To Judge or not to judge

[myrubi04]

Ok, so I was online the other day and I came across the koi club association and they said something to the effect that judging helps you to understand more about koi and the industry. Do you guys have any opinions about this. I personally would think that judging would be interesting. I don't have the qualifications at this time but I think it would be interesting.

[Russell Peters]

Can you be more specific? Was it the AKCA or ZNA and were they talking about being a Judge or learning to judge Koi yourself?

[myrubi04]

It was the AKCA and it was about becoming a judge.

[JasPR]

I agree that you will learn a lot by becoming a koi judge. Becoming a 'koi judge' in this context means you become a local certified judge. In ZNA we it that- local certified judge. In AKCA they have only one level of judge but the criteria and steps are the same as required by the ZNA ,which is the program that the AKCA program is patterned from.
The local certified judge is meant to be a training experience that advances a hobbyists fundamental understanding of koi appreciation. It is a first step. The next step in ZNA would be to then become an assistant certified judge. This is a role that allows a judge to be both a regional judge and an assistant to the head judge with a full weighing in determining the winning fish in each judging round. This level would also be a head judge at local shows. Finally we have a fully certified judge. There are only 100 in the world at any time and these days much less than 100. These are the most advanced judges because they are the most experienced. Because by definition they had to first be local certified then they continued to train until they were assistant certified and finally they trained until they were fully certified. Fully certified means head judge at any koi show including National shows as well as being authorized to be a teaching judge at sanctioned teaching and judging seminars.
The number of judges is limited because the number of koi shows is limited. It would be a disservice to the trainer to waste their time and money if they could not actually be assigned to a koi show regularly. Learning is one thing but being a good koi judge is a lot like getting good at golf! You need to do it regularly to master it!
A local certified judge however is more about getting the basic information down, developing a sense of koi aesthetics as a subject and learning about the details of koi appreciation ( standards). So this is an entry level education and very good for the highly motivated advanced hobbyists.
One word of caution: this is an expensive endeavor. And it should not be taken lightly. You will be asked to fly to other parts of the country at your own expense ( including meals, car rental etc) to 'learn' at real shows. You will need to do this five times over three years and also to attend three seminars in that same time frame ( additional expense). You are then 'on call' to fly to any show you are assigned to. So this becomes a life style demand as much as a personal journey.
If I can answer an other questions, please do not hesitate to ask, JR

[koiczar]

JR

So what's the TOTAL timeframe it takes to become a "local certified judge"?

Mike

[JasPR]

three years in program
two exams ( one getting into the program and one to graduate)
Three live judging seminars
Five shadow judging experiences ( one can be your own club show)

JR

In addition there are other criteria such as time in the hobby, member of an association club for a number of years, show experience, show chairman duties, recommendation from Club officers, interview etc. ( those are the main ones)

[koiczar]

Quote: Originally Posted by JasPR three years in program two exams ( one getting into the program and one to graduate) Three live judging seminars Five shadow judging experiences ( one can be your own club show) JR In addition there are other criteria such as time in the hobby, member of an association club for a number of years, show experience, show chairman duties, recommendation from Club officers, interview etc. ( those are the main ones)

Isn't it true that the "member of an association club for number of years" is a minimum of 5 years in a ZNA chapter? Then, based on membership within your local chapter, you are allotted "X" number of slots for "consideration"? Also, right now, as far as ZNA goes, aren't those slots all full and will be for quite some time? Also, the criteria you mention - you can't use any of the judging seminars or "shadow judging experience" until you have been accepted into the program?

Mike

[JasPR]

Mike he had asked about the AKCA program.

But yes, the ZNA program is currently full and as I mentioned it would be unfair and non productive to accept someone into the local program only to have no real work for them. Judges must become honorary at 70 so the openings come now and then and some leave the program for health or other reasons so there is no real telling when spots open up.
The number of judges certified is based on the current population of members in the district. And this assumes that all chapters will have shows and use ZNA judges. Currently members us our judges, dealers, breeders, AKCA judges. So the 'work' and demand for judges is limited.
The very best way to get a judging spot is to increase your membership. This puts a chapter in a good position to request the next spot on the waiting list.
And yes, in ZNA you need to be a member of a chapter. I think what you are getting confused on is the different criteria for a chapter putting one of it's own members up for a candidate slot and the general requirements for applying for acceptance into the program. A person must be in ZNA for instance for five years to apply. But a person can be a member of a new chapter ( that's full chapter only) for less than five years as long as they were a member of another chapter for the required time ( say 4 years with SoCal and 1 year with NoCal ). If there is a break in membership or membership status then the clock starts again. So it is important to keep up dues and remain active within a chapter as member, officer, show chair, bencher , volunteer, etc. Like any organization, there is an acceptance based on local recommendation and board approval. And the more active members that can show they have given to the hobby, know koi and are natural teachers and fair minded individuals with some basic skill regarding koi, are in a better position to be accepted than one who is an unknown entity. JR

Sorry I missed one thing you asked. You do have to be officially and formally accepted into the judging program before the shadow judging experience can actually be credited to your file. That formal entry is applied for at the annual meeting and voted on by ALL the chapters.

[koiczar]

JR

Thanks for the follow-up info.As you know, ZNA NorCal is the newest Chapter in the District. So, we won't have anyone qualified for a good bit of time.

Mike

[JasPR]

You're most welcome mike, and I hope to have the National website updated for your Chapter's one year anniversary! JR