FTS: Flying Tippler Society of USA--Offical Home Page

<body background="images/logoback.gif" topmargin="0"> <h1><font color="#FF00FF">This page uses frames, but your browser doesn't support them. </font></h1> <p><font color="#FF00FF">However, here's some links so that you can see some of the pages outside of the frames.  Just hit the back button to return here before going onto the next link.</font></p> <h1><a href="reports/index.htm">Reports</a>  |   <a href="records/frm_fly_records.htm">Records</a>  |  <a href="frames/frm_fly_rules.htm">Rules</a>  |  <a href="frames/frm_club_info.htm">Club Info</a>  |  <a href="frames/frm_photos.htm">Photos</a>  |  <a href="frames/frm_links.htm">Links</a></h1> <h3>FLYING TIPPLER SOCIETY of the USA</h3> <h3>ESTABLISHED in 1987 for the PROMOTION of the FLYING TIPPLER in the spirit of COMPETITION and FRIENDSHIP (CONSTITUTION Revised 1996)</h3> <h3>ARTICLE I</h3> <h4>This Society is known as The Flying Tippler Society of the USA. Whenever the acronym "FTS" or the word "Society" is used in this document, it stands for the full name of the organization. </h4> <h3>ARTICLE II</h3> <h4>Purposes: a) Provide a centralized organization for flying Tippler fanciers and clubs in the United States of America. b) Promote and regulate the sport through national competitions. And, c) Further the interest of all fanciers in the flying Tippler pigeon.</h4> <h3>ARTICLE III</h3> <h4>Membership: 1. Residents of the United States regardless of age, race, color, sex, creed or national origin are eligible for Society membership.</h4> <h4>2. Every member has the right to vote.</h4> <h4>3. Local clubs: The FTS will accept affiliation with a local club after receiving a petition signed by at least three FTS members. Upon acceptance, the local club must follow the rules set forth by the Society in addition to its own. Affiliated club members in good standing, (who are not FTS members) as encouragement to fly their Tipplers, may purchase an FTS fly sheet and participate in one of any of our scheduled contests per season. And, for 25% of the cost of FTS membership, the affiliated flyer may purchase a copy of our Constitution and Fly Rules and receive the issue of OUR NEWS with the fly season results and the following year's fly schedule in it. The affiliated local club must keep the FTS advised by forwarding their (active) membership listing annually. </h4> <h3>ARTICLE IV</h3> <h4>Dues: 1. Annual dues for members are set by the Executive Board and reviewed as needed for the financial stability of the Society. 2. Membership will be effective for one year from the date dues are received by the Secretary/Treasurer. </h4> <h3>ARTICLE V</h3> <h4>Flying Systems: There are two flying systems in the FTS: The Official System and the Honor System. The Official System requires the services of a Timer. The Honor System relies on the honesty of the flyer.</h4> <h3>ARTICLE VI</h3> <h4>Officers: 1. Any member of the Society is eligible for election or appointment to national office if in good standing with the Society for the two years immediately before election or appointment. </h4> <h4>2. Elected Officers assume their duties on the first day of January and the term of office is two years.</h4> <h4>3. The elected officers of this Society are:<br> a) National President<br> b) Two Vice-Presidents: Eastern and Western<br> c) Secretary/Treasurer<br> d) Three Board of Directors, : Eastern, Western and Central</h4> <h4>4. Duties of Office: </h4> <h4>a) NATIONAL PRESIDENT - It is the duty of the National President to govern the Society and exercise the usual functions of presiding officer; he casts the deciding vote in all cases of an Executive Board decision tie. He conducts the Society Officers' communications on any proposed amendments to the Constitution or Fly Rules. If an Officer vacates his office, the President has the authority to appoint another member to fulfill that term of office. </h4> <h4>b) SECRETARY/TREASURER - It is the duty of the Secretary/ Treasurer to conduct all correspondence to the members, work with the President on important matters and report the results of the files. He furnishes a receipt to the President for such funds as are turned over to him by outgoing Officers and executes an inventory for such property as he may receive from his predecessors upon entering office. He is custodian of all funds and properties belonging to the Society and pays all bills and expenses when authorized to do so. He orders and then issues seamless bands beginning in January of each year and throughout the year (unless sold out) until November of said year. There will be a charge set by the Executive Board for FTS seamless bands which are sold only in multiples of twenty-five (25) and ONLY TO FTS MEMBERS. He keeps an accurate record of all bands sold and to whom. At the end of each year (December 31) he prepares a financial statement showing income, expenditures, book balance, amount