Two AOS Awards

[goodgollymissmolly]

Congrats on the awards, Ron!

Glen, there is not a difference between Judging Centers on provisional awards. They all operate from the same AOS Handbook.

Section 5.5.2.1 Judging Procedure, reads in part:

".....(5) Taxonomic verification is required for all previously unawarded species and all first awards to taxonomically described varietal forms of otherwise recognized species, no matter what award is granted. Although taxonomic verification need not be presented prior to an award's being granted, if it was previously obtained, it should be accepted when the plant is judged. Awards will be held in a provisional status until identification is complete. Once an award has been cleared it will be allowed to stand, regardless of subsequent name changes resulting from taxonomic changes or award challenges.
(6) If any certified judge on the judging floor questions the identity of a species being considered for any award, then the award will be held in a provisional status until identification is complete....."

As you can see there is the caveat that any judge present (not just those on the team judging the plant) can question the identity and kick an award into provisional status. This is not some vindictive or penalizing provision. No single individual can be an expert on all orchids so this allows a judge who is knowledagable to voice his opinion. There is nothing about the provisional status that detracts from the award and since SITF creation the status is cleared quickly. In cases of questionable identity, the award prestige is actually enhanced by verification of identity.

[BikerDoc5968]

I don't know how I missed these beauties of yours, Ron. They are a site for my tired eyes. Thanks

[Tindomul]

Wow, gorgeous Masdies!

[glengary54]

Originally Posted by goodgollymissmolly

Glen, there is not a difference between Judging Centers on provisional awards. They all operate from the same AOS Handbook.

I am fully aware of what the Handbook says, that is why I asked the question. It has been my experience that from Judging Center to Judging Center there are major differences with how the Handbook is interpreted.

[ronaldhanko]

Thanks, Molly, Howard, and Tindo. Your comments are much appreciated.

[goodgollymissmolly]

I understand what you are saying Glen, but the rules are AOS rules. The Judging Center is not the determining factor of whether an award is provisional or not (except as in section 6 above where an individual judge challenges the identity).

If the species (or described f, var, or ssp) is not yet awarded, the award is provisional until the SITF or a acceptable taxonomic authority verifies the identity. If the species (or f, var, or ssp ) is already in the awards records then the award is not provisional. While each judging center is expected to know this, the enforcement is actually at the AOS level so there is no room for differences between centers. They do not make the determination (but should flag the status properly).

However, I grant you that some centers or judging teams may be suspicious about identity and make the award provisional while another judging team may not. You can see how that might happen when a genus not often seen by a center (due perhaps to local growing conditions) comes in for judging. Another center which sees plants of that same genus often might not be so cautious, but could be on some other genus they seldom see. No question common sense rules here, but that derives from experience (or lack thereof) rather than just philosophical differences.

[RosieC]

Only just seeming this as I've not been around OB so much for a couple of weeks. But gorgeous and well deserved awards. Congratulations!

[ronaldhanko]

Thanks so much, Rosie. Your kindnesses are endless. Thought you'd been MIA for a while.