BCC RACE RULES

FINAL January 1, 2007

CONSTITUTION - BY-LAWS

THE BAY CITIES RACING PIGEON COMBINE

A California Non-Profit Corporation

The objectives of this organization are to improve the breed of racing pigeons, to better the welfare of the members of the organization, to advance the security, development and popularity of the Racing Pigeon Sport.

To maintain highly bred, healthy and tested Racing Pigeons. To give certificates and other awards to those entitled to same and to extend a social and mutually supportive environment by the words and actions of all members.

ARTICLE 2 - OFFICERS

The principal office of the corporation for the transaction of business shall be Alameda County, California. The Board of Directors may change the location of this office from time to time and may establish other offices elsewhere.

ARTICLE 3 - CORPORATE POWERS

The corporate powers of this corporation shall be vested in a Board of Directors/Delegates. This board shall comprise representation as outlined in Article 4.

ARTICLE 4 - DIRECTORS/DELEGATES

The number of Director/Delegate will be ONE (1) Director/Delegate for each TWENTY (20) senior dues paying members or fraction thereof, of the member clubs.

The number of Director/Delegates will increase/decrease from time to time as the memberships in the clubs change.

In the event of a vacancy on the Board of Directors, such vacancy shall be filled at a Board of Directors meeting and the vacancy shall be filled by the member club in which the vacancy occurred.

The term of office of a Director/Delegate shall be for one year from the date of selection of until the selection and qualification of a successor. Directors shall be installed at the Annual meeting of the membership.

Director/Delegates shall have the power to manage the business of the Corporation and to incur indebtedness and obligate the Corporation for the repayment thereof, in any amount and upon any terms which they deem advisable, and to employ persons for services and duties and for compensation, as they deem advisable.

The Director/Delegates may establish by resolution, the time and place for regular and annual meetings.

ARTICLE 5 - OFFICERS

The officers of the organization shall be a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Race Secretary, Sgt. of Arms, Truck Chairman and Publicity Director. All officers to serve for at least one year. The President, Vice President, Sgt. of Arms and Publicity Director shall serve without compensation.

The salaries for all other officers shall be reconfirmed at the first meeting each year. If no action is taken, the salary shall remain at the previously set level.

Nominations for Officers of this corporation shall be opened at the December meeting and remain open until the February meeting. Election will occur at the regular February meeting. Officers will take their posts at the introduction of new business at the February meeting.

There are no term limits for any officer.

There shall be an Officers Committee and a Race Committee.

The elected Officers of this Corporation, along with the elected delegates of the member clubs shall constitute the Officers Committee/Board of Directors.

The Race Committee shall consist of the Combine Race Secretary and the Race Secretaries of each competing club.

ARTICLE 6 - OFFICER DUTIES

The President shall preside at all meetings and exercise all functions usually associated with the office of President. The President will have a copy of "Roberts Rules of Order" and copies of any State and Federal documents regarding the conduct of this Non-Profit Corporation. The President will conduct all meetings in compliance with these rules and documents.

The Vice President shall, in the absence of the President, perform all of the duties of the President.

The Secretary shall keep an accurate record of all Combine meetings, in compliance with Federal and States rules. The Secretary will maintain the tape recordings of the meetings for a period of one (1) year and shall erase them only with the agreement of the delegates at the first meeting each year. The Secretary will mail to one Delegate the minutes of the previous meeting and agenda of the upcoming one. The mailing will be done forty (40) days prior to the scheduled meeting.

Each year, at the first meeting of the year, the President and Treasurer shall confirm that all State and Federal forms have been processed and that this Non-Profit Corporation is current and in compliance with all applicable laws.

Each year, at the annual meeting, the Secretary shall distribute a printed list of the changes, modifications or additions to this corporation's Constitution, By-Laws and Race Rules.

Every five (5) years, the Secretary will reprint and distribute the member clubs, the current updated version of the Constitution, By-Laws and Race Rules.

The Treasurer shall keep an accurate financial record and have custody of all funds and accounts of this organization. The Treasurer shall make a financial report at each regular meeting and have a complete financial report and annual audit ready for the first meeting of the year. The Treasurer will be provided a security bond, which the Corporation will pay for. No person can hold this office without the bond. Instead of a bond, two signatures are required on all checks. Passed (2004)

The Race Secretary shall have complete charge of each Combine Race.

The Race Secretary will conduct this office according to the rules set forth here and in the associated race rules of the Corporation.

