Judges

American Orchid Society judges are dedicated volunteers who serve the membership and the orchid-growing public through participation in the Society's judging system. Each judge has made a sincere, long-term commitment, and gives much of their personal time and resources. AOS Judges are not compensated for their services or travel to various judging events.

Judging Centers (see judging centers below)

The AOS's judging system comprises 27 Judging Center locations and 9 additional sites where judging takes place throughout the United States and Canada. These Centers provide opportunities for the public to have plants judged on specified monthly dates. The Centers also provide judging service to AOS-sanctioned shows in the US and abroad. Center activities are open to visitors who wish to see the judging process in operation or bring their plants to be evaluated. Meeting dates, times, places and contact information are listed below as well as on our website calendar events listing. Orchid plants may be submitted for judging using the following guidelines.
 

• All blooming orchid plants or cut flowers submitted at a monthly judging session are candidates for an award.
• Candidates should be entered in the most presentable condition possible.
• Candidates may be entered by the owner in person or by another attendee on his/her behalf.
• The exhibitor or proxy completes a single sheet entry form for each plant entered for judging.
• As an alternative option when it is not possible to bring the blooming plant to the center location for judging, the entire flowering inflorescence can be mailed to the contact listed for the judging center to have it judged during a monthly judging.
• If mailing an entry for judging, please contact the center chair first to confirm the mailing address.

 

Alamo Judging Center

Chair - Gallaway, Alison, 7232 Country Road 120, Marble Falls, TX 78654; C: (512) 695-4479, Email: alisongallaway@aol.com

Judging typically takes place at the Schertz Public Library, 798 Schertz Parkway, Schertz, Texas at 12:30PM on the first Sunday of the month, however you should call ahead or refer to the AOS News and Events calendar for updates. Cut flowers should be sent to: Alison Gallaway, 7232 Country Road 120, Marble Falls, TX 78654. Cut flowers must be received by the Thursday before the first Sunday of the month. In January, July, and September judging will be the second Sunday of those months. Cut flowers must be sent by the Thursday before the second Sunday of January, July, and September.

 

Atlanta Judging Center

Chair - Doug Hartong, 540 Saddle Lake Dr., Roswell, GA 30076; Phone: (770) 594-7334; Cell: (678) 667-6028, Email: orchid169345@gmail.com

Judging takes place at the Atlanta Botanical Garden, 1345 Piedmont Ave., NE, Atlanta, GA at 2:00PM on the second Saturday of the month. Education takes place at noon. Cut flowers should be sent to: Orchid Judging, c/o Fred Missbach, 3715 Northside Pkwy., North Creek 300, Suite 675, Atlanta, GA 30327. 

 

California-Sierra Nevada Judging Center

Chair - Susan Wedegaertner, 1348 Kiernan Ave, Modesto, CA ; 95356-9170 H: (209) 545-4732, Email: sgwede@gmail.com

Judging takes place at Odd Fellows Hall, 1831 Howe Ave, Sacramento, CA 95825 on the first Wednesday of the month. Judging also takes place at Dueling Dog Brewing Co, 3030 Barrett Park Ln, Lincoln, CA on the third Sunday of the month. On Wednesdays, plant entry starts at 6:00pm, judging begins at 7:00pm. On Sundays, plant entry starts at 8:00am, judging begins at 8:45am. Cut flowers should be sent to: Susan Wedegaertner, 1348 Kieman Ave., Modesto, CA 95356-9170.

 

Carolinas Judging Center

Chair - Sarah Patterson, 9 Arborfield Ln, Durham, NC 27713-7105; H: (919) 361-0951, Email: sarahepatterson@gmail.com

Judging takes place at Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens, 6500 S New Hope Road, Belmont, NC 28012 at 12:00PM on the third Saturday of the month. We meet in the classroom attached to the Conservatory, which is the large glasshouse located on the left side of the Main Visitor Center building. Please check the AOS event calendar for updates. Cut flowers should be sent to: Linda Wilhelm, 2121 Houle Lane, Charlotte, NC 28214.

