Re: the GPC
In a message dated 4/25/00 11:45:02 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
tomnorlin@hotmail.com writes:
<< Windsor site joined us to make four sites for our
first event. The problem started when Hugh Wiberg began to make
decisions that ran contrary to what the rest of us, (The Dills, Norlin,
Green) would decide during our numerous conference calls. We would vote
on policy and tell Wiberg who was our spokesperson to implement it but
on too many occasions, he didn't. Hugh would just do what he wanted
to. The first problem started with Sarnia but there were many others.
He began to push hard for sites all over the place EXCEPT IN NEW
ENGLAND. I woul >>
Tom,
I have known Hugh for 16 years on a personal level and find him to be a
fair and honorable man in a thankless job. You mention the numerous times
that the GPC steering committee had a vote and Hugh wiberg went against the
decision. Name specifics. You mentioned that Hugh was adding sites all over
the place and wouldn't let any other sites in New England........name the
site in New England that formally applied for admission into the GPC. I am
one of the directors of the New England Pumpkin Growers Association....I know
of none. You mention that Howard Dill left the GPC over the Sarnia situation,
inferring that Hughs handling of the affair caused Howard to leave. I am
friendly with both Howard and Danny. Harry Willemse ,as the person in charge
at Sarnia, failed to turn in the Sarnia results until (don't hold me to this)
eleven at night. It really screwed up the GPC posting of the final weighoff
results. Howard was in charge of tabulating the results and was enraged over
Harry not calling in. By the way , Howard was not on the steering committee,
his son Danny was. Howard was so mad at Harry, he told the steering committee
" Either kick Harry or Sarnia out of the GPC or I'm leaving." He had drawn a
line in the sand which is his right to do if he wishes. The steering
committee had a vote on it and ruled that Harry had not committed an act that
deserved expulsion and Sarnia as a site had not committed any act that
deserved expulsion. After the decision of the steering committee, Howard
left. As I recall, you were negotiating( without knowledge or approval of the
Steering committee) with Terry Pimsleur and the IPA on joining the GPC . The
steering committee, including Danny Dill, gave the thumbs down to your
efforts and shortly after that you left..... You may have had other reasons
too, but that's the way I recall it. A Minnesota site contacted Hugh about
admittance into the GPC recently. The way I understand it, Hugh contacted
your brother as the site coordinator of Anamosa on a fact finding call
because the site was close to Anamosa. Your brother flew off the handle and
hung up on Hugh. The issue was that there was a site in Wisconsin that had
affected the number of growers at Anamosa already. By the way ,the steering
committee has already voted that the Minnesota site is too close to Anamosa.
Tom, don't look at my letter as an attack on yourself. I can remember
having talks with you years ago about Topsfield and Anamosa comparing
weights...long before the GPC was even around. Remember the nasty challenge
letters we sent back and forth between sites to get everyone stirred up? My
recollection of the history of GPC events may not be 100% accurate, but I can
tell you , Hugh has done an admirable job in my opinion. If your claims are
correct about Hugh disregarding Steering committee votes and going off on his
own. Name specific votes and specific actions of Hugh after the vote . Not
generalizations that sully his reputation. In a big organization, you cannot
keep 100% of the people happy 100% of the time. In retrospect, I think there
are things that Hugh would have done differently. There are things in my life
that I would do differently..........you just have to suck it up and keep
truckin'. You have swiped Hugh with a broad brush. There are two sides to
every story......If you accuse someone of misconduct, name specifics. Hugh
does not choose to be on the internet , so I felt I should voice my opinion
on his fine and thankless job. Why not ask the steering committee if Hugh is
a loose cannon, going against their votes?
Wayne Hackney
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