THE TWELVE PRINCIPLES
1. The American Rose Exhibitors Society (ARES) has but one primary purpose—to promote the public exhibition of roses in their most perfect phase of possible beauty.
2. The only requirement for ARES membership is a desire to grow and show roses.
3. ARES solemnly declares that a rose show is a competition among roses and not exhibitors. Members of ARES undertake to maintain the highest standards of ethical and fair behavior in showing roses.
4. ARES encourages the free and full exchange of knowledge of the science and art of growing and showing good roses.
5. ARES believes that the best way to keep our love of showing roses is to give it away to the new exhibitor. Pass it on.
6. ARES is independent of the American Rose Society and all other rose societies and horticultural organizations. Members of ARES are encouraged to participate in and assist in the conduct of rose shows by any rose society or horticultural organization, always urging that such shows be judged by qualified judges in accordance with generally accepted guidelines for judging roses.
7. ARES has no opinion on outside issues lest this divert us from our primary purpose.
8. ARES shall be minimally organized, with only an executive director, treasurer and secretary, and such advisors as they appoint, who shall serve at the pleasure of the membership convened in a meeting from time to time. ARES will undertake no political activities requiring ballots, campaigning or other divisive behavior.
9. ARES is a nonprofit organization that shall accumulate funds only as necessary to be self-supporting and to maintain no more than a prudent reserve.
10. ARES accepts the affiliation of Top Gun and other groups committed to showing roses; all such groups should be autonomous except in matters affecting ARES as a whole.
11. Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we are more concerned with the quality of our roses than the number of our members.
12. Roses are the foundation of all our principles, ever reminding us of the rewards of diligent work and service, the need to place principles before personalities and that the best way to increase the love of exhibiting is to carry this message to others. If any rose be lovely or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek to grow it, show it and share it.