GOURD SHOW MANUAL

Member input solicited on entry classes and rules:

At the ACS fall meeting in Mt. Gilead, Jim Story "volunteered" Ruth Moorhead, from Marion, Indiana, to head up a committee to work  on getting some "standardization"  among entry classes, judging criteria and judging practices from one chapter show to  another.   John Sturgeon subsequently broadened and generalized Rutfi's charter somewhat by describing her committee's objective as one of developing a Gourd Show Manual.   Serving on the committee with Ruth, in addition to Jim Story, are Les Lange, from  Illinois, and A.B. Amis, from Florida. Ruth had the opportunity to meet with her committee at the Indiana show in April, where it was concluded that the committee will need input from several sources/experts to make this Manual become a reality. A list of candidates "experts" were drawn up and efforts were begun to enlist their help in their specialty areas. The intent is to provide these  experts with a framework within which to work, probably borrowing from flower show practice and the experts' draft work would be published/posted for other committee members, or the general membership, to take pot shots at until some fair consensus could be readied. Thus far Hal Hall has agreed to assist in developing appropriate entry class descriptions and judging criteria for general painted entries, and Jim Story has agreed to assist with floral design and hand trained entry classes.

Ruth says, "The intent of this handbook is to standardize the steps in putting on a show, to make writing a show schedule easier, to standardize entry class descriptions in order to create classes that display all our talents and to help judges make fair decisions." The committee wants to make it clear that there is no aim of trying to "standardize" gourd shows or do  anything that  would  compromise  the  unique "personalities" of the various chapter shows — the intent is only to strive for standardization and clarity in the descriptions of the several "core classes" that seem to be pretty much common to all chapter gourd shows already.

Ruth observed, "Since this is Jim Story's brainchild, I think all gourders will want to help make it a guideline that all areas of the country, and all areas of gourd culture and craft can easily use. Let's go to the membership for help. If you griped that there is no entry class to exhibit your specialty, this is your chance to foe that problem. Gourders, help us with the wording for class schedules in your area of expertise.  Remember that creativity must be allowed to flourish and that we can plan for the future (new paints, finishes, techniques). We need your positive comments. We are listening. Refer to your past show schedules and look at the exhibit  classes offered. How can we make them better?"

The committee expects to post the draft work on this AGS website  as it is developed. Members can reach Ruth Moorhead at: moorheap@bpsmet.com.