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Rule question - Soliciting judging assignments?

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FOM

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Discussion starter · #1 · (Edited)
Is there a rule against soliciting judging assignments? Specifically AKC.

FOM

Edit: I'm NOT looking for assignments. I received an email from someone I do not know soliciting for assignments (it was sent to a number of people) - I can only assume this person pulled my email address from the premiums for PPRC. I found the email distasteful.
 
#3 ·
FOM said:
Is there a rule against soliciting judging assignments? Specifically AKC.

FOM

Edit: I'm NOT looking for assignments. I received an email from someone I do not know soliciting for assignments (it was sent to a number of people) - I can only assume this person pulled my email address from the premiums for PPRC. I found the email distasteful.
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No rule and it has occurred in our area but usually from someone we know.
 
#4 ·
Did said person state that they were going to be in your area on business around the time of the field trial and would therefore happily judge without charging expenses?
 
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#6 ·
EdA said:
Did said person state that they were going to be in your area on business around the time of the field trial and would therefore happily judge without charging expenses?
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IMO if a person has to solicit assignments to be asked to judge, they are not worth having.
Like Ed A stated, if they are going to be in the area on other business it is different, but to have to go out to ask for assignments is different.
I have been told, that there is one in my area that does this routinely and scrounges up a few assignments, but after running just one test under this individual, no more for me.
JMHO
MP
 
#7 ·
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#8 ·
Mike Perry said:
IMO if a person has to solicit assignments to be asked to judge, they are not worth having.
Like Ed A stated, if they are going to be in the area on other business it is different, but to have to go out to ask for assignments is different.
I have been told, that there is one in my area that does this routinely and scrounges up a few assignments, but after running just one test under this individual, no more for me.
JMHO
MP
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Don't agree. Sometimes a new judge is not known to be available outside of his/her home club. Sometimes an introduction is in order. Could be as simple as that.
 
#9 ·
I have done just that this year, sent a group email letting folks know I'm available to judge. I'm a new judge. How are we to get assignments unless we send out our information to clubs?
 
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Discussion starter · #10 ·
EdA said:
Did said person state that they were going to be in your area on business around the time of the field trial and would therefore happily judge without charging expenses?
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No, this particular person said they wanted the assignments as "as vacations" and "looking to see parts of the US I've never seen before"....that's what I found distasteful.

As for new judges trying to get assignments, I think the home club of the judge is usually the place to start or the local circuit. Word of mouth from other judges/competitors works better. When I first started judging I didn't get many assignments, but over time I've consistently been asked more and more...

And as far as the judge's chair - I think stating you are a judging and "begging" for vacations are two different things.
 
#11 ·
There used to be a rule (up until maybe 2 yrs ago) w/ AKC conformation and obed judges that stated they could not solicit assignments but that has now been relaxed.
I think they figured there were certain judges rubbing one another's backs for return favors so gave up. ;)
 
#12 ·
I am a new Field Trial judge and need assignments to advance to the major stakes. I don't solicit but I can see the value of that in order to get those minor stakes under your belt. For me, I'll use patience, word of mouth and patience (yes, I said it twice.)
 
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#13 ·
FOM said:
No, this particular person said they wanted the assignments as "as vacations" and "looking to see parts of the US I've never seen before"....that's what I found distasteful.

As for new judges trying to get assignments, I think the home club of the judge is usually the place to start or the local circuit. Word of mouth from other judges/competitors works better. When I first started judging I didn't get many assignments, but over time I've consistently been asked more and more...

And as far as the judge's chair - I think stating you are a judging and "begging" for vacations are two different things.
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The ruse about the business trip was employed years by someone long out of the game who happened to be a terrible judge
 
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#14 ·
Asking for a "free vacation" is pretty far out there on the Dumbo-Meter. But there are a few who are continually politicking for judging assignments for no other reason than their own ego. If they have that much time to judge, it must mean they aren't training and running their own dog. And that's not someone I'd want judging me and my dog.
The Master National has a policy against campaigning or politicking for judging assignments but that's a policy routinely ignored. Other than that, there is no rule against it, except the rule of common sense. If someone has to ask, you probably don't want them. New judges coming up are a different matter. But the best way to accomplish that is 1 on 1 conversation and word of mouth.
 
#16 ·
I guess as with anything there is a "tacky" -wrong way of doing things vs the "tactful"-right way. I am sure that if they re-worded the message, it wouldn't be so distasteful to you FOM. On the bright side, the person was honest! A better way maybe would be to state: "Hi, my name is _________. I am a ________level judge and have been so for X amount of years with AKC and a member of XYZ club in "this state." I have judged numerous tests in my area and surrounding states and would like to experience judging in your area. If it is not feasible for your club to pay for a judge outside of your area, I would be willing to pay $$$ dollars towards my flight/gas/etc..in order make this experience for myself possible. If you have any opportunities available or know of any please contact me at (xxx)123-4567 and thank you for your time and consideration.
 
#17 ·
Dear FOM:

i would really love a vacation where I can see good dog work, and get run over by a herd of elk. Got any ideas for me? :D
 
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#18 ·
Our club received a message from someone who has a few AA points and let us know that he's starting to summer in our area and asked if we needed any judging help because they were now in the area. I find that very helpful considering some names aren't known for being in a particular area during some seasons. There are situations when someone from a different area is soliciting to travel to judge, they're often times not desirable judges.
 
#19 ·
TroyFeeken said:
Our club received a message from someone who has a few AA points and let us know that he's starting to summer in our area and asked if we needed any judging help because they were now in the area. I find that very helpful considering some names aren't known for being in a particular area during some seasons. There are situations when someone from a different area is soliciting to travel to judge, they're often times not desirable judges.
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Not meaning to take this off topic, but what is a "not desirable judge"? Is it someone without many judging points? Some of the dumbest tests I've seen have been by judges with oodles of points. I find the whole topic of soliciting judging assignments a little odd. They must be a glutton for punishment. It's a thankless job often done in poor weather conditions. And you will never please everyone. You get the stink eye from a guy because he got dropped after his dog started hunting half way to the retired bird or because he let the dog swim out to sea when the line to the blind is over an obvious point. And don't get me started on co-judges! :lol:
 
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