MSPA Official Newsletter Fall 2017 Thanks to the efforts of our knowledgeable members this issue is again full of great articles and information about the pigeon hobby. If you have an idea for the newsletter or would like to contribute an article, please contact me at [email protected] I welcome your input. The Electronic Newsletter Reminder! Due to the cost of postage and printing a high-quality newsletter, the MSPA Board of Directors has decided to make the quarterly newsletter available on the MSPA web site at http://www.minnesotastatepigeonassociation.com, under the Member Section tab. If you are a member that doesn’t have internet access, you can view the newsletter at your local library or request a mailed copy at: MSPA Newsletter, 21500 201st Street NW, Big Lake, MN 55309 or call (612)889-2945. Prior to the posting of every Newsletter, a postcard will be sent to each member alerting him/her to the availability of the new on- line Newsletter. For the time being no password is necessary to view the “Membership Section” of the web site. An archive of past newsletters will also be available on the MSPA web site. The Newsletter can be downloaded or printed from the web site if the member desires a hard copy. If you have already notified me of your desire to receive the Newsletter via conventional mail, there is no need to notify me again, I will mail your copy! IF YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS CHANGES, PLEASE NOTIFY US! The 2017 North Star Classic is in the Books!. Readers will find pictures and results of another successful North Star Show starting on page 5 of this newsletter! 1 Officers’ Reports A Message from our President Submitted by - Bruce Rhode I am very proud to have served as the President of the MSPA. I was very happy with the way the North Star show went. Everyone at the show appeared to have a good time. I would like to have hit the1000 bird mark but it was still a great show. I hope to see you all at the next meeting. MSPA Treasurer’s Report Executive Summary current through November 21st, 2017 Respectfully submitted by - Patti Dietzel, Treasurer Account Information Minnesota State Pigeon Association Trust Checking & Savings Accounts Business Checking Balance: $3,830.09 Pending Withdrawals/ Debits $ 998.90 Pending Deposits/ Credits $ 0.00 Available Balance $2831.19 Account Information Minnesota State Pigeon Association Trust Savings Account Business Market Rate Savings Balance $3,091.45 Pending Withdrawals/ Debits $0.00 Available Balance $3,091.45 Total: $5922.64 *Waiting on building rental fee for North Star. 2 IT IS ELECTION TIME AND THE BALLOTS ARE OUT!!! Please vote and mail your ballots in as soon as possible. If you did not get an official ballot in the mail and you are a member in good standing please contact Bruce Rhode at; Bruce Rhode P.O. Box 2 143 First Avenue N Brownton MN 55312 E-mail Address: [email protected] Let’s Meet the Candidates! Candidates for President: Paul Lepinski Hutchinson, MN 55350 No Bio Submitted Candidates for 1st Vice President: Tim Kvidera Prior Lake, MN 55372 Candidate Submitted Bio. I have been a vice president of the MSPA the past four years and have enjoyed working with the executive team. I have been a member of the MSPA since 1959. Over the years I have consistently worked, mostly behind the scenes, promoting the club, shows and bulletins while being more heavily involved in assorted breed specialty clubs, showing and judging throughout the nation and occasionally in Canada. Besides showing competitively in a number of different breeds and flying Tipplers in endurance contests I am pretty deep into pigeon genetics. I look forward to working with the executive team in continuing to keep the MSPA a vibrant force in promoting domestic pigeons in the upper Midwest. Tim Kvidera 3 Candidates for 2nd Vice President: Will Elskamp Watertown, MN 55388 Candidate Submitted Bio. I have had pigeons for over 10 years now. I started with racing homers, and it evolved to showing various breeds including Doves, American Giant homers, and still racing homers. I have always been trying and been pushing since I first started showing to bring more people into this great hobby, and I truly believe that there is always ways to get people into and enjoying showing pigeons. Will Elskamp Rick Besemann Finlayson, MN 55735 Candidate Submitted Bio. My name is Rick Besemann I own the Hidden Pigeon Ranch near Finlayson, Minnesota. I have raised pigeons since I was a boy. For many years I raised English Trumpeters but I recently switched to Indian