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Knopp, Germany

However, I think it is time for some questions, to get everyone on the same sheet of music. I do not expect an answer any time soon, but I think that answers to these questions, and perhaps others may help both the GPC and the thousands of amature growers in our community.
So, I might piss off some GPC members, but if I do not get this off my chest I will bust, and will have rather pissed you off then have a heart attack.
Where did the GPC come from?
Where did the rules come from?
Who votes on its members?
Who wrote the GPC rules?
Did anyone have input in the rules?
Why is a squash not valued as much as a pumpkin?
Why do we even have a squash category?
Why are they not just one category?
How come my wife can't also have an AG if all she did is water them, but I can give a germinated seed to a friend and that is ok? (which is easier watering or germinating)?
Where did the rules come from "UOW, DMG, EST, etc...who had a say in that?
Why does owen care so gosh darn much that he loses sleep over this?

One day I see the point behind it all, the next day I see a weigh off with the biggest AG ever grown, and it is not a GPC weigh off, what do we do then? Call it UOW to protect the GPC? Recognize it and beg them to be a GPC site (the scale may not have been calibrated).......

Okay, I know it is late in the season, I am tired, but hey, if this post don't get a few hits....

9/21/2009 2:01:41 PM

Rhode Island

owen
ill take a stab at it as best i can recall

1.the G.P.C was formed by a group of several site coordinators that were formerly weighing off under the W.P.C banner (world pumpkin confederation). like many individuals in our hobby they wanted to form there own group and governing body, and did so i believe starting arouns 1989
2.the rules came from these earlier directors.they have been revised and improved by the president and executice directors as needed since then.
3.rules were put in place several years ago that allowed for voting on director replacements within the resigning directors regions. elections to fill vacancies were held once .there was not a whole lot of interest in actually working within the organization.just a lot of suggestions regarding what everyone should do.
4.squash will never have the value or interest for that matter when compared to pumpkins.thats just the way it is.
we have a squash catagory because there are several hundred growers that weigh-off gpc that truely prefer a green squash.a true green squash does not have the genetics to compete with the giant pumpkin and would be unfair to the greenie growers to lump them in with pumpkins
5.giving out seeds be it germinated or not is just part of the hobby. like selling or trading.if ya give someone a plant which we have done numerous times? thats just what it is -a plant. the one receiving it must tend it, and grow it.
turning on the water does not make someone a grower. same as putting on the blankets at night during cold weather. thats helping out. not growing.growing is getting down on your knees and vine buring, pulling weeds, spraying and tending to the plant and pumpkins needs. needs,etc.
6. one last response regarding certain rules of pumpkin health,what is a dq ,etc.

9/21/2009 4:40:20 PM

Rhode Island

6. most rules are revisited and sometimes revised because for example a certain situations could occur at a gpc site, arguments may erupt, feelings get hurt and thats when the gpc, like any other governing body, must examine what when wrong and find a way to prevent it from happening again.
just as any good business practice would do.we cant always get everything perfect but the gpc and its directors sure owe it to their sites,sponsors and growers to get it corrected.
7. you asked about what constitutes a DQ (disqualification)
it can be anything from a small pinhole that breaches into the pumpkins cavity, stem splits that go into the cavity, to serious deep rotted (or soft ) spots. --a soft spot that can be cleaned out and shows good ( thick ) healthy meat after scraping? is allowable into competition.
this is a judgement call on behalf of the weigh-offs inspectors.
basicly the pumpkin (or squash)-etc, must be healthy. no stinkers or drippers allowed --lol
hope this helps owen
pap

9/21/2009 4:54:12 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

UOW, DMG, EST, etc...are not of GPC origin. These became standardized by repetition, by us - growers.

9/21/2009 5:19:47 PM

Western NY

I think Dick covered most of the bases well. On the topic of non-GPC sites I would say that we do recognize others as an official weight, just not available for the extra prizes and publicity that comes along with the GPC stuff. For example, Brad's 1234* is still the squash to beat, no question about it.

I will be getting around to typing up a decent written history of the GPC for our website and FAQ when I finally get some time this winter.

9/21/2009 5:58:45 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

We did try to write the history of the GPC a couple years ago but not all of the founders were available at the time.

9/21/2009 10:38:13 PM

Knopp, Germany

thanks guys.

9/21/2009 11:46:03 PM