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On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

I see some postings about the Annual Pumpkin Meeting being held in Vegas this year rather than Niagara but I also see on the Internet that there will be a Grower's Convention in Niagara on March 11 through 13th. Are there going to be 2 meetings at different sites or what? If Niagara is on and Vegas is on as well what will be the difference between the two meetings? Is the GPC participating in both of these meetings? Or is Niagara on its own? I saw where Dave Stelts wishes Niagara well which implies the latter. What does all of this mean? I was thinking about going to the meeting in Niagara before I read all of this. Have I missed something?
Clarify please. Marv

10/13/2011 3:19:31 PM

Port Elgin, Ontario, Canada

Hi Marv! The answer to your question is that yes - there are two separate conventions this year. The GPC will be hosting their newly created seminar in Las Vegas in February and the IGVGC will continue to be hosted in Niagara without the partnership of the GPC. The IGVGC will be hosted by the staff of Port Elgin Pumpkinfest, as it has always been, and we are hopeful that attendance numbers will continue to warrant putting the work into this annual convention for years to come.

Niagara Seminar content will remain the same but the GPC awards presentation (an addition three years ago) will be missing and will be held in Vegas instead. The orange jacket and large trophy (Stewie) will still be awarded in Niagara and Saturday evening will become a less structured night with plenty of networking opportunities.

Thanks for asking and we hope to see many of our old friends in Niagara, the second weekend of March, 2012.

Yours truly
Sally Hunt, GPC Board Member and organizer of the IGVGC.

10/13/2011 6:20:10 PM

Little-TON - Colorado

GPC 2012 SEMINAR REGISTRATION
LAS VEGAS NEVADA AT THE CIRCUS CIRCUS HOTEL
SEMINAR SPECIFICS

* The seminar sessions officially open at 1pm on Friday 2/24/2012 and conclude at
12pm Sunday 2/26/2012 the official itinerary will be coming soon as we finalize
details.
* Seminar registration fee of $95.00 that includes the following -
* Entrance to all sessions Friday, Saturday, & Sunday
* Lunch on Saturday
* Beverage service during seminar sessions.
* Hospitality room Friday - $2 domestic beer, well drinks, & specified wine.
GPC awards show Saturday night - $2 domestic beer, well drinks, & specified wine.
· If you are a GPC Hall of Fame member, GPC over all champion, &/or Grower
of the Year winner your registration fee is complimentary from the GPC.
· The first 100 to register for the entire weekend including the GPC awards
show dinner & happy hour get a free GPC hat shipped to them for each full
registration purchased.
ALA CARTE
Lunch buffet only - $30 per person
GPC awards show dinner - happy hour ($1 well drinks, domestic beer, & specified
wine), appetizers, & dinner - $45 per person

More info is coming.......

Be sure to check out your GPC website for the latest news.........link on the front page of BigPumpkins.com

Hope to see you all there.......

10/13/2011 6:42:52 PM

Little-TON - Colorado

Gary J Grande

Media and Marketing Director – Great Pumpkin Commonwealth www.GreatPumpkinCommonwealth.com
Plains and Rocky Mountains Representative Great Pumpkin CommonWealth Executive Committee

10/13/2011 6:52:19 PM

Little-TON - Colorado

Please RSVP to Jim Sherwood at:
[email protected] or go to our website at:
www.greatpumpkincommonwealth.com
Hotel reservation deadline is February 3, 2012
Early Seminar reservation deadline is February 10, 2012

Registration Forms on the GPC website.

10/13/2011 6:54:35 PM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

Oh, I see. So this year's winner of the coveted Orange Jacket, Dave Stelts, also President of the GPC, will be coming to the Niagara Seminar, no longer a GPC event, for his Orange Jacket and trophy. As an aside, I cannot help but wonder what the process was in making the decision to move the seminar from Niagara to Vegas. I had not seen a lot of discussion about it because maybe I was not paying attention. I had wrongly thought there would be two seminars and that those on the east coast or west coast could get their recognition,fellowship and education at either place, whichever they chose to go to. This is a big continent. For growers on the west coast it was always an expensive venture and a long trip to go to Niagara and now it will be the same for those on the east coast going to Vegas. This is a big change for the GPC and hopefully it is not a mistake. Did I miss previous discussions of this issue here on Bigpumpkins? I am just one person but I must say I feel bad for Niagara as they have been great partners with the GPC, offering much support and I wonder if they will survive under the new arrangement. I guess the GPC is just growing and changing but it seems painful.Please don't kill the messenger. Marv

10/13/2011 10:07:14 PM

Johnston, Iowa

Niagara - have to get passport, drive to Canada, freeze but off.

