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Team Munson

As most might know by now the GPC has restructured the registration fee to make it more affordable to smaller sites. We are presently looking forward to a massive expansion for 2006 especially in Europe, Japan, Austrailia, plus any other country or continent I failed to mention. Our goal to standardize weights, measurements, soundness of fruit, etc... to ensure fair and equal competition around the globe. The GPC executive committee has worked hard at laying the ground work to support this expansion and will look forward to making the GPC a truely international organization. Please feel free to post here on possible new sites or contact any of your GPC representatives or committee members.

Thank you for your support of the GPC
Dave Stelts

2/20/2006 1:51:14 PM

Rhode Island

dave

i have been in contact with a couple growers from italy they may be interested in pushing for a gpc membership for their weigh off.

dick

2/21/2006 6:29:29 AM

Austria

This is a great approach. A fair system with the same rules for as many sites as possible and reliable standards on the recognition/validation concerning weight, soundness and maybe colour too would be a great effort.

Probably the European Weigh Off would be a great place to have GPC standards. The problem is that the company which runs it probably will not be interested as much as some of us growers.

I will point out this thread in the European forum.

Heino

2/21/2006 9:15:17 AM

Itzetown City

GPC standards are not at the issue.
What Dick is talking about is the GPC membership.
And no, I'll not making any comments of club founding in Europe. All what you need you may read here:
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/MsgBoard/ViewThread.asp?b=23&p=146686

2/21/2006 9:55:37 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

I've just re-read that thread & I still think that maybe Europeans are not aware exactly what the GPC is.

It is NOT a club.
It is not a Weigh-Off.
The GPC does not really have "members".

The GPC is a group of delegates that represent the growers in a geographical region. The GPC will work with a weigh-offs organizers to insure fair & uniform practices are being used. These people might be members of a growers club (or several), but the don't need to be.

A weigh-off can be a garden club event, an agricultural fair, a Town's block party or street festival, a Giant Pumpkin Associations fall weigh-off or just the whimsical garden party of a wealthy (or not so) garden nut. Many Giant Pumpkin weigh-offs in America started in a farmers barn or driveway. Some are little more than that today.

They meet periodically to discuss what is & isn't working for the best ineterest of the growing community. The result is a network of standards that seek to improve our sport/hobby in many ways. Such as:

Consistent weighing & weight recording/reporting.
Consistent weight estimating.
Consistent color interpretation.
Recently, the recording has strated to include genetics (cool)!
Weigh-off organization assisitance &/or promotional ideas.
Enhanced prize awards.

All of this is done to reward the grower with a more rewarding growing experience & to further the expansion of our quest to a broader audience.

For the very small sum asked to join, the benefits are much greater especially for those growers clubs that want to be more succesful.

All the GPC seeks to do is standardize & promote weigh-off events so we can all enjoy a better growing experience.

2/21/2006 11:50:13 AM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

Tremor:
How is it that you know all these things? Are you now on the GPC Board? Are you speaking for the GPC? I must have missed something somewhere along the line. Bring me up to speed.
Marv

2/21/2006 1:38:18 PM

ENGLAND

Firstly. Hans(Boehnke)has chosen the Ideal thread to highlight and look to if anyone wants to know why There would never be a UK National Giant Pumpkin & Squash Weigh-Off. I am not going to expand any more on that subject as it has been nothing but a pain in the Ass for years trying to wedge folk out and help to be part of a NATIONAL giant Pumpkin Growers Community. FORGET IT it would NEVER happen. PERIOD.

Steve
I have read all the pages of the GPC Rules, Ambitions etc etc etc etc etc etc and i know that it is not a Club, or a Weigh-Off and that is does not have a Membership as such. If you read my comments in the Thread i posted, and the initial reason why the thread was posted, and have noticed the very obvious lack of response you may understand why i for one have given up after years of trying to get all UK growers to unite. If there is a UK Growers Club or Group that does decide to join the GPC as an affilliated Group then i wish them good luck. However, i do hope they do not expect my support as they must have obviously been aware of what i have been attempting to do on a NATIONAL basis but decided to remain silent on any interest in expanding and widening any hope of getting a National Weigh-Off organised.

