By Deone Roberts, Sport Development Mgr., American Racing Pigeon Union

Our hats are off to American Racing Pigeon Union members who are taking the initiative with youth groups. The members who work with youth do so with philanthropic generosity that builds positive community influence and positive direction for children.

A creative way to obtain funding for youth activity is to apply for grants. Oftentimes corporations or local companies provide this as part of their community outreach or public relations.

The Meridian Mississippi Racing Pigeon Club approached their local power company with a request and a plan to help juniors take part in racing pigeon fun. Their plan even incorporates participation for those who are not able to have pets of their own. Thus, the community is left with a positive impression of sport participants and the kids have a chance to grow in ways that may not have been possible otherwise. Members of the Meridian club have put together a program that will involve students from two counties and three school districts. It will provide enthusiasm and enjoyment and at the same time satisfy state curriculum requirements. Club member, teacher, and group coordinator, Ronnie Shumaker, has taught grades 4-6 for the last ten years. He utilizes project-based themes to enhance the learning experience in his classes. He has taken what he does naturally and expanded it to the pigeon world by composing a grant proposal that presented a summary of the course, a timeline and anticipated costs. Then he and fellow club member, Everett Stenman, went to work on the school project. The Mississippi Power Company deemed it worthy of their support and has donated the requested amount to the project. The power company's generosity will fund loft construction, racing clocks, pigeons, ARPU memberships, loft surveys, feed and grit, computer software, pigeon magazine subscriptions, books and videos, and other supplies for each of three schools. While taking part in the project, students will raise and train pigeons to fly distances of up to 300 miles. Teachers will work cooperatively with other teachers and parents and pigeon club members will work with the students and teachers to provide support to make the project a success. Students will be able to apply these studies to real life. One of the most important life skills they will learn is stewardship. Because the class activity is outside the usual classroom activity, the students have a wonderful opportunity to build self-esteem. They will have an opportunity to do research on the Internet, calculate races, collect and analyze data and communicate via email with pigeon fanciers and other students.

This project will expose these students to learning situations they could never have imagined.

You don't need to be a teacher to start this program in a school near you. Acting in the role of mentor will help an interested school in carrying out a project. Call us for information. The fanciers who are already involved with projects are also happy to share their knowledge and experience. For more information about the Meridian Mississippi RPC project, you can email Ronnie Shumaker at rshumaker@mpsd.k12.ms.us.

Call the AU for ideas. We can help you help your sport.