Appraiser Coordinator
Judge recruitment, selection, and training is all the responsibility of our Appraiser Coordinator.
If you know of anyone who is willing to judge for us,
please have them contact our Program Duirector, Steve Shearer
stevecr8z@zianet.com

Challenge Masters for 2005

Challenge Master Communications

In the past, the state Problem Captains sometimes got isolated. Since these volunteers are so important to a creative problem solving program, this isolation was not beneficial to our kids. Destination ImagiNation is trying to find the right involvement between the state Challenge Masters (who supervise the Appraisers at the state tournament) and the teams and the team managers.

You may already know about some of the changes. For example, there will be no more "Judges Only Clarifications." No longer should you be surprised at the tournament with something which they didn't tell you. (You still need to read all the rules and check the Clarifications, though!) Another change is that the state Challenge Masters (CMs) will be on an e-mail list with the International Challenge Masters, who will be discussing with them the Challenges and the Clarifications, and discussing some of the nuances of the Challenge. This is hoped to both improve the quality of appraising everywhere and to standardize appraising around the world.

Reggie Bunis, a member of the Destination ImagiNation Board of Trustees hopes that "the increase in communication will make things more CONSISTENT for the kids and for the Appraisers." As you have noted, the Challenge Masters' e-mail addresses have been published. Yes, you can now communicate directly with your CMs concerning appropriate matters.

"And what do you mean by appropriate?" you ask. The following might help.

 

Do:

• E-mail copies of any Clarifications you have requested or have received
• Ask about site-specific details that might effect your presentation. (But realize that the CMs probably won't know much about the site until much closer to the tournament.)
• Inform of physical handicaps or special team considerations (e.g., wheelchair access)
• Say "hi" and "thank you for volunteering"

Don't:

• Ask about resolving scheduling conflicts (that's the Tournament Director's job)
• Ask for Clarifications to the Challenges. Use the official Clarification procedures instead.
• Argue or complain about them, the judges, or anything else (especially the web page)
• Discuss or describe your team's solution before the tournament
• Offer bribes of less than one million dollars, and then only in small, unmarked bills

New Mexico Challenge Masters © 2003-2005, Creative Programs of New Mexico