The Truck Chairman shall be responsible for transporting the trailer to and from the race stations, club pick ups, allotment of race baskets and upkeep of all Corporation equipment with the exception of the race baskets.

The upkeep of the race baskets is the responsibility of the clubs using them.

The Sgt. of Arms will help the President maintain order in all meetings.

The Publicity Director will administer all publicity involving the Corporation. This will include setting up articles and maintaining ads in the appropriate convention books.

ARTICLE 7 - MEMBERSHIP

Any person is eligible for membership in this Combine if he/she is member in good standing of an affiliate club.

A new club may apply for membership at any regular Combine meeting by applying and getting the application on the agenda forty (40) days prior to the meeting. The new club will be accepted upon receiving a two-thirds (2/3) majority favorable vote of the member clubs through their delegate vote. A new club must have five (5) senior members to apply for membership.

All Junior members (under eighteen (18) years old) are non-voting honorary members. They pay no Combine dues and are charged one-half (1/2) shipping rates.

ARTICLE 8 - VOTING

Voting on all matters shall be the sole responsibility of the club delegates. The delegates will cast votes equal to their paid up membership as of 30 days prior to scheduled meeting, and the President shall cast a vote only in the event of a tie.

Each delegate shall be entitled to cast his club's total membership vote in the event the club's other delegates are unable to be present at the time of voting.

A majority vote is required on any motion, except as otherwise designated in this constitution.

All proxies are barred.

Only Senior Members (18 years or older) are considered voting members.

ARTICLE 9 - RACE RULES

All races sponsored by this Combine shall be governed by the Race Rules of this organization.

If a protest or dispute arises over the results of a sponsored race(s) that cannot be settled by the Constitution or Race Rules then a general meeting or special meeting shall be called and the protest placed before the Delegates of this organization. A ballot vote will be taken from the Delegates present and their decision shall be final.

If any affiliate club desires a change in the Race Course from the one then currently in effect, it must be in writing and reach the Secretary forty-five (45) days before the August Combine meeting. The Secretary will mail each Combine member in good standing, with voting power, a referendum ballot which will be used to cast and count votes for the two (2) courses only; the course previously used and the proposed course. The referendum ballots will be returned to the Secretary either by mail or by hand delivery (sealed envelope) at the December Combine meeting. All sealed envelopes containing ballots will be collected and counted during the meeting by a committee selected by the President. A two-thirds (2/3) majority votes is required for approval of any change.

The race course shall be voted on at the next scheduled OB and YB and the December meeting. See Section 2 of the race rules

The Four (4) Race Courses adopted by this Combine are:

NORTH ROAD	EAST ROAD	NORTHEAST	COMPROMISE
WILLIAMS GERBER REDDING WEED KLAMATH FALLS LAPINE KENT THE DALLES YAKIMA	MYERS CARSON CITY FALLON MIDDLEGATE AUSTIN CARLIN WELLS ROGERSON LUCIN MINDEN YEARINGTON ARINOSA FRENCHMAN	COLFAX TRUCKEE SPARKES FERNLEY LOVELOCK IMLAY WINNEMUCCA McDERMITT ROBERSON PARMA COUNCIL CARLIN BATTLE MTN. ELKO WENDOVER MINDEN YEARINGTON ARINOSA FRENCHMAN	CARSON CITY TRUCKEE FERNLEY MIDDLEGATE LOVELOCK AUSTIN WINNEMUCCA McDERMITT CARLIN WELLS PARMA ROGERSON COUNCIL BATTLE MTN. ELKO WENDOVER MINDEN YEARINGTON ARINOSA FRENCHMAN IMLAY SNOWVILLE

SILVER SPRINGS

ELY [08.05]

LAGES [08.05]

A new release station can be added to any of the above four (4) courses as long as the new proposed station, or stations, lies within the general direction or roadways of the applicable Course. The motion must reach the Secretary as per Article 12.

Any of the Race Stations can be reconstructed, within the selected Race Course, to any sequence by a majority vote of the delegates' votes, in order to introduce a new race schedule.

ARTICLE 10 - DUES AND MEMBERSHIP

The annual membership dues of the Combine are $20 per year per Senior member.

The annual shipping fees for Old and Young Birds shall be recommended by the truck chairman and subject to the majority votes of the Delegates.

ARTICLE 11 - MEETINGS

The regular Quarterly meetings of this Corporation shall be held on the last Saturday morning of February, June, August and December.

The Annual Meeting shall be held during the month of February.

A majority representation of the membership, through their Delegates will constitute a quorum. There must be at least one officer of the Combine present.

