REGION 14 of the AMERICAN IRIS SOCIETY

JUDGES' TRAINING PROGRAM

GUIDELINES FOR TRAINING AND ACCREDITATION OF JUDGES

 

 

APPLICATION FOR JUDGESHIP CANDIDACY

American Iris Society members residing in Region 14 who wish to participate in the Judges Training Program as a Candidate for Judgeship should notify the Judges' Training Chair or the RVP.

 

Prospective Candidates will be furnished with an Application which, when completed, should be returned to the Judges' Training Chair.

 

The Judges' Training Committee will evaluate the application relative to future duties and responsibilities as a Judge.  Any committee recommendations will then be forwarded to the Candidate by the Judges' Training Chair, who will also advise the Candidate of the requirements to be fulfilled.

 

All training will be counted from August 1 to July 31.  That is, 2006-07 will begin August 1, 2006 and be completed by July 31, 2007.  If a candidate is inactive for three years, a new application will be required to begin the program again.

 

REQUIREMENTS FOR A CANDIDATE  TO ADVANCE FROM STUDENT TO APPRENTICE JUDGE

 

A Candidate's possession of a copy of the most recent A.I.S. HANDBOOK FOR JUDGES AND SHOW OFFICIALS is mandatory.

 

A minimum of 12 hours instruction will be required of a Candidate.  The 12 hours must be completed within any 3 year contiguous period following receipt of a Candidate's application by the Judges' Training Chair. The 12 hours are as follows:

 

1.   A minimum of 6 sessions totaling 10 hours in judging various types of irises or instruction in related phases of important iris knowledge such as AIS Show Rules and the AIS Awards System.  Each session must be a minimum of 1 hour and may be in a classroom, in a garden, at an exhibition or in a study group.  Training must be certified by the AIS Judge/Instructor with the subject matter indicated.  A written test containing a minimum of 20 questions for a two hour or longer session must be completed at the conclusion of the session.  Sessions under two hours may have fewer questions with a minimum of 10 questions for a one hour session. (10 hours credit)

 

2.  Two (2) hours of one-to-one practice judging with 1 hour devoted to garden judging and the other hour to exhibition judging.  Prior approval for each session OR a yearly candidate training plan MUST be obtained for all 1-on-1 training completed. Instructors Report of Individual Training MUST be sent to the Judges' Training Chair within a week following training in order for credit to be given. (2 hours credit)

3.  Credit may be allowed a Candidate for attending a session in another region, provided the training is approved by the Judges' Training Committee.

 

The Judges' Training Chair will keep a record of each Candidate's training.  The Candidate will, upon the completion of training, secure the necessary recommendations from at least 5 AIS Judges in the Region.

 

A Candidate must have been an AIS member for a minimum of 3 consecutive years before he can advance to Apprentice.

 

When all the above requirements are complied with, the Judges' Training Chair, on behalf of the Judges' Training Committee, will turn over to the RVP his/her recommendations and certifications.  Candidates are eligible for AIS Apprentice Judgeships, and may be appointed as vacancies in judgeships occur in the Region.  The RVP will recommend Candidates for Apprentice Judgeships, remaining with the 15% quota.  Persons so recommended by the RVP will be considered by the AIS Board of Directors at its Fall Board Meeting, and will be approved unless specific facts are presented which, in the opinion of the Board, nullify a recommendation for appointment.

 

 

REQUIREMENTS TO ADVANCE FROM APPRENTICE TO FULLY ACCREDITED GARDEN/EXHIBITION JUDGE

A minimum of 10 hours instruction will be required of an Apprentice.  All one-to-one training (Numbers 1 and 2 below) requires coordination with the Judges' Training (JT) chair.  Prior approval must be obtained as follows:  individual sessions must be submitted in advance to the JT chair for prior approval, OR   a yearly apprentice training plan detailing plans for calendar year must be submitted in advance to the JT chair for prior approval.  A completed Instructor's Report of Individual Training MUST be sent to the Judges' Training Chair within a week following the training for credit to be given.

