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Judges and the Show Committee
By Karen Lawrence
When a club invites a judge to officiate at their show, they are
basically hiring the judge for that weekend - and you have an
employer/employee relationship. The judge understands that they are
expected to behave in a professional manner, and will judge the
show in a timely manner. The club understands that the judge will be available, and do their level best to obtain a reasonable air fare.
Invitations to judges are usually issued several years in advance,
and will have to be if you want to be able to book the judges who constantly are in
demand. A simple phone call is all that is required to invite a
judge to your show. When calling, tho, please be sure and identify
yourself prior to issuing the invitation. Occasionally, a judge may
ask you to confirm your invitation in writing prior to mailing you a contract..
If you find, at the last minute, that you have need of another judge or have to find
a replacement judge, you can request a listing from Central Office of judges who are not under contract for that weekend. The list will be faxed to you.
CFA Show Rule: 25.01-25.14
Once the invitation to a judge is issued, a contract is sent to the
club by the judge. This must be signed by a club official and
returned to the judge within 15 days. If the contract is not
returned, the judge is free to accept another invitation although
most would phone the first club to inquire about their contract
prior to accepting another show.
Before a club representative signs and returns the judges contract,
be sure that it is fully completed. The name, address and phone
number of the club contact (and an alternative contact) must be
provided. Make certain that the city where the show is being held
is completed, as well as the name of the city/airport that the
judge is expected to fly into. Also, you must make sure that the
contract specifies which day the judge is expected to work at the
show.
There is a box to be checked toward the bottom of the contract giving the
judge the club's approval to book their air fare well in advance of
the show - often this will be a non-refundable, coach class
air fare.
Judges are usually very concerned about booking a reasonable
air fare for a show, but a club must be prepared to pay for this
air fare in advance unless prior arrangements are made with the
judge.
The judge does have the right to use his/her own travel agent to
make their airline reservations. Often a club has a member who is
a travel agent, and they may wish to make travel arrangements for
the judges. This must be approved by the judge, and it is only
common courtesy to speak to the judge regarding times that they are
available to travel. A large majority of judges are employed and
may not be able to leave their jobs on Friday afternoon to catch an
early flight.
On occasion, a judge may have to request permission to leave a show
early in order to catch a flight that will get them home in order
to avoid the expense of having to stay an extra night.
Once in a while, a judge books a non-refundable ticket and is
forced to cancel the show. The judge then has 90 days in which to
reimburse the club for the ticket minus the penalties
charged by the airline.
A club must arrange transportation back to the airport when a judge is finished in their assignment, so that the judge is able to make their flight's departure. Should a judge miss their flight, and have to rebook in order to get home, it is the responsibility of the club to pay any charges incurred (usually about $100).
CFA Show Rules specify that a club must send a copy of the
show announcement to the officiating judge as soon as it is
available. This will give the judge pertinent information regarding
the show:
- Showhall and address (phone number, if available)
- Show hours (could affect the flight arrangements if your show
is not scheduled to start until noon, and possibly save your club
the expense of a night's hotel charge)
- Show Hotel and address - phone number is a must so that the
judge can leave it available for family members or the cat sitter
Your show secretary should also contact the judge with the
arrangements that have been made for transportation to/from the
airport and hotel/showhall. If meals are not to be covered under a
master billing at the hotel, the judge should be notified so that
they can bring extra money. If your club is having a judges dinner
on Saturday night, let the judge know in advance. Judges are often
very tired on Saturday night, and would prefer to have a quick meal
and a good night's rest as opposed to a long drawn out dinner. Remember, the judge has spent the entire day walking back and forth in their judging ring and has probably lifted several thousands of
pounds in cats - they are tired at the end of a day!
An emergency club contact name and phone number MUST be provided
to the judge so that they can contact someone in case of
delays/cancellations in travelling to the show. A cell phone number is even better!
The judge knows that they are an ambassador for CFA while on a
judging assignment, and they will represent the club in an ethical
and professional manner. A judge will dress appropriately for the
judging ring (note that, according to Show Rules, a club cannot specify the attire a judge is
to wear).
Judges will adhere to the published judging schedule, and will make
every attempt to finish prior to the advertised closing hour of the
show. Judges are capable of pacing themselves to handle the number
of required cats during the day.
CFA Show Rule: 27.01-27.12
The following protocol is suggested as a guide or overview for clubs to use after hiring their judges. It has been ratified by the Judges' Association of the Cat Fanciers' Association, Inc.:
Judge's Conduct:
- The Judge understands that he/she is a hired employee of the contracting club for the weekend of the show and will represent the Club in a professional, ethical manner.
- The Judge will be prompt and will judge in a timely manner.
- The Judge will not leave the show hall until the advertised show hours without the consent of the show management. If an early flight is necessary in order to avoid the expense of staying in a hotel another night, the Judge will first obtain permission from the Club to book an early flight.
- The Judge will dress appropriately in the show ring.
- The Judge will attempt to schedule the lowest possible airfare for the Club, realizing that (as stated in Article XXVI, Section 26.02 of the CFA Show Rules), Coach Class airfare is specified. Most clubs will want the Judge to purchase a lower, non-refundable ticket, but they must be aware that if the Judge is forced to cancel the show, that Judge has 90 days in which to reimburse the Club for the ticket minus the penalties charged by the airline.
Club's Conduct:
- Upon hiring a Judge, the Club should immediately establish the mode of travel it wishes the Judge to use. International Clubs and Judges should be aware that using "Bulk Fare" or "Consignor" tickets can result in no money being refunded, should the Judge have to cancel.
- The Club should be aware that the Judge has the right to use his/her own travel agent and to book his/her flight.
- The contract sent back to the Judge should be completely filled out, especially regarding which day(s) the Judge is working and what airport to use. This is very important to the Judge when making flight arrangements.
- The Show Secretary must send a copy of the show announcement to the officiating judges as soon as it is available. This will give the Judge pertinent information regarding the show and also will enable the Judge to leave the telephone numbers of the show hall and show hotel at home for family and/or cattery help. It is suggested that the show announcement be sent to the Judge early enough that the Judge has pertinent information on the show starting times. For instance, a show with a 12:00 noon start could enable a judge to fly in on Saturday morning if the judge so chooses, thus saving the Club a Friday night room and meal.
- The Show Secretary should also advise the Judges about ground transportation between airport, show hall and hotel. If food is not paid for under the master bill at the hotel, the Judge should be notified so he/she can bring extra money. International Clubs must provide hotel accommodations, if required, for each Judge for the period between consecutive weekend shows. The Club must provide reimbursement for reasonable meals for the Judge throughout the length of the judging assignment.
- The telephone number of a liaison person connected with the Club should be provided to the Judge in case any problems or delays arise during transit. A cell phone number is preferred. In the case of International Clubs, it is important that the liaison person speak English so that the Judge will be able to communicate the problem.
- International Clubs are reminded and must be prepared to pay CFA Judges in U.S. currency prior to their leaving the show hall.
FOR A COMPLETE LISTING OF RULES REGARDING JUDGES AND CLUBS, SEE THE CAT FANCIERS' ASSOCIATION, INC. SHOW RULES.
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