NBRA Constitution 2023

ELECTION OF OFFICERS.

The following will be elected at the AGM: President every Three Years, Chairperson every Two Years, Secretary/Treasurer Annually

The chairperson shall be responsible for the smooth running of the AGM. The chairperson shall have NO vote, but retains a casting vote to decide votes without a clear majority.

FREQUENCY

There will be three National Championship competitions held each year. This will normally commence the last week of September each year. To determine, using the current best standards available, the National Championship Kit for Old, Yearling and Young birds from within the affiliated clubs. To nominate the best individual Old, Young and yearling bird champion.

ELIGIBILTIY

All Bona fide Roller Clubs affiliated to the NBRA will be eligible. Each club shall be allowed to nominate their entrant BUT clubs are respectfully advised that NORMALLY the club winner will be the automatic nominee. Any club wishing to be affiliated to the NBRA shall be scrutinised and vetted by a representative of the association who will draw up rules guaranteeing that only Bona fide clubs and no single individuals are affiliated. Any affiliated club member qualifying for national championships will not be allowed to compete if they are found to be a member or part of any other National or federation (NFBR)

The NBRA definition of a bona fide club is as follows:

EXPENESES

Each club shall be responsible for the expenses of the National Judge. All clubs must pay cash a cash deposit to the NBRA on entering the competition and the remainder promptly upon receipt of a bill from the NBRA secretary. The NBRA allocate a judges fee of £300.00 plus expenses to allow the National Flies to be judged over a one week period. A time keeper/score may accompany the judge on the fly and if the judge wishes to do so they may share the judge’s fee.

TROPHIES

The NBRA will be responsible for the presentation of a trophy for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places in the competition for old, young and yearling kits. Additionally, a trophy will be presented for the champion young /old bird and yearling individual performer. If they are a joint scores, then trophies will be awarded to both flyers. The judge, at his discretion may award runners up trophies in exceptional circumstances. The cost of engraving, insuring and replacing the main trophy is the responsibility of the NBRA.

JUDGING

The secretary of the NBRA is responsible for supplying proposal forms for clubs to nominate persons who they consider capable and willing of judging a National Fly. It is also possible that an overseas judge may be approached to judge the National Fly. The winners of the previous year’s fly along with any nominations to judge should be considered at the AGM. The judge is normally appointed at the AGM, although this responsibility can be delegated to the secretary by the approval of the AGM. The judge CANNOT be a current competitor.

ADMINISTRATION SECRETARY

The secretary of the NBRA will normally be the administrative secretary for the competition. In the event the NBRA secretary is indisposed, he/she will in the first instance pass the responsibility on to any member of the committee. Should no member of the committee accept the task, the secretary may nominate any person he/she feels capable of administering the competition, to do so.

The responsibilities of the administrative secretary are as follows:-

• Ensuring Judges, competitors and club secretaries are aware of the current judging rules.

• Circulating application forms.

• Publishing results.

• Engraving the main trophies.

• Ensuring ring manufactures send out the right colour ring.

• Keep the records of all results.

• Selecting Judges in accordance with the constitution.

• Contacting the flyers that have been entered into the national championship and furnishing them with a structured fly schedule.

• Bring to the attention of the disciplinary committee any breach of the constitution or competition rules.

• Ensuring only eligible clubs compete.

• Invoicing clubs for judges fees.

• Keeping accounts on behalf of the NBRA.

• Presenting a report of the competition and financial state at each AGM.

• Ensuring judges fees are paid properly.

• Receiving complaints about the conduct of the competition and convene a disciplinary or extra-ordinary meeting as appropriate.

• Organising the Annual General Meeting (May).

• Furnishing club secretaries with proposal forms for election of officers and names of possible judges for the National Championships by the 1st October each year.

• Notifying clubs of results, time and date of AGM.

• Organising the presentation of the main trophies at the AGM.

FINAL DATES

The competition MUST be completed before the last day in December. All NOMINEES MUST be received by the NBRA secretary along with the completed validation sheets by the last Sunday in august each year. Any proposals to be considered by the AGM must be formally submitted to the secretary on the form provided two month before the meeting. (The secretary will supply forms to all clubs by the 31st October, and return complete list of proposals for the club perusal by the 31st March)

DISPUTES

All disputes should be forwarded to the secretary who will convene a disciplinary committee to decide action.

See Below – Meetings

MEETINGS

Meetings occurring between AGM.’s

The quorum for all meeting should consist of a minimum of 5 associated club secretaries or association officers. The appointed chair of the meeting having no vote, but a casting vote in the event of a tied vote.

The decisions of the meeting should be decided on a straight majority vote.

The association secretary will normally be responsible for calling and convening extra meeting, however otherwise meeting can only be called by any of the elected officers of the association i.e. President, Chair, or Treasurer, and with 2 other associated club secretaries.

The secretary will normally convene these meetings after a dispute or irregularity has been notified.