The President may call a special meeting, or any member club may petition the President to call a special meeting when necessary.

The meeting minutes will include all motions and votes, discussion items and all Corporation meeting notes and agenda items and must be mailed to the respective club delegates at least forty (40) days prior to the meeting date.

ARTICLE 12 - AMENDMENTS TO CONSTITUTION / BY-LAWS OR RACE RULES

Proposed alterations or amendments to the Corporation's Constitution/By-Laws or Race Rules must be submitted in writing and reach the Secretary at least forty-five (45) days prior to the next scheduled meeting date in order the meet Combine agenda mailing requirements.

The proposed changes or amendments must be listed on the agenda governing the meeting, so that all members will have due notice and be able to make decisions accordingly. The proposed changes should be accompanied with a statement from the submitting group explaining the reason and logic behind the proposed change.

A two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the membership, through their Delegates, shall be necessary to pass any Alterations or Changes to the Corporate Constitution or Race Rules.

ARTICLE 13 - AUDIT

All accounts of this Corporation must be audited each year by the auditor appointed by the President in December. This person should be familiar with bookkeeping and auditing procedures. The audit report will be presented at the annual meeting.

ARTICLE 14 - DISBANDING

In the event, it becomes desirable to disband this Corporation, the Secretary must mail an individual ballot to every member in good standing for the vote on this matter.

A vote of two-thirds (2/3) majority of the members voting is necessary to carry out the disbanding.

All assets belonging to the Corporation shall be disposed of and all proceeds turned over to a legitimate charity.

ARTICLE 15 - EXPULSION RULES

At the request of a Delegate representing the wishes of a member club, the membership of any member of this organization shall terminate upon the occurrence of the following events:

(a) Resignation of the Member.

(b) The Determination of the Delegates that a member has:

(1) Committed or attempted to commit fraud in connection with a pigeon race of show.

(2) Has unlawfully detained a bird of a fellow member (by poisoning, clipping or otherwise).

(3) Has raced a pigeon which the member is unable to establish clear title of ownership.

(4) Failed to observe and obey race rules and/or other rules of conduct of this Corporation.

(5) Engaged in unsportsmanlike conduct or otherwise habitually demonstrated an inability to get along with fellow members.

(6) Engaged in any other conduct seriously detrimental to the best interests of this organization.

Such determination of expulsion shall be made in accordance with the following procedures:

(1) The Board of Directors, which includes all Delegates, shall make the initial determination that there is good and reasonable cause to believe that there are grounds for the termination of the membership involved. At the time of this initial determination, the board may suspend the member, pending a hearing on the proposed expulsion, but such a suspension may not exceed thirty (30) days prior to the hearing.

(2) The Board shall send a notice by prepaid First Class or Registered Mail to the member at the most recent recorded address on the Corporation records. Such notice shall set forth the grounds of the proposed expulsion and the date, time and place of the hearing before the Board. Such notice shall be sent at least fifteen (15) days before the proposed effective date of the expulsion.

(3) The member proposed to be expelled shall be given the opportunity to be heard, either orally or in writing, at the Board hearing, which shall be held not fewer than five (5) days before the effective date of the proposed expulsion.

(4) Following the hearing, the Board of Directors shall decide according to the standards set forth in the causes of expulsion, whether or not the member should be expelled, suspended or sanctioned in some other way.

(5) If following the Board decision, the member still feels that the action is unfair, the member may submit the matter to Arbitration as outlined next. The decision of the Arbitration committee is considered final and will be accepted as the final decision.

ARTICLE 16 - ARBITRATION

By the acceptance and/or renewal of their membership in the Bay Cities Racing Pigeon Combine, Inc., either directly, or derivatively as members of individual clubs which are part of said Combine, that is to say by being members of the Combine in accordance with the existing rules, regulations, Constitution and By-Laws of the Combine, each such individual member agrees to, and shall be bound by the commitment and requirement to resolve any and all disputes, whether originated by the Combine itself, a member or members of the Combine, or a club which is part of the Combine, relating to or in any way arising out of the rules, regulations, Constitution and By-Laws of the Combine, from time to time in effect, through Binding Arbitration.

