Guidelines for being a Judges Clerk for monthly BHGC meetings

❀ Arrive early enough to the parish hall to be ready to give full attention to clerking duties by 9:45 am.

❀ Gather supplies for awards from supply chest (hole punch, clip board, blue, red, yellow stick on dots). Have pencil and/or pen.

❀ Have a tablet or spare sheet to take notes as appropriate for later comments to membership when announcing awards.

❀ Familiarize yourself with the judging worksheets provided by the Awards chair.

❀ There will be two clerks; determine before judging starts who will record the judge’s remarks on worksheets and who will do the hole punching, dot application, etc. Tag bottom sections of the ENTRIES THAT RECEIVE AWARDS should be detached at the perforation, collected, secured with a rubber band, and given to Awards Chair. This is important to ensure all members receive proper credit for awards.

❀ Tear off the bottom tags AFTER all judging is finished. This is less stressful than trying to detach and move quickly along with judge.

❀ Begin the judging with Design to allow for photography as soon as possible.

❀ Do your best to keep the process moving without rushing the judge. The goal would be to take no more than 90 minutes.

❀ Encourage the judge to speak directly to the membership following the awards announcements. (This should be an agenda item but the Judge will need to be flexible on timing.)

❀ Judges chair will have already invited the judge to stay for lunch, but clerks should also encourage this.

❀ Enjoy the assignment! Most folks report that being a clerk is a wonderful learning experience, and spending time with an accredited judge can make for a broader appreciation of our National Garden Club organization.

❀ There will be a gift for the judge. The Judges Chair is responsible for presenting this to her but please check so the judge does not leave without it.

Any member who is unavailable during her assigned month should find a substitute for herself and let the Vice-President know who the substitute will be.