Why bulletin contests?

"Why should I be interested in bulletin contests?" asks the chapter bulletin editor. "I am getting the news out to my readers; they love it and tell me so - and so why should I bear the slings and arrows of JUDGES?"

Very good question. Perhaps this answer might help you in your decision process.

First and foremost - the very fact that you are producing a chapter bulletin places you at the top of the heap! You are someone very special. You are doing a job that your readers really appreciate.

Who cares if the typewriter ribbon is weak or if it doesn't look like the morning newspaper. Who cares! It doesn't make any real difference how it is reproduced, how it measures up to someone else's standards or how it looks. It's yours - and it does the job! Not everybody has a word processor, a few don't even have typewriters. In fact in FWD there was a great hand-lettered bulletin (the San Francisco FOG HORN) for many years. It certainly did the job of informing his chapter members. That is the purpose of the bulletin - to communicate and you are doing it!

So why enter a contest?

However.... given that there is a bulletin - and you are proud of it, the next step might be to compare it, with pride, with others doing the same job.

Why do we having singing contests? To compare our ability to render as song - with others. Right? Well - perhaps that is the reason for bulletin contests.

Given: No bulletin is "better" than any other. Each does the job well and their chapter members love it; but sometimes we editors want to know just how we stack up with the rest of the district and Society.

Therefore, contests.

In bulletin contests, as in singing contests, our product is compared to a set of arbitrary rules: judging criteria. As in singing contests, we, in PROBE, have established several categories and have created scoring methods that are used to compare one bulletin to another. Like in the C&J world, these standards are "living documents" and are continually modified to keep the playing field level and provide the most effective comparison.

We agree that no "standard" is perfect - and ours are far from it, but we keep trying. Our judging disciplines are: Content - what is in the bulletin (Music?); Layout and Reproduction - how it looks (Presentation?); and Grammar and Style - spelling, punctuation and style (Singing?).

Our judges have been drawn from the ranks of many years of bulletin writing and some have been "certified" for more than 15 years. All are Barbershoppers! Very recently, a re-certification activity has been initiated, in order that we continue to achieve uniformity across the Society. The certification process is one that requires all judges to "judge" the same bulletin and write a critique.

The Category Specialists (yes, we have those, too), then review the scores and the critique letters and determine if the judge is seeing the discipline with the same eyes as the rest of his discipline-colleagues. Those who do are re-certified; those who differ are provided additional guidance and further opportunity to certify.

Therefore, your bulletins, when submitted for a district contest, are judged by a panel of three PROBE certified judges: one in each discipline. You should get not only a score indicating your conformance with the "standard," but also a friendly, helpful, supportive critique from each.

The International Bulletin Contest Rules require that entries be limited to the top two scoring bulletins from each District Bulletin Contest.

Thus, there is a maximum of 32 entries each year's IBC. These entries are judged by a panel of nine judges: i.e. a triple panel-each judging only one of your entries. In IBC, you will receive nine letters of accolades and/or recommendations. (That's really the major value of any contest.)

Here, too, be assured that these "recommendations" are offered for your consideration only. They do not indicate the "right" way, but merely the "standard PROBE" measuring stick. Editors may accept or reject, as the bulletin is their own, and any changes are at the pleasure of the editor. The judges in their recommendations merely point out ways to improve scores...in contest. Critique letters always state, in principle, that..."your way is probably better...but to get a couple of extra points, you could ... " If you like the recommendation, then use it (and perhaps garner a few more points in the next contest). If not - don't. IT IS YOUR BULLETIN!

So is there inherent value in contests? Do the scores and critique letters help you do a better job? Are there sufficient reasons for you to offer up your lamb to the sacrificial altar? Well, it takes real determination (i.e. guts) to stick your head out and enter a contest.

However, look at it this way: out of the million or so "points" allotted to you for doing that great job for your chapter, only a few hundred points (about 1%) are going to be used to compare your efforts with that of other editors. In my book, you have already WON the contest by merely publishing. If you'd really like to know how you shape up according to PROBE standards...then, that's why there are bulletin contests.

Keep on writing. You are the mortar that holds the bricks of your chapter together.

Enter contests? Your call!