AMERICA IN BLOOM JUDGES’ GUIDE – 2017
Find this guide and other important evaluation documents and information at the
Judges' Section of the AIB website which is not to be shared
outside of our organization.
Visit www.AmericaInBloom.org/JudgesForms
for judges’ documents (noted with *).
Table of Contents
AMERICA IN BLOOM – THE ORGANIZATION 2
The History of America in Bloom (AIB) and What it Offers 2
America in Bloom and How it Operates 2
Additional Contact Information 3
The Program Entry and Evaluation Process 3
The Awards 4
The Symposium and AwardsCelebration 5
THE JUDGES 5
Judges’ Commitment 5
General Information for Judges 5
Requirements of the Judges 6
Judges’ Remuneration and Expense Reimbursement Request 6
Judges’ Preparation 7
Photography 7
Dress Code 7
Judges’ Behavior 7
Evaluation Tour Scheduling 7
Judges and Media, Articles, and Presentations 8
Lead Judge Responsibilities 8
Judges’ Responsibilities at the Annual Symposium and AwardsCelebration 9
THE COMMUNITIES 9
Communities’ Responsibilities 9
What Communities Expect from Us 10
TRAVEL 10
General Travel Information 10
Air Travel 10
Surface Travel 10
Accommodations 11
Travel Tips 11
EVALUATION OF COMMUNITIES 11
Evaluation Requirements 11
Scoring 12
Evaluation Tips 12
TECHNOLOGY/APPS 13
INTERNATIONAL JUDGING 13
AMERICA IN BLOOM – THE ORGANIZATION (http://www.AmericaInBloom.org/)
The History of America in Bloom (AIB) and What It Offers
AIB offers an Awards Program for communities that may include counties, cities, towns, villages, townships, college and university campuses, business districts, military installations, and identified areas of large cities. The program provides a framework for improving the overall quality of life and experiences for their residents, businesses, and visitors.
Founded in 2001, America in Bloom is modeled after proven, successful community awards programs around the world. Programs include Communities in Bloom (Canada and international), Tidy Towns of Ireland, Villes et Villages Fleuris (France), Britain in Bloom, and Entente Florale (Europe). A number of AIB judges have served as judges for Communities in Bloom.
AIB is a community building program that engages people of all ages and demographics. It is the only program of its kind that provides on-site, one-on-one mentoring, and coaching by a team of expert judges who provide a detailed, written Evaluation Report with recommendations. Communities are evaluated in the municipal, business and residential sectors in each of the six criteria: floral displays, landscaped areas, urban forestry, environmental efforts, heritage preservation, and overall impression. Community involvement is also evaluated for each of these criteria.
The first evaluations took place in 2001 and the first Symposium was held in 2002. As of 2017, nearly 250 communities in 45 states have participated with a positive impact on millions of residents.
We also offer online on-demand, free webinars on a variety of topics and an annual educational Symposium and Awards Celebration in a different community each year.
America in Bloom and How It Operates
AIB is an incorporated not for profit 501(c)(3) organization composed of an Executive Director, a volunteer board with officers, committees, and volunteer judges. AIB has a contract for services with Second Wind Management in Columbus, OH which plays an important staff support role and is where our Executive Director is located.
AIB is funded primarily by sponsors and partners. Community entry fees, Symposium registration fees, and the online and silent auction also contribute important revenue to AIB. You are encouraged to recruit sponsors and communities. In-kind donations are also an important part of AIB’s funding. Sponsorships and in-kind donations are highly leveraged to allow us to present our National Awards Program. Volunteerism is an important component and having a record of donated hours is useful. If you wish, please keep track of your volunteer hours and use the Judges Volunteer Hours Form* to report them to Laura Kunkle.
