you don't let an individual decide a contest! especially a plant of the month one. you let the members vote on it. i don't see how members voting can get to be a huge problem... everyone will see who votes for whom, pretty simple. did it every month at couchlock. i think what it really takes is someone with the position to see it through. maybe appoint someone to plan/put these things together. a lawyer to decide on a picture contest??? doesn't sound right to me...
our laywers have to go through contests with prizes because its a liability on what we can and cannot do it due to illegal things its a precaution
this is why i suggested by going by likes we can declare a winner.
maybe poll for interest first?
i've run 'sig of the week' contests and it was pretty easy by editing second post and a simple poll. first a thread for entries, then a thread with poll for votes.
i thought of a poll but, it would have to be constantly updated because not everyone will submit right away.
If you go by most likes, users can post a submission, than people can like their photo instead of having to go by my sech of me updating the poll.
furthermore me and no other mod have that amount of time to dedicate to updating a poll several times a day especially right now during the holidays.
you have to realize we have like 600,000 members while not everyone will participate many will and updating a poll every single day multiple times a day wont work for us.
if you go by most likes however that would be the easiest.
I;ve been here for over 8 years now I kinda know what will work in terms of contests and what doesnt because we've been here through trial and error before.