CLEC

one of my favorite Christmas traditions is one that my friend Ashlee and i created about five or six years ago. as we were observing the Christmas lights around the community one year and telling each other our expert analysis for each yard, it struck us that our opinions should be heard. our mothers taught us that if you don't like something, but you're not willing to do anything about it, you have no business whining and complaining about it. so we decided that the next year we would do something about it, and the CLEC was formed (the Christmas Light Evaluation Committee). we developed the evaluation form you see here, gathered our friends into one big van, and toured the neighborhoods discussing, arguing, and debating our opinions as we filled out the form for each house. once the evaluation was complete, we simply rolled up the document and placed it between the door jamb and the knob so that the unsuspecting decorator would have a few tips for the following years.


i've done it with a different group of people every year since, and it is always, always extremely entertaining. it's amazing how serious you find yourself getting about this silly, meaningless form. so far everyone has enjoyed it, so this year, as my Christmas gift to all my devoted readers (all four of you), i invite you to join in the festivities. the form is supposed to be sized so you can fit two on a landscape 8.5x11 paper (but since i don't really know what i'm doing, there's no way to really know). if you enjoy it as much as i do, it'll be a new tradition for you...and pass it along! the committee gets bigger every year!


Merry Christmas!

(here is just the text if you want to make your own form)

CLEC -- The Christmas Light Evaluation Committee
"Serving the community through uninvited and uninhibited judgment."

Annual Yard Decoration Evaluation -- December 2007

Overall Appearance (30 total pts possible)
_____ First impression (10 pts possible)
Deductions for unattractive assembly or individual yard decorations.
_____ Satisfying response (10 pts possible)
Deductions for any immediate negative reaction.
_____ Decoration maintenance (10 pts possible)
Deductions for fallen décor, broken lights, etc.


Theme & Symmetry (40 total pts possible)
_____ Theme established and consistent (10 pts possible)
Deductions for erratic and thoughtless design.
_____ Consistent use of medium (10 pts possible)
Deductions for uncomplimentary yard décor, i.e. plastic Santa next to inflatable snowman.
_____ Full field of vision utilized (10 pts possible)
Deductions for asymmetrical yard décor, i.e. one half of yard has lights.
_____ Consistent use of light color and programming (10 pts possible)
Deductions for inconsistency in lights, i.e. one strand blinks, others stay lit.


Originality & Effort (30 total pts possible)
_____ Original use of decorations (10 pts possible)
Deductions for severe lack of creativity.
_____ Appearance of thought invested (10 pts possible)
Deductions for unfulfilled potential with light and yard decorations.
_____ Appearance of effort invested (10 pts possible)
Deductions for haphazard assembly, i.e. lights poorly hung.

Total Overall Score (100 pts possible) _______

The judges most appreciated...

Next year, the judges would like to see ...

Thank you for your contribution to the Christmas Spirit (or at least for your attempt.) We hope you have a beautiful Christmas.