Officers/Judge Coordinator:
· Executive Director - Laura Kunkle (Second Wind Management) - Main: 614.453.0744, C: 614.580.9039,
· President - Katy Moss Warner - C: 407.234.0348,
· First Vice President – Tony Ferrara - C: 805.550.6446,
· Second Vice President – John Manchester – C: 304.645.2080,
· Past President - Charlie Hall - 979.458.3277,
· Secretary - Jack Clasen - H: 919.662.1714, C: 919.889.2237,
· Treasurer – Marvin Miller –
· Judge Coordinator – Leslie Pittenger – C: 304.482.2856,
Committees:
· Executive Committee: Katy Moss Warner (chair - C: 407.234.0348, ), Jack Clasen, Tony Ferrara, Charlie Hall, Marvin Miller, John Manchester, Laura Kunkle
· Nominating Committee: John Manchester (chair - C: 304.645.2080,), Linda Hart, Marvin Miller, Edith Makra, Katy Moss Warner, Leslie Pittenger, Laura Kunkle
· Finance & Audit Committee: Marvin Miller (chair – C: 630.624.0544, ), Bobby Barnitz, Charlie Hall, Leslie Pittenger, Laura Kunkle
· Sponsorship & Fundraising Committee: Edith Makra (chair C: 630.327.4193, ), Bobby Barnitz, Drew Becher, Charlie Hall, Walter Heath, Marvin Miller, Alex Pearl, Diana Weiner, Laura Kunkle
· National Awards Committee: Leslie Pittenger (chair - C: 304.482.2856, ), Jack Clasen, Linda Cromer, Bill Hahn, Dwight Lund, Edith Makra, Delilah Onofrey, Alex Pearl, Karin Rindal, Barbara Vincentsen, Diana Weiner, Laura Kunkle
· Symposium Committee: Linda Hart (chair - C: (231) 220-5499, email ), Jack Clasen, Tony Ferrara, Bill Hahn, Kristin Pategas, Stephen Pategas, Bill Ruppert, Kathy Shore, Laura Kunkle
· External Relations Committee: Linda Cromer (chair - C: 513.484.3622, ), Carlo Balistrieri, Mason Day, Marshall Dirks, Dale Fisher, Walter Heath, John Manchester, Delilah Onofrey, Karin Rindal, Diana Weiner, Teresa Woodard, Diane Blazek (advisory), Joe Lamp’l (advisory)
· Awards Selection Ad Hoc Committee (develop 10 Special Awards, select winners for Special Awards, Outstanding Achievement, Spirit, YouTube, and Community Champion Award): Delilah Onofrey (chair – C: 440.522.1447, ), Charlie Hall, Alex Pearl, Laura Kunkle
· CN Grants Program Ad Hoc Committee (work with CN Railway on grants program development, review, and selection process): Marvin Miller (chair – C: 630.624.0544, ), Edith Makra (co-chair), Drew Becher, Bill Hahn, Leslie Pittenger, Diana Weiner, Laura Kunkle
Board members:
For the board members visit http://www.americainbloom.org/About-AIB/Board-and-Committees.aspx
Additional Contact Information
Laura Kunkle, AIB Executive Director
Main: 614.453.0744
Cell: 614.580.9039
Teresa Roberts
AAA Allied Group
8381 Old Troy Pike
Huber Heights, OH 45424
937.281.3536
Monday – Friday, 8 – 5 PM
The Program Entry and Evaluation Process
1. AIB sends information on the program to previous and potential participants.
2. In order to participate, communities pay a registration fee based on population and must agree to provide meals and accommodations (typically six room nights) for the two judges while they are in their community. Also, they may be asked to provide transportation to and from the airport.
3. Some communities may decide to enter as an Entry Level Participant and receive an Evaluation Report with observations and recommendations, but they don’t get a score or bloom rating. They are not eligible for awards but may attend the symposium and the awards portion of the program.
4. The Judge Coordinator assembles the evaluation schedule. Typically, one lead judge is assigned to the communities within a population category. The second judge may vary from community to community.
5. Communities are notified by the Judge Coordinator or AIB staff with the names of their judges (one is the lead judge) and the evaluation dates.
6. The lead judge corresponds with each community, provides them with updates, tracks the submittal of the Evaluation Tour Itinerary and Community Profile, keeps the co-judge informed of all progress, and copies the co-judge on all correspondence.
7. AIB staff assembles travel itineraries for each pair of judges and shares that with the communities.
8. Each community is required to submit a Community Profile and an Evaluation Tour Itinerary at least two weeks prior to the judges’ leaving on their trip.
9. The judges visit the community for two days and record scores in the Evaluation Report using their prior research, observations, notes, and photographs obtained during the evaluation tour.
10. Communities are evaluated in municipal, business, and residential categories for the following criteria: floral displays, landscaped areas, urban forestry, environmental efforts, heritage preservation, and overall impression. Community involvement while not a criterion (however, there is an outstanding achievement award for this), is also evaluated in each category.
11. Judges should send letters to the editor to local newspapers and/or other media. See the Email to the Editor Template*.
12. Within two weeks of completion of evaluation tours or July 31 (whichever is latest), judges prepare a comprehensive Evaluation Report* specific to each community, with observations and recommendations and their benefits for each criterion. They also include the two Community Recognitions: Recognized Criterion (to be listed on the Recognition Plaque with text read at the symposium) and the Noteworthy Project or Initiative. Judges may determine there is an outstanding criterion or community involvement for a nomination for an Outstanding Achievement Award to submit on Outstanding Achievement Award form*. If appropriate, a nomination for a Special Award (selected from the current year’s list) may be submitted using a separate form*.