Said Arbitration shall be conducted in accordance with the arbitration laws of the State of California, as contained in Code of Civil Procedure 1280 et seq., as now existing, or as may be hereafter modified by the State of California. In the conduct of said arbitration, the provisions of Code of Civil Procedure 1282(a) shall not apply, because there shall be three (3) arbitrators, chosen as follows: Each party to the dispute shall select one arbitrator. These arbitrators shall select a neutral arbitrator. All arbitrators shall be drawn from a list of current members in good standing of the Bay Cities Combine. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in said arbitration laws of the State of California, the arbitration shall be commenced by one party giving written notice thereof to the other party by certified return receipt, U.S. Mail, or by personal service. Upon receipt of personal service, or upon receipt of said service by mail, the other party shall have ten (10) days within which to name an arbitrator. Said notification shall be made by service of the same in writing upon the first party, in the same manner as provided above. Within ten (10) days of the naming of the second arbitrator, the arbitrators so chosen shall select a neutral arbitrator, and further proceedings shall thereafter be pursuant to said arbitration law.

ARTICLE 17 - COMBINE BOUNDARIES [INSERT NEW WRITTEN DESCRIPTION OF THE BOUNDARIES]

The boundaries of the Bay Cities Combine are:

West - The Pacific Ocean

South/East/North

San Bonito County Line to the Santa Clara County Line (West San Jose) to the Alameda County Line (TRV) to the Contra Costa County line to the center of the Sacramento River at Honker Bay (THC) to Highway 12 and Rio Vista Road to Branscomb Road (NIP) to Creed Road to Maridan to Union Pacific right-of-way to Daly Road to Fry Road to Clark Road to Hawkins Road to Batavia Road to Selvers Road to Hally Road to Wolfskill Road to Winters Road to Putah Creek Road to Pleasant Valley Road to Highway 128 to Napa County Line (NSH) to Fire Creek (NIP) to Highway 16 to Bear Valley Road to Brim Road to Twin Valley Road to Rock Creek Road to Bear Creek Road to the Mendocino County line (CSR), the Thomas Creek to Hearst P.O. Road to Hearst Willits Road to Reynolds Highway To Highway 101 to Sherwood Road to Middle Fork Ten Mile River to Ten Mile River to the Pacific Ocean.

ARTICLE 18 - WATCH DOG COMMITTEE

The functions of the Watch Dog Committee shall include:

(1) Upon written request to the Combine Race Secretary by a member club or three (3) members from three (3) different clubs, the Combine Race Secretary shall appoint a committee of two (2) to attend the clocking of birds by the flyer in question for as many races as requested.

In addition to the appointed committee of two (2), one (1) volunteer from among those making the request may attend making a total of three (3).

The Combine Secretary will notify the flyer, no later than two (2) hours after liberation, of the scheduled visit. The flyer will provide appropriate, line of sight, viewing of the race that includes full view of the trapping area. The flyer may choose a location that, in the flyer's opinion, does not interfere with the race.

Should the member in question refuse admittance to the Combine Committee or not allow the Committee to observe the clocking of birds, the member shall be disqualified from the race.

This procedure to be extended to club shipping and clock opening procedures.

ARTICLE 19 - JUNIOR DIVISION WITH COMBINE

A Junior flyer is defined as less than eighteen (18) years old, in order to compete against other Junior flyers within this Combine. A Junior flyer must:

(1) Have own loft or fly from Senior flyer loft.

(2) As a Junior flying member, it will be necessary to help their club to basket race birds, mark baskets and perform jobs befitting their age, along with the care and handling of their own birds.

(3) Be allowed to ship the Combine limit of birds and have separate race results listed on the Combine race sheets.

(4) Diplomas and Awards shall be made annually.

CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT

OF BY-LAWS OF

BAY CITIES RACING PIGEON COMBINE, INC.

The undersigned, being the Secretary of Bay Cities Racing Pigeon Combine, Inc., hereby certifies that the By-Laws of this Corporation was amended, effective August _____, 1991 by the Board of Directors, to include a new Article 20, such Article to read in its entirety as follows:

ARTICLE 20 - INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES AND

OTHER AGENTS

20.1 INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

The Corporation shall, to the maximum extent and in the manner permitted by the California Corporation Code (the "Code"), indemnify each of its directors and officers against expenses (as defined in Section 5237(a) of the Code), judgments, fines, settlements, and other amounts actually and reasonably incurred in connection with any proceeding (as defined in Section 5238(a) of the Code), arising by reason of the fact that such person is or was an agent of the Corporation. For purposes of this Article 20, a "director" or "officer" of the Corporation includes any person (i) who is or was a director of the corporation, (ii) who is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director or officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, or (iii) who was a director or officer of a corporation which was a predecessor of the Corporation or of another enterprise at the request of such predecessor corporation.

