In This Issue
From the President’s Desk | TICA June Board Meeting Update | TICA Purchases TOES | Annual Update/Hotel Block | Junior Program Update | Trupanion Story | Sleepypod Product Story | Japan Bill | Korat- Breed of the Month | In Case You Missed it – Social media highlights | TICA Regional Updates
From the President’s Desk: A Message from TICA President Vicki Jo Harrison
Dear TICA Friends,
Last month TICA’s Board held a special meeting and voted to purchase TOES, the entry clerking system, and integrate it with TFMS. TOES will continue to be used as is, with all updates being done in the background. The tie-in to TFMS will occur over the next several months. Members can expect updates as TICA progresses towards having its own, dedicated entry clerking and scoring system. Read more about the purchase and how it will improve your TICA experience as well as a recap of the meeting in this issue.
In this issue read about exciting updates to TICA’s Junior Exhibitor program and learn about the ins and outs of pet medical insurance from our good friends at Trupanion.
You’ll also want to pack your bags after you read about all the exciting updates to the TICA Annual celebration in Chicago, Illinois, USA, Labor Day weekend-September 3-4, 2022.I can’t wait to see you and celebrate your cats in person!
As always, I wish each of you good health. Please stay safe and hug your kitties tight!
Vicki Jo Harrison TICA President
TICA held a special Board meeting on June 29, 2022, via zoom. Results of the meeting are as follows:
- Motion to accept the consent agenda & corrections for May meeting. PASSES
- Motion to suspend the timing condition for the Standing Rule involving TICA Treasure for the current year for us to select a TICA Treasure at today’s meeting. PASSES
- Motion to purchase TOES (and integration within TFMS): PASSES (see story below)
- Motion to amend FY22/23 budget to include support needed for TOES/TFMS integration: PASSES
- Motion to clarify the $35/award rebate to be for a maximum of 150 per region (25 AB Cats, LH/SH Cats not in Top 25, Top 25 Kittens, Top 25 Alters, Top 25 HHP and Top 25 HHPK). PASSES
Thank you to those who were in attendance. The meeting’s full agenda can be found on tica.org.
TICA Purchases TOES to Integrate with TFMS
Last month the TICA Board of Directors approved the purchase of TOES, the entry clerking system, in a special Board Meeting.
The purchase price is approximately $398,000 US Dollars, with an additional allocation of $172,000 US Dollars for the implementation of TOES into TFMS. These are a one-time investment of TICA dollars.
Included in the purchase of TOES is the Cat Show App, as well as the integration into TFMS, which will ultimately include the ability to automatically score shows and obtain titles within minutes of the show’s completion. Eventually, TICA will incorporate electronic judge’s books.
The Board also approved an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 budget to add $90,000/year for a full-time dedicated IT person to maintain and update the entry clerking system.
TOES will continue to be used as is, with all updates being done in the background. The tie-in to TFMS will occur over the next several months. Members can expect updates as TICA progresses towards having its own, dedicated entry clerking and scoring system.
TICA 2022 Annual Update: Hotel Block Closes August 8
The much-anticipated TICA 41st Annual Awards Banquet, hosted by Showcats Columbus, will take place September 3-4, 2022, at the Hilton Chicago. The hotel block is still open, but don’t wait to make your reservation, as the block closes August 8, 2022, and rooms are going quickly. The entire event is located all in one facility, which means exhibitors never have to leave the location, so don’t miss out on booking your stay. Reserve your Annual hotel room now!
Showcats Columbus will host congresses on Friday for Ragdolls, Bengals, Bengal Longhairs, Maine Coons, Maine Coon Polydactyls, Norwegian Forest Cats and Siberians. This will be two judging rings for MC/NF/SB, 2 rings for RD and then 3 rings (On Safari) for BG/BGL. Open to kittens, cats and alters with special awards to follow. Friday morning educational seminars are being organized. Stay tuned for more!
International Awards sponsorship opportunities are now available. Fill out the special 2022 IW Sponsorship form so you don’t miss out on sponsoring your favorite award-winning international cat!
Chicago is the birthplace of modern architecture, home of more than 7,300 restaurants, and the location of the world’s only backward-flowing river. Find information on attractions and fun activities you won’t want to miss in Chicago. Visit the TICA 2022 Annual website for the latest news on the event.
TICA Junior Exhibitor Program Update
TICA’s Junior Exhibitor Committee has been meeting weekly to discuss ways to improve and revive the Junior Exhibitor Program. The Committee will present their initial recommendations for feedback during TICA’s Annual Board Meeting this September in Chicago. We will then have the proposal ready for Board vote at the Winter Meeting 2023.
