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Pa

I may be the only one that feels this way but I won't be attending another International Growers seminar. For the seminar being a stand alone event, as advertised in the past, a lot of time (basically the whole morning) was spent discussing the GPC rule and intent on going "big time" with corporate sponsors and the such. In my opinion this presentation should have been made to the weighoff site coordinators in a separate forum with the responsibilty of presenting the information and getting feedback from the growers, clubs etc... being theirs. If not, it at least it should have been a optional presentation Saturday evening for those interested in attending. I'm not sure how the rest of the "seminar" went (I was hoping for more educational, helpful presentations), we left before the lunch break and didn't return.

3/13/2005 9:02:31 PM

Eugene,OR

Instead of going to Niagra I decided to make my wife happy by staying home. I was able to spend 14 hours between Saturday and Sunday working on my patch, and she was just happy that I was around...and not in Niagra. Oh yeah, it was 75 degrees here today too!

3/13/2005 9:25:08 PM

[email protected]

I am sorry you were disappointed Alan. The GPC didn't intend to bore anyone with the new rules. But considering all the attention that GPC rules have attracted over the years right here on these boards, there must be some people interested in the subject.

I though Dave did a GREAT job presenting the details of the new rules however mundane the subject might seem. It took guts to tackle that subject.

I believe I speak for all of the technical speakers when I say we would have liked more time to service our topics. Perhaps next year the educational segments can begin on Saturday.

Just a thought.

3/14/2005 4:22:54 PM

Hilpoltstein, Bavaria, Germany

sooo, what are the new rules?

Martin

3/14/2005 4:26:22 PM

Ontario

I agree with Steve, need more presentations on Saturday. The two main topics had too be cut short, Steve's one on soil and Craig didn't even get to present. Personally I skipped out on the Gpc stuff because I knew I could read about it soon enough. There was a lot of new growers there that didn't learn anything. I had an opportunity to talk to Craig and it was quite a education.

drew

3/14/2005 5:05:48 PM

Jackson Twp, Ohio

I have to admit I too was rather disappointed with the vast swiftness that the seminar became behind schedule. I recall at about 930 am that Dave M. said something about being ahead of schedule, the next thing i knew we were incredibly behind the schedule.

It seems to me that a large number of people drive home, myself included, on sunday afternoon. We left at about 3 o'clock and missed the last half of Mr. Jepsen's presentation, Mr. Wolf's presentation and were intending to miss Mr. Lembke's presentation. (we had heard it twice previously). Of the 4 presentations i missed 2.5 not a very good percentage. That was rather disappointing. I felt that the GPC stuff took far too long even though it was an important subject. If I recall correctly the color rules were not even in the distributed booklet.

I would myself like to see a presentation on saturday evening and the formal presentations on sunday concluding with the luncheon. A meet and greet post luncheon and saturday night would be in order. The auctions took away too much time from the presentations. The seed bazaar and a presentation could also coincide.

But in any case, to organize 400 pumpkin growers takes a lot of work and i know very well that i couldn't do as well as they did.

Nick Hamilton

3/14/2005 5:26:05 PM

Montoursville, PA

The River Card has been played. We all lost a wonderfull weekend, in so far as the word seminar was concerned.

I wish, to say, that the hotel staff and the supporting paid personell, to the event, did an outstanding and excellent job. Serious redefining, of purpose and organization, of this event is very much, in order before I would even consider returning, to this event.

A bag of chips and a tub of beer does not forgive a lack of planning and sticking, to a schedule. My party, of two, left right after lunch, on Sunday. The luncheon time and following picture was the demise, of schedule and intent, coupled with the GPC decision, to read the report we all could have read, in hard copy. I'm sorry, but gentlemen, this weekend was a waste from a program and scheduled viewpoint.
Dwaine Gipe

3/14/2005 6:27:25 PM

Massillon, Ohio

i'll keep this brief: had a great time, will come again, but i AGREE !! (it "would have been alot better if it stayed on schedule" because we had it timed perfect to leave at 2 and only miss lemke. we left at 3 and missed everybody!! EEK).