Fantails. Why do I raise Pigeons? That's a question I was asked by some High School students doing a report about the North Star show. For me the answer was easy! I just enjoy the birds. We all want a winning bird, but that is not a priority to me. I enjoy going to a swap or show and maybe come home with a new bird or two. Winning a show is nice, but if you do not enjoy your birds the other 360 or so days of the year why have them. I have gotten a lot out of raising pigeons and I think it is time I give back to the hobby. That is why I am running for 2nd Vice President of the MSPA. It is time to give a little back! Enjoy your bird's have a great year. I will see you at the shows. Thanks in advance for your vote. Rick Candidates for Treasure: Pattie Dietzel Cologne, MN 55322 Candidate Submitted Bio. Greetings fellow MSPA members, I am currently your MSPA treasurer. I have elected to run for another term as treasurer. I am fairly new to the hobby, around 4-5 years. I have two kids that are in 4H and show poultry, including pigeons and doves. My son has taken pigeons and doves to the state fair in 4H for the past 3 years. Breeds we have in our loft are: West of England, German Strassers, Old German Owls, Old Style Muffed Tumblers and 4 pigmy pouters. My goal, as treasurer, is to manage the MSPA financial accounts with integrity and transparency. I strive to accomplish tasks assigned to me as quickly and correctly as possible. I also want to encourage all MSPA members to introduce a kid (or even an adult) to the world of pigeons. Thank You! Patti Dietzel 4 The North Star Classic Show Winners Junior Exhibitors: RESULTS Junior Show Champion - Birmingham Roller Owned and shown by Able Moon Best Flying- Birmingham Roller Owned and shown by Able Moon Best Fancy- West of England Tumbler Owned and shown by Danica Dietzel Best Utility- Giant Homer Owned and shown by Will Elskamp Best Dove - Dove all Breeds Owned and shown by Abby Laird Junior Showmanship- First Place Myra Arvig Second Place Will Elskamp Third Place Mikayla Schlosser Open Class Exhibitors: RESULTS Best of Show Champion- Norwich Cropper Owned and shown by Trevor Nau Reserve Best of Show- Show King Owned and shown by Amy Nicolai Best Flying- American Roller Owned and shown by Larry Wilmes Reserve Flying- Syrian Dewlap Owned and shown by Roger Hanson Best Utility- Show King Owned and shown by Amy Nicolai Reserve Utility- Giant Homer Owned and shown by Larry Wilmes Best Fancy- Norwich Cropper Owned and shown by Trevor Nau Reserved Fancy- Nun Owned and shown by Larry Wilmes Trevor Nau and Amy Nicolai with their Champions! 5 Best of Show Champion- Norwich Cropper Owned and shown by Trevor Nau. Reserve Best of Show- Show King Owned and shown by Amy Nicolai The show is over and it is time to Relax! 6 2017 LAPC Pageant of Pigeons Show By - Tim Kvidera The Los Angeles Pigeon Club's annual all breeds show, the Pageant of Pigeons has long been on my bucket list. During my work history I, on many occasions, had business trips to Southern California, but I could never arrange the work to coincide with the dates of the Pageant. This year I was invited to judge the Indian Fantails at the Pageant and I could not pass up the opportunity. The Los Angeles Pigeon club has a long history of aggressively promoting the pigeon hobby. It is the oldest continuously active all breeds pigeon club in the United States. The LAPC was founded in 1911 and has had a Who's Who list of great pigeon fanciers on their rosters. They really know how to put on a top notch show, and the Pageant annually is testament to that. Nice spacious halls, well decorated, close to hotel accommodations and air service, great hospitality, high class competition, wide variety of breeds, and good people. Oh, and in November the weather is much warmer there than in Minnesota!! The LAPC has also has hosted eight of NPA Grand Nationals, which typically have drawn more entries than nationals held most other places. This year the Pageant was held in the Ontario Convention Center, adjacent to the Double Tree by Hilton and across the freeway from the Ontario Airport. Everything you needed within a few "stone's throw." I have been to a few California NPA Nationals over the years and knew the Pageant would be like a mini-national. Fred Maenpa and his crew did a great job putting on a classy event. Although, like many shows this year, the entries were down some, there were still about 3,000 birds. With California being the hotbed of English Trumpeters, it was no surprise that the ETs led the entry numbers with about 500.