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Rhode Island

once we get the 2005 results posted and take a short "pumpkin break" the steering committee will be at it again

we have several ideas that will allow those independent and smaller weigh off sites an opportunity to join the gpc at a nominal start up cost

we will also review the present site fee for our existing member sites and/or clubs

site coordinators, club/group reps and site sponsors on the west coast will be electing a replacement for pete glaiser
pete has decided to spend more time in the patch and less on the administrative end of the shovel
we wish him well, pete did a great job for everyone

we may if our new site drive is successful ,need to have several new steering committe members added

pls reply with any suggestions or thoughts you want me to bring up

thanks

dick w

10/18/2005 3:22:22 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

A few sites in Europe would be good. One in Australia too.

The GPC also needs a marketing/PR specialist. One that has worked with news & print & electronic broadcast media. Maybe a retired PR person or similar volunteer that likes gardening but isn't so serious about growing that they haven't time to do the job justice.

10/18/2005 5:21:28 AM

Western NY

How about a "second tier" GPC level for the small sites:

-less money to buy in.
-ineligible for the top 10 site average reward (because it wouldn't be able to make the top 5 anyway)
-only top 5 ribbons
-no (or reduced) 1st place bonus (as opposed to the current $150)

entrants would still be qualifying in a GPC event, tied into the rest of the sites and overall results as usual. This would allow growers to hit multiple (maybe several) GPC sites in a year. This may become an advantage in the future if a "Grower All-Star" award was created based on multiple fruit.

10/18/2005 9:21:33 AM

Rhode Island

good suggestions andy

thats whats great about this gpc section of bp
all comments can be held and reviewed at our winter meetings

come on folks lets hear some more ideas

its your club ,im just helping to hold the door open long enough for the room to fill up with new leaders

thanks

dick

10/18/2005 10:08:12 PM

Rhode Island

steve we would love a pr person in the fold

if anyone has that experience or knows someone who has the where with all to get this faction of the club going ,please speak up
thanks

dick

10/18/2005 10:11:02 PM

Team Munson

We have been in contact with a marketing/publicist who is very interested in working for the GPC. His services will not be for free and we would like to talk to some more possible candidates. We are treating this like a job posting and will be interviewing, checking backgrounds, and references. If anyone has another possible candidate please get their name and contact info to the Executive committee, thank you.
Dave Stelts

10/19/2005 7:07:39 AM

Roselle, IL GJGEM@sbcglobal.net

I used a PR company to help promote the IGPGA. and the pumpkins grown in my patch.
This is what they were able to pull off. I had a helicopter fly over my patch. Channel 2 news Chicago during the 5pm news( LIVE ) when we were loading the pumpkins . Channel 5 was on the ground filming and interviewing me for the 10pm slot. I was on WGN radio twice talking pumpkins and the IGPGA. WGN also was at the weigh-off and it was on the 9:00pm news.
We also made several newspapers. I thought it was well worth the money for the exposure.
PR is a crap shoot. No Guaranties. I wrote some of my own press releases and got some play. Its all who you know when it comes to PR. I will post the company that did the PR , if you are interested.

George Janowiak
IGPGA
President

10/19/2005 3:45:14 PM