uncertain conditions surrounding the Corona virus the Management Committee have prudently delayed the AGM until 1st May 2020. Our member's health being the #1 priority at present. We still believe that the the racing season will go ahead and anticipate that Tossing units will commence from Sunday 26th April. Reminder that Capitation fees are still due by the end of this Month with quite a few clubs already paid up. Thanks
0005 06 Mar 2020 18:57:48: Posted by GAVIN HARRIS from SAHPA CHAIRPERSON,
SAHPA Annual General Meeting - Friday 27th March, 2020 starting at 7:30, please sign in from 7:00pm. The General Secretary has emailed all Club Secretaries copies of the Financial statements and any rule changes. Members can review financial statements by clicking on the "Minutes" button on the sahpa website, then click on 2020 and you can view the Profit and Loss Statement, Balance Sheet, Treaurer's report, Auditors Report and Chairperson's report. The SAHPA has reported a surplus of $7,061. All Clubs should have a meeting before the SAHPA AGM so that Club Secretaries and Chairpersons which attended a meeting last Monday with the SAHPA Management Committee can explain the proposed rule changes and review the 3 options for prepaying birds for the 2020 season. The 3 options are : 1) Race Team Register - current system where members pay a fee for every bird on their Race Team register. 2) Race Starts - where members buy race starts, so for example if you fly on average 20 birds in 20 races a season, you would buy 400 race starts, no need for a team register. 3) Race Teams - where members can prepay for a 1 to 10 bird team, 11 to 20 bird team or a 21 to 30 bird team. No need for a team register but you can only race the number of birds based on team size. For example a 20 bird team flyer can not enter more than 20 birds, a 10 bird team flyer can not enter more than 10 birds. A 30 bird team flyer can nominate more than 30 birds in our short distance program but they pay extra for any birds over 30. Club Secretaries will survey members about their likely numbers for each option and return it to the Treasurer a week before the AGM so I can prepare more accurate estimates of what it would cost for each option and present it at the AGM to assist members to understand what option is most attractive to them. Based on guestimates, option 1 Team Register of all your birds $3.60/bird, option 2 Race Starts $2.25 per race start, option 3 Team of 10 $183, Team of 20 $418, Team of 30 $705.
0006 06 Mar 2020 15:25:49: Posted by GAVIN HARRIS from SAHPA CHAIRPERSON,
Race Speed Estimator - The Management Committee have added a new sub rule in our Code of Practice, to be voted on by the members at the AGM 27th March, 2020. We had a notice of motion from the Metro club to avoid releasing birds in strong head and tail winds, the committee was already working on something similar to improve race returns. We already have in our code of practice, rules about Heat, Rain and Fog. The proposed amendment is as follows : 7.4.3 Releasing Birds in Winds The Race Release Panel will use the SAHPA Race Speed Estimator spreadsheet, by entering wind direction and wind speed estimates from the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM). A calculation of the estimated average speed of the pigeons at various points en route will be derived, which then calculates the estimated average velocity of the pigeons for the entire race. If the average velocity for the entire race is estimated below 900 metres/min (54km/hr) or above 2000 metres/min (120km/hr) the race should be held over or rescheduled to another day. The SAHPA Management Committee recommendation is for the members to adopt this new rule as it will give the Release Panel guidelines which we believe will help avoid race loses. The Release Panel already review the weather and wind directions and velocities when making their decisions. The spreadsheet (example shown on our website home page) will be used for the Estimation of velocity and will be used in parallel and we hope to revise it and improve it each year. In the example for Terang and Coober Pedy, I have used points enroute from those race points, the real spreadsheet will be more aligned with BOM observation towns. The spreadsheet will be explained in more detail at the AGM. At the meeting with Club Secretaries and chairpersons, it appeared they all understood the explanation and will meet with their club members and explain it before the AGM. Our experience of races where the leading pigeons are doing under 900 metres/min tend to have poor returns and races where the average speed is over 120 km/hr can result in birds from our North Races either being blown off course around the back of the Adelaide Hills if west in the wind or down the Gulf if east in the wind. The release panel will use this as just one extra tool in making their decisions. Over time we will build up history from these calculations and be able to further analyse the returns based on the wind conditions.
0007 02 Mar 2020 07:58:54: Posted by JOHN HARPER from GENERAL SECRETARY,
Reminder to all Secretaries & Chairpersons of meeting tomorrow night Tuesday 3rd March, 7:00pm @ SAHPA hall. Information night prior to AGM 27th. Agenda: Treasurers report & Club rebate, Constitution & By law changes, Three prepaid options, Short distance championship, South East training, Vacancy for Liberator. Thanks
0008 12 Feb 2020 11:49:42: Posted by JOHN HARPER from GENERAL SECRETARY,
We would like to advise all owners of Benzing Electronic timing systems that Kevin Clarke / Tom Tirrell will be organising a software update for all clocks and Club Scanning systems in March. If Club Secretaries can bring their member's clocks to the SAHPA Hall on 3rd March Tom will pick them up and they will be delivered back on the night of the AGM 27th March. Secretaries please make sure you have a list showing Owners name and Serial number of item so there is no confusion of who owns what. If all items are placed in a box correctly labelled with the name of the Club and list of owners etc inside, it will greatly assist in streamlining the update procedure. Thanks
0009 06 Feb 2020 19:03:27: Posted by GAVIN HARRIS from SAHPA TREASURER,
Good news to report to members and affiliate members. The SAHPA Management Committee reviewed the end of year financials and have agreed to provide a rebate back to the clubs. We will issue cheques or if your club would like the money via Bank Direct Deposit, please send the Treasurer Sahpa.treasurer2015@gmail.com your bank account details. The Website Manager will provide a link to the Treasurers report and a summary of how much we have allocated to each club. In total we are paying back to clubs $11,264. This has been achieved by significant savings and initiatives by the SAHPA Management committee which are outlined in the Treasurer's Report. The amounts allocated to the clubs is based on the number of members last year. We have split the rebate into 2 components. Component 1 is a Membership rebate where we are giving back $27.50 for each full member and $11.00 for Affiliate members, Component 2 is the Life Rings rebate. The SAHPA Management committee recommend that clubs use component 1 to assist club members with fees for 2020 and component 2 we encourage to be allocated towards club prize money for the coming season. At the end of each year we hope to be in a financial position to provide the Life Ring rebate similarly to what we did over a decade ago.
0010 05 Feb 2020 11:25:44: Posted by JOHN HARPER from GENERAL SECRETARY,
The COM would like to call a meeting at the SAHPA Hall with all Club Secretaries & Chairmen for Tuesday 3rd March @7:00 pm. The Agenda will be sent by email in the next few days. The object is to provide information regarding important topics and proposed changes to be voted on by members at the AGM. This will give the Clubs an opportunity to discuss this with their members prior to the AGM. Thanks