Regards
Mike

2/21/2006 3:47:19 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

No Marv....Just a weigh-off founder/coordinator. But I read the by-laws with interest & this is my interpretation of them. Perhaps I'm mistaken. I don't recall ever hearing of a dues collection for individual memberships. Just weigh-offs & our check has probably been cashed by now.

Mike,

I didn't mean to strike a nerve there. We have no move to nationalize Pumpkin Weigh-offs here either. We have nearly 20 weigh-offs within an hours drive of here over a 4 week period every year. The CT GS&PGA's biggest weigh-off challenge is trying to schedule it on a day there isn't already another one going on! LOL

I wouldn't care 2 hoots if another weigh-off happened the day before on the same beach as ours. What I would like to see though is that more of these events contributed to the GPC by paying dues & adhering to the current rules.

Even if a single UK weigh-off joined the GPC then we might see a trend start to develop. Not to form a weigh-off monopoly or consolidation, but rather to have a uniform set of standards & a maybe at some point a regular form of recorded data. Is it possible that folks are afraid this is an effort to reduce the number of fairs & weigh-offs? If this is their concern, I really can't blame them.

It would be the geneticist's dream to see a standardized genetic record of all fruit to reach a scale. I see no reason to try to nationalize an entire country when just a single weigh-off would make a fine start.

Sorry if I've overstepped. I have no authority to speak on behalf of the GPC.

2/21/2006 4:49:09 PM

Itzetown City

Steve, as the future president you can say what you want. LOL

2/21/2006 6:00:46 PM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

Tremor:
I have read the by-laws and a lot of the things you are talking about are not really in there. You must have been privvy to some other discussions held elsewhere. Not that any of it really matters. What does matter is quite simple. Grow a big pumpkin this year.
Marv

2/21/2006 9:04:20 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Actually I did speak with several GPC Steering members tonight. All weigh-off site coordinators have a voice in the GPC & apparently my interpretation is shared by all I spoke with this evening.

What do you want the GPC to be that it isn't?

I hear a few folks grumble but very few constructive ideas that will help further our quest.

Whay should the GPC do that it isn't doing?

2/21/2006 10:19:16 PM

Rhode Island

marv "lubadub" helped the gpc executive committee develop the wording and such for the new bylaws and rules we established after taking over at the request of retiring executive committee members last year.
marv has been a great assist to the committee.

steve "tremor" on the other hand is a valued member of the gpc family also. he not only is a gpc rep for the ct club but has a good handle on all things fair and impartial. he also will make a fine gpc executive committee candidate after the 2007 season when my tearm expires.( soon please lol )

quite frankly i got involved in this gpc organization because i felt things needed to change. we were starting to go stale and needed a good shot in the arm. some would say we needed an enema.
besides, i thought to much of my good friend hugh wiberg to let his efforts of many years go down the tubes.

last year we reorganized and recorded. this year we reduced site fees and are attempting to expand from 26 to 40 or better sites.

between the us and canada we should be able to accomplish this. hell, if you are part of any site/club big or small and you cant afford $100.00 to join then i guess you really dont give to many hoots about the hobby itself. and, if there are rules that you dont like and feel they are stopping your people from wanting to be a part of the gpc let us know. bring them up lets hear whats on your mind.

also dont forget let us know how you will fix the problem in question.
thanks

dick

2/21/2006 11:29:28 PM

Elk Grove,Ca USA

Speaking as a committee member, we are attempting to bring this fledgling organization into one that represents all growers from around the world in an atmosphere that is accurate, undisputed, respected and promotes the sport and interest in growing giant pumpkins. No organization can fully keep everyone harmoniuos all the time, but those challenges that we face and those willing to lead the organization from site coordinators to growers willing to take an active roll on many fronts, will be the ones that put forth the organization in the public arena. I look foward to constructing something that has never been and that with many hands we will have a great organization.

