woc19@aolcom

I am writing to clear up some of the apparent confusion regarding the
procedures for judging at the coming 19th World Orchid Conference in Miami (2008).

I strongly urge everyone interested in this subject to check the website
(www.19woc.com) for information regarding the conference. An overview of judging
information, including the judges selection process, and other details about
the conference are posted there. Many additional details will be added in the
coming 3-6 months, so please check back often.

Regarding the general procedures for World Orchid Conference judging, there
are no absolute standards. Each WOC appoints (or elects) a Judging Committee
that establishes the rules, judging categories, etc for that event. The WOC
Trust does have available a generalized schedule that is intended to be adapted
for a specific conference and the 19WOC Judging Committee will be using that as
a guideline in developing the final judging schedule for 19WOC, taking into
consideration schedules of past WOCs and modifications that may be required for
local circumstances (time of year, types of orchids that are anticipated to
be more prevalent at the event, etc.) It is important to remember that WOC
judging is NOT AOS judging, RHS judging, OST judging, etc. It will have it's own
set of rules, guidelines and judging principles that will be applied on a
one-time basis for that particular event.

As to the selection of judges, this is again a responsibility of the Judging
Committee for the specific WOC. Once again, judges are selected for the single
event only. At the discretion of the specific WOC Judging Committee, judges
may be invited based on criteria established by that committee for that event
only. Alternatively, as is the case with the 19WOC, judges may be asked to
apply. Applications may be accepted or rejected based on a number of criteria like
experience, the total number of judges needed, the date of the application
etc. In the case of 19WOC, we have elected to use judges with documentable
training or experience in an established orchid judging program. Further, we will
require judges to be registrants of the conference. Judges will apply via the
website.

I hope that this will clarify the general judging plans. I can assure
everyone that the 19WOC Judging Committee will be using very carefully thought out
rules and regulations and will be absolutely fair in applying criteria in
selecting judges, resolving judging issues on the floor, etc. etc

I trust that this will help clarify the discussion on the 19WOC judging.
Specific questions may be forwarded to me at judging (AT) 19woc (DOT) com.

Dorothy Bennett
Judging Committee Chairman, 19WOC


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