The nominations are officially announced and Final Round voting has begun online. We use 3 distinct groups in the final round to judge the song categories:

1. Industry Professionals. This includes anyone making part or all of their living doing the following: Publishers, Producers, Engineers, Managers, Publicists, Venue Owners, Booking Agents, Media Professionals and Journalists, Entertainment Attorney's, Musicologists and Music Educators, PRO and other Music Organizational Staff, Record Label Staff, Music Retailers and Instrument/Gear Manufacturers, Internet, Radio and TV Music Broadcast Staff and any other Music Related Professionals earning income from your work.

2. Musician and Writer Peers: This includes anyone who writes or performs music of any genre.

3. Music Fans: If you don't fit into category 1 or 2 and you love music, you qualify to be a Fan judge.

Who is NOT eligible:

1. Nominees can't vote in their own categories. They can vote on anything else as long as they meet criteria #2 below.

2. No one can vote on a category where a band mate, co-writing partner, business partner, relative or significant other is nominated.

3. All voters must be current active JPF members on the member email list prior to September 11th, 2006. Non members can vote if they are referred by active members AND they agree not to vote on any category involving the person or persons who referred them to vote. In simple terms, you can't recruit friends and fans to vote on your own nominations. This isn't a popularity contest, it's based on the true merit of the music. If you have questions, email us.

If any attempt is made at fraud in the voting, votes will be eliminated and the nominees could be eliminated from winning. This awards process is about recognition. If you cheat and win, it's hollow and meaningless. Please play fair and let the songs and albums that move judges most win!

We now have all the music posted on the website for voting on-line. You will need a fast connection to be able to do so. If you have a fast connection and you meet the criteria listed above, here is the info we need for your registration:
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Here's what we need from you if you want to be a 2006 Awards Judge:

01. Full Name
02. Full Mailing Address
03. Telephone Number(s)
04. Email address
05. Which of the 3 Judging Categories do you qualify for?
06. Are you a nominee? If yes, which categories?
07. Have you read the rules and restrictions and do you still qualify to vote in the categories you requested above?
08. Do you have a fast Internet connection that will allow you to vote on line?
09. Are you a current JPF member getting the newsletters each month? If you are not a current JPF member, what active member referred you? Please include name and email address of that member.

Once you answer these questions, please email them to votes@jpfolks.com ONLY. Place "2006 Awards Judge Volunteer" in the subject field. Copy your own email address on the email so you have a copy in case it get's lost or we don't receive it. (Spam Filters can be a nightmare!).

All 9 questions above must be answered in full or you're not eligible to vote.

We will email you back a link to start voting and other instructions within 24 hours (usually much quicker). If you have not heard from us in 24 hours, we did not get your request. All info you provide is kept confidential.
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It's important judges can follow rules, so PLEASE fill out all the above info in order from 1 through 9 and send it to the right place). We expect to be keeping track of thousands of judges again this year and we need your cooperation to follow the rules or it will be impossible to keep in order. We know it's a lot of info, but we take the judging process very seriously and this helps avoid fraud and helps us match up the best judges for each genre/category.

You can vote on as many or few categtories as you are interested in on line.

Here's the list of Song Genres to choose from:

A Cappella, African, Alternative, Ambient, Americana, Asian, Bluegrass, Blues, Cabaret, Cajun, Caribbean, Celtic, Celtic Instrumental, Children’s, College Rock, Contemporary, Contemporary Christian, Country, Cover, Dance, Electronica, European:, Experimental, Female Singer Songwriter, Gospel, Hard Rock, Hawaiian, Holiday, Traditional Holiday, Indian, Classical, Industrial, Instrumental, Instrumental Jazz, Jewish, Latin, Male Singer Songwriter, Metal, Middle Eastern, Modern Rock, Native American, New Age, New Folk, Novelty, Polka, Pop, Punk, R&B, Rap, Reggae, Rock, Rock Instrumental, Rockabilly, Roots, Roots Instrumental, Salsa, Solo Guitar, Solo Instrumental, Solo Piano, South and Central American, Spoken Word, Surf, Techno, Traditional Folk, Urban Gospel, Vocal Jazz, World

If you're not sure what some of those genres are, here's a page that explains the music you'll find in each one: http://www.justplainfolks.org/ubb/Forum61/HTML/000096.html

Note: If you do not have a fast Internet connection, you may still be able to vote from Voting CD's we send to judges. We aren't planning to send as many voting discs out as previous years and the process is far more time sensitive because discs have to be burned, mailed, received, listened to and votes returned in a shorter time period with no room for error or lost mail. Let us know if you want to be considered for voting CDs. Email me at jpfolkspro@aol.com if you want to vote via CD. Give me the same info as above but include a minumum of 5 genres you are interested in judging. The more genres you include, the more likely we can use you to judge.

If you have any questions, email Brian at jpfolkspro@aol.com. Place "Judging Question" in the subject field. Please don't send your questionnaire to me. It needs to go to votes@jpfolks.com so the proper people get your info.

In the last awards process we used over 4000 judges to determine the winners. We get very positive feedback from judges each year and we think you'll enjoy the experience.

Thanks for volunteering!

Brian

Brian Austin Whitney
Founder
Just Plain Folks
www.jpfolks.com

Yes. All info is kept confidential, but we have to have info in case we need to contact you about the votes or to verify a problem or to clarify if we believe voter fraud is happening. Phone numbers are hard to fake. So it's required to help avoid any problems.

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http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pageartist.cfm?bandID=429263

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Marty my home

When will the online judges hear from you?
I sent in my info the very day I received the notice for online judge qualifications.

Blessings,
Tee www.soundclick.com/lattetatheresa

Right now everyone who has expressed interest in juding will get a chance very soon. We're trying to finish the voting forms/system to track all this and Ryan from Hostbaby has written scripts etc.. to track it all and it's not a quick process. All the music is on line and we're nearly there but until the system works flawlessly, we can't start the voting. I have the list and will email everyone very soon.

We still need a LOT more judges. We have nearly 1000 but last time we used 4000 judges so there's a lot more folks that need to be recruited. Also, we are going to test out the on line voting first to see how well that works before we do any physical CD's. That process is VERY expensive and not very efficient compared to on line voting if we can make it all work properly. With CD voting, it requires mailing stuff and if a CD doesn't work it ends the chance to get those votes back. On line if there is a glitch (and there always are of some type) we can fix it and someone can go right back and vote the same day.

Stay tuned,

Since you still need lots of judges, I'm still ready and willing.

Does that mean If I am a songwritr I can't vote in the songwriting/Music peer Category? I am not nominated for anything. What does that qulaify me to vote on?

Update:
Two days ago my DSL service was upgraded to Verizon FIOS (Fiber Optic) service! Now I can download music files even faster! This is quit amazing technology and the phone line is now "digital", so it's better for voice as well.

I sent my judge questionnaire (submission) form to: votes@jpfolks.com on 9/29/2006. I listed 5 genres that I'd like to help out on. I can comfortably handle at least two or three genres, and maybe up to four if we can get this started soon enough.

When is the deadline for getting the last of the votes in?

Hope to hear something soon.
Thanks & best regards,

Michael

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The OUTLOOK may often appear bleak, but the UPLOOK is always bright!
Michael Borges
Michael Borges On Violin
Praiseworthy Productions

We sent the link to the entire organization in the newsletter last week. All you had to do is read the last newsletter and you could be voting immediately upon sending your registration which you've done.

Anyway, I have enough now to get started now, so here goes!

Thanks again!!
Michael