20.2 INDEMNIFICATION OF OTHERS

The Corporation shall have the power, to the extent and in the manner permitted by the Code, to indemnify each of its employees and agents (other than directors and officers) against expenses (as outlined in Section 5238(a) of the Code), judgments, fines, settlements, and other amounts actually and reasonably incurred in connection with any proceeding (as defined Section 5238(a) of the Code), arising by reason of the fact that such person is or was an agent of the Corporation. For purposes of this Article 20, an "employee" or "agent" of the Corporation (other than a director or officer) includes any person (I) who is or was an employee or agent of the Corporation, (ii) who is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as an employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, or (iii) who was an employee or agent of a corporation which was a predecessor corporation of the Corporation or of another enterprise at the request of such predecessor corporation.

20.3 PAYMENT OF EXPENSES IN ADVANCE

Expenses incurred in defending any civil or criminal action or proceeding for which indemnification is required in pursuant to Section 20.1 or for which indemnification is permitted pursuant to Section 20.2 following authorization thereof by the Board of Directors shall be paid by the Corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the indemnified party to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that the indemnified party is not entitled to be indemnified as authorized in this Article 20.

20.4 INDEMNITY NOT EXCLUSIVE

The indemnification provided by this Article 20 shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification may be entitled under any by-law, agreement, vote of shareholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in an official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office, to the extent that such additional rights to indemnification are authorized in the Articles of Incorporation.

20.5 INSURANCE INDEMNIFICATION

The Corporation shall have the power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation against any liability asserted against or incurred by such person in such capacity or arising out of such person's status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify him against such liability under the provisions of this Article 20.

20.6 CONFLICTS

No indemnification or advance shall be made under this Article 20, except where such indemnification or advance is mandated by law or the order, judgment or decree of any court of competent jurisdiction, in any circumstances where it appears:

(1) That it would be inconsistent with a provision of the Articles of Incorporation, these by-laws, a resolution of the shareholders or an agreement in effect at the time of the accrual of the alleged cause of the action asserted in the proceeding in which the expenses were incurred or other amounts were paid, which prohibits or otherwise limits indemnification; or

(2) That it would be inconsistent with any condition expressly imposed by a court in approving a settlement.

20.7 ACCEPTANCE

The payment of dues by any member shall constitute the full acceptance and agreement to the terms of these By-Laws by such member. Such acceptance and agreement shall include, but not be limited to, the provision of this Article 20.

Date: July _______, 1991

__________________________

Name: Dino D'Ercole

Title: Secretary

The foregoing Constitution of the Bay Cities Combine, Inc. was adopted on June 10, 2000.

BAY CITIES RACING PIGEON COMBINE

RACE RULES

A. SCOPE

These Race Rules for the Bay Cities Racing Pigeon Combine shall follow AU race rules. The Combine, all Member Clubs and Sections must adhere to the AU Race Rules in order to qualify for any award. [02.05] Instead of retyping the AU rules, where possible the AU rule is referred to thus eliminating any possible conflict and the need to retype Combine Race Rules every time there is a change at the AU level.

B. AUTHORITY

It shall be the responsibility of the Combine Race Secretary to interpret, administer and enforce and apply these Race Rules. In all matters involving penalties for violations thereof, the Race Secretary shall call for and be bound by the vote of the Race Committee. Any protest must be filed in writing with any Combine Officer within two (2) weeks of the Race

being contested or protested.

THE COMBINE RACE COMMITTEE SHALL CONSIST OF ALL CLUB RACE SECRETARIES.

The Combine Race Secretary shall chair all meetings of the Combine Race Committee. A majority vote of the Combine Race Committee shall rule. [MOVED FROM SECTION NINE, SUBSECTION 3 “Executive Race Committee”. 02/06]

C. OFFICIAL RACE RULES

These rules, working in concert with the AU Race Rules, will not need to be updated annually to conform to the AU Race Rules. As AU rules are updated and PUBLISHED, they will automatically become part of the Bay Cities Race Rules and apply to the appropriate sections. IT WILL BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE BAY CITIES COMBINE TO ATTACH THE MOST CURRENT SET OF AU RACE RULES TO THE BAY CITIES RACE RULES.

IT WILL BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EACH MEMBER TO MAINTAIN THESE RULES BY ATTACHING THE MOST RECENT AU RULES, AS PUBLISHED EACH YEAR.

SECTION ONE - PARTICIPATION

See AU Race Rules 4.0 Series.