Among the improvements to the program, include updating levels of distinction to incorporate awards Excellence in Information Technology, Excellence in Showmanship, and Excellence in Humanitarian Programs, among others. The Committee is also updating tasks and has created a fun, new educational program that can be tailored more toward highlighting the talents and interests of those in the Juniors program. Incentives are also being considered throughout the program and at completion for graduates.
The Committee is encouraging Juniors to become Junior Members while improvements are being made to the program. All current work by Juniors, including showing in the rings and working on tasks, will continue to count.
TICA Junior Exhibitor Committee members include: Jackie Rose (Chair and member TICA SC Region), Stephanie Smith (Co-Chair and member TICA SE Region), Elaine Hawksworth-Weitz (Board Liaison and TICA NW Regional Director), and members Rebecca Boesch (TICA ES Region); Kassandra Burnham (TICA NW Region); Amanda Brass (TICA EW Region); Vacant (TICA SA Region); Kim Chenault (TICA GL Region); Sue Cherau (TICA NE Region); Lanna Edmonds (TICA SC Region); Ana Ferreyra (TICA SA Region); Lorna Friemoth (TICA GL Region); Kay Hanvey (TICA NW Region); Samantha Kerr (TICA GL Region); Meg Ridgway (TICA SE Region); Toni Scarboro (TICA SW Region); and Mistelle Stevenson (TICA SC Region).
Any questions about the program or improvements should be sent to Committee Co-Chairs Jackie Rose or Stephanie Smith.
Sleepypod and Fear Free Collaborate to Develop Co-branded Pet Products That Help Alleviate Fear, Anxiety, and Stress in Pets.
Sleepypod and Fear Free Collaborate to Develop Co-branded Pet Products That Help Alleviate Fear, Anxiety, and Stress in Pets.Last month Sleepypod announced a new brand collaboration with Fear Free® to develop products to help alleviate fear, anxiety, and stress in pets when at home and traveling.
“Safety is at the core of Sleepypod products, but innovation is what truly distinguishes each Sleepypod pet product design,” says Sleepypod co-founder and lead product designer Michael Leung. “Our collaboration with Fear Free will take pet product innovation to a higher level by reaffirming Sleepypod’s thoughtful design perspective and marrying it with Fear Free’s unparalleled, expert understanding of how pet owners can help their pets live happy, healthy lives.”
The new Fear Free Happy Homes edition Sleepypod product line will launch with co-branded versions of the current Sleepypod carrier and harness designs in early November 2022. Collaborative, new product designs will be released in the future.
In addition to the Fear Free edition Sleepypod mobile pet bed, other co-branded products include Fear Free Happy Homes editions of the Clickit Sport car harness, Sleepypod Air pet carrier, Sleepypod Atom pet carrier, and Clickit Terrain car harness.
See for yourself. View the features of the Fear Free Happy Homes edition Sleepypod mobile pet bed. Learn more about Sleepypod and fearfreehappyhomes.com.
The Ins and Outs of Pet Medical Insurance with Trupanion
Whether you’re a breeder, new kitten owner, or have a multi-pet household, it’s important to familiarize yourself with pet medical insurance. Our friends at Trupanion, medical insurance for the life of your pet, joined us to answer some common questions about this topic. Here’s what Trupanion had to say about the subject:
Why is pet medical insurance important? Getting proper insurance coverage is an essential part of helping your cats live healthy, happy lives. We all know that even the most well-behaved cats can get into mischief. Because of this, pet medical insurance is there to help your pets when they’re feeling unwell or have an accident. With a Trupanion policy, you can focus on getting the best veterinary care for your cats instead of worrying about the cost.
How does pet medical insurance work? Just like insurance for humans, medical insurance for pets protects against the costs of unexpected illnesses and injuries. Learning about pet medical insurance can be confusing and often hard to understand. We strive to make insurance more straightforward with Trupanion’s one simple plan that covers all eligible illnesses and injuries with no payout limits. We’re also the only provider that can pay veterinarians directly within seconds upon check-out. If your veterinarian isn’t already working with us to offer direct pay, we’re always happy to reach out!
When is the best time to get insurance? A great time to think about insurance for your cat is when they are a kitten or young adult, so that they can begin coverage early. Every cat is prone to certain types of illnesses and injuries in each stage of life though, so there’s never a wrong time to consider enrolling in a policy. At Trupanion, we enroll all pets from birth to 14 years old.
If you’re a breeder, Trupanion offers a free Breeder Support Program that allows you to provide your buyers with a special offer for Trupanion insurance coverage with waived waiting periods. That way, you can rest easy knowing your kittens are protected when they head to their new homes. Click here to sign up for this free Breeder Support Program.