of deposit in bank and any cash assets. He must be prepared to present all receipts and documents relating to such financial statement. He should take inventory of all FTS belongings. The complete financial and inventory report is to be published in the February newsletter. He is to submit a report to the Executive Board semi-annually. He is responsible for receiving all correspondence from members and replying if necessary. He is responsible for publishing a periodical newsletter. And, he is responsible for giving or mailing new members upon receipt of dues, a current Constitution and other training/flying information as available and promoted by the FTS and notify members in advance of their membership renewal dates. </h4> <h4>c) VICE-PRESIDENTS - In the absence of the National President or in the event of his inability to act, the Eastern and Western Vice-Presidents act as presiding officer for respective club functions east and west of the Mississippi River.</h4> <h4>d) BOARD OF DIRECTORS - The Board of Directors is made up of three (3) elected members of the Society who shall assist in all decisions made by the Executive Board in regard to club business and functions. </h4> <h4>5. EXECUTIVE BOARD - The Executive Board is made up of the seven (7) elected officers: President, Eastern and Western Vice-Presidents, Secretary/Treasurer and the three member Board of Directors. The duty of the Executive Board is to decide upon all policies until the next biannual election. </h4> <h4>6. CENTRAL TIMER - An appointed position: this appointment is made by the Executive Board. Said person may be a non-flyer, but a member of the Society in good standing and of honest repute. All correspondence concerning participation in flying competitions are the Central Timer's duty. The Central Timer keeps a record of all entry fees received and forwards such to the Secretary/Treasurer. The Central Timer receives Fly Report Forms from participants and in a timely manner compiles fly results and reports results to the participating flyers after the completion of each fly, sends all fees received along with reports and complete flying report to the Secretary/Treasurer.</h4> <h3>ARTICLE VII</h3> <h4>Flying Competition: The Society sets dates for sixteen (16) competitions consisting of both a Saturday and Sunday. These sixteen flying dates are split into four (4) flying series. Winter Series - Five (5) flies allowing old, young or mixed kits. Spring Series - Four (4) flies allowing old, young or mixed kits. Summer Series - Three (3) flies allowing old, young or mixed kits. Fall Series - Four (4) flies allowing old, young or mixed kits. </h4> <h4>Entry Fees - There is a fee for each flying competition set by the Executive Board.</h4> <h4>Awards - A diploma is awarded to each competitor of a fly competition who flew according to the rules of the Society provided the fly reaches six (6) hours or more. And, there shall be a diploma awarded to the aggregate winner of each series (Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall) and one each to the top three (3) season aggregate positions in each system (Official, Honor) for a total of ten (10) diplomas per season.</h4> <h4>Aggregate Time - The FTS Aggregate time is a summation of all sixteen (16) flies during the year.</h4> <h4>Cash Prizes - A cash prize is awarded to each competitor, set by the Executive Board and reviewed as needed for the financial stability of the Society.</h4> <h4>Members who wish to fly in competition but are unable to fly on weekends may petition the Board to be granted an exception allowing them to fly on either of two consecutive weekdays during the week prior to the scheduled competition and be considered part of that competition. A member must apply for this exception in writing to the Secretary/Treasurer at least two weeks prior to the fly in which he wishes to compete showing cause why such an exception should be granted. The Secretary/Treasurer will forward this request to the Board which will evaluate the case by a majority vote.</h4> <h3>ARTICLE VIII</h3> <h4>The FTS shall be affiliated with the National Pigeon Association and the American Pigeon Fanciers Council. </h4> <h3>ARTICLE IX Amendments: </h3> <h4>1. All amendments to either the Constitution or Fly Rules must be accepted by a majority vote of the Society membership during the time of the biannual election or a special election if approved by the Executive Board.</h4> <h4>2. a) Proposed amendment(s) must be submitted in writing to the President and Secretary/Treasurer during the month of January. b) During Officers' Communications, the Executive Board will discuss the merit of the proposed amendment(s) and no sooner than two communications later, ballot as to whether the proposal deserves general membership consideration. c) By majority vote, if the Executive Board decides the proposal warrants membership consideration, the proposed amendment(s) will be published with a brief discussion of its ramifications in the FTS newsletter. d) Membership will be allowed until the next newsletter (about 2 months) to forward their comments to the President and Secretary/Treasurer for publication in the newsletter.