SECTION TWO - SCHEDULE

The Race Schedule, including dates and Race stations shall be established at the regular business meeting in DECEMBER for the subsequent year. See Article 9 of the By-Laws

A Race Schedule may not be changed while a Race Series is in progress except where the circumstances of such a change are spelled out in writing in the Race Rules or at the time the schedule is adopted.

SECTION THREE - Loft Race Distances )

Each loft location shall be computed by WAAS enabled GPS equipment approved for use by the AU and Combine Race Secretary.

SECTION FOUR - ENTRY

See AU Race Rules 7.0 Series.

SECTION FIVE - LIMIT

LIMIT: OLD BIRDS thirty (30) BIRDS, YOUNG BIRDS twenty-five (25) BIRDS

The Bay Cities Combine will allow a bird limit for OB (30) and YB (25) per paid up

member for the loft location, not to exceed three (3) flyers per loft location. A separate building, measurements and clock are not required for flyers from the same location. A separate band list must be supplied to the Combine Race Secretary before the start of the season.

Junior flyers will be reported on the overall Combine report.

. Alternative Shipping Fees. Flyers may (1) pay the full Up-Front Shipping Fee and be entitled to enter in each race the full number of birds permitted by the BCC for the relevant season (the “ Bird Limit”), or (2) pay 50% of the Up-Front Shipping Fee and enter in each race 50% of the Bird Limit (rounded down). Flyers paying the full Up-Front Shipping Fee will be referred to as “Large Lofts”. Flyers paying 50% of the Up-Front Shipping Fees will be referred to as “Small Lofts”.

For example: Where Large Lofts pay a full Up-Front Shipping Fee of $275.00, they will be entitled to enter 25 birds in each week’s race. Small Lofts will therefore pay 50% of the Up-Front Shipping Fee ($137.50), with a Bird Limit of 12 birds per race. [12/06]

Additional birds not in Combine competition, such as publicized specials, may be shipped in any of the Combine Races. Limit at discretion of the local Club. If any bird is discovered in a race basket without a countermark or electronic ring, it shall be removed and returned to the Combine Race Secretary for appropriate action.

SECTION SIX - RACE ENTRY FORMS AND COUNTERMARKING

See AU Race Rules 7.0 Series.

No competitor's birds will be placed in only one crate. They will be distributed as much as possible among the crates. The hens and cocks will be placed in separate crates for all old bird races.

No competitor shall countermark, write countermark numbers on the entry sheet, operate the countermark machine or place his/her own birds in the race basket.

See AU Race Rule 7.0 Series.

If birds are not countermarked and are carried on the Combine equipment (trainers) carrying the Official Combine Race or Races, they cannot be released prior to, or earlier than thirty (30) minutes after the liberation of the last Official Combine Race.

On the entry sheet, opposite the birds ring number, the number of the basket that the bird was placed in will be recorded.

After the last bird has been loaded in the baskets, both doors on the baskets will be sealed. Either one or two seals may be used on each door. Seals of either the lead or plastic “tie-wrap” type may be used. [07.06] PLEASE NOTE: use and disposal of lead seals are subject to state and federal law.

If the birds are transported by a Club to the Combine pick up point, they will be transported by two non related flying senior members. From two different loft Postal locations.

All race baskets shall have the backs (water) side either against a solid object so no Competitor can get access to the birds, or the area shall be controlled by the club race sect. Appointee.

SECTION SEVEN - CLOCK SETTING

Master Timer shall be taken by phone, GPS, or WWV radio, before and after each race. Whatever method is used for clock setting, this same method must be used for Knockoff of each race.

See AU Race Rules 8.0 Series.

The day setting must be set, on those clocks with day hands; so that 24 hours after the staring knock-off it will print 1. On those clocks without day hands the setting must be identified so that 24 hours later there is a proper identification that the clock has run 24 hours. The Benzing Comatic will read 24.

The clock's tape must show the competitors name, race station, the date and time of Knock-off and be signed by a committee person who will check, close and seal the clock so that it is ready for a starting knock-off.

See AU Race Rules 8.0 Series.

All clocks shall have a double knock-off before leaving the Club or immediately after resetting. All clocks must be numbered seals.

A list noting the seal number, the porthole number, and the competitor's name and initialed by the competitor shall be maintained by the race committee and then kept by the Race Secretary. All clocks will be checked against this list at clock opening. Electronic band scanning systems excepted.

SECTION EIGHT - CAPSULES AND COUNTERMARKS AT TIMING AND OPENING

See AU Race Rule 9.0 Series.

See AU Race Rule 8.0 Series.