How much does pet medical insurance cost? No pet owner wants to stress about finances when their cat is hurt or unwell. Fortunately, with a Trupanion policy, families can get one simple plan that fits their budget. Naturally, no pet is the same. Because of this, your pet’s monthly cost is personalized and based on a few different factors including your pet’s age, breed, and location.
Trupanion is committed to making sure that you understand pet medical insurance and how it can help protect your cat for life. If you have any questions, Trupanion’s pet-passionate experts are available 24/7/365 at 866.615.0126 or you can visit Trupanion’s website to learn more and get a quote.
See Trupanion’s policy for full coverage details. Trupanion is a registered trademark owned by Trupanion, Inc. Underwritten in Canada by Omega General Insurance Company and in the United States by American Pet Insurance Company, 6100-4th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98108. Please visit AmericanPetInsurance.com to review all available pet health insurance products.
Japan Passes Bill Requiring Microchipping of Pets
To help the Japanese government, who receive 72,000 abandoned or lost dogs and cats per year, a new law took effect last month that requires pet sellers and breeders to implant electronic microchips in dogs and cats so owners can identify lost animals.
The revised law requires pet shops, breeders, and other sellers to implant the cylindrical chips that are about 1 centimeter long and 2 millimeters in diameter and contain 15-digit ID numbers. The name of the seller and the animal’s name, gender, breed, and coat color must be registered on a government database.
The revised law obliges breeders, pet shops and other sellers to implant the chips in puppies and kittens for sale, as well as adult dogs and cats for breeding, to improve the breeding environment.
Penalties may be imposed for violations, such as administrative guidance and administrative punishment.
Read About TICA’s July Breed of the Month:
The Good Luck Korat
A breed of great tradition and history, the Korat is known for its heart-shaped head, face and chest. The Korat is a symbol of good fortune and considered one of the 17 good luck cats of Thailand. As a matter of fact, the Thai government named the Korat a “national treasure”. Charming, inquisitive, and always ready for fun, this easy-to-care-for breed gets along with everyone. Find out more about this breed and if a Korat is right for you and your family.
In Case You Missed It… Check out TICA’s top social media posts you may have missed…
- On TICA’s Facebook: Learn how to access TICA’s new social media frame.
- On TICA’s Twitter: Learn how to create a truly unique cat room.
- On TICA’s YouTube: Finding Your TICA Client ID.
TICA Regional Updates:
TICA Great Lakes Regional UpdateTICA Mid Atlantic Regional UpdateTICA Northwest Regional UpdateTICA South Central Regional UpdateTICA Southeast Regional Update TICA Southwest Regional Update
TICA Great Lakes Regional Director Liz Brown:
TICA GL Treasury Balance: $9029.14 (pre-paid rosettes, but trophies and plaques still need to be paid). Thanks to all of the GL clubs who donate $1/entry.
2021/2022 Regional Sponsorships & Yearbook: Contact Chris Unangst for more information or to place your order.
Annual Regional Raffle Basket: Contact Liz with your local items for inclusion in the GL Regional Raffle Basket for Annual. Let’s win the first competition for the best regional basket (we have a wagon to fill).
Make your plans now to attend upcoming shows in the TICA GL Region:
- July 16-17, 2022, Buckeye Ohio Rollers in Zainesville, OH (GL Regional).
- Sept 2-4, 2022, Showcats in Chicago, IL (TICA Annual).
- October 8-9, 2022, Buckeye Ohio Rollers in Wooster, OH.
- November 12-13, 2022, Cats Rule Cat Club w/HCM Clinic in Racine, WI.
- January 14-15, 2023, PracTICAl Cats w/HCM Clinic in Gray Summit, MO.
- March 10-12, 2023, Showcats Columbus in Columbus, OH.
2022 TICA Annual in Chicago Update: Check the Annual Website for information on fundraisers and sponsorships as well as banquet and hotel block registration.
GL Webmaster Needed: Contact Liz if you are interested in volunteering and have experience in Word Press.
TICA Mid Atlantic Regional Director Brenda Russo:
2021/2022 Regional Sponsorships: Those interested in sponsoring should contact Cheryl Chamberlain.
Yearbook Sponsorships and Photos: Contact Chris Unangst for more information or to place your order.
Sponsorship Update Important Deadlines for TICA MA Regional Awards:
- Photos for awards program booklet & PowerPoint: July 30
- Sponsorships: July 25th
- Special Awards Voting: August 1
MA Raffle Donation to 2022 Chicago Annual Update from Romaine Halupa:
Our MA donation to the Annual raffle is off and running! Please help fill the wagon with something from every state in the MA Region. I live in Central PA and can meet you or see you at the next TICA show. I’ve had folks promise some items from Maryland and West Virginia, and our own Robin Berman is donating a set of her beautiful handmade jewelry from PA.