</h4> <h4>3. The proposed amendment(s) will be listed on the next general membership ballot, issued no sooner than the newsletter after proposal introduction, and the decision rendered by a majority vote of ballots returned.</h4> <h4>Credit for the 1996 revisions goes to the FTS Membership with special credit to the Executive Board<br> Rex Leon, Sec/Treasurer & acting President <br> Keith Baber, Western Vice President<br> Rene Asencio, Eastern Vice President <br> Dale Reynolds, Western Board Director<br> Hamid Ahmadi, Midwest Board Director<br> Jack McPartland, Eastern Board Director<br> David Fuller, presiding officer</h4> <h1><font color="#FF0000">Fly Rules:</font></h1> <u><h3>Flying contests are conducted as follows</u>: </h3> <h4>1. At the time of release, the Fly Report must contain the following information: name and address of flyer, date, age, sex and band numbers of kit birds as noted by the Timer. At completion of the fly, time flown, summary of weather conditions and general remarks should be noted. Be sure Report is complete and accurate, containing all stated information.</h4> <h4>2. A copy of the Flying Report should be submitted to the FTS Central Timer. Submit in person or by mail within 24 hours following the fly. Reports submitted by mail, must be postmarked within two working days after the fly. </h4> <h4>3. Any Timer refusing to sign Flying Report; flyer may submit it to the Central Timer with a complete report by both the flyer and the Timer and the fly will be taken under consideration by the Executive Board if the Central Timer feels it merits their consideration.</h4> <h4>4. a) A record may be established whether in a scheduled fly or in a pre-arranged manner. The flyer is required to have at least one qualified Timer. If a record is accomplished, it must pass a two-thirds majority vote of the Executive Board before being accepted as a club record.<br> b) In a pre-arranged fly, the flyer must inform the Central Timer and Secretary/Treasurer of the flyer's intentions a minimum of five (5) days prior to the fly date, and submit the name(s) of the Timer(s) and the date of the fly.<br> c) If a record is broken, a detailed flying report must be sent to the FTS Central Timer and Secretary/Treasurer as described in Rules No 1 and 2. </h4> <h4>5. Timer must judge from a location where he can see flyer's flying loft and yard, and is free to move elsewhere to confirm infractions should suspicion arise.</h4> <h4>6. Timer is to have access to any location he is appointed to judge. Should the Timer see just cause for disqualification, the Timer must acquaint the flyer of the reason before leaving. Any flyer insulting or hindering the Timer in the execution of his duties shall be disqualified and a report of the incident filed with the Executive Board by the Timer involved.</h4> <h4>7. Anyone who is an FTS member or a person whose name is registered with the FTS as a local Timer, not related to the flyer by blood or marriage and not the flyer's partner, may act as a Timer if familiar with the Flying Rules and not barred from flying or being a Timer.</h4> <h4>8. A Timer may be relieved at any time during the day, but he must not leave until the relief Timer has arrived and been briefed and the band numbers of the kit given to that person. Both Timers must sign the Fly Report and state time that the relief Timer took over.</h4> <h4>9. No one is allowed near the flying loft while the kit is flying, except with the permission of the Timer.</h4> <h4>10. No flyer is to alter the appearance of the loft in any way within the seven (7) days prior to the competition date.</h4> <h4>11. Any nuisance belonging to the premises must not be allowed in the area during the competition.</h4> <h4>12. Any person frightening birds or causing them to be frightened or chased, either directly or indirectly, the Timer shall satisfy himself that the flyer did not personally frighten his kit, or induce outsiders to do so. Otherwise, time shall be noted on flying report and a complete report of the incident shall be submitted to the Central Timer. The Timer shall, however, continue to time until the kit drops. Both times to be shown on flying report. Executive Board rules on the matter and decides whether the fly is allowed or not. </h4> <h4>13. After trapping, the kit's band numbers are compared to the aforementioned list. If not identical, flyer to be disqualified. </h4> <u><h3>Flying contests shall proceed as follows:</u> </h3> <h4>14. Each flyer to fly a minimum of three (3) to a maximum of seven (7) Tipplers in FTS competition, excluding the Open (Exhibition fly) which has no limit on the number or type of pigeon entered. And, excluding the Stock Fly where a minimum of eight (8) to a maximum of twelve (12) Tipplers are required.