2023 Convention – Flower Show Judging & Training Schools
Virginia is for Gesneriad Lovers
July 3 to July 8, 2023
Judging school sessions will be held on Tuesday afternoon, July 4, 2023, and will consist of three afternoon sessions running concurrently and later one combined session. The early afternoon sessions will be: 1) a Novice class, 2) an Intermediate-Advanced class for accredited judges preparing for their Senior judge exams; and 3) a Workshop (main topic will be discussing what constitutes a “fully developed show specimen” as well as other comments on the score sheets), open to all certified Gesneriad Society judges. Anyone interested primarily in growing, but not necessarily in becoming a judge, is welcome to attend the novice, intermediate or combined sessions.
It is important when registering that you clearly indicate which of the three sessions you want to attend. Note: students registering for the novice class must commit to attending a two-hour introductory session by Zoom to be held approximately two weeks before the convention school as part of the learning experience. Exact date and time of the Zoom session will be determined once students have registered. The late afternoon session on Tuesday will combine all three groups for discussion and practice judging. Novice and Intermediate-Advanced exams will be conducted on Wednesday morning for those wanting accreditation as Gesneriad Society judges.
The registration fee for all sessions is $18, payable when you register for convention. Note that no payments for judging schools will be accepted once convention is underway. Subscription renewals for Appraisal must be paid separately, either through The Gesneriad Society website at or by check via postal mail sent directly to Jill Fischer, 339 Lake Drive, Farmville, VA 23901. Novices who meet all requirements to be certified as student judges must subscribe to Appraisal no later than September 30, 2023.
A flower show critique, open to all who have participated in judging or clerking the flower show, will be held on Friday, July 7, from 8:30–9:30 a.m.
Mel Grice on behalf of the Shows & Judging Committee
Judges and Clerks Required for Convention
If you would like to volunteer to judge or clerk at the 2023 Convention flower show, please do so when you register for the convention. The registration form includes lines for two registrants to volunteer. If you register to volunteer in other capacities please be careful that it doesn’t interfere with Thursday morning judging of the show.
If you forgot to volunteer to judge or clerk when you registered or have changes to make, please contact Judith.Niemira@gmail.com or Judy Niemira, 12 Dappled Drive, East Amherst, NY 14051. Please assist me in making our judging and clerking run as smooth as possible.
Your judging team will gather at breakfast on Friday morning. If you don’t register for breakfast, please come just to meet your team and for instructions. Judges and clerks will be given their instructions right after breakfast.
Judy Niemira, Judges & Clerks Chair