As always at the beginning of a new Year you have goals you want to achieve, hopes, waiting to fulfill and requests. Looking back on the past year, each also makes us constantly aware that much is not from this meet. But this experience should not stop us, try to do so each year's new on. And so I want to express at this point also a few thoughts that deal with the future.
The forthcoming General Assembly of the German breeders in Dortmund, given the heated discussions about the financial situation of the German Association in advance a are exciting event. And this is certainly not without reason. Thus, after some "preparatory work" in earlier editions of the "pigeon" in the 45/08 a pending increase in contributions for the association announced. I think in light of the relatively low total contributions to a breeder association discharges (compared to other sports and clubs), inflation and falling premium income due to falling membership numbers a perfectly understandable concern. But given the arguments in this debate and the type of communication but considerable food for thought: If you want more money from its members, it should be able to justify good. It should sound Arguments put forward and not be stingy with information. But in the 45/08 claims were brought to the center, which is not necessarily comprehensible. And so much more when one of the 9.1 in the published interim financial statements of the Association from 2008 also holds.
Specifically
It's fast said that 7180 clubs and 51 360 members generate administrative costs. And it is certainly true. But when asked to reduce (defined what a "can" rule, and no resolution rules) the number of clubs and possibly that of RVen "forced" by the application of § 10 VI of the federal rules, one should also mention how much these costs Small clubs and small-RVen actually generate in the administration. Because the height of a potential saving is critical to the usefulness of a savings proposal, not whether it sounds good grip! make
that administrative work for the small clubs a significant proportion of personnel costs of approximately € 974,000 of the association is rather unlikely. If not, this would be safe but also easy to communicate and to deposit with numbers.
cost items are from 100,000 € for the Zugeflogenenabwicklung for 100,000 € for legal advice to members, € 149.00 for masters awards, 40,000 € and 42,000 € for the Championship reports Weather and flight controllers advice given. And the argument is: These are all original association tasks where the savings are there, but too small to avoid an increase in contributions.
All these are important and significant items on the expenditure side of the association, without a doubt. But in the balance in the 9.1 can be found with € 1,352,280.86 in "other expenses" by far the largest cost item that was not broken at all. The points mentioned in 45/08 include just the sum of 1/3tel is so great. And it contains this certainly still a significant proportion of wage and cost of goods sold and services that are in the balance sheet so stated elsewhere. Who wants to mediate in its reasoning or rule out potential savings may not be the largest part of your balance so in the dark!
also been argued in the 45/08 that the economic areas of the association, such as the magazine "The pigeon and the hospital association would not necessarily work economically, since they serve so well as a beneficial purpose to the pigeon sport. Well, here a nuanced view of the matter would certainly rather have been useful.
There is no question that the clinic operated by the Association and initiated research and advocacy in terms of racing pigeons is conducive to our sport. Whether, however, the veterinary services, as well as the sale of additional products through the contributions of all members should be cross-subsidized, even if only a fraction (which may, in part to food because of physical distance) take the members of this offer will be, but it remains very doubtful, and for I understand as a non-argument.
And whether the organization actually needs its own weekly journal (unless their costs are not achieved, which unfortunately is not well communicated, and so I do not know) even though the "market" is already a sufficient number of professional journals on racing pigeons tw . a much higher regard than enjoy the association's journal is, in my view, questionable.
An "associational newsletter", which is needed (not every week) can get the members, and not have their own editors, authors must employ, etc., should not a priori be excluded from any discussion. For it could possibly pose a significant savings compared to a full magazine (as I said, if the journal currently enters losses).
course
2006, the association 56 900 members, of which 31 778 shocks traveling. 2008, there were 51 360 members, of which about 28 350 traveling shots (extrapolated from the numbers of fully reported in the RegVs 52/08). Both the membership and even more in the number of traveling shock is therefore a significant decline of about 5% annually to recognize. Focus should not be forgotten that in 2008 introduced mode of the Association championships to a slight increase in membership by registering wife and other relatives have maintained (see eg the current Federation champion) without actually having to provide for an increase in the number of pigeon fanciers. The real decline in membership is a year that is currently somewhere between 5-10%. It is therefore not in doubt that this is the income situation the association is already now and even more strain on the future! The estimated development of the contributors to the 45/08, I personally and even optimistic.
And the annual accounts of 2008 shows clearly that will achieve at a similar development in 2009 the organization received a negative result (5% fewer members meet approximately 200,000 € less premium income and revenues that can be achieved with the remaining members, and this sum was just the result of getting used to doing business in 2008). Due to an expected payment of € 1.13 million to the tax office (why this listed in the annual accounts, no provision remains is also against the background of transparent information to the members open) go to the cash balance will probably shrink by about 70% to only 400,000 € and thus the interest income in 2009 also decreased significantly. A minus in 2009 seems really predictable, and the demand for an increase in contributions is therefore as I said also understandable.
dangers
But a simple increase in contributions will not solve the underlying problems. exclude certain areas from a discussion of possible cost savings by withholding information, it is certainly not helpful. But the most important all components, namely, to stabilize the number of members, entirely outside of this discussion to have before, is not only negligent, no, it's even stupid!
will shrink in the future, the stronger the membership, the greater the costs will have to be absorbed by the remaining members! This could generate an additional and self-accelerating decay.
Ca. 45% of all membership fees are currently paid by farmers that are not traveling shots. These passive members in times of greater economic uncertainty (and those before us are probably even) slightly to renounce their membership in the Association, if the premium increase is too much, or if it is not justified to understand. An increase in contributions need not necessarily lead to an increase in premium income of the association. No, quite the contrary, it could even lead straight to the passive members to a sharp decline.
wishes for 2009
A new "concept review" of the Association (as the saying goes 45/08) should observe the role of passive this member! The introduction of a fixed, not increased dues for this pigeon lover would, in my opinion to urgently advised, just to prevent a collapse of the revenue!
should also be pursued at length by the Association of new conceptual ways to win new members active in our sport and thereby counteract the cause of the plight of revenue, rather than bow to the otherwise inevitable fate. to respond with ever-further increases in the contributions to a shrinking contribution income, surely can not possibly be the future concept! Proposals and suggestions may also like to include this blog are taken (see also Concept 2020 ).
The existing incentives for large stocks of pigeons and the quasi-mandatory week to participate in flights, set not to be underestimated obstacle is for beginners, for the successful pursuit of the hobby is thus more expensive unnecessary and difficult (larger populations require more investment, space, support time, ongoing maintenance and weekly coercion is family-unfriendly).
A future contribution concept should not be tied to a contribution from each ring (the tax issue is not me at it important). Otherwise, the future discussion superimposed on the association posts a necessary improvement of the conditions for new starters in a similar manner as the basket of money you already do with pigeons transport and the tenor is again: we need a lot of pigeons!
It is unfortunately forgotten, that's what both problems NOT a revenue problem! It is a problem of cost per grower since the nearly equal annual cost should be borne by fewer and fewer breeders. These cost issues can be sure never solve by increasing the number of pigeons, but only by cutting the output points, better use of resources and by growth in membership (or at least stabilization)! Therefore, a contribution concept can be complemented by a compelling vision for the pigeon sport in Germany!
And finally, I wish in this connection that panelists in this discussion is not always personal motives, how to find their own sporting advantage assumed. Such a diversion from the issue may work for now, eliminates the problems they are not. I personally think such a relatively large travel products and still am for the abolition of the structural advantages that I enjoy this way now!
objectivity, logic, shaking off the old, long-practiced pattern and the pursuit of the common goal of "sustainable (not short!) Receipt of the pigeon sport 'should show the way here.
On a Happy New Year 2009!