</h4> <h4>15. The kit longest on wing to win, providing that there are no substantiated objections made against kit or flyer.</h4> <h4>16. The FTS will not designate an official starting time, but will leave this up to the option of the local club or flyer. Timer must be on hand to check the band numbers of each kit bird and to observe the release.</h4> <h4>17. Kit to be liberated no earlier than one hour prior to sunrise as stated in the local newspaper of the area and released no later than 10 a.m. on the morning of the fly.</h4> <h4>18. All competing birds must be banded with a reputable size "A" seamless band showing the year, number and organization (i.e., FTS, NPA, FTA, etc. or local club). A flyer found flying Tipplers with bands that are stretched or tampered with in any way, before release, bird is disqualified, not allowed to fly; after release, flyer is disqualified.</h4> <h4>19. In competition, between January 1st. and June 30th., only youngsters (young birds of the current year) banded with FTS bands are eligible. Thereafter, between July 1st. and December 31st., youngsters banded with any reputable Tippler organization's band are acceptable in competition.</h4> <h4>20. Lights may be used prior to release for handling the kit and verification of band numbers, but all artificial lighting in loft must be extinguished before the kit is released.</h4> <h4>21. No gadgets nor whistles may be attached to birds in competition. </h4> <h4>22. Kit must be released within a 100 foot radius from the center of the flying loft known as the flyer's boundary.</h4> <h4>23. Any bird settling within flyer's boundary at starting time, five (5) minutes from starting time shall be allowed for flyer to get it on the wing again. Should he fail to do so in the time limit, he shall be disqualified.</h4> <h4>24. Any flyer's kit raking out of sight of the Timer during the first 2 1/2 hours of the fly, must reappear within the remainder of that 2 1/2 hours or 1 hour, whichever is longer. Thereafter, the kit must be seen at least once every hour until the conclusion of the fly.</h4> <h4>25. Any competitor's kit flying until dark (that period of time falling ten (10) minutes after official local weather bureau designated time for sunset) may continue to fly in competition as long as they can be seen once each hour as a kit. No artificial lighting (flash light, spot light, etc.) may be used for this task, public street lights, etc. excluded.</h4> <h4>26. Should flyer decide to drop the kit, he should inform Timer of intentions to do so and method of the drop. If eligible to drop kit, time is to be taken when method of drop is acted upon.</h4> <h4>27. Any breed other than Tippler may be used as a dropper working outside of a wire confinement or exposed directly to flying kit. Tippler(s) may be used in a wire confinement, but not exposed directly to the flying kit at any time during dropping and trapping period or any time thereafter until kit band numbers are checked. </h4> <h4>28. Time is to be taken when first bird drops from kit without inducement, droppers shown or released, dropping signal given or lights put on. Elapsed flying time determined by the difference between earliest of these times and the time of liberation. Flyer has one (1) hour to trap the entire kit or be disqualified. Flyer may catch any bird dropping/roosting within the flyer's boundary. Kit is considered trapped when all are in the flying loft, in the possession of the flyer or a combination of both.</h4> <h4>29. Tippler(s) dropping outside flyer's boundary is automatically disqualified.</h4> <h4>30. If the kit splits (odd ones, unrecognizable as a kit) during daylight or dark, flyer has forty-five (45) minutes to decide whether to drop his pigeons or take a chance on them getting back into a kit again. If he drops them within the hour limit, he gets credit for the time flown up till the time dropping signal is given. If the kit does not drop, flyer is disqualified. </h4> <h4>31. Any circumstances arising that are not governed by the forgoing rules, the Executive Board shall have full power to act thereon and their decisions in all matters will be final.</h4> <h6>Substantive changes to the Constitution and Flying Rules may occur following this printing. For that reason, its accuracy cannot be guaranteed and the reader is cautioned that it is one's own responsibility to appraise oneself of the Articles and Rules in effect at any given time.</h6> <h6>Credit for the 1996 revisions goes to the FTS Membership with special credit to the Executive Board:<br> Rex Leon, Sec/Treasurer & acting President <br> Keith Baber, Western Vice President<br> Rene Asencio, Eastern Vice President <br> Dale Reynolds, Western Board Director<br> Hamid Ahmadi, Midwest Board Director<br> Jack McPartland, Eastern Board Director<br> David Fuller, presiding officer</h6> </body>