Users of Electronic Band Scanning System Clocking.

See AU Race Rule 16.0 Series.

All timers shall be opened and countermarks and tapes checked by TWO committee persons, neither one being the timer’s owner. In addition, for ALL birds clocked, they shall verify the SECOND (inside) countermark number with the inside number on the countermark slip.

SECTION NINE - CONVEYING AND LIBERATING

See AU Race Rule 10.0 Series.

The purpose of this section is to: 1) Define the responsibilities of the Combine Transportation Chairman, the Combine Race Secretary and the Combine Race Committee and 2) Set forth the procedures whereby Race Birds are Shipped, Conveyed to Race Stations and Liberated for Races.

Responsibility:

1) Combine Race Secretary

A) Authorizes the shipping of Races to the Transportation Chairman after determining that a Race is feasible in accordance with the following:

In the event of anticipated inclement weather problems, natural and man made disasters, including forest fires, smoke and high winds, the Combine Race Secretary after checking all possibilities with weather bureaus, highway patrol and any other official information source, will contact the Combine Race Committee and make a decision whether to ship the Race Birds or not.

Once the Combine Race Secretary authorizes the shipping of a race to the Transportation Chairman the responsibility for the Race Birds remains with the Combine Race Secretary until the Race Birds arrive at the Scheduled Race Station.

B) Upon being informed by the Liberator that the Race Birds have arrived at the Scheduled Race Station, the Combine Race Secretary shall authorize the release of the Race Birds. He shall do so in accordance with the following standards:

1) If for any reason a Saturday release cannot be made, the Race Birds can be held over until Sunday. There will be no holdovers after Sunday unless approved by the Race Committee.

2) In the case of inclement weather, mechanical trouble or for any other reason that a Race must be cancelled/postponed, all cancelled/postponed Races shall be flown as per order of the Race Schedule, with the following exception: A Race brought back one (1) station, for any reason, shall count for average speed and take the place of the cancelled/postponed Race. Any cancelled/postponed Race brought back more than one (1) station will be made up on the following week.

3) In the event that any Scheduled Race Station cannot be reached for any reason the Race Birds may be released at any other Official Combine Race Station. The Combine Race Committee will decide if the said release will be counted as an Official Combine Race. This Race shall not be counted in Average Speed unless it is one Race Station short of the scheduled Race Station, i.e. the location of the exception noted in the proceeding paragraph.

D) It is the responsibility of the Race Secretary and Transportation Chairman to insure that the Liberator knows and understands his/her duties and responsibilities in accordance with the standard set of written procedures.

E) It is also the Race Secretary’s responsibility to insure that all Club Race Secretaries are in compliance with the Race Rules (AU and Combine Race Rules).

2) Transportation Chairman

A) Receives authorization to ship Scheduled Races from the Combine Race Secretary.

B) The Transportation Chairman is responsible for all maintenance on the trailer. He I also responsible for the pickup of the member clubs Race Birds and for transporting the trailer to all Scheduled Race Stations. He is also responsible for the return of the trailer after the Race Birds have been released.

C) The Transportation Chairman shall notify the Combine Race Secretary immediately of any problems or unforeseen circumstances that arise during the transportation of the Race Birds to the Scheduled Race Station that may delay the scheduled release of the Race Birds.

D) It is also the responsibility of Transportation Chairman along with the Race Secretary to insure that the Liberator knows and understands his/her duties in accordance with the standard set of written procedures.

3) Executive Race Committee

For purposes of shipping, conveying, and liberating of the races, the Executive Race Committee will determine if a race is to be shipped, released, brought back or cancelled in accordance with the Combine Constitution and race Rules.

A) The Combine Race Secretary shall chair all meetings of the Executive Race Committee.

B. The Executive Race Committee will consist of one (1) delegate from each of the four sections, plus the Combine Race Secretary. The Executive Race Committee will be chaired by the Combine Race Secretary, who will be responsible for keeping a record of all Executive Race Committee decisions. The Combine Race Secretary will not be entitled to vote, except to cast a tie breaking vote and/or as set forth in Section D below. Each Section shall appoint an Executive Race Committee Delegate. Only currently flying members shall be eligible to serve as an Executive Race Committee Delegate. Each Executive Race Committee Delegate shall remain in office the entire race season; no changes are to be made.

C. Each Executive Race Committee Delegate shall be available for communication by telephone with the Combine Race Secretary from 8:00 am on shipping day until the race birds are actually released.