13. Judges submit the Evaluation Report and optional Outstanding Achievement and Special Award nomination forms (following their own review after thorough fact and spell check) to the Executive Director. After review by the Evaluation Review Committee, the Evaluation Reports and forms may be returned to the judges for further work. Final versions are forwarded onto the Executive Director by the committee.
14. Communities are contacted by AIB to encourage them to submit Outstanding Achievement Award and Community Champion Award nominations, a YouTube video, and to attend the symposium for educational sessions, tours, networking, and award presentations.
15. The Awards Selection Committee determines the award winners (except population category winners which are determined by judges’ scoring).
16. By July 31, communities are asked to provide ten hi-res images of their community for use during the symposium. Judges may be asked to supplement these images.
17. The final Evaluation Reports are transmitted by the AIB office to the communities directly after the Symposium and Awards Celebration to those individuals referenced on the Evaluation Report.
The Awards
Participating communities are eligible for a number of awards some of which are self nominating. All of the award winners except the Population Category Award are selected by the Awards Selection Committee and are presented during the annual symposium in the fall.
· Recognition Plaque – This is presented to each entrant with their community name, population category bloom rating (1 through 5, based upon their evaluation score) and Recognized Criterion (from the Community Recognitions) shown on the plaque.
· Population Category Award – There is one winner in each population category including the additional Circle of Champions population categories.
· Outstanding Achievement Awards – There are seven awards with one for each of the six criteria; floral displays, landscaped areas, urban forestry, environmental efforts, heritage preservation and overall impression plus community involvement. All AIB entrants across all population categories including Circle of Champions compete for each of these awards. These are the most competitive awards. Judges may nominate each community in each criterion, and communities are encouraged to self-nominate in as many criteria as they wish. The judges are not required to submit nominations, but are strongly encouraged to do so (see more information below).
· Circle of Champions Award - The prestigious designation of Circle of Champions is given to one of the participating communities which have achieved a combination of three major awards (population category and/or outstanding achievement). Circle of Champions communities compete amongst themselves for population category awards within their population category.
· John R. Holmes III Community Champion Award - This award recognizes one individual who exemplifies community leadership through actions that reflect the mission of the organization. The award recipient, who must be from a community that has participated or is currently participating in the program, shall have demonstrated a vision and selfless commitment to moving the community forward. Each community may forward one nomination and judges may also provide nominations. Past community champion winners continue to be eligible for future nomination. Each nominee receives a complimentary symposium registration fees, a nominee plaque, and is recognized at the symposium. Nominate here: https://ofa.wufoo.com/forms/community-champion-award/
· YouTube Video Award - Many communities use the power of YouTube to showcase how participating in AIB has impacted them. There is a cash award and the winning video is shown at the symposium. All videos can be viewed on You Tube as well as on our AIB website.
· Special Awards - Each year there are a number of Special Awards. The Awards Selection Committee may change categories annually. Communities do not know the categories until the winners are announced. As only Judges may nominate for these awards, it is critically important the Judges take the time to recognize their communities for Special Awards. Judges may suggest award categories for the following year.
· Sprit Award – This award honors an organization whose goals and accomplishments are synergistic to those of America in Bloom. It does not have to be presented annually.
Required Ratings by Judges (Note: only Population Category is an award):
· Bloom Rating (1 through 5) for each entrant based upon their evaluation score. Each community receives a Recognition Plaque with their bloom rating shown.
· Population Category Award goes to the community with the highest percentage score in a population category group (one per population category including Circle of Champions population categories).
· Community Recognition - Recognized Criterion: one of the six criteria or community involvement is listed on the Recognition Plaque and the text is read at the symposium. No images are needed.
· Community Recognition - Noteworthy Project or Initiative: briefly describe a recently completed or current project that is underway related to the AIB criteria. Text is not used elsewhere and no images are needed.
Optional Award Nominations by Judges:
· Outstanding Achievement Award nominations (one entrant in each of the six criteria, plus Community Involvement, among all AIB entrants across all population categories including Circle of Champions) may be submitted for each community. Nomination(s) do not need to be the highest score(s). Note that communities may also nominate themselves for all or any of the seven Outstanding Achievement Awards. You may use the Scoring Sheet* to determine the highest score from each community for each criterion. You may add up the scores for community involvement to calculate that nomination. For all nominations, provide up to two pages of text and images. Provide separately, at least three high resolution images. If needed, ask the community to provide images.