This page contains:

• List of Judges
• Judges Training Chairpersons
• AIS - Region 18 - Judges Training Program Guidelines
• Approved Judges Training Schools - Requirements
• Judging at Accredited Shows

The American Iris Society – Region 18

I. TO BECOME A STUDENT JUDGE

A. A candidate must be a member of the American Iris Society in Region 18.

B. Request an application from the Regional Vice President or Regional Judges Training Chairman who will provide an application. Return the completed application to the Regional Judges Training Chairman who will evaluate the application and send a copy of these guidelines and any suggestions to the candidate.

C. The Judges Training Chairman will maintain a record of all training reported.

II. The STUDENT JUDGE to become an APPRENTICE JUDGE

A. Maintain 3 years of consecutive membership in AIS for the years immediately preceding appointment as an apprentice.

B. Possession of the most recent edition of “HANDBOOK FOR JUDGES AND SHOW OFFICIALS” is mandatory.

C. A minimum of 15 hours of approved training is required as follows:

1. 5 hours of instruction pertaining to tall bearded iris.

2. 5 hours of instruction on one or more of the classes of iris grown in Region 18. This may include miniature dwarf, median, aril & arilbred, spuria, louisiana or other.

3. 2 hours of practical judging, one devoted to garden judging and the other to exhibition judging. The sessions may be on an individual or class basis. Point scoring technique will be used in the instruction.

4. 3 hours of instruction on other phases of iris knowledge such as AIS Show Rules, Ethics or Duties & Responsibilities of a Judge.

D. A written exam must be successfully completed at each session of C.1, C.2, and C.4 above. The instructor may elect to use an open book exam. The point scoring becomes the practical exam for C.3.

E. Credit is given for any session attended in another Region after certification from the instructing judge to the Region 18 Judges Training Chairman.

F. Individual tutoring shall not be done by a family member. At least three different accredited judges shall be used as instructors for the required training sessions.

G. Sessions must be divided over a period of at least 6 months.

H. Upon completion of the above requirements, an updated application to become an apprentice judge should be sent to the Judges Training Chairman. The Judges Training Committee will evaluate the candidate’s qualifications and secure the necessary recommendations from at least five accredited judges in Region 18. The Judges Training Chairman will provide the Regional Vice President with proper certification, along with any requested records.

I. Students eligible to become Apprentice Judges will be recommended to the AIS Board of Directors for appointment.

1. Recommended students are considered at the fall meeting of the AIS Board of Directors for appointment effective January 1. Approval is granted unless facts are presented that would nullify the appointment.

III. The APPRENTICE to become a FULLY ACCREDITED JUDGE

A. The judge’s training year of record is August 1 through July 31. For an individual who has completed the student judge requirements by July 31, judges training during the remainder of the calendar year will be counted toward the requirements of the Apprentice level pending actual AIS Board approval of the individual’s move to the higher level. The following minimum requirements must be completed within 3 years.

1. Judge seedlings and new varieties in a garden during bloom season for a minimum of 2 hours on 2 separate occasions. Different instructors shall be used for each session.

a. A copy of the official AIS Ballot, marked “VOID,” will be provided for use as a study guide.

2. Two sessions of training for judging exhibitions are to be completed. These shall be under the supervision of different accredited AIS judges on each occasion.

NOTE: It is the responsibility of the student to arrange for the garden and show sessions. The Training Chairman may provide assistance in suggesting locations for the training but the apprentice is still responsible.

3. Complete a minimum of 2 hour training session on Awards and Ballots by an approved instructor.

4. A total of ten hours of training as an apprentice is required to be eligible for consideration for appointment as an Accredited Judge.

B. Reports on Training Sessions

1. After each training session, the apprentice and the instructor will each submit a written report to the Training Chairman within one week of the session.

2. Forms for this purpose and guidelines to be followed are obtained from the Training Chairman.

C. Credit is allowed for any session in another region provided the proper forms are submitted to the Region 18 Training Chairman.

D. Credit hours earned as a student may not be used after the student has been appointed an apprentice judge.

E. When all the requirements have been complied with, the Judges Training Committee will view the candidate’s qualifications and the Chairman will provide the RVP the proper certification, along with any requested records. Action by the RVP and AIS is similar to that for appointment to apprentice.

IV. TO RETAIN STATUS AS AN ACCREDITED JUDGE

A. Maintain continuous membership in AIS

B. Vote the official ballot each year before the deadline. Failure to do so for two consecutive years results in automatic dismissal.

