GPC does not promote this sport
- To: Pumpkins@mallorn.com
- Subject: GPC does not promote this sport
- From: "* M* <z*@hotmail.com>
- Date: Fri, 03 Jul 1998 07:09:30 PDT
In answer to Jon Hunts reply to an "open discussion" concerning SPGA
weighoff site, he mentioned the GPC as "promoting the grower". The GPC
certainly does support it's growers but it does almost nothing to
promote the sport of Giant Pumpkin growing. In my talks with them it was
made clear in exact words that they are not interested in promoting the
sport, that what expansion takes place is completely grower driven, not
GPC driven. It seems that the structure in place to maintain the GPC
organization is very close to being stressed to it's maximum capacity.
It is no wonder that they are not interested in promotion. The WPC's
approach to organizing an international weighoff was to give it a
business structure to work within, incorporation being a part of the
plan. Dissatisfaction with the head of that "corporation" led to the
creation of the GPC. In contrast to the dictatorial nature of the WPC
workings, a looser, steering committee approach was set up. trying to
keep growing AGs fun and simple again.
In the short run a badly needed element that had been lost under the
business approach was regained but it did not leave the GPC with a solid
structure to deal with the ever increasing popularity of the sport. We
now find the world of competitive pumpkin growing showing stress
fractures(Howard Dill exiting for one example and there are others) As
someone who cares deeply for the sport and feels its promotion would
make this world a better place, the GPC's attitude is certainly
troublesome. In the south, where the GPC has made few inroads, their
support for the grower does not seem adequate. Without any plan for
promoting the sport, let alone in our area of the country, it leaves the
SPGA not a great deal of choice but to be independent in hopes for a
better future organization that would have the Southern growers concerns
at heart as well as the future of the sport. It reminds me of Russia,
when it's structure was no longer able to support it's size and
eventually we saw the demise of the state, it breaking up into a number
of smaller countries.
Sorry to paint such a bleek picture but we need to address these issues
sooner then later. I don't see a great deal of hope that the WPC and GPC
could ressolve their differences for the sake of the sport. It may take
another generation, one that can positively address the conflicts of the
past, take what is good from both and construct a solid base for the
expansion of the fine sport of giant pumpkin. Outside of all this, we
still have our patches. See ya there.
Joe Mills
SPGA
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