The 10 hours must be completed within 3 years from the date of becoming an Apprentice.  The 10 hours are as follows:

 

1.  Observe judging two AIS accredited Iris Shows at two different locations under the instruction of an AIS Judge or panel of Judges.  The same AIS Judge(s) will not tutor the Apprentice Judge on both occasions.  (4 hours credit)

 

2.  Judge seedlings and new varieties in a garden, during bloom, under the instruction of an AIS Judge for a minimum of 2 periods of 2 hours each.  The same AIS Judge will not tutor the Apprentice Judge in both sessions.  (4 hours credit)

 

3.   Successfully complete a 2-hour session on AIS Awards and Balloting, passing a written exam. (2 hours credit)

Activity Reports will be required from each Apprentice Judge and must be forwarded to the RVP by the first day of June of each year.  Forms for this purpose will be mailed to each Judge by May 15th of each year.

 

After the Apprentice Judge has satisfactorily completed all apprentice training, the RVP will certify his name to the AIS Board on the list of Accredited Judges.  Action on this certification will be the same as stated  previously.

 

REQUIREMENTS TO RETAIN STATUS AS AN ACCREDITED GARDEN/EXHIBITION JUDGE

A.   An AIS Judge must maintain CONTINUOUS AIS membership.

 

B.   An AIS Judge must vote a timely ballot each year.  Failure to do so for 2 consecutive years results in automatic disqualification.  Casting a late ballot is the same as not voting.

 

C.   Attend training or instruct sessions, or instruct Candidates or Apprentices for a minimum of 6 hours every 3 years.   The 6 hours every 3 years must include 3 hours of garden training.   Attending at least 1 training session during this period is required by AIS.   Only dire emergency would call for an accredited Judge to receive tutoring and then only with prior approval of both the RVP and Judges' Training Chair.   The Judges' Training Chair must be notified within a week following training for credit to be given.

 

D.   Activity reports will be required from each Judge and must be forwarded to the JT Chair & RVP by the first day of June each year.   Forms for this purpose will be mailed to each Judge by May 15th each year by the RVP or the Judges' Training Chair.

 

Failure by the Judge to meet any of the above obligations will be deemed unsatisfactory performance and the Judge will be dropped from the accredited list on recommendation of the RVP to the AIS Board of Directors.

 

 

REQUIREMENTS TO RETAIN STATUS AS A MASTER JUDGE

A.   A Master Judge must maintain continuous AIS membership.

 

B.   Activity reports will be required from each Judge and must be forwarded to the JT Chair & RVP by the first day of June each year.   Forms for this purpose will be mailed to each Judge by May 15th each year by the RVP or the Judges' Training Chair.

 

C.   He/she must attend 3 hours of Judges' Training every 3 years.   The 3 hours of training every 3 years must include 2 hours of garden training.   Instructing an AIS accredited school can be counted toward credit hours needed.   NO one-on-one tutoring will be counted.

 

D.   The Judge must fill out and return the Awards Ballot.

 

Failure to vote the Awards Ballot 2 years in a row, not getting 3 hours of training every 3 years, including 2 hours of garden training, or failure to send in an Activity Report each year will result in the Master Judge becoming a Retired Judge.

 

REQUIREMENTS TO RETAIN STATUS AS A RETIRED JUDGE

A.        A Retired Judge must maintain continuous AIS membership.

 

B.        The Awards Ballot and Activity Report will not be sent to the Retired Judge.

 

            * A Retired Judge may not serve as a show judge for an AIS accredited show or present a for credit judges training session.

 

 

Note:   If a retired judge wishes to become active, he/she may ask to rejoin the list of active judges by meeting the requirements of 3 hours of training and filling out an Activity Report.  Requests for changes from retired to active judge are to be made through the Regional RVP or Regional Judges' Training Chair.

 

 

EMERITUS JUDGES

Emeritus Judges maintain their status as Judges by maintaining continuous membership in the American Iris Society.  It is hoped they will participate in the program so that the newer members may benefit from their knowledge and experience.

 

REVISED 2/2007