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Location

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Date Posted

Wroclaw, Poland (51 N, 17 E)

I've just started first polish pumpkin assosation, and I would like to ask you, what do you do in your associations?

Jacek

4/15/2003 12:37:56 PM

Cologne / Germany

Jacek, that´s great work you started in Poland. Do you already have a name like PGPGA (polish giant pumpkin growers association)? Please mail me your address, I have some people going back to Krakau for Eastern on Friday, they can bring some of my seeds.

Ingo

4/16/2003 5:03:01 AM

Webster, NY

Jacek, I'm pretty new at this, but I would think a newsletter of some kind to help new people get started, setting up a booth at a festival and hand out some seeds to get others interested and a weigh off at the end of the season. I'm sure others with more experience can help more. Good luck to you. It sounds like fun.

4/16/2003 7:06:30 AM

Windsor, Nova Scotia Canada

Jacek

There is not much to it. Decide what your association name would be, determine a weigh-off date, secure some corporate sponsors to help with any costs for advertisement etc., and grow some giant pumpkins. I am sure you know by now that Giant Pumpkin growing is a very addictive sport/hobby. Hopefully you will find some good people to help you with your promotions, newsletters, and registration fees (if any). It is important to have good volunteers on side. If you have any questions, I would be happy to help in any way. I found your question very sincere, and it's too bad there are people like Booth out there that get their thrills on screwing in light bulbs.
Maureen

4/16/2003 12:37:48 PM

Key West, FL

Clubs usually have a newsletter. It takes a lot of work to get a club started. Take a look at a lot of club websites and get some ideas. I know the PGVG's is www.pgvg.org . I'm sure there are links to a lot of other club websites on the links part of this site. You will need sponsors for prize money if you want prize money at your weigh off. Make sure you have plenty of interested (local growers) first. You might just want to try and promote pumpkin growing for a year or two first while you build enough local interest to actually have a weigh off.
Ben

4/16/2003 2:17:12 PM

[email protected]

Here in the states, if a club really gets goimg, we need a not for profit letter of incorporation for tax exempt status & a business checking account. You shouldn't need to worry about this right away (if at all). But joining a local club of any kind that is allready incorporated similarly could be of use to you. By laws need to be written. You may wish to find a proper meeting location too. Just trying to think of stuff we have to deal with in our turf industry associations.

Are there already similar clubs organized in your area?

Steve

4/16/2003 3:20:34 PM

Usa

I admire you for taking on such a challenge and wish you all the luck. I know even if you start out small and grow you are going to really enjoy your growing season. Congratulations and best wishes.

4/16/2003 5:14:59 PM

Wroclaw, Poland (51 N, 17 E)

Thanks everybody (exept booth) for answer. My association is named DŒZHD, first two letters (DŒ) is name of region where I live, and ZHD is PGA (pumpkin growers association).
There eren't many people interested in gardening i Poland, so pumpkins are not popular. I do everything I can to make giant pumpkins well-known hobby as (for example) fishing.
I have some rules in DŒZHD. First is that people who join it don't have to pay anything. Second is that every member have to send (to me) 10 seeds or more every year. I'll think of another rules, and I'll be glad if you give me some ideas. I know only one person, who is realy interested in pumpkins, and will join my association. I organized contest and now I am trying to promote it. I've printed some advertisments. There aren't any pumpkin association exept DŒZHD in Poland. I think that I'll organize a weight-off next year. This tear I'll try to promote pumpkins.
I know that it is a challenge, but I like challenges.
I hope that I answered all the questions.
My e-mail is [email protected] or [email protected]

PS
To 5150. If your friends are comming to poland tell them to visit my website www.dynie.prv.pl And if you want you can send me some seeds. Today I've recived some seeds including one 840 Desrosiers, but I am still looking for those seeds for my friend.

4/16/2003 5:47:25 PM

Leicester, NY

Hi Jacek,
I have relatives in Poland that I have introduced to the joys of pumpkin growing. I will post a picture of the pumpkins they grew last year; biggest one was 168 pounds. My family is originally from Grzegorzowice and I visited that area in the spring of 2001, beautiful area! If I can help you in any way, please email me privately..Joe Pukos

4/16/2003 6:53:26 PM

Wroclaw, Poland (51 N, 17 E)

I think you all should tell your Polish fiends (if you have them) about my association an my website, becouse we have to be one group!

4/16/2003 7:11:13 PM

porterville, calif.

Jacek what a great thing you are doing. Keep up the good work. It will pay off for you . Just ignore the jerks and go for it.

4/17/2003 1:27:30 PM

Montoursville, PA

Jacek....the way organizations get started here is with a few people and a common interest. In time there will be three or more in another area within your country. At that point you have a possible other area chapter and your first baby organization. I have an booklet in English that shows how you could do it. You would need to change the interest area from my other interest to pumpkins. It could prove priceless as you attempt to grow. Send me an E if you would like that guide book. Our growing organization now has 225 in the major all member group with five chapters holding over fifty of the members. Our interest area is doll restoration. We have doll doctors scattered all over the world and the USA. The type of organization is about what I think you would like to consider. It is designed to work for a small nitch type organization. It is easy to set up and easy to follow with most of the simple rules I believe pumpkin clubs or charters would need. I would even send you the Rules and By Laws of the National Organization if you would like to see them. Again they are for small nitch interest groups just like your pumpkin intersests are!

I really believe you could save a lot of time rebuilding an existing set of needs than starting entirely from the begining of a new organization.

4/17/2003 5:12:57 PM

Sloughhouse, CA

Jacek ...keep up the good work. I know pumpkin organization will grow. Have lots of fun growing pumpkins and meeting knew friends.

4/18/2003 12:01:46 AM

Garden State Pumpkins

Hey Jacek, Just spoke to one of my neighbors and asked where wroclaw was? She made me spell it when I did she said the name of the town wasn't anywhere the way I was saying it...south of warsaw before the mountains big town was the way she put it! Good Luck! Grow em Big! Chuck

4/18/2003 3:29:31 PM

Appalachian Mtns.

How's this for a stalemate breaker?
"JohnnyJohnny", aka Karl Dietz, is rabble rousing on the hort.net pumpkin board.
Check it out....

4/18/2003 7:27:07 PM

Wroclaw, Poland (51 N, 17 E)

Ja mówiê po polsku, ale z tego co ty napisa³eœ, nic nie zrozumia³em. Je¿elinie masz nic interesuj¹cego do powiedzenia,tol epiej nie mów nic.

I told booth that I speak polish, but I didn't understand what he said, and said him not to write anything if he don't have anything intersting to say.

PS Wroclaw is not in the south from Warsaw, it is SW from it. About 100 km from German border.

4/22/2003 1:46:43 PM

Connecticut, USA

I had to heavily edit this thread.

My apologies if it seams a bit disjoint.

4/24/2003 8:36:22 AM