----- Original Message -----
From:
a*@hotmail.com
To: pumpkins@mallorn.com
Sent: Sunday, September 01, 2002 8:35
PM
Subject: AGGC : What is it, why is it,
and what it is not.
Every once in a while, I'll get a phone call or
an email the prompts me to reiterate exactly what the Atlantic Giant
Genetics Cooperative is. I received one of these today. Below are the top 5 questions asked of me regarding the
Atlantic Giant Genetics Cooperative :
1. What is it?
The A.G.G.C. persists mainly as a web site. This
web site consists of information on over 3000 pumpkins and squash, 780
growers, and almost 100 weigh-off sites. It
features general info, hierarchy tree, progeny trees, photos, all kinds of
neat queries and articles and a whole lot more.
It's purpose is to enable the user to research and select AG pumpkin strains
in an easy and enjoyable manner. It is the best
web site of it's type. Hell, it's the ONLY web site of it's type.
2. Is it a governing body like the GPC or
WPC?
Not at all. The A.G.G.C. does not establish
weighoff rules or standards. It does not determine whether or not your pumpkin
should have been DQ'd at your local weighoff.
It also does not participate in any squash/pumpkin judging debates. If it did
though, it would lump all pumpkins and squash
into one big category AND BE DONE WITH IT!! Good grief.
2. Who is the target audience?
The A.G.G.C. was never intended to appeal to the
masses. Just how many people in the world really need to know the genetic
background on the 815 Checkon pumpkin? Answer :
not freakin' many. The site is designed to appeal to a relative few
individuals who have a genuine need for
detailed info on the Atlantic Giant pumpkin.
3. Is it free?
No. Enrollment is limited to those willing to
donate pumpkin information on a consistent basis or by making a donation of
the ungodly sum of $10 US dollars. Either
method pretty much gets you eternal membership. Not a bad deal considering
membership fees of many pumpkin organizations
and the usable resources you gain. Your donation dollars go mainly toward web
server rental costs so don't bitch about it.
4. Why not get sponsors and make the site free to
it's members?
Again, the site was not conceived to draw in
every person in the world that can spell the word 'pumpkin'. I cannot stress
this enough. For one thing, a very large user base would slow down the
site's response. For another thing, I would prefer to limit access
to those would really need it. Such individuals
don't mind paying a few bucks for information you simply cannot find anywhere
else in the world. I like to think of the
A.G.G.C. as a small, elite, pumpkin club. I'm not saying that it is, just that
I like to think of it that way.
5. Are you making a profit from the web site?
You've got to be kidding. The web server rental
alone ends up costing me a couple hundred out-of-pocket dollars a year
regardless of donations. Quit asking stupid
questions.
6. Who does the work?
I designed, created, and maintain the web site.
It's data is driven from a database maintained by a computer program I
developed 6 years ago called CucurByte. Information is donated by many
different individuals and entered into the database by Rock Rivard and myself.
More work than you can imagine has gone into what
you see on the A.G.G.C. web site. It will always remain unsponsored, privately
owned, unaffiliated, and legally protected for many seasons to come. Enjoy it
and learn from it.
Mike Nepereny
A.G.G.C.
