RE: [AGA-Contest] Some of the Jobs (Long)

["Ricky Cain" <rlcain1@earthlink.net>]

Here it goes . . .

-----Original Message-----

* We should review issues brought up with last year's event and decide 
what, if any, changes need to be made to the rules, guidelines, and 
procedures.

        1. Handle the photo release electronically? by FAX?

I would say go paperless. You can get a loan electronically with out ever
putting pen to paper so I don't think this any different.

        2. Request to overhaul the judging point system, number, and/or
           national make-up of the judges

I can't find the judging guidelines but I know I have an opinion. :-O

        3. Request to subdivide categories by style or ability

Nah, styles change with the times. Ability? This ain't the Special Olympics.


        4. Changes in how judges leave comments

I dunno.

        5. Show all rankings, not just top scorers?

I say yes to this! People should be forewarned though.

        6. Keep the fee waiver for folks entering from countries without
           PayPal access?

Sure, unless great sums are not being collected.

* Graphics and theme.  


What about "International Aqua Style" demo graphic later.

* PR will involve posting on forums, contacting magazines, and in general 
drumming up support.  This is THE most important job, and one which I 
cannot do.  Carlos did a great job last year, but I am doubtful he will 
want to do it again (that judge spot is still open for you Carlos!).

I'll do what I can through DFWAPC but we have some irons in the fire too.

* Our contact with a forum should forward feedback and requests BACK ...

Yep.

* Last year was just plain PAINFUL getting people to pay their fee and 
sign the release.  

Is there a way to get the fee upfront? Before getting access to the entry
area? No refunds!

* Judges.  Though this can all change, my approach to selection has been 
this:

        1. have a balance of one "longstanding famous person" in the
hobby...

Go through the top placers in the past few years ADA contests. That's famous
enough for me.

        2. No repeats, if possible.  Aside from Karen, we've managed to 
have all different judges every year.

Yep.
        3. No judges that are also entering the contest.  For this reason, 
I have often picked the wildcard right when the contest closes.

Didn't this happen one year? I think Chuck Gadd was a judge that year.

        4. Don't have too many judges in the same "circle".  And by that I 
mean that I have not wanted to have four judges who, for instance, all 
heavily participate on APC's aquascaping BB.

That could be hard.

        5. No volunteers.  

Yep.

        6. Four seems to be about the right number.  Last year it worked 
exceptionally well, enough that it might be worth considering a fifth, but 
the year before we had a fifth judge "forced" on us when a husband and 
wife team decided they'd split up and judge separately.  Coordinating all 
five was painful.

Four is enough. I remember that year. Totally bogus.

        7. Special consideration to convention speakers and attendees, so 
they can speak live at the presentation.  Not relevant this year.

Now I don't think these are mutually exclusive of getting one person from 
Europe, one from Japan, one from the US, etc.; or one "Dutch style", one 
"Amano Style".  But we will have to work with the pool we have available. 
So please throw out some suggestions for this year's judges.

Oh, one other thing.  Used to be that we required the judges to all have a 
certain amount of computer saavy.  Last year with Amano, we had to mail 
him physical photos.  As a result of this, I now have an automated system 
to produce and print all the materials for a non-computer-saavy judge. 
But it'll cost about $125-150 in ink and paper per judge of this type.

Don't get those kind of judges!

* Awards Ceremony Replacement for 2005 - I wonder if there's any 
interesting ideas for what to do in lieu of this.  For instance, we could 
hold a chat with the judges as things are unveiled?

Webcast or a streaming video or something?

* Prize mailing/coordination/etc.  Order ribbons, decide which prize 
donations will go to which winners, mail em all out.

No thanks, other than what DFWAPC has agreed to do.

* Thank-you gifts for judges.

Give them a bumper sticker or a t-shirt. 

Ricky


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