From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Knopp, Germany

Information means processed data about someone or something, while knowledge refers to useful information gained through learning and experience and integrity is adherence to moral and ethical principles.

Why do I bring this up? It is time to incorporate all three into our hobby.

8/25/2017 1:18:33 PM

Knopp, Germany

How do we do this?

First, start a weekly, monthly, you pick question and answer session or a post by the GPC on things that will come up during a weigh off that you should be prepared for.

Second, posts from the GPC on examples of how difficult situations have been handled to show ways to overcome them.

8/25/2017 1:19:01 PM

Knopp, Germany

Example, I as a GPC representative many years ago had a grower show up with 2 pumpkins claiming one of them was from his brother who was ill and could not come to the weigh off. I showed him the GPC rules, explained that a “cold” was not a reason to except a pumpkin from a relative not there and we both walked away in a understanding manner, he understood and I was satisfied that the GPC rules had been met

8/25/2017 1:19:32 PM

Knopp, Germany

Ideas? Education!

Examples; a online questionnaire that all site GPC reps should download, fill out, sign and send back to the GPC. Make it a 20 question form about key rules that every site GPC rep should know andunderstand.

That is just one example, I am sure there are more.

8/25/2017 1:20:02 PM

Knopp, Germany

What should the GPC not do?

Expand its base till they get the present situation under control, money is not the answer, Information, Knowledge and Integrity is.

I hope this post leads to a discussion that will benefit all.

8/25/2017 1:20:31 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

owen o, not sure what you mean by the "present situation", being "under control"? Would also be interested in a small example of your 20 question form? Top 5 questions from you would be interesting to read! or 10, or all 20 if you think we should read them! So far, I am hearing complaints, w/no resolutions. Help me understand? Peace, Wayne

8/26/2017 3:13:33 AM

Knopp, Germany

How about we start off with the first question being:

1- Are pumpkins that have been previously weighed at a pumpkin weigh off allowed to go to a second GPC event?

The present situation is that the integrity of our hobby is at stake. What is not clear about that, and how is that a complaint?

And I did have an idea toward a resolution.

Could I develop a questionnaire from the GPC Governing Rules? Certainly, but I will not be myself, I am starting to feel that people are just out to distract from facts by attacking me.

8/26/2017 4:29:22 AM

Deal With It

If my potential Oklahoma state record pumpkin finishes by September 10, and I choose to have it on display (for no money) at my county fair from September 14-17, is that pumpkin ineligible for entry at a GPC event on a following weekend?

If I have it unofficially weighed on a local scale, certified or otherwise, prior to my county fair, is the pumpkin ineligible for a GPC event, even if I did not enter it in an actual competition?

8/26/2017 8:16:36 AM

Ontario, Canada

Here is the rule Owen

6) "No specimen will be allowed into competition at a GPC site if that specimen has been previously entered at another competition."

Now does this mean another GPC site or does it mean any weigh off competition (local fairs, etc.). To me it means any competition , but I didn't make the rules.

Here is a link to those rules. READ CAREFULLY PLEASE. If you don't understand any of the rules, contact your local GPC rep.

Good luck.

8/26/2017 9:48:39 AM

Ontario, Canada

http://www.gpc1.org/PDF/Rules2016.pdf

Sorry

8/26/2017 9:49:39 AM

Germany

This seems to be a good example to suggest how useful it might be to develop a flowchart (which makes it easy for EVERYONE to interpret the rules). As I interpret rule 6, in a flow chart it would be something like:
(i): Is this pumpkin sound? N: DMG, Y: (ii)
(ii): Has this pumpkin been entered into a previous competition? Y: EXH only for GPC competitions, N: (iii)
(iii): Is this pumpkin meant to be entered into one GPC weigh-off only? Y: (iv) N: (ii) will apply from the 2nd GPC competition on.
(iv): Is this the only fruit entered by this grower? Y: fine, N: Only one fruit can be the competition fruit, others may be entered as EXH.

...something like that.

8/26/2017 10:02:21 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

owen o, I am more confused now. (your post at 4:29 on the 26th) does not clarify if the first weighoff was a GPC event, then states a 2nd GPC event. No attack meant here, just some clarification.
Claremongoose, the rules clearly state "entered into competition"...if you weigh it, or display it, that would not disqualify it from a GPC competition...lots of growers have in-line scales, so that they know which of their kins are the heaviest. Peace, Wayne

8/27/2017 2:37:28 AM

Knopp, Germany

Imagine showing up at a GPC weigh off to be told that your pumpkin is going to be weighed behind the scenes prior to the public weighing. The sites interpretation is that this is the official GPC weigh off. No prize money for this secret weighing.

