So, I have a question. If I re-submit a plant for judging, and it receives an HCC/AOS, can I keep re-submitting the same plant as it matures in hopes of a higher scoring?

Yeah you can keep resubmitting as far as I know!

Yes you can get upgrades on the same plant.

So, I have a question. If I re-submit a plant for judging, and it receives an HCC/AOS, can I keep re-submitting the same plant as it matures in hopes of a higher scoring?

You may only re-submit the plant on a subsequent bloom. Not on the same bloom. And sure, the AOS is happy to take your money.

I wonder at the use of doing this, however. An incremental increase, say from a 75pt HCC to a 79pt HCC, is pretty useless. You would still say your plant had an HCC, and it wouldn't really be 'worth' any more money, if you were trying to sell it. An improvement from HCC to AM is useful, I guess. Chances are really good that you wouldn't improve a previously awarded plant to an FCC.

You may only re-submit the plant on a subsequent bloom. Not on the same bloom. And sure, the AOS is happy to take your money.

I wonder at the use of doing this, however. An incremental increase, say from a 75pt HCC to a 79pt HCC, is pretty useless. You would still say your plant had an HCC, and it wouldn't really be 'worth' any more money, if you were trying to sell it. An improvement from HCC to AM is useful, I guess. Chances are really good that you wouldn't improve a previously awarded plant to an FCC.

Wait a sec - if a plant is judged, I have to pay? I didn't know that! How much!?

I would think it would only be usefull if you got a much better pointing. I see what you are saying though. Interesting....

No, you don't have to pay to have your plant judged by the AOS. You are, however, obligated to pay for any award you receive. I don't recall what the fee is right now, it used to be around $35. That covers the cost of the photography, some publicatation (in AQ) and administration costs, etc. And as far as I know, the AOS doesn't actually make any money on the proposition. Of course the judges donate their time and travel, otherwise i suspect it would be quite expensive.

If you get an award and don't pay for it, you get blacklisted. Can't get any more AOS awards till you pay for the ones you got... It seems to take at least 6 months before they bother to send you a bill though, sometimes longer.

Huh, well, that does make sense. I wondered about the photography aspect, actually. I would have liked the photography though, that wallisii is so hard to get a good shot of, at least for a photo moron like myself. Well, anyway I didn't know because I didn't get nominated, so free for me this time. :wink:

Huh, well, that does make sense. I wondered about the photography aspect, actually. I would have liked the photography though, that wallisii is so hard to get a good shot of, at least for a photo moron like myself. Well, anyway I didn't know because I didn't get nominated, so free for me this time. :wink:

I guess we don't do a very good job of telling people it actually costs money to get an award... We should do better. This becomes a problem at shows, when newer members submit plants for exhibits and we give one an award. They often don't know a) they were even eligible for an award (any plant exhibited in an AOS sponsored show is eligible, unless the exhibitor notes otherwise), or b) they would have to pay for any such award.

This has come up more than once. And many of the people on the blacklist are people who decided they didn't want to play that way.

I guess we don't do a very good job of telling people it actually costs money to get an award... We should do better. This becomes a problem at shows, when newer members submit plants for exhibits and we give one an award. They often don't know a) they were even eligible for an award (any plant exhibited in an AOS sponsored show is eligible, unless the exhibitor notes otherwise), or b) they would have to pay for any such award.

This has come up more than once. And many of the people on the blacklist are people who decided they didn't want to play that way.

Sounds like a viscous circle. I can see where it would be a problem at shows. As I said, I had no idea, I don't think it says anything about it in Orchids magazine either. There should be a judging FAQ or something. Would be very helpful to us newbies.

It's $40 for AOS members and $60 for non members.

They'll send a bill quite a long time after the award has been given.

Thanks Rick!
Glad I'm a member! :D

Very Informative Post. Thanks!!