C. Receive a minimum of 5 hours of judges training credit in each three year interval in any combination of the following:

1. Attend one AIS approved judges training school as part of the five hours. THIS IS A REGION 18 REQUIREMENT.

2. Attend or instruct an approved training session.

3. Tutor an apprentice in the garden or at a show.

4. Attend or instruct a session on specialized kinds of iris or specific phases of iris knowledge that relate to judging iris. Cultural or slide programs will not receive credit.

NOTE: All programs attended or tutored should be reported promptly to the Judges Training Chairman.

D. Activity reports are required from each Judge each year. Forms are mailed to each Judge by July 10 each year and must be returned to the Regional Judges Training Chairman by July 31.

E. Failure to meet the above obligations will be deemed to be unsatisfactory performance and the Judge will be recommended to be dropped from the list of accredited judges by the AIS Board of Directors.

V. The training year closes for all types of judges on July 31 each year. Credits earned after that date will be recorded for the following year.

VI. MASTER AND EMERITUS JUDGES

The two classes of Master Judge and all Emeritus Judges hold a lifetime appointment so long as they maintain continuing membership in AIS.

A. ACTIVE MASTER JUDGE

An Active Master Judge must follow the guidelines that govern any accredited judge by accomplishing the following:

1. Vote the official ballot.

2. Receive 5 hours of training in three years including mandatory attendance at one AIS approved judges training school.

3. File a yearly activity report.

4. Failure to comply with the above requirements will result in change of status to that of RETIRED Master Judge.

B. A Retired Master Judge would be inactive and would not receive an official ballot.

1. A Retired Master Judge may be a show judge, only when assigned to a panel with an Accredited Judge or an Active Master Judge.

2. A Retired Master Judge may apply to the Regional Judges Training Chairman for a change of status to that of ACTIVE Master Judge by completing training requirements and by filling the Activity Report.

C. EMERITUS JUDGES are exempt from the training requirements and the yearly activity report. It is hoped that they will continue to vote the ballot and participate in training activities to share their knowledge and experience.

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APPROVED JUDGES TRAINING SCHOOLS – REQUIREMENTS.

At least 30 days prior to the school, submit to the Regional Judges Training Chairman a written request for a training school including the following information:
a. Description of the subject(s) to be covered and the
instructor for each course.
b. Location, date, and time of the training school.
c. Cost of the training school
d. The training school should be open to all
interested AIS members.
2. Notice of the training school should be sent to all regional affiliates.
3. A written test containing a minimum of 20 questions on areas to be covered in a two hour, or longer, session must be prepared by, or under the supervision of the instructor and completed by the attendees at the conclusion of the session. Sessions of under two hours may have fewer questions with a minimum of 10 questions for a one hour session. A blank copy of the test is to accompany the report sent to the Regional Judges Training Chairman..
4. After completion of the training school the sponsor shall send to the Regional Judges Training Chairman the graded test papers for each course, a sample unmarked test paper and a complete roster with signatures, addresses and judgeship status of attendees and instructors.

The Show Chairman shall assign judges panels from active judges. If necessary, one Retired Master Judge may be assigned to judge with a panel, including Active Master Judges or Accredited Judges.

Only one Apprentice Judge may be assigned to each panel of judges. It is the responsibility of the apprentice to request permission to apprentice at the show.

The Show Chairman shall send a list of judges who judged the show to the Regional Judges Training Chairman. Comments on judges performance would be appreciated. They will be used only for evaluation of the training effectiveness.

Guidelines for Requesting Judges

When inviting a judge to judge a show, speak to your affiliate, or do judges training, make your request as early as possible in advance of the event. When making your request, you should discuss, provide and/or request the following information.

Availability on the requested date(s).
Your affiliate's policy for reimbursement of:
Travel expenses — rate per mile or actual expense
Meal expenses
Lodging expenses
Program honorarium, if it is your affiliate's policy to do so
If meals are provided, ask about special dietary needs
Ask if judge has a lodging preference — member residence vs. public accommodation (if judge indicates that private residence is okay, be sure to ask about allergies to cats/dogs if host has pets).
If invitation is for judges training or program, clarify subject to be trained/presented.
If invitation is to judge a show, send a copy of the show schedule to judge(s) at least a week prior to show.
Clarify time of date judge is expected to arrive and, if different, time the event begins.
If invitation is made more than a month in advance of the event, contact the judge by phone, email, or letter, a week prior to the event to re-confirm the details.