 

Chicago Judging Center

Chair - Nile Dusdieker, 1968 Elm Ridge Rd., NE, North Liberty, IA 52317. (319) 626-2236. niledusdieker@gmail.com

Judging will be taking place at the Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Rd, Glencoe, IL 60022 (Learning Center, Classroom #6) on the second Saturday of the month at 1PM.  Please email Lois Cinert (george.cinert@att.net) for more information and protocol for in-person meetings, or use our FB page – Chicago AOS Judging Center. Send cut flowers to: Orchids by Hausermann, 2N 134 Addison Rd., Villa Park, IL 60181.

 

Cincinnati Judging Center

Chair - Glenn Evans, 1485 N Troy Avenue, Marion IN 46952; C: 317-439-1056, Email: glenn.f.evans.09@gmail.com

Judging takes place at the Civic Garden Center of Greater Cincinnati, 2715 Reading Rd., Cincinnati, OH on the second Sunday of the month. Educational presentation begins at 11:00 AM and judging starts at 1:00 PM. Send cut flowers to: Steve Helbling, 2489 Erie Ave., Cincinatti, OH 45208-1201.

 

Dallas Judging Center

Chair, - Manuel Aybar, 3207 Woodwind Ln, Dallas, TX 75229-5011; (214) 934-9104; Email: mannyaybar@gmail.com

The DJC (Dallas Judging Center) meets the second Saturday of each month at the Carver Activity Center,  222 Carver St., Garland, TX 75040. If you would like to bring a plant in for judging, please ensure they are submitted for registration by 11:30 AM so we can properly research and document them for  judging at 12:30 PM. The general schedule runs as follows, but is subject to change: General Training and Announcements take place at 11AM, Lunch is scheduled for 12PM, and Judging, New Business, and the Plant Raffle take place at 12:30PM. Send cut flowers to: Emily Quinn, 6613 Eastview Dr., Sachse, TX 75048. Refer to www.djc-aos.org for specific monthly information.

 

Florida-Caribbean Judging Center

Chair - Dr. Claire Jill Sidran, 7971 SW 122nd St., Miami, FL 33156. (305) 238-8762. cbsidran@bellsouth.net

Judging takes place at the Fairchild Tropical Garden, Corbin Building, Room A, 10901 Old Cutler Rd., Coral Gables, FL at 1:00PM on the third Saturday of the month. Send cut flowers to: Dr. Claire Sidran, 7971 SW 122nd St, Miami, FL 33156.

 

Florida North-Central Judging Center

Center Chair - Hector, Julio, 15720 Timberwood Dr., Tampa, FL 33625; H: (813) 765-9271, Email: j.hector@verizon.net

Chair, Tampa - Hector, Julio, 15720 Timberwood Dr., Tampa, FL 33625; H: (813) 765-9271, Email: j.hector@verizon.net

Tampa will hold monthly judging on a mixed schedule, Saturdays and Wednesdays, at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, Family Life Center, 6100 Memorial Hwy, Tampa, FL 33615. Judging will begin at 10:30 AM on Saturdays and 6:30 PM on Wednesdays. Flowers must arrive thirty minutes prior to judging. Send cut flowers to arrive the day before judging to: Julio Hector, 15720 Timberwood Dr., Tampa, FL 33625.

Chair, Orlando - Joe Bryson, 290 Cherry Dr, Satellite Beach, FL 32937-3360; Cell: (321) 777-6282, Email: jbrysonfl@gmail.com

Judging takes place at the Clermont Garden Club, 849 West Ave, Clermont, FL 34711 at 10:30 AM on the second Saturday of the month. Flowers must arrive at judging center by 10 AM. Judging begins at 10:30AM. Send cut flowers to arrive the day before judging to: Joe Bryson, 290 Cherry Dr, Satellite Beach, FL 32937.

PLEASE check the FNCJC website for updates. https://aosfncjc.wixsite.com/aos-florida-north-ce

 

Great Lakes Judging Center

Chair - Dennis Seffernick, 2100 Sherwood Ln, Swanton, OH 43558-9767; (419) 654-1433; Email: dseffernick@msn.com

Judging typically takes place at the Morris Lawrence Building, Washtenaw Community College, 4800 East Huron River Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48105 (Room 160) at 1:00PM on the third Saturday of the month. Please check the website event calendar for updates and details. Send cut flowers to: William Overton, 37580 Grantland St, Livonia, MI 48150.

