Stipend Qualifications
Affenpinscher Club of America offers stipends of $250.00 for junior handlers to compete in national level Finals competitions in Junior Showmanship and/or performance/companion events.
The junior handler must be a member in good standing of the Affenpinscher Club of America, have an AKC Junior Handler number, and have been at least 9 and under 18 years of age when they qualified. The junior must have qualified for the event with an Affenpinscher and handle an Affenpinscher at the event to be eligible for the stipend. Events which qualify for a stipend include the AKC/Royal Canin National Championship for Junior Showmanship, Westminster Kennel Club for Junior Showmanship Finals, the ACA National Speciality, and an Affenpinscher Supported Entry. In addition, stipends may be applied to the AKC National Junior Agility/Obedience Challenge, AKC National Agility/Obedience Invitational, and AKC National Agility/Obedience Championships, the AKC Rally National Championship and the AKC FastCat National Championship. Comparable events not included on this list may be considered at the discretion of the ACA Board of Directors on a case-by-case basis.
A junior who qualifies for more than one competition may be awarded a stipend for up to three competitions not to exceed a total of $750.00 in the calendar year. Stipends will not be duplicated if participating in multiple events at the same competition (e.g. a junior who qualifies for AKC/Royal Canin National Championship for Junior Showmanship, as well as AKC Obedience Classic, would only receive one stipend for that competition.)
Guidelines to qualify are as follows:
- Junior handler must have an AKC Junior Handler number
- Junior handler must be a current ACA member in good standing (junior, individual, or family)
- Junior has fulfilled the requirements to participate and/or been invited to national dog competition with an Affenpinscher for at least half their winning qualifications (i.e. 3 class wins towards AKC National Championship for Junior Showmanship, 4 Best Juniors towards Westminster Kennel Club for Junior Showmanship, etc.)
- Junior participates in national level events with an Affenpinscher
- Proof of qualification and entry is required with stipend application
- Junior may submit stipend application to ACA prior to or after the event
- When possible, payment will be made in advance of the event, but payment may be provided after the event
- Stipend checks may be issued in the name of the junior and/or parent. Payments can be given using check or PayPal
- Should the junior be unable to attend or does not handle an Affenpinscher in their event competition, the stipend, if issued prior to the event, will be returned to ACA within 45 days of the competition
- Junior recipient is encouraged to submit an article, describing their experience at the competition, to the editor of the ACA newsletter within 45 days of the event