SER RD Blog

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RD Blog

September 26, 2011

Happy Monday Southeast members! A good time was had by all this past weekend at the Skyway show. A lot of laughter and congratulations were in order for our three new supremes! And a big welcome to our first time exhibitors. Every show we see new people coming to try out a TICA show and it is our responsibility to show them that fun, friends and felines is not just a logo but what we are truly all about. We need new exhibitors (especially young ones) to ensure that the cat fancy will continue to be there for all of us. I want to encourage everyone to continue supporting the shows and welcoming newcomers!

With that said, it is time for everyone to enter this weekend's show in Port Richey, Florida. Hurricane Cat Club is known for putting on fun filled shows with themes. Last show we got to hear Mary Poppins (Rene Knapp) singing through her finals. This show is all about musicals set in the 1950's. Just think what entertainment that could bring. Right now the count is really low and if Hurricane doesn't get enough entries to pay for the show, we could lose a southeast club. I will be in Moscow this weekend and am unable to attend but I want the show to be a success. It's most important to get the entries, but if you really can't go (because you are going to be in Russia or somewhere else far away), consider supporting the show with a sponsor. I know that Rob has helped out a lot of southeast clubs in the past and now he needs our help.

Besides, don't you want to continue having a good time like last week? Just consider it one big show. You don't even have to unpack that show bag because it is already to go back into the car and come to the Port Richey show. There are some special events planned and a whole new area of spectators if you have kittens to sell or cards to give out.

But now I have to dig out some winter type clothes so I don't freeze this weekend. It's always fun to travel afar and judge cats you have never seen before - but it's also nice to come home again to the comfort of my own region. See you all soon at a show!

Ed Manning
SE Regional Director

September 6, 2011

The Annual is over for another year and what an annual it was! The Pennsylvania Convention Center was immense and there was plenty of room for all the wonderful vendors , the judging rings and our beautiful cats. Many people remarked how great it was to see judges from all over the world and have their cats evaluated by so many new and different people! The cats were incredible and I am sure it was a very hard decision for anyone judging to pick ten kittens out of 101 possibilities! I thoroughly enjoyed myself as an exhibitor this weekend and made some new friends in TICA’s world!

The banquet itself was well tended and there was quite a variety of international winners that received their awards Saturday night. Larry Johnson was on hand to catch everyone’s special moment on film so those memories will stay with us forever. Congratulations to Sue Becknell on being named this year’s TICA’s treasure. I have to agree that it is a well-deserved honor. Sue has dedicated her life to TICA and the cat fancy.

Especially heartwarming was the announcement of this year’s Judge of the Year. Connie Webb who touches our lives as gently as she touches each cat she has ever handled. The standing ovation was a tribute to her as both a judge and a wonderful person.

Our annual meeting was well attended and as always, I try to do my best for my region. When the minutes are out, I will be happy to answer any questions from our southeast members. But for now, let’s celebrate TICA’s international growth by welcoming
Our newest trainees from France and the UK – Steven Corneille and Jane Allen as well as our newest Probationary Specialty Judge, Susan Hart-Jones.
Also congratulations are in order for Susan Lee who has advanced to provisional Allbreed judge and Melissa Parsley who is now an approved Allbreed judge.
And(drum roll please) a very SPECIAL congrats to our own southeast judge, Kim Tomlin, who advanced to Approved Allbreed last weekend.

Seeing old friends and enjoying last year’s winners - as well as meeting those cats that will become this year’s international winners is the culmination of any great show season. Last weekend certainly showed us the promise of what is to come next year in Ohio.

Plans for next year are well on the way and the unveiling of the 2012 Annual T-shirt shows us that it is going to be a “high flying affair.” I’m already looking forward to it.

So now it’s time to put away the Tuxedos and Tiaras and bring out those cats that will be in the winner’s circle next September. The only way to do that is to replace that tiara with a show cage! You have this weekend to recuperate and while you are home, enter Cattyshack Cats and join us in South Augusta, South Carolina on September 17 and 18. More about our upcoming shows next week – after the “vacation” I just had, I need a bit of a rest.

Ed Manning
SE Regional Director