About African Violet Shows

Many African violet societies exist in Canada, in the U.S.A. and around the world. Most societies have at least an annual African violet show. While some societies have a free form or locally designed show schedule with their own local rules for conducting the show, there is a world recognized standard for African violet shows, the AVSA Standard Show. (AVSA stands for the African Violet Society of America, Inc.) This show format and its rules allow local societies to stage shows without worry about developing an extensive show format or approach to a show schedule (plan and rules). A very acceptable format exists.

Lakeshore African Violet Society of Toronto is one among the majority of clubs which follow this format for their shows. Our current Show Schedule conforms to the standard and yet we have freedom to develop many classes and rules that suit our local group while still meeting an overall standard to which  most clubs conform.

All shows that conform to AVSA Standard Show requirements are eligible to win an award offered only to AVSA  Standard Shows when their show is judged. A show scoring 95-100 points (out of 100) wins the AVSA Standard Show Achievement Award while one scoring 90-94 points wins the AVSA Standard Show Award.

A protocol exists for about every activity that the show involves. There is an overall Show Chairman while there are additional Chairmen for every major activity involved in staging the show:  Awards, Schedule, Staging, Cleanup, Properties, Classification, Entries, Placement, Publicity, Judges and Hospitality. All must work together to assure the show is a success and that the rules for staging an AVSA Standard Show are followed.

Judging African violets is a very important activity at the show. We offer a separate page called Judging a Show that will give an outline of the role of the judges and who they are.