3/14/2005 6:52:14 PM

Pa

There have been quite a few interesting replies to the orignal post (and on other threads). If a speaker takes the time to prepare an educational presentaion then it is only fair to provide the time scheduled to that person. It would be make sense to hold some seminars on Saturday afternoon or evening, for those who would be interested in attending. It appears more people can attend on Saturday evening than can stay Sunday afternoon. Nick's suggestion of having the formal presentations end at the luncheon (say 12:30) on Sunday and have the photo taking and informal discussion between growers take place before everyone must leave makes a lot of sense.
Also, it might help to have the auctions be a separately scheduled hour on Saturday evening (or before the seminar actually begins on Sunday morning, say 8 to 9AM). If a grower is interested in bidding on a seed they'll make sure they are there for the auction and those who are not will still receive the educational portion in it's entirety. In addtion, any presentations related to specific organizations could be scheduled separetely from the educational portion of the seminar, say on Saturday evening before the auction, and those interested in attending would be there. I'm sure most people who pay the fee for the seminar expect more than just organization news, seed auctions, etc...
Another suggestion would be to include, in the handout packet, the information (in whole or brief) being presented by each speaker whether it be on organization news or edcational seminars. This way attendees can review what was discussed, if they missed a portion of a presentation, and it would give a good basis for additonal note taking on the subject...

3/14/2005 8:47:29 PM

Pa

We really enjoyed the event in '04 but can't say the same this year. I don't envy anyone who takes on a task as big as organizing this event but hope that in the future it is run smoother, and on schedule. If the intent is to take giant pumpkin growing to the next level by attracting major sponsors etc... it is imperative to present an organized, professional appearance especially in an international forum.
After hearing others have similar feeling about this year's event we would consider attending in the future, if changes are made.
Alan H.

3/14/2005 8:48:12 PM

Napa Valley, CA

First, I would like to thank Dave McCallum and his staff (mostly volunteers, I am sure) for giving the world wide pumpkin community a venue for exchanging information and ideas on every aspect of pumpkin growing.

I cannot begin to imagine the amount of planning and hard work that goes in to presenting a forum that will please every grower in attendance.
I feel that the GPC rule changes were of significant importance to present to growers at Sunday's Meeting rather than to site cordinators in a seperate forum. These are important changes folks. Yep, this took a bit of time at the meeting but I think Dave Stelts did an outstanding job of presenting these changes very clearly in a relatively short period of time.

I think that some of the ideas for change on this thread may be positive. Lets face it, we try to cram a ton of stuff in to 2 days ..........Dave M and staff did a damn fine job. I salute them !
Thank you Pumpkinfest folks.
A days journey was well worth the trip.
Yep, we will be back again next year.
George Webster
Napa Ca

3/15/2005 4:27:46 AM

Hanover,Ontario,Canada

Thanks George, we appreciate your positive comments and I have already appologized to Craig Lembke. Craig did have very positive discussions with growers one on one at his display. Craig has already spoke to many growers groups this year and I was hoping he would stay later in the afternoon for those who really wanted to hear him for the first time. Many growers stayed on till 4:30pm. The seed bazaar and auction are what pay for the basics everyone enjoyed at the new facilities. Our NEW program volunteers will have the opportunity to fix things and we will not have the same time constraints posed by the GPC rule changes.

3/15/2005 5:19:14 AM

Roanoke Il

Dave and the pumpkin fest people did a great job once agin. To give our hobby just a day sure doesn't give it justice in a sturctred format. I got there on friday afternoon and got to exchange ideas with the best growers in the world if I got 10 hours of sleep the hole weekend I would be surprized. It may have not been that structured It was a hell of a great weekend learned alot got a chance to talk to a hell of alot of great growers really wouldn't have changed much other than maybe got there a day earlier. Great job dave keep up the good work.. mark

3/15/2005 5:23:59 AM

Western NY

I gotta thank Dave and the gals for putting a lot of work into the show. I didn't mind cutting my part short because i don't consider myself that entertaining of a speaker, and by that time (day 5), me and the new wife were missing home pretty bad, lol. Personally, i was hanging on every word of Dave Stelts' speech, but mainly because it directly affects me and our NY group immensely.

Any tips i would have for the crew would be to see if you could hold the auctions or raffles during the informal part of saturday, and to maybe take a poll in the fall to see what people would be interested in hearing talks on.

Lots of fun, and i'm glad i got to see all the guys again. I'll be there again next year!

Andy

3/15/2005 10:12:31 AM