 

Great Plains Judging Center

Chair - Thompson, Max., 1729 East 11th Ave., Winfield, KS 67156-4007; H: (620) 221-1856, Email: maxt@cox.net.

Judging takes place at the Southwestern College - Beech Science Center, 100 College St., Winfield, KS at 10:30am on the third Saturday of the month. Send cut flowers to: Max C. Thompson, 1729 E. 11th. Ave., Winfield, KS 67156.

 

Hawaii Judging Center

Chair, Hilo - Ben Oliveros, PO Box 1146, Mountain View, HI 96771-1146; H: (808) 345-1371, Email: oliveros@orchideros.com

Judging takes place at the Komohana Research and Extension Center, 875 Komohana St. Room D-202, Hilo, HI 96720 at 9:00AM on the second Saturday of the month and the fourth Friday of the month at 4:00PM. Send cut flowers to: Gregory K. Kobayashi, DDS, Inc., 260 Ponakawai St., Hilo, HI 96720.

Chair, Honolulu - Roy Andrade, 92-756 Nenelea St., Kapolei, HI 96707; H: (808) 672-3384, Email: choke4x4s@hawaiiantel.net

Judging takes place at the S.W. King Intermediate School 46-155 Kamehameha Hwy Kaneohe HI 96744 (in the cafeteria) at 7:00PM on the first Wednesday of the month (except June, November, and December) and at the Higashi Hongwanji Mission, 1685 Alaneo Street, Honolulu, HI in the Fukuhara Conference Room at 7:00PM on the third Tuesday of the month (except January, July and December).

Chair, Maui - Sciuto, Maryetta, 74 Ulana St., Makawao, HI 96768; H: (808) 572-7171, C: (808) 283-5021 Email: metta2003@hawaii.rr.com

2022: Please refer to the website calendar for details, as the location and hours fluctuate depending on COVID-19 restrictions and availability. Send cut flowers to: Mike Blietz, 3141 Ua Noe Pl., Haiku, HI 96708.

 

Houston Judging Center

Chair - Ted Baenziger, 4019 Yoakum Blvd., Houston, TX 77006. (713) 444-9116, Email: Tbaenziger@gmail.com

Judging takes place at the 1st Christian Church, 1601 Sunset Blvd, Houston, TX 77005 at 1:00PM on the third Saturday of the month. Plant entry deadline 11:30am. Send cut flowers to: Nina Rach, 8801 Burkhart, Houston, TX 77055.

 

Louisiana Judging Center

Chair - Alan Taylor, 168 KVVP Dr, Leesville, LA 71446; (337) 424-6989, Email: alant@krok.com

Alternative Chair - Frank Zachariah, 13858 Jefferson Hwy, Baton Rouge, LA 70817; (225) 202-0377, Email: lousid8@gmail.com

Judging takes place at  the Westside Regional Library, 5416 Provine Place, Alexandria, Louisiana 71301 at 1:00PM on the fourth Saturday of the month. Training takes place at 11AM. Send cut flowers to: Alan Taylor, 168 KVVP Dr, Leesville, LA 71446.

 

Mid-America Judging Center

Chair - Matt Nutt, 9310 Lawrence 2210, Monett, MO 65708. (417) 235-5210. sehekuwe@gmail.com

Judging takes place at the Missouri Botanical Garden, Commerce Bank Center for Science Education, 4651 Shaw Blvd., St. Louis, MO at 12:00PM on the second Saturday of the month. Send cut flowers to: Nathan Bell, 456 Shockley Road, Hollister, MO 65672.

 

Mid-Atlantic Judging Center

Chair - Mary Jo Gilsdorf, 1630 Meadow Ln, Glen Mills, PA 19342-1917. (610) 755-7806. anyara@msn.com

Judging takes place at All Saints Church, 1325 Montgomery Ave, Wynnewood, PA, 19096 at 10:00 AM on the second Saturday of the month. Send cut flowers to: Mary Jo Gilsdorf, 1630 Meadow Ln, Glen Mills, PA 19342.