Vegas - cheap flights, affordable hotel, warm weather.

Sounds like a no-brainer to me. At least now there is another option, which is great!

10/13/2011 11:30:30 PM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

If the orange blazer and cup are being awarded at Niagara yet... where will the green blazer and cup be awarded, Niagara or Vegas?

(I know the orange blazer was Port Elgin's group award from before the GPC started attending Niagara..)

10/13/2011 11:45:25 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Marv, just tryin to be helpful, and no disrespect to any one, or any site!!! But, yes over the last couple years their has been a lot of discussion about moving the GPC awards site to different locations!!!! Sorta thinkin..."Now my head hurts"!!! LOL The decision to move, was motivated by growers from awl over, wanting a more central location? Seriously hoping that Niagara, and GPC award sites, both have great success!!! Peace, Wayne

10/14/2011 12:10:24 AM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

Peace,Wayne. I feel no disrespect from you. I guess I was just not paying attention and even if I had been it appears the decision was made by the majority and the majority does rule. For me, I finally was able to win something worthwhile and my wife does not want to go to Vegas and so, I probably will not be going there either. If there is some form of recognition for tomatoes, will you accept it for me if I am unable to attend? Marv

10/14/2011 8:02:27 AM

Wi

Marv, this was a big topic of discussion and the GPC simply listened to the masses. I really did enjoy Niagara and have no problem with it. The GPC is simply attempting to accomodate growers across North America. Instead of catering to the east alone.

10/14/2011 9:13:48 AM

Mulino, Oregon

The Green Jacket is not a GPC award either. I'm not sure where Glenn plans on presenting that award. Either way it's going to a new world record, which is awesome!

The decision to strike out on our own was not an easy one. We wish Sally and the Port Elgin Pumpkinfest people all the best and continued success with the Niagara Seminar. We just felt it would be in the best interest of growers throughout the world for the GPC to make a change.

It's a long winter hopefully some of you can make it to both events.

10/14/2011 11:44:58 AM

Little-TON - Colorado

Well said Chris and Jim,

I still dream of my first vision at Niagara, Larry Checkon standing behind me when I checked in.....he was in the How to Books, I couldnt believe me WIZ eyeZ. Ron Wallace Joe Jutras Chris Stevens Nick and Christy Harp.....all standing on that stairway to the World Record......I see them in my camera frame now.....

So many good times up there. The friends I met, made, the things I learned that propelled me forward. Helped me grow inside and out....

Bar night....Sally and the Seeds....I can go on for ever.... SO many good times and good friends made......
Todd Kline, Paps......too many to name....and Eddy the Iceman.....
MY BFF
But I understand the Fallsview has been changing and sold to the Marriott, BIG TIME CHANGES.
Our favorite Drinking hang out....the Bar up front wasnt even open on our last visit..... and BIG TIME PRICE increases....
And I remember..... THE SNOW, The Border Crossings, Paul S, how could we forget....lol
The FallZ themselveZ.......
.... but most of all YOU all made it special....

I hope to go to both....
Thank You... and see you all.... Out there.

10/14/2011 3:41:33 PM

Port Elgin, Ontario, Canada

There's still some weigh-offs to go but yes if Dave wins the jacket he will be invited to Niagara to receive it - we'd even hope that he would present the traditional "How I grew the 1807.5" segment. He's worked very hard for many years and when he had his WR previously the orange jacket was still a Canadian only award so he rightfully deserves to don the orange!

10/14/2011 7:03:57 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

This is not a division of Powers...it is an Invitation to invite more folks to be able to attend two different Incredible Events!!! Sally,(and awl of the Niagara folks) Rocks!!!! as does the GPC!!! I am sorta thinkin that UNIBROW!!! makes it to both!!! LOL I certainly do not think that the Niagara site was "catering to the east alone"...that's just where it was set up, and happening!!! Truly incredible site, for it to happen!!!! Niagara was way kul site!!!! Hopefully Vegas will be as exciting!!!! Peace, Wayne

10/15/2011 3:45:58 AM

Ontario

There was no decision to move the international convention. The GPC has started a new seminar and pulled out of the the international. Their choice and good luck to them. Moot point as to Dave getting an Orange jacket as he doesn't have the biggest pumpkin weighed this year.

10/15/2011 9:19:58 PM