Re: [AISdiscuss] 2007 calendars

[CEMahan@aol.com]

In a message dated 5/12/2006 3:28:40 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
PlankMail@aol.com writes:

On many  levels, I really have 
no love for the current AIS Garden Judges Training  requirements -- I think 
the 
worst thing about it is that I don't think it  will produce BETTER ballot 
judges, and it will reduce the available show  judge numbers. And, while I am 
not a 
Show enthusiast, I know that the  demand for Show Judges is frantic -- and 
NOT 
an area where we should be  reducing the number of available judges.



I applaud your concern about this issue, Jeanne! The lack of enough show  
judges may not be a problem in some regions but it is a real problem in others.  
The strong feelings that some people have about tightening the standards and  
rules for garden judges versus the impact on having enough judges to promote  
exhibitions is what has caused me to advocate a return to the system of  
garden judges and show judges. 
 
Like you, I have become convinced that all the training in the world will  
not make some of our judges into "good judges." I think it is like the British  
TV show where the experts take a woman and change her wardrobe to get her  to 
wear clothes that highlight her good points and downplay her  "problems."  
Most of the women they are trying to help, when turned loose  in a store to chose 
clothes, go right back to selecting the same type  of clothes they were 
wearing before they received the instruction. So  it is  with some iris judges.
 
It is not nuclear science to understand that a tall bearded iris with an  
average of only 4 buds does not deserve an award. But if the flower is gorgeous  
it is not surprising to learn the iris has received an AM. 'Ruffled  Ballet,' 
which seldom, if ever, has more than 5 flowers even won the Dykes.  Could 
there possibly be a judge who does not understand that this is wrong? But  even 
the judges who voted for such an iris can judge iris on the show bench in  an 
acceptable manner. Clarence

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