An hour or two later the public weighing happens and this time there are pumpkins involved that had been at other weigh offs. This is when the prize money is given out. And those pumpkins that are being weighed that came from a previous weigh off receive prize money.

Your pumpkin came in 11th place because some pumpkin beat you that had already received prize money from another weigh off.

How would you feel?

8/27/2017 4:04:11 AM

Kaukauna, Wisconsin

Owen
Are you Volunteering to help educate the growers in your region.

8/27/2017 4:58:01 AM

Knopp, Germany

I did exactly that for 6-7 years at 2 different weigh offs. Strictly enforcing the rules and explaining why. I also had to learn everything being that at the time we the first European weigh off under GPC rules.

Once the Ludwigsburg weigh off started with the above described practice is when I stepped down and I have never gone back to that weigh off since.

Perhaps I should have had the moral integrity to speak up more then I did at the time, but it was clear to me that the GPC was aware of what was going on (GPC Member at the European weigh off) so I just let it fester in me all these years.

I love our hobby and I guess it has finally gotten to the point when I saw the posts about expanding the GPC base and raising even more money that I knew I had to say one last time how I felt.

This is suppose to be fun, not a ways or means to raise money.

I wish that we could have GPC recognition in their data base without having to spend a penny. I know that will never happen.

The only thing I want is for the GPC to publicly denounce this practice and state that the GPC will not recognize any site that does this.

8/27/2017 5:34:55 AM

Ontario, Canada

"Perhaps I should have had the moral integrity to speak up more then I did at the time, but it was clear to me that the GPC was aware of what was going on (GPC Member at the European weigh off) so I just let it fester in me all these years."

This is the problem Owen. You should have spoke out loudly to the officials, GPC & to all the other growers. Unfortunately you were just as much part of the problem by being quiet about it.

8/27/2017 9:42:49 AM

Knopp, Germany

I was not quiet about it. The site coordinator and the GPC knew exactly how I felt. I was ignored. The GPC just excepted it.

Now you have just blamed me for allowing the GPC to do whatever they want.

Another example of attacking me and distracting away a problem.

Thanks for influencing me as a person negatively another handful of growers without even knowing all the facts.

8/27/2017 10:22:40 AM

Western NY

Not taking sides but people pre weigh their pumpkins all the time.

8/27/2017 10:43:23 AM

Ontario, Canada

Sorry Owen. I'm just saying if it was wrong you should have contacted Dave Stelts, the GPC executive or even raised your concerns with the European club & the other growers in the competition, instead of letting it fester in you. Speak up here if need be. If enough people complain & the GPC will have to look into it.

8/27/2017 12:33:16 PM

Knopp, Germany

You know what Phil, I agree. There are a lot of things I should have done.

One of them for sure is to stop growing AGs.

Do you or for that matter anyone out there know what it feels like to not agree with the GPC?

I have been treated like crap for years by "GPC Supporters".

I am a German and European Squash record holder.

I brought the GPC to Europe.

I hosted the first European patch tour (thanks to the Dills for there support).

My integrity did not allow me to support the German or European weigh offs, and now I am treated like this.

Why?

8/27/2017 2:09:22 PM

Kaukauna, Wisconsin

Owen. Information is gained at our annual convention. As a organizer of this event the GPC is trying is bring this to the Growers.
The present fund raiser is to help make this event affordable to as many growers as possible. With it returning to Europe in a few years.

8/27/2017 10:18:32 PM

Ontario, Canada

Owen, for the most part were all GPC supporters & I've personally never treated you like crap. If not for the GPC, where would we be today? I suspect that there would be a lot crap going on that isn't tolerated today. Previous weighed pumpkins would be weighed at every weigh off. The organizers of the weigh offs likely wouldn't notice or care.
I know what you've done in the past & I'm sure many European growers appreciate all you've done over the years. Why give up your support of other weigh offs if your issue is with a different weigh off? If you really want to make changes, then join the GPC executive when the next opportunity presents itself. Your a smart guy. I'm sure you can straighten out the GPC & all it's problems.

8/28/2017 8:18:54 AM