 

Montréal Judging Centre

Chair, Montréal - André Couture, 24 Lorne Ave., Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1R 7G7; Email: andrec.couture@sympatico.ca

Judging takes place at the Jardin botanique de Montréal, 4101 Sherbrooke St. East, Montréal, Quebec, Canada at 1:00PM on the third Saturday of the month

 

National Capital Judging Center

Chair - Bryan Ramsay, 23258 Holly Hill Ln, California, MD 20619-6130; (301) 997-5373, bryan.ramsay@yahoo.com

Judging typically takes place at Saint James United Methodist Church, 12470 Old Frederick Road, Marriottsville, MD 21104, though you should refer to the Event Calendar for proper dates and times, as well as any changes in location. Judging is typically held on the first Saturday of the month at 10:30AM, but this may vary month to month. Send cut flowers to: Valerie Lowe, 17 Maxa Ct, Baltimore, MD 21220. Pre-notification of expected delivery date and time is requested.

 

Northeast Judging Center

Chair, Englewood - Wayne Wiegand, 97 Harrison Ave, North Plainfield, NJ 07060-3606; (781) 856-1652, Email: weulerw@msn.com

Judging takes place at the Flat Rock Brook Nature Center, 443 Van Nostrand Ave., Englewood, NJ at 11:00AM on the third Saturday of the month. Send cut flowers to: Wayne Wiegand, PhD, 97 Harrison Ave, Plainfield, NJ  07060.

Chair, Boylston - Winkley, Robert, 80 Florida St., Unit 9, Dorchester, MA 02124; H: (617) 282-7351, Email: rwinkley@aol.com

Judging takes place at the Tower Hill Botanic Garden, 11 French Dr., Classroom C, Boylston, MA at 1:00PM on the first Saturday of the month. Send cut flowers to: Robert Winkley, 80 Florida ST., Unit 9, Dorchester, MA 02124.

Please see our website: nejcaos.org.

 

Pacific Central Judging Center

Chair - Kenneth Jacobsen, 3209 Longfellow Dr, Belmont, CA 94002-1328, (650) 631--4235, kenneth.p.jacobsen@gmail.com

Chair, Filoli Historic House - Sylvia Darr, 1 Samaria Ln, Oakland, CA 94619-2337; (650) 450-1384, syldarr@gmail.com

Judging takes place at the Filoli Historic House, 86 Cañada Road, Woodside, CA at 10:00AM on the third Saturday of the month. Plant entry starts at 10AM. Judging to start at 10:30AM. Send cut flowers to: Japheth Ko, 13641 Paseo del Roble, Los Altos Hills, CA 94022.

Chair, San Francisco - Kenneth Jacobsen, 3209 Longfellow Dr, Belmont, CA 94002-1328; H: (650) 631-4235, kenneth.p.jacobsen@gmail.com

Judging takes place at the San Francisco County Fair Building, Golden Gate Park, 9th Ave. at Lincoln Way, San Francisco, CA at 7:00PM on the first Tuesday of the month. Send cut flowers to: Japheth Ko, 13641 Paseo del Roble, Los Altos Hills, CA 94022.

 

Pacific Northwest Judging Center

Chair - Craig Williams, 12698 SW Morning Hill Ct, Tigard, OR 97223-4727; (503) 936-4696, Email: craig.a.williams@comcast.net

Judging takes place at Keizer Civic Center, 930 Chemawa Rd NE, Keizer, OR 97303 at 1:00PM on the first Sunday of the month. Send cut flowers to: Thomas Etheridge, 1112 NW Solar Pl., Corvallis, OR 97330.

 

Pacific South Judging Center

Chair: George Hatfield, 4619 Vanderbilt Ct, Ventura, CA 93003-1929; H: (805) 901-0340, Email: george@aos.org

San Marino Center - George Hatfield, 4619 Vanderbilt Ct, Ventura, CA, 93003-1929; (805) 901-0340, Email: george@aos.org

Judging takes place at the Huntington Botanical Gardens, Mishler Resource Building, Lower Level, Allen at Orlando, San Marino, CA at 10:00AM on the second Saturday of the month. Send cut flowers to: Arthur Pinkers, 22982 Mulberry Glen Dr, Santa Clarita, CA, 91354..

