| AU Convention
The AU conventions have been held every year at different cities around the country and remains the highlight of the years events. They are a treasure chest of historical information about the sport of the time. Below is the article found in the American Pigeon Keeper, Nov. 38 about the Milwaukee A. U. Convention.
" It was the largest convention ever held by that organization from the point of registrations and the best convention from the point of enthusiasm. When the committee in charge of the convention made plans for the banquet, they hoped that they would be fortunate enough to have eight hundred guests. But when the fanciers and their wives were finally seated, they were pleasantly surprised to learn that the guests numbered 1236, which were 165 more than ever attended a previous A.U. banquet.
The speeches of the retiring and newly elected officers which followed the banquet were brief and spontaneous with the speakers being introduced by a capable and witty master of ceremonies. With so many tuxedos and wing collars in evidence, it looked as though many of the fanciers were about to take. off for a return flight to their home lofts. The ladies, so one fancier said, hurried so, they forgot the upper part of their gowns, but later it was explained that they were fully dressed in the latest Hattie Carnegie models.
The Cleveland fanciers arrived in a Special train to form a parade from the depot to the hotel, led by a band and carrying many banners announcing their arrival.
Every state in the Union was represented, as was Canada and Cuba. From Havana came Francisco Perez Lerena with the announcement that he won over fifty prizes in 1938 old bird races.
Jimmy Doolittle, the world famous aviator, came from Redwood City, California to talk pigeons, only to be asked numerous questions/of his around-the-world flight, by interested fanciers.
Entertainment in the form of luncheons, theatre parties and tours, was provided for the ladies. One tour was that of a trip through the Phoenix Hosiery Mills. Several of the men went along in an attempt to find out why ladies hosiery comes so high (in price), some of the fanciers also went along on a trip through one of the breweries of which the city boasts. When it was learned that free refreshments were offered by the brewery owners, many of the fanciers wanted the convention continued indefinitely.
There was a good display of Racing Pigeons at the show with a special place of honor given to "Storm King," the winner of the Milwaukee Convention Race. This bird was bred and flown by Earl F. Albrecht of Milwaukee in competition with 3070 birds from 304 lofts. In addition to the honor of winning the convention race, the bird also won, won for his owner, two hundred and fifty dollars, that sum being first prize for the winner.
An attractive 168 page souvenir book was presented to all who registered for the banquet. In his message to members of the A.U. the retiring president, Harry Wm. Liekefet, mentioned the fact that the A.U. now has more than eight thousand members, with, at this writing, sixty-six new charters issued.
The souvenir book also contains interesting articles by Dr. E. W. Ediund, Roy P. Knoll, George F. Twombly, H. Paget, Alexander Me Lachlan, B. A. Burnell, T. C. Wright, E. DeMooy and Secretary Edward Barnes." |
From the first page of this original and mint message book for its age we find the following instructions.
