RE: AGGC : What is it, why is it, and what it is not.
- Subject: RE: AGGC : What is it, why is it, and what it is not.
- From: "Smithhisler, Paul" P*@dnr.state.oh.us
- Date: Mon, 2 Sep 2002 00:14:19 -0400
- List-archive: <http://www.hort.net/lists/pumpkins/> (Web Archive)
Amen to all of that and more!
This hobby would be much, MUCH more difficult without this wonderful
resource. Not only is there so much relative information it would take
years to get through it all, the information has inspired many experiments
that have taught us a great deal about our favorite fruit. Thank you Mike,
you are a minor diety in my book. (Wouldn't want to piss off the big guy)
-Gus
P.S. Thank you Rock too, that is a lot of work for one person to handle. If
you two need any more help, there are those of us who would readily
volunteer our services.
-----Original Message-----
From: Mike Nepereny
To: pumpkins@mallorn.com
Sent: 9/1/02 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.
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