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Team Munson

The 2012 GPC site registration period is now open all sites may fill out their registration form & mail/paypal their registration fee.

http://greatpumpkincommonwealth.com/PDF/gpc%20application.xls

http://greatpumpkincommonwealth.com/paypal.php

A few things to note for this year:

1) There is only one site level fee for all GPC giant pumpkin weigh-off sites it will be $300.

2) Single fruit sites (tomato, watermelon,...) are eligible for the $100 site registration fee only.

3) A hard deadline for prize packages will be 6/30/2012 if your site is not 100% compliant with complete registration paper work & site fee paid in full by this date that site will not get a prize package in 2012. The GPC will accept sites who register after this deadline but those sites registering 7/1/2012 & later will not receive a prize package & the registration fee will remain $300.

4) We have money for the top 3 pumpkins in the European Championship race as well $500 1st, $200 2nd, & $100 3rd. This will be in addition to any money they would earn in the biggest overall category, GOTY, or other GPC monetary award categories.

We understand many sites will have a hard time with this but it is a change that we needed to make.

1) In 2004 the GPC registration fee was $500 & no prize package, & no BP spread sheet.

2) With the projection of 100+ sites this year the number of awards both cash & merit it has become much to dificult to keep who get's what straight under the old system.

3) The GPC has never raised prices for registration in 8 years we are sure not many in the world can make that claim for their products & services.

Please understand the GPC did this as a last measure out of neccessity & ask for your support as you have always done in the past.

Thank you & good luck this year,
The GPC Executive Committee

3/6/2012 2:33:55 PM

Polson, Montana

Dave, This really makes it hard on new clubs that are starting up and clubs like Montana. We are a large state there are long distances to travel. We don't have the money or population base that you have. I thought I was a part of the GPC, don't we have some say in this? I'm trying to build a club and this is pretty tough. We did the $300 fee last year but it was out of my pocket. We are trying to get another registered site; but this is beyond the money that we have. Dang it!

3/6/2012 8:50:49 PM

Team Munson

Griz Fan,
This was not an easy decision to make but at the end of the day one that needed to be made. The GPC understands the plight of new clubs & small sites in remote areas trying to build their base.

The GPC has a network of help for your club & your site we even put a new session in our seminar to help the sites gain exposure & obtain funding.

All growers, clubs, & sites are in this together the best sites in the GPC are the ones that utilize all 3 to make their event a success. If one relies on another to do it's part then the event will suffer & ultimately fade away.

Article I section 4 of rules:
The GPC site is responsible for the annual GPC charter fee. A club/group may provide the site fee but it is ultimately the responsibility of the site.

Our first suggestion is get with your site talk with them & let them know your struggles. Call your regional GPC rep (The Wiz) & discuss a plan to gain funding & increase your grower base.

We see world class fruit coming from very small sites & it is very hard for us to tell growers they can not get prize money from the GPC because they showed a fruit at a $200 or $100 site. This is happening with more frequency which is another factor which led to this decision.

We are here to help you contact us & utilize a very good resource the GPC executive committee.

3/7/2012 9:28:26 AM

Polson, Montana

I understand Dave and do appreciate you efforts. Trying to stay motivated and get people to help is pretty frustrating at times. We are going to try to make enough money to pay both site fees. We have a good group of people but last spring was tough and they were all new growers. When they can get better results I think they will become exited.

3/7/2012 11:18:29 AM

Cameron

Hi Grizfan
I feel your frustration. Starting a new club is no easy task. It's a tougher job to start new weigh off sites, when your support base is scattered throughout a large state. I know, as Ontario is a very large province. We have growers that will travel 5-8 hours just to attend a weigh off & some travel 6-8 hours for seminars. Jane & I live in the center of the province & travel on average 2-4 hours to get to most of our weigh offs. Local growers seminars can be held at a small town halls (very cheap - $100) or even at a growers home.

The GPC offered a session in Vegas about making your weigh offs more successful. I'm sure their information & ideas will help you & your members hold a successful event.

There are several ways to raise funds for the club, but it takes the effort of all the growers in your state to work together to make it a success. A club usually has some sort of membership fees. $20 - $25 seems to be the average costs. Provide them with a newsletter (on-line to keep costs down) & a seed package can get the ball rolling & entice growers to sign up. You can hold fundraising auctions or raffles. That usually raises some decent money. Take a look around, maybe you could get some sponsorship from area businesses. Local & state fairs might be a place to hold weigh offs as well. Try to keep the prize amounts to a minumum until your support base has grown to be able to support bigger pay outs. Ask other clubs officials for any help & advice. Email them for seed donations. These clubs have gone though this & know the challanges that you face. If there is anything that the GVGO can do to help, please feel free to contact us.

I hope this helps. Good luck.
Jane & Phil
GVGO

3/7/2012 11:25:18 AM

President - GPC

I will call you today Emmett

WIZ

3/7/2012 11:37:33 AM

Hinckley MN

Dave,
I sort of volenteered to lead a weigh off site this year. I have a "few" questions. Can you email me? dbwiener@lycos.com Thanks in advance!

Ben

3/8/2012 3:35:18 PM