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this past winter the gpc executive committee lower the fees for a gpc site charter to three levels $300.- $ 200.- $100.
in addition to other changes that would benefit both large and small weigh off sites. growerof the year award, rookie of the year, etc.

gave each site regardless of membership level a well constructed display banner.

what more if anything do they need to do to get these mom and pop fair and/or club weighoffs into our group?

i realize that some are local fairs and that no one pumpkin club or group calls it there home however, many smaller pumpkin clubs/weigh off sites who could get into the gpc are holding back.

with multiple weigh off opportunities ,etc, each site could benefit by visiting and weighing off against each other etc. in the same manner as the larger sites do.

tugster# 1

9/11/2006 1:47:48 PM

President - GPC

I agree tug#1......Good healthy competition can be fun and give better ops to learn faster.......wipe that rookie status away,,,,,lol

9/11/2006 3:29:23 PM

Rexburg, Idaho (brianchristensenmd@gmail.com )

I didn't bother to look at the web page advertising the change until after the dead line for this year. It had been such a exclusive club that I couldn't be bothered. Now that the admission criteria to the club have changed I will seriously consider it for next year.

9/11/2006 8:08:08 PM

Unknown

its all about a level playing field for all sites large and small alike.
a common set of guidelines to follow and a place to record your weigh off results.
if enough smaller sites got involved im sure the steering committee would consider altering the existing prize package to mske its awards more attainable for smaller sites.
possibly even look at developing a smaller prize package for new and/or smaller weigh offs.
could also let the sites top ten average determine what group they fall into?
food for thought during the winter months.but to do so requires a lot more new sites.

tugster#1

9/11/2006 9:36:38 PM

Lexington, Ky

Kentucky will join next year. Obviously, it makes little sense for us to join at the $300 dollar level.....

9/12/2006 9:28:29 AM

Hudsonville, Michigan (michiganpumpkins@sbcglobal.net)

Pap:
I'm with you. GPC certification is important. But I can see how someone not part of the AG community who is in charge of a pumpkin festival might say...'why would I pay hundred(s) of dollars for a few ribbons and a lot more oversight (having to adhere to GPC rules and cooperate with the data collection end of things)." Again, AG growers see the value in GPC certification, but I can also see how some event coordinators might see it as paying for more headaches when they've already got a lot of things to plan with their festival, of which the 'heaviest pumpkin contest' may just be a small part.

That's just my two cents. Not sure what incentive could be offered to bring those smaller community weigh offs into the GPC fold. You are perhaps already on the right path with the tiered prize package idea.

Frank

9/12/2006 11:03:49 AM