Thank you for all the donations so far! Keep in mind that if you don’t have time to shop, we will accept monetary donations and we can shop for you. Get in touch with me if you need some ideas or visit your state online.
New Clubs, Memberships, and Current Show Issues (Brainstorming Committee):
Thank you, Jane Handelsman, for accepting the committee chair role! Please contact Jane if you would like to be part of this committee.
Cookbook Update from Vicki White: I wanted to update everyone about the MA Region cookbook fund raiser. I have been getting more recipes and photos, but still need more. C’mon MA members, give up that recipe to raise money for our region. Send recipes or let me know if you have any questions or need more information and photos about the cookbook. We are planning on winding this up and printing the books to be available in early December; just in time for holiday gift giving! The cookbooks will be available to purchase at upcoming events.
TICA Northwest Regional Director Elaine Hawksworth-Weitz:
TICA NW Regional Awards Update: Join us in celebrating the Region’s accomplishments at the 2022 Regional Awards Banquet on Saturday evening, July 30, 2022, in conjunction with The Maine Event’s show at the Olympia Hotel at Capitol Lake in Olympia, WA. Go to: https://maineevent.org/jul for more information about how you can make your banquet reservation.
There is still time to sponsor your favorite regional award-winning cats, juniors, and/or people. Go to: https://ticanw.com for more information on how to sponsor a regional award and/or to upload your photos.
Make your plans now to attend upcoming shows in the TICA NW Region:
- July 30-31, 2022, The Maine Event in Olympia, WA (regional awards show/banquet)
- August 13-14, 2022, Cat Fanciers of British Columbia in Vancouver, BC.
- October 8-9, 2022, The Evergreen Cat Fanciers in Ferndale, WA.
- November 5-6, 2022, The Maine Event, Olympia, WA.
TICA South Central Regional Director Jim Armel:
Hello South Central!
Congratulations: Well, another show year has ended, and I would like to send my sincere Congratulations to each and every Kitty and their human who was able to achieve a Regional Win and/or International Win from our Region this year! As shows were still limited, a lot of travel was required, but you pulled it off!
SC Regional Show and Banquet: Now we look forward to celebrating our wins at this year’s Regional Show and Banquet which is hosted by Feline PAW Foundation in Garland, Texas this August 12-14, 2022. Hope to see you Saturday night as we toast our Regional Winners!
TFMS Update: TFMS is now working as we had hoped it would, and as usual there are always bugs to be worked out, but the system is performing well. Thank you to Danny, Frances and all the ladies and volunteers at TICA’s EO for working so many hours and getting out the end of year information on time! Congratulations!
Next month I hope to share more news on our computer systems that will keep TICA the leading Association in the Cat World!
Have a safe and enjoyable summer, and I’ll see you all in a show hall somewhere soon!
Jim
TICA Southeast Regional Director Rene Knapp:
TICA SE Website Update: Our SE website is looking great with new pages being added every month. We are working towards having everything you need to know about our region at your fingertips.
TICA SE Regional Show and Awards Update: The regional show committee is working hard to collect photos of our winning cats as well as candid’s taken throughout the year. The Southeast regional show and awards dinner will be hosted by Its TICA Time, and will be held September 24 and 25, 2022 in Simpsonville, South Carolina. More details will follow soon. We have had all our awards completely sponsored this year and we can’t wait to celebrate all our beautiful cats.
New Florida Clubs: We are excited to welcome back Florida’s Hurricane Cat Club. The club will be planning a show in 2023. Especially exciting is that we have four new clubs forming in central Florida that will be putting on shows to replace ones we’ve lost. It’s exciting because these members have never put on shows on their own and decided to just step up and do it. I am helping them get their charters together and will guide them along the best I can. I encourage exhibitors to join these clubs as they are announced and help put on a show. There are also two other new clubs in the planning stages outside of Florida. This is the year I am hoping we will increase shows throughout the region. Stay tuned, there will be much more to share about these clubs in the August TICA newsletter.
September also brings us Cattyshack in North Augusta September 10th and 11th.
This is truly a year of change for our region.
Rene Knapp
Approved Allbreed TICA Judge.
Southeast Regional Director.
TICA Southwest Regional Director Laurie Schiff:
SW Regional Winner Photos Needed: Don’t forget to send photos of your winners to SWRegionalAwards@gmail.com. Please send one photo per email and label the subject of the email with the category and number of the award, for example:
- CAT22
- Kitten12
- Alter3
Looking forward to seeing everyone at the regional show and banquet! Don’t forget to get your entries in and reserve your banquet tickets. We will have a great time!
Laurie
