Should AD's pick judges if they have family competing?

[Wihey1]

I've seen this happen time and time again. I've seen AD's that choose the judges (usually pow wow friends) and then their whole family wins. This doesn't seem to bother them but it happens. How do you feel about this.

[ccreek10]

I don't think immediate family members should dance if someone in their family is a Head Judge. This also goes for Arena Directors. Saw this happen at the Winchester, Tennessee, powwow this past weekend. The arena director's family members either won first or placed, even when there were other better dancers there. They don't judge by dancing ability which is what they should judge instead of who their friends are. This has been going on for years. Doubt if it will ever change.

[Wihey1]

hmmmm

[dreams4u]

[chazziff]

i've seen it too and it'll probably never change. seen where an AD's daughters all got first place in all junior girls categories...geez that was a ca-winkie-dink...

[Wihey1]

Who me, what is your thoughts on this?

[WhoMe]

Who me, what is your thoughts on this?

Wihey,

Arena directors evolved from the old whipmen in men's Helushka and grass dance societies. It was, and still is, their job to "physically manage" the dance arena.


Once this evolution took place, Arena Directors "were" chosen because of their overall knowledge of arena protocol, regional distinctions, dance and singing experience and personal repoire with other head staff/committee.

With the frequency of powwows today, coupled with the fact that powwows are still infiltrating new horizons, finding knowledgable arena directors is not always possible. This may or may not have been the case, in Winchester, TN.

Originally there was a rule that judges should disqualify themselves if they have family members competing.

However, times are changing and we are witnessing the blatant disregard of traditional values - in favor of adopting new and sometimes less honorable ways of doing things. This is especially true concerning competition, contests and competitors.



My grandfathers wise words have come to pass,

"MONEY CHANGES THINGS!"

[Furiously-Fancy]

Some pow-wows are so small nepotism is unavoidable.

[Wihey1]

Who Me, WELL SPOKEN! You are very knowledgable and I can tell you were taught good ways. There is a blantant disregard to traditional values and money does change people.



To Fancy: I disagree

[TacO5000]

I wish my family was judging when I was dancing! Then maybe I could have won!!! Aye!

[screamin_chickenz]

Wihey,

Arena directors evolved from the old whipmen in men's Helushka and grass dance societies. It was, and still is, their job to "physically manage" the dance arena.


Once this evolution took place, Arena Directors "were" chosen because of their overall knowledge of arena protocol, regional distinctions, dance and singing experience and personal repoire with other head staff/committee.

With the frequency of powwows today, coupled with the fact that powwows are still infiltrating new horizons, finding knowledgable arena directors is not always possible. This may or may not have been the case, in Winchester, TN.

Originally there was a rule that judges should disqualify themselves if they have family members competing.

However, times are changing and we are witnessing the blatant disregard of traditional values - in favor of adopting new and sometimes less honorable ways of doing things. This is especially true concerning competition, contests and competitors.



My grandfathers wise words have come to pass,

"MONEY CHANGES THINGS!"

yeh i agree with "Who Me", times are changing...

[CHEROSAGE]

I agree that times ARE changing, but often still today in some of the dances(contest) I have gone to I've seen people bow out as a judge because a close family member was dancing. I don't consider a 5th cousin 10 times removed (what ever that means) as a reason to bow out. I do though consider an adopted family, and friends, as close family.

I have bowed out myself at times when I've been asked to judge because of family members dancing.

[jingle-babygirl]

well I guess it depends on how fair that AD is...I know that there are some head judges are like that too...but my friend's father down south in Texas...he is a very fair man....he is head judge and his family dances as while...but when it comes to picking judges for his family he lets the committee choose their judges...he doesn't want people to say that they won because of him...he wants them to win on their own merits...we need more people like that on pw committees....I do agree that money does change things!!

[dreams4u]

[bahnisiain]

i remember seeing at Schemitzun and a couple of other pow wows the arena directors picking folks to be judges. a couple of times those foks declined because they knew someone in that catagory.