Preparing for the Judges
You Need!!! 2 contact phone numbers for
community representatives One number for day time One number for the evening An email address would also be
useful
Be aware:
Publicized the judges visit to the community.
Publicized the tour route, to get public awareness.
Here come the Judges…
The MunicipalCommitment Form
The evaluation form is based on 8 categories.
The municipal information form is based on 8 categories.
Your tour should focus on all 8 categories.
Community Tips Look at the evaluation form every year,
both in preparation and for the judging tour.
When filling out the municipal information form and planning your tour have the evaluation form handy. You won’t miss out on any of the information required.
Judging TipLook carefully at the form. This is important in what you are shown and what you are told. Note the –
Municipal section is worth 50% Industrial/commercial section is worth
25% Private section is worth 25%
A page each for each one of these categories per section is enough information.
The Initial Meeting is….. a great opportunity for the judges
to get a feel for the community, and…
an enthusiastic, upbeat Judge can set the tone for the entire visit.
At the initial meeting, ask for….. 2 copies of completed Municipal
Information Form 2 copies of a map with the tour route Other information that you feel is
important for us to understand your community
Community Tips: A binder with the Municipal Information
Form, evaluation information, past evaluation forms (if available), clippings, pictures, by-laws would be nice for the judges to look at while they are in your community.
This binder is not for the judges to keep but to view and use while we are filling out your form.
Who could be at the initial meeting?
CiB committee members Mayor and/or council members Chamber of commerce
representative Corporate sponsors Volunteers
Business people Parks management & staff Service club representatives Any other people that are
involved in community activities
People with the betterment of the community at heart.
They don’t have to be members of the CiB
Committee!
Discuss at this meeting History of CiB in community
How did it start? How has it grown? CiB projects
For this year, touch on past projects Town bylaws
Changes to these? Enforcement? Community events
Celebrations? (Christmas, Children’s Day, Citizen of Year, Community Appreciation Day)
Community projects
The Judges schedule and
tour
Judge’s transportation Comfortable Large enough for both judges
to ride together.
Judges need to see a representative portion of the community (by car, presentation or other creative idea)
See and hear about things in all 8 sections and every part of the form
Communities In Bloom (CIB) is more than just planting flowers–it is about
PEOPLE PLANTS
and PRIDE
Community Tips:
Don’t want them to talk all the time Should be knowledgeable
Parks manager/Town Foreman would be an asset Consider changing tour guides through the tour
Choose your tour guides carefully
On each tour stop: The judges need to chat with
and question volunteers Ask to speak with the people
who are responsible.
Planning a good tour Be flexible, the judges will often
ask to stop here or there, or see something that is not on the tour route.
Limit the number of private gardens (3-5) you take us to. Although that is important, we are not on a garden tour.
Include on the tour Tidiness effort
Road/sidewalk maintenance Walk down a street to see how it is maintained
Municipal structure maintenance Graffiti, private signs on sign posts?
Back alleys Talk about tidiness programs
Public, business and municipal involvement Bylaw enforcement
Noxious Weeds
Include on the tour Environmental Awareness
Waste water facility (lagoons) Recycling facility Second hand clothes store Land fill (if close by) School (green)
Include on the tour Community involvement
Seniors centres Schools Hospitals
You’re evaluated on the efforts bymunicipal officials, community groups andCitizens.
Include on the tour Heritage Conservation
Museum Historic sites/buildings/trees Cemeteries Churches
Include on the tour Urban forestry
Long range plans for street trees Pruning/removal/replacement
Part of Dutch elm disease monitoring program
Citizens support and participation in tree plans and maintenance
Include on the tour Landscaped areas (brings together
hard landscape and natural elements) City scapes, landscaping along
mainstreet, parks
Include on the tour Floral displays
Include on the tour Turf and ground cover areas
Highlight areas where ground covers other than grass is used.
Not all the turf in a community needs to be maintained at a high level. Show the judges these areas.
Use of native plant material
TIP Many communities have the
volunteers at tour stops giving a short presentation
Tip Once tour route is established,
take someone else, not associated with CIB committee on tour. Often a fresh set of eyes finds the little things often overlooked.
We want to talk to Volunteers having them at each stop to chat
with the judges about the site and activity indicates good community involvement.
Municipal staff (parks foreman, public works) talk to them about their jobs, maintenance levels of parks and public areas do they get support for training from the town/city.
This gives us a feel for the community.
Don’t be afraid to show us the “bad” stuff…Don’t be afraid to tell us the “bad” stuff…
We can help your effort by adding suggestions into our evaluation.
It is wonderful for you to arrange a full day, but remember we need to evaluated your community on all 8 criteria categories.
Remember our time is really your time!
Remember not to schedule our day full.
We need 3-4 hours of quiet time alone to fill out our evaluation form. This is not including sleep time or personal preparation time.
We need to be able to spread out the information given us and go to work.
We realize you are excited to have us visit, and proud of your community, but you can imagine the work it takes to fill out the form.
Lastly remember– The main factor of success is
visible community improvement A growth of community spirit Ensuring your community is a nice
safe place to live. Make it fun and enjoy the journey
Top 10–how to score points10. If time permits, a short wrap up meeting
with judges before they leave town 9. First impressions count big 8. Be flexible 7. Provide the judges a chance to interact
with key individuals in each of grid categories
6. Make good use of time judges are in community.
Top 10–how to score points5. Prepare the materials for judges to
address all parts of the form4. Itinerary of judges’ activities should
take into account all parts of form 3. When judges arrive, have supportive
materials ready for them (schedule, map, supportive materials)
2. Know the scoring
Top 10–how to score points
1. Make it fun and enjoy the journey
If you have any questions, call:
Communities in Bloom Ontario
1-877-640-4005