Re: [AISdiscuss] Re: JT Handbook Revisions

[MORRISJE1@aol.com]

Hello,
 
Having judged (both garden and show bench) in ALL parts of the U.S. I find  
myself agreeing with everything Kitty and Cheryl have presented.  Our  Region 
18 has perceived the national guidelines to be weak in these areas and we  have 
for many years REQUIRED our judges to take MORE (than  AIS) credit hours of 
training to gain and retain their  status.  I continue to see no value in 
"Retired" judge status.   You either are a judge or you are not.  I agree once more 
 with Kitty as I have seen a Retired team that were so out of touch that they 
 knew few varieties within the past 15 years and declined to judge the 
Species  entirely!  Fortunately we had local judges who picked up the slack.  
 
There are several so-called judges that will not be invited to judge at our  
shows at the Missouri Botanical Garden, or elsewhere for that matter.  Once  a 
judge's skill level has been perceived or assessed as poor or worse, it is  
next to impossible for that perception to be changed -- especially if that  
person does not fully participate in judges' training and other iris  activities.
 
Jim Morris
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In a message dated 4/21/2006 10:43:45 A.M. Central Standard Time,  
loberg@adelphia.net writes:

1.   "It only seems fair that ANY judge who gives one-on-one  garden training 
should receive credit for that training of the  apprentice.  To exclude an 
Active Master defies logic.  Cheryl  Deaton"



I agree with Cheryl, it defies  logic.   Any judge should receive 
credit for giving the  training.



2.   The handbook states a retired master  can be used as a show bench judge 
if they are assigned to a panel with an  accredited judge, but the handbook 
is silent as to whether a retired  master can give training sessions.   Our 
region just approved a  training session, put on by a retired master who has 
been retired nearly 5  years.    This retired judge hasn't been participating 
in the  required training in Region 14 for 5 years, isn't required to vote 
the  ballot, so it defies logic as to how a retired master is authorized to  
give AIS training.



3.   "I was/ am still bothered  by judges who barely manage to get their 5 
hours every three years, while  others are getting 10 or 12 hours per year. 
Which one would you rather  have judge your show? I don't think that 
requiring more hours is  necessarily the answer - this might lead to more 
judge attrition - but  maybe publishing the hours or requiring that a certain 
% be garden judging  might help.  Vince Lewonski"



I agree  with Vince on this one.   I served a 3 year term as JT chair,  
and it bothered me that some judges barely squeezed by getting their  minimum 
hours.  Serving at many shows, I found those same judges to  be weak at the 
show table, as they often don't know the varieties.  I  too suggested 
publishing the hours in some format, maybe just a Star  (*)  for 10 hours or 
more in 3 years, instead of 5 hrs.    It would help show chairs to know who 
has higher levels of annual  training.



4.       Requiring garden  training comes with its own set of problems.   We 
had a garden  training session last year at a large regional that was a 
disaster.   I don't know the count of individuals in the garden, but it 
seemed like  60-80, there was no room between rows, people had to stand half 
way across  the garden and couldn't see anything, many of the judge attendees 
couldn't  hear a thing, myself included.  So my suggestion is that there 
needs  to be guidelines set for establishing the maximum number of 
participants  per garden session, identifying the need for adequate room so 
that the  attendees can see the iris being spoke about, and sufficient time.  
Sessions could be repeated if necessary.   I've seen clubs try  to squeeze in 
1 hour of garden training, which is suppose to have a  written test, and I 
think that's another invitation for a poorly given  session.  I think 1 = 
hours should be the minimum for a garden  session.



5.       The handbook is silent  about whether the 2 hour garden tutoring for 
apprentices includes a  written exam.  However, the handbook does say a 
written test is  required for other normal two hour or longer sessions.  It 
might help  to clarify the apprentice tutoring sessions as it pertains to an  
exam.



I appreciate hearing everyone's  comments!



Kitty Loberg

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