![\"CJ](\"http:\/\/blogs.magicjudges.org\/jotw\/files\/2018\/01\/JudgePic.jpg\")
Name:<\/strong>\u00a0CJ Crooks<\/a>\nLevel:<\/strong> 3
\nLocation:\u00a0<\/strong>Garner, North Carolina
\nJudge start date:\u00a0<\/strong>I started playing Magic in 1995 and started judging during Shadowmoor.
\n Favourite card:<\/strong>\u00a0Null Rod<\/a> or Bitterblossom<\/a>
\nLeast favourite card:<\/strong>\u00a0Solitary Confinement<\/a>
\nFavourite format<\/strong>: Vintage
\nCommander General:<\/strong> My first experience playing EDH was in a Charity Tournament with a deck loaned to me by Ben McDole<\/a>
\n<\/u><\/u>Favourite non-Magic Game:<\/strong> Chess
\nBest tournament result:<\/strong> 1st<\/sup>\u00a0Place.
\nRandom fact about yourself:\u00a0<\/strong>I teach leadership skills to incoming high school seniors every summer through a Rotary program.<\/p>\n
How did you get involved in Magic in the first place?<\/strong> Why did you become a Judge? What motivates you to continue being a Judge?<\/strong> What is one tip you have for other Judges?<\/strong> What is your favorite non-Magic hobby?<\/strong> Could you describe what the Program Coordinator role means?<\/strong> What are the PCs meant to do, in broad terms, and how do they go about accomplishing those goals?<\/strong> As new Program Coordinator, what is your number one goal for the judge program?<\/strong> What have you found to be the greatest struggles with the Program Coordinator role?<\/strong> What is your favorite non-judging moment that happened with other Judges?<\/strong> What has been your favourite Magic event that you\u2019ve judged?<\/strong> What positive aspects has the Judge Program contributed to your everyday life?<\/strong> If you were a Planeswalker what would be your ultimate?<\/strong> If you were a creature what would be your creature type?<\/strong> Proudest moment of your Judge life?<\/strong> What character in Magic (real or fictional) represents you the best, and why?<\/strong> Two Truths and a Lie<\/strong> [expand title=”The answer to the last Two Truths and a Lie…”]Tomasz Ludkiewicz<\/a> is a nice person and he feels no hatred towards anyone or anything. So the statement about him and bananas was not true.[\/expand]<\/p>\n
\nMy bowling league teammates in middle school played, it gave us something to do after games. Ante was a bit tough, lost some great cards like Goblin King<\/a> and Nightmare<\/a>. \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>I opened a FLGS in Florida and wanted to provide a better play experience for customers. At the time, TOs couldn\u2019t play in any event they organized so I didn\u2019t have much else better to do!<\/p>\n![\"CJ](\"http:\/\/blogs.magicjudges.org\/jotw\/files\/2018\/01\/TLC-300x200.jpg\")
How has being a Judge influenced your non-Magic life?<\/strong>
\nJudging gives us a perspective into teamwork and leadership that is hard to find elsewhere. I would hope that I\u2019ve become a better communicator, team member, and problem solver because of the fabulous mentors that Magic has provided.<\/p>\n
\nYou were nominated for your desire to see other judges to improve and to work hard in a way you can have fun at the events. Do you have any strategies about this you can share with us?<\/strong>
\nEveryone needs to find what they enjoy about judging. It’s usually not what brought us to our first event that keeps us going. I am definitely a Selesnya judge, I enjoy watching people grow to meet the challenges around them. My advice is find a challenge you would enjoy (not everyone has the same aspirations) and figure out the appropriate gradients to get there.<\/p>\n
\nHelping other people get better at the things they enjoy.<\/p>\n
\nFind out what makes Magic fun for you and pursue that. The program is gigantic and there is a facet for everyone who wants to contribute.<\/p>\n
\nDay trading \ud83d\ude42
\nI think Steven Briggs<\/a><\/span><\/span> may be sick of my random messages by now.<\/p>\n