Note Meetings, other than the AGM can be convened by physical or electronic means (telephone, phone app, conference calls etcetera).

Extra-ordinary meetings:

can be called for the purpose of urgent decision making which cannot wait for the next AGM.

For example:

• Settling associated club disputes;
• appointing a replacement officer of the association;
• An urgent need to negotiate temporary flying rule or constitutional changes.
• Appointing a replacement judge.
• Allocating funds for extra-ordinary circumstances.
• All decisions made by extra-ordinary meetings must be ratified by the next AGM if it is proposed for them to become permanent changes.

Disciplinary Committee:

The committee shall consist of association club secretaries or association officers who have no vested interest in the subject for discussion. The meeting may be called for any disciplinary reason, however for example:

• A club suspected of cheating e.g. rings issued before 1st January, or whatever date is set by the association.
• Sanctions may be imposed on individuals or associated clubs according to the decision of the committee.
• A member of a club reported to the association for breach of rules.
• A club, or member of a club bringing the hobby into disrepute.

• Suspension for a set time period (1 year, 5 years etc.) from entry into the National Competitions
• A monetary fine applied either to the club or individual.
• Blacklisted named individual circulated to all associated club for a specified time period.

CHANGES IN CONSTITUTION

The constitution can only be changed by 60% MAJORITY VOTE of Secretaries/Chairmen/Nominee (one representative per club) of all NBRA affiliated clubs present by the AGM. Proposals for the changes in the constitution must be received by the secretary no later than the 31st March.

CHANGE IN FLYING RULES

Flying rules may be made by SIMPLE MAJORITY VOTE of secretaries/Chairmen/Nominee (one representative per club) of all NBRA affiliated clubs present at the AGM. Proposals for changes in Flying Rules must be received by the secretary no later than the 31st March. Temporary changes may be made in between AGM.’s by an extra-ordinary meeting if considered urgent.

PUBLISHING CHANGES

It is the responsibility of the NBRA Secretary to publish any changes in constitution or flying rules at the earliest convenience, preferably in the current pigeon journal of the day, website, social media, or by email to all concerned organisations.

THE NBRA HALL OF FAME

The Hall of Fame is recognition of any persons who have contributed to the developing roller interest and helped establish it to the standard as it stands today. CRITERIA FOR THIS IS:- They will have had to have been an active flying roller fancier for at least 10 years. Card vote to be used when inducting individuals into the NBRA Hall of Fame.

ISSUING OF RINGS

The NBRA secretary to instruct ALL ring manufacturers to send rings to clubs affiliated to the NBRA direct to club secretaries by recorded delivery, but not to arrive before December 10th each year.

NO RINGS can be issued to the club members until January 1st each year. If rings are being posted to members than they cannot be posted before the 1st January each year.

All rings must be R size closed plastic or closed aluminium/closed aluminium plastic coated NO other rings can be used all clubs MUST inform the NBRA SECRETARY WERE THEY WILL BE PURCHASING THEIR RINGS

If clubs DO NOT abide by this rule, clubs WILL NOT be eligible to fly in the National Yearling or Young Bird Flies, and the matter will be brought before the disciplinary committee.

All affiliated clubs will be issued with the same coloured rings. The ring manufacturers work on a 6 year colour cycle. The secretary will contact the ring manufacturers to furnish them with an up to date members list.

REWARD FUND

Only clubs that pays into the NBRA/AERC reward fund be entitled to use it, subject to a prosecution and the birds being returned.

FLY RULES

OLD AND YOUNG BIRD FLIES

That 5 KITS must be flown in club competition for 1 KIT to go forward in the National Championships Young and Old .Then it will be 12 KITS for 2 to go forward to the National Championship and then 10 thereafter

E.G: 5=1, 12=2, 22=3, 32=4 etc, etc

YEARLING FLIES

Clubs must have at least 3 minimum fly entries in local club competitions to put one yearling kit forward to National Championships .Then for 8 entries it will be 2 kits to go forward and and 10 thereafter

E.G: 3=1, 8=2, 18=3, 28=4 etc, etc

COMPETITORS ARE ONLY ALLOWED TO FLY A MAXIMUM OF 2 KITS PER AGE GROUP AND NO MORE

ANY COMPETITOR WHO HAS QUALIFIED WITH 2 KITS AND IS DUPLICATEING BIRDS WILL BE ALLOWED TO HAVE A MINIMUM 24 HOUR GAP IF REQUESTED

IF A MEMBER IS FLYING MULTIPLE KITS IN THE FINAL THEY WILL BE ALLOWED THE OPPORTUNITY TO FLY THEM IN ANY ORDER BUT ONLY ON THE DAY. EXAMPLE [IF FLYING OLD BIRDS IN MORNING AND YOUNG BIRDS AT NIGHT ON THE SAME DAY KITS CAN BE SWAPPED OVER]

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