Re: AGGC : What is it, why is it, and what it is not.

I live in an isolated (atlantic giant ) area. There are just a few enthusiastic giant
pumpkin growers within a 5 hr drive of me. The A.G.G.C. has been a HUGE help to me. Thanks
Mike & Rock!!!!!

Ron Hoffman
Riverton WY

Mike Nepereny wrote:

> 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
> NeperenyA.G.G.C.

--
....................................Meandering through the maze of Murphy's
law...................................



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