\nThe judge program is a massive organization. Over the years we\u2019ve done a great job of separating the workload necessary to plan and execute phenomenal player experiences across the globe while also offering judges opportunities for growth and comradery. I like to imagine the program as a giant caravan of cars. Each RC is driving their car. Each sphere lead and project lead is driving their car. Grand Prix Head Judges can usually be found swerving through lanes. The Program Coordinators are the ones tasked with making sure all the cars are headed in the same direction, toward clearly defined goals using road maps that make sense.<\/p>\n
\nWe run the program with the help and consultation of the Regional Coordinators and Sphere Leads. Regional Coordinators are vital to implementing any plans we as Program Coordinators have and Sphere leads are crafting the tools necessarily for those goals to be accomplished.<\/p>\n
\nI have three primary goals right now. First is to handle issues that the judge community raises and believes to be the most important. I would be remiss as a leader to focus on my goals without acknowledging what those around me want. Second, the creation of a level system that makes sense with the Organized Play structure that exists. And finally, the creation of self-education modules we can use to help bridge the gaps between levels.<\/p>\n![\"CJ](\"http:\/\/blogs.magicjudges.org\/jotw\/files\/2018\/01\/HomePage-300x200.jpg\")
What changes or improvements do you think the judge program needs the most?<\/strong>
\nI would submit our feedback culture needs more attention. Written reviews are on the decline and anecdotal evidence suggests that many judges are unwilling to listen to or accept a negative evaluation of their efforts. Learning through mistakes is critical to advancement. One of my favorite quotes comes from (disputably) Thomas Edison when he said \u201cI have not failed. I have just found 10,000 ways that didn\u2019t work.\u201d We have all made bad calls or poor logistical choices while running an event. Now we just have to find ways to learn from those mistakes and hope others help us along the way.<\/p>\n
\nInformation exchange has been tough. Whether it be information that Program Coordinators have that cannot be acted upon, information that we would like to have but aren\u2019t able to access, or information used to make decisions that can\u2019t be thoroughly explained, information exchange continues to be a struggle. I always wanted the Program Coordinators to communicate more before accepting this position and now I have a better understanding of the difficulties of crafting those communications. I like the way we are headed and we will always appreciate feedback from those willing to share it. As a reminder, you can email the PCs at Mail-the-PCs@googlegroups.com<\/p>\n
\nGetting the server at a judge dinner to put a BoomTube in Ben McDole<\/a><\/span><\/span>‘s mashed potatoes.<\/u><\/u><\/p>\n
\nI had the opportunity to judge in the 2017 World Championships. It was a surreal experience. It’s not often I am one of the least experienced judges on a staff anymore. Working with several of my role models in the judge program was simply fantastic.<\/p>\n
\nI would count my bests friends among people I\u2019ve met in the judge program. Joe Sapp<\/a><\/span><\/span> is teaching me Judo (you should google Joe Sapp and Judo<\/a>), Bryan Spellman<\/a>
<\/span><\/span> is teaching me to dance, and Matthew Johnson<\/a>
<\/span><\/span> is teaching me to cook.<\/p>\n
![\"CJ](\"http:\/\/blogs.magicjudges.org\/jotw\/files\/2018\/01\/Banner1-300x108.jpg\")
What would you be doing now if Magic no longer existed?<\/strong>
\nFinding new ways to connect with all the friends I\u2019ve made in the program.<\/p>\n
\n<\/u><\/u>Return each creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield. Creatures returned this way gain haste until end of turn.<\/p>\n
\nAvatar<\/p>\n
\nEvery time someone passes their certification exam after struggling to understand some aspect of rules or policy. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n
\nOne of the Tolarian Academy\u2019s founders. The Tolarian Academy was created to train an elite cadre of mages to Dominaria\u2019s defense. I have a facebook group of up and coming judges who will probably take over the world. So that\u2019s the same right?<\/p>\n
\nTwo of the following statements are true and one is false. Figure out which!<\/p>\n\n