Hello from Keith and April Croce the MP Junior Exhibitor liaisons!

I have been a member of TICA now for three years and have enjoyed every moment of it. Last year Linda K. Ashley asked my wife and I to fill the spot of Junior Exhibitor leaders for the MP region and we gratefully accepted the invitation. I have been a registered nurse now for the past eight years and for the past three years as a supervisor. Last August we contacted our local 4-H club and asked if they had anyone doing a cat project and they said no...

I thought to myself "What a wonderful way to get more kids and their parents involved in TICA!" and so far it has been a great success. The three kids that we were able to sign up from 4-H have now all obtained their own cats and are showing them throughout the MP region. We are already looking forward to next year where the MP Junior Exhibitors will be more involved in TICA with fundraiser, raffles, for their own group so that more kids will want to join.

Already in the MP region we have a total right now of 15 Junior Exhibitor members when at the beginning of this year we only had 3. I am also looking forward to being on the Junior Exhibitor board for TICA on the recommendation and support of Linda K. Ashley.

Things to look forward to in 2009-2010 for the MP Junior Exhibitors:

• Name Tags with achievement bars
• Starting our own treasury (to cover costs and to obtain products for regional awards)
• Kids who will hold MP Junior Exhibitor offices for President, Secretary, Treasurer, Scout
• Pictures on the web site!

We are also looking into getting some companies or individuals (Breeders) to put on seminars at the shows for everyone to listen to and join in on to learn about different breeds of cats and information on pet products.

Congratulations to the top ten Junior Exhibitors for 2008 in the Mid-Pacific Region!

1. Excellence Award for Junior Novice and Intermediate levels: Ashleigh Croce - 939pts
2. Larrissa Wilkinson - 428pts
3. Julia Wilkinson - 347pts
4. Catie Davis - 342pts
5. Helen Mashino - 232pts
6. Beth Funke - 180pts
7. Caitlyn Doyle - 98pts
8. Megan Doyle - 85pts
9. Tianna - 84pts - showed at Jazzy Cats
10. Sabrina - 70pts - showed at Fog City

I look forward to the 2009 show season with you all. There are going to be some changes but you will all be notified of these. I am currently working with Sharon, the new International Junior Exhibitor chair person. There will be such changes as age limitations in each category as well as to how long our can stay in each level, this will not allow older exhibitors to compete with the younger exhibitors making the program fair for all.

See you all at the Awards Banquet in July (in Reno).

Information regarding TICA's Junior Exhibitor Program is found in the Standing Rules -- 901.4.1

Requirements for the Junior Exhibitor are:

• Must be under the age of 18
• Exhibit in at last 4 TICA shows as agent or owner (i.e., listed in the catalog) during the show year
• Obtain a letter of endorsement from a TICA AB judge

Requirements for the Junior Exhibitor's "adult" are:

• Make copies of the catalog cover page and the entry page, for each of the 4+ shows in which the Junior Exhibitor participated
• Help Junior Exhibitor to prepare the original letter of endorsement (it's a good idea to make a copy of this for the Junior Exhibitor's file, as well)
• Mail to the Junior Exhibitor's Regional Director

Requirement for the Regional Director is:

• Forward names of qualified Junior Exhibitors to the Executive Office

Junior Exhibitor will receive:

• Regional Awards Banquet Recognition -- all qualified MP Junior Exhibitors will receive regional rosettes and trophies
• International Awards Banquet Recognition