San Diego Center - Phyllis Prestia, 3849 Via Del Rancho, Oceanside, CA,92056-7727, (760) 685-3744, Email: orchldy2@mac.com

Judging takes place at the at Balboa Park, Casa del Prado, Room 104, San Diego, CA 92101 on the first Tuesday of the month at 6:00PM. Send cut flowers to: Phyllis Prestia 3849 Via Del Rancho, Oceanside, CA, 92056.

Long Beach Center - Chair, Lin, Peter T., 834 N. Featherwood Dr., Diamond Bar, CA 91765; H: (909) 396-0334; Email: minicatt99@yahoo.com 

Judging takes place at the Whaley Park Community Center, 5629 Atherton, Long Beach, CA at 7:00PM on the fourth Monday of the month. Send cut flowers to: Peter Lin, 834 N. Featherwood Dr., Diamond Bar, CA 91765.

Santa Barbara Center - Chair, Sloniker, Jim, 325 Court Ave, Ventura, CA 93003; H: (805) 642-4357, Email: jimorchid@aol.com.

Judging takes place at the Trinity Lutheran Church, 909 N La Cumbre Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93110 at 7:00PM on the third Wednesday of the month. Send cut flowers to: Jim Sloniker, 325 Court Ave, Ventura, CA 93003-1741.

 

Puerto Rico Judging Center

Chair - Rene Garcia, 68 Villa Mena, Arecibo, PR 00612; H: (787) 382-5283 Email: reneenriquegarcia@hotmail.com

Judging takes place at 1:00PM on the first Saturday of the month. For specific judging locations, please refer to the judging calendar. Send cut flowers to: Carlos Fighetti, HC-03 Box 8125, Guaynabo, PR 00971-9710.

 

Rocky Mountain Judging Center

Chair - Ian Rich, 3787 County Road 12S, Alamosa, CO 81101-9117; (719) 580-8197, Email: orchidian01@gmail.com

Judging takes place at the Colorado Federation of Garden Clubs, 1556 Emerson St., Denver, CO at 1:00PM on the second Saturday of the month. Please refer to our website for additional information and updates, rmjc.info. Send cut flowers to: Mitchell Edwards, 90 Oneida Ct, Denver, CO 80230, (720) 925-9553, mitchellainedwards@icloud.com.

 

Toronto Judging Center

Chair, Toronto - Theresa Kennedy, 15 Wilmac Ct., Stouffville, ON L4A 2C9, Canada. (905) 727-3319. ourtropics@gmail.com

Judging takes place at the Toronto Botanical Garden, 77 Lawrence Ave., Toronto, Ontario, Canada at 1:00PM on the first Saturday of the month. Send cut flowers to: Peter Poot, 330 Wagg Rd., Box 241, Goodwood, Ontario, Canada L0C 1A0.

 

West Palm Beach Judging Center

Chair - Wood, Jackie, 1360 SW 18th Street, Boca Raton, FL 33486-6634; W: (561) 703-0278; Email: bocaorchidlady@aol.com

Judging takes place at Flamingo Gardens, 3750 S Flamingo Road, Davie, FL 33330 at 2:00 PM on the fourth Saturday of the month (third Saturday November & December). Send cut flowers to: Jackie Wood, 1360 SW 18th Street, Boca Raton, FL 33486-6634 (to arrive by Friday).

 

Western Canada Judging Center

Chair - David Edgley, 892 Palouse Pl., La Conner, WA 98257. (425) 785-6440. david.edgley@gmail.com

Judging takes place on the second Saturday of the month at 11:30am at the Thompson Community Centre, 5151 Granville Ave, Richmond, BC or at the Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary, 2873 Swan Lake Road, Victoria, BC. Please check the AOS judging calendar for details.
Send cut flowers to: Abu Salleh, #209 - 888 Pacific Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2S6.

 

See the Events Calendar for judging dates