D. If the Combine Race Secretary calls, but is unable to contact the Executive Race Committee Delegate, that Section’s vote goes to the Combine Race Secretary to vote as he wishes. Executive Race Committee Delegates may also proxy their vote to the Combine Race Secretary with instructions as to how the proxy is to be voted under the circumstances at the time the proxy is assigned; however, the Combine Race Secretary will have the flexibility to vote as he thinks best, in his sole discretion, under the circumstances at the time the vote is cast.

E. Each Executive Race Committee Delegate shall have the responsibility of checking weather, both en route and at the scheduled race station. No later than the “Drop Dead Time” on the day of the race, the Executive Race Committee Delegates will, by their vote, instruct the Combine Race Secretary to either (a) have the race birds picked up from the clubs and shipped to the race station, or (b) cancel or postpone the race.

F. If, upon arriving at, or in transit to, the scheduled race station, any and all unforeseen circumstances, including, but not limited to, rain, wind, smoke, fire, snow, conveyance malfunction, or acts of God, then; the Executive Race Committee will have full authority to move to a different point to release the race birds no matter the distance or direction. The new race release point will take the place of the scheduled race, and will count in average speed.

G. The four Sections shall be composed as follows:

North Section: SOC, TCH

Central Section: MTZ, BAI, ANT, HAY

South Section: FMT, WSJ

West Section: SFR, SFI [02/06]

[MOVED TO PARAGRAPH 2 “AUTHORITY” 02/06]

General Provisions of Race Rules

Only Club Race Secretaries or their designated representative will contact the Combine Race Secretary. Any member can obtain race release and weather conditions by calling the Combine Hot Line number. Phone .925-600-1090

There will be a standard set of written procedures for the liberator to follow. This set of procedures will be attachment one (1) to these Race Rules.

The Race Birds will be released at the Scheduled Race Station used to calculate the airline measurements no earlier then fifteen (15) minutes after local sunrise at the liberation point.

The Liberator will phone the Combine Race Secretary after arrival at the Scheduled Race Station, and immediately after the release. One of these phone calls will be a collect phone call. It should be made at the nearest phone available to the release point. This collect call is to help insure that the birds have been released at the Scheduled Race Station. The Combine Treasurer will keep phone bills for one year.

The Combine Race Secretary shall inform each Club Race Secretary if the Race release is held up for any reason.

Race Birds can only be brought back by a vote of the Combine Race Committee.

All Race Birds shall be watered at lease ONE-HALF Hour before all releases and during holdovers and two-day transports.

See AU Race Rules 10.0 Series.

SECTION TEN - TIME OUT FOR DARKNESS

See AU Race Rules 13.0 Series.

Birds clocked after closing time will get credit as day birds but will be figured as if they were clocked at starting time the next morning, and will have no effect on the flying time of second day birds.

SECTION ELEVEN - CLOSING OF RACES

Closing time for overnight races shall be TWO (2) days and for TWO (2) days shipping (Thursday shipping) shall be THREE (3) days.

See AU Race Rules 14.0 Series.

SECTION TWELVE - RACE COMPUTATIONS

See AU Race Rules 15.0 Series.

SECTION THIRTEEN - TOSSING OF RACE BIRDS

See AU Race Rules 11.0 Series.

SECTION FOURTEEN - RACE FORMS TO COMBINE RACE SECRETARY

FORM NO. 1 - Copies of ENTRY sheets and shipping fees must be mailed or handed to the COMBINE Race Secretary prior to liberation time. Race entry sheets must contain each member's entry, crate assignments and all other information normally expected on an entry sheet.

FORM No. 2 - Race report sheets, or computer disk, must be E-mailed or faxed NO LATER THAN Midnight the day speeds are figured unless special arrangements have been made with the Combine Race Sect. in written form.

Race report information must contain LOFT, BAND NUMBERS, LETTERS AND YEAR, COLOR AND SEX, DISTANCE, FLIGHT TIME AND SPEED, AND CLUB IDENTIFICATION.

THE WINNING TAPE, COUNTERMARK PAPER AND RUBBER WITH MATCHING INSIDE AND OUTSIDE NUMBERS MUST BE MAILED TO THE COMBINE RACE SECRETARY one day after the race has been figured. Electronic clock information will be submitted as required by the AU or manufacturer.

Club Average speeds will be mailed or faxed within 2 weeks of the last race.

Combine Average speed will be figured on the Combine computer.

There shall also be an annual award known as the "SPORTS-PERSON OF THE YEAR" for outstanding and dedicated service to the Bay Cities Racing Pigeon Combine.