Currently the American Racing Pigeon Union's Help-A-Beginner Program has 21 beginners paired with mentors, with another 9 planned. Excitement is building as we approach the race season. As always, mentors have been great to share their time and expertise. For any second year flyer, we hope you will take advantage of the program.

Here is just one example of the response to the Help-A-Beginner Program. This illustrates the type of people who give of themselves as mentors.

AU member, Reynold Rodrigues, lives in Kaneohe, Hawaii. He had pigeons as a boy, and as often happens, gave up the birds when he married and had a family to support. However, the birds never left his heart. He would sometimes see pigeons flying and he wished he could fly again.

He flew pigeons again in the '60's for about 12 years. After he received a job promotion, his time away from home increased. Because his family came first, he gave up flying birds again, never letting go of the idea that he would someday return to the sport.

After 26 years of management and long hours at work, Reynold finally retired at 64 and with the help of the Help-A-Beginner program, has returned to the sport that has been in his heart since he was 10 years old.

The race secretary in Reynold's club called Help-A-Beginner to see what could be done to help Reynold get back into the sport. Help-A-Beginner mentor, Gene Dente, of San Diego, California, contacted Reynold. Mr. Dente sent, at no cost to Reynold, four pairs of breeders to get started. He later followed up by sending Reynold a kit of young birds to fly in the 2002 season out of his winning stock, again at no expense to Reynold.

The irony of the situation is that mentor, George Dente, has now had to give up keeping pigeons for personal reasons and is in the position Reynold once was, not being able to participate in the sport.

Reynold is very grateful for Mr. Dente's sacrifice as he states, "I want to express my thanks to the AU for offering a program that helps new and retired fanciers. It is very heart warming to know that there are fanciers that want to help others in the sport, like Mr. Gene Dente. He will never be forgotten."

For those who would like more information about the Help-A-Beginner Program, please visit the 'Beginner's Corner' on this web site.