2/22/2006 2:27:01 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Good words turkeyman...a lot like the Mission Statement itself. (I really like #7 of the bylaws)

MISSION STATEMENT: The purpose of the Great Pumpkin Commonwealth will be to promote the sport/hobby of growing giant pumpkins throughout the world.

Great Pumpkin Commonwealth Bylaws

ARTICLE I Name The name of this organization shall be The Great Pumpkin Commonwealth.

ARTICLE II Purpose The purpose of this organization will be:

1. To establish and maintain a recognized and respected international organization that supports giant pumpkin growers throughout the world.

2. To set standards for and hold an annual pumpkin weigh-off so that the health and weights of pumpkins throughout the world can be certified and accepted as being "official" by the pumpkin growing community at large.

3. To attract new pumpkin growers and to further introduce giant pumpkin growing as a sport/hobby throughout the world.

4. To provide information and education to pumpkin growers regarding successful growing techniques and new products available.

5. To work in a cooperative manner with all other pumpkin related organizations who share our purposes, goals and values.

6. To have fun growing pumpkins and to compete with one another in a friendly manner.

7. And finally, to support, in all ways, all things pumpkin.

ARTICLE III Membership

1. Any individual who enters a pumpkin or squash in a weigh-off at a GPC sanctioned site automatically becomes a member of the GPC provided that the individual complies with the weigh-off site rules and regulations.

2/22/2006 7:31:16 AM

Sparta, NC

Do you plan on giving any prizes for for anything other than pumpkins/squash in the future? Like watermelon, tomato and cantalope.

2/22/2006 7:49:47 AM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

Pap:
Are you saying that after this season you are retiring and that Steve (Tremor) is to be your replacement?

And Tremor, you asked if I had any suggestions. Well, I do have one. I think the GPC should still offer some small prizes for watermelons, cantaloupes, tomatoes etc even though their main thrust is pumpkins/squash as many of the growers grow these and are a little disappointed that they will in have no central registry for them. I should have also included long gourds. At our site we weigh even beets if someone brings one and measure sun flowers etc. How hard would it be for the GPC to maintain these records as they have done in the past? As an example, I grow tomatoes and really did enjoy competing in the GPC with them even though I never won a GPC prize, yet.
Marv

2/22/2006 8:10:11 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

No one is ready to announce Dick's replacement yet.

I agree with you Marv. If there is sufficient revenue & interest I think the "other category" prizes should be included. We had some "exhibition" fruit like Watermelons & Long Gourds at our '05 weigh-off & folks seemed to enjoy seeing them. Our club is holding a Committee meeting next week & we are going to consider expanding our offering if it makes sense to the Committee. I hope it does. I no longer have a pumpkin patch so growing long gourds would make a nice alternative here at home where space is limited.

2/22/2006 2:25:51 PM

Team Munson

As it has come to my attention there is a little missunderstanding on the stance of the GPC and record keeping. At this point in time the GPC funds are limited to paying out the top pumkpins and squash. It does not mean that the GPC will no longer recognize competition with weights and measurements for these other catagories. We realize not all growers have the space to grow giant pumkins but still wish to compete on a world wide level with other growers of these catagories. With the partnership of BP and the GPC we will continue to record the weights and measurements of these catagories and pursue a "BIG SPONSOR" to allow us to reward the top growers of all catagories. On behalf of myself and the rest of the Executive Committee I would like to thank all for their patience and help thru this transitional period. Lastly I would like to apologize to all the people who grew long gourds in '05, at the time of the weigh-offs when the BP spread sheet came out it was not possible to have a catagory for long gourds. Ken and John have worked very hard on the spread sheet and reasured me that there will be a catagory for long gourds in '06. I encourage all who are interested to bring long gourds to your GPC weigh-off this year and we will get them on the final results page for the GPC.

2/22/2006 10:28:55 PM

Connecticut, USA

Dave, the version of the weigh-off manager software we are bringing to the Niagara conference has support for Long Gourds. So we can still put the 2005 data in the system.

2/24/2006 6:21:19 AM