The dates and locations of the board meetings were agreed upon by the Board of Directors.  These meetings are NOT open to the public, but any Master Gardener may attend, and ALL VMGA, Inc. members are URGED to attend.   If the location in the table below is colored blue, you can click on the location to get specific directions and/or maps to the site of the meeting. Directions are up the week before the meeting.

Below is our schedule for 2011. If your unit wishes to host a meeting, please contact Bill Scott (wjscott2@verizon.net).

2011

February 12 - Maymont (Southeast)

April 9 - Albemarle/Piedmont (Northern)

June - MG College

August 18 - Fairfax/Green Spring (Northern)

October 8 - Roanoke (Southwest)

December 10 - Halifax/Southside (Central)

What do we do at our meetings?

Usually, on the days of our meetings, MGs from around the state show up at the meeting site more than 1/2 hour before the business meeting begins to share gardening stories and catch up over coffee and treats provided by the MGs hosting the meeting.  Our business meeting begins promptly at 10:00 with introductions.  The minutes of the last meeting are approved, the Treasurer tells us how we are doing financially, and the President makes a report. Each of the Committee Chairs gives a brief report on the status of their committee and any special projects. The Extension Liaison, usually the State Master Gardener Coordinator Dave Close, brings us news from the Office of Environmental Horticulture and VCE.

Each Unit will be asked to give a report of their Unit's achievements, changes in leadership, and upcoming events.  Here is the place where you can brag or ask for help.  For more on the Unit Reports, and a list of information VMGA would like to have from each Unit please click here.  

Next is consideration of unfinished business and any new business and announcements.  At this point we usually adjourn the formal part of our meeting, and discuss a topic of interest to MGs statewide.  Now is also the time for committees to meet face to face to discuss their individual committee work. Many times, though, a tour is arranged for the reps. A special treat for special folks!

Every member is invited to attend. Come along with your Unit Rep! We'd love to have you visit!

What should a local Unit know about hosting a meeting?

If a local unit wishes to host the Board Meeting of the VMGA, they should make an offer to the President.  The calendar above shows the meetings that have already been scheduled, but we can plan out almost two years.  We try to have our meetings throughout the state so that all of our members can periodically have a chance to attend.  

Prior to the meeting:

• 4 months before arrange a meeting place that can hold 30-50 folks and reserve it for the day of the meeting.  
• 2 months before provide directions including a street address, telephone number for the day of the meeting for emergency contact, and telephone number and contact information in case of cancellation due to inclement weather or other calamity.
• 1 month before make certain to inform your local Master Gardeners so that they can plan to attend. 

The day of the meeting:

• Provide signs if need be, so that we can find our way to your meeting room.
• Arrange tables and chairs so that we can meet classroom or boardroom style.  Many of the unit representatives, committee chairs, and officers have papers to arrange, and take notes.
• Provide coffee, tea, snacks etc. upon arrival (VMGA can absorb the expense for this though some units provide this as hospitality or make other arrangements)
• Arrange to provide lunch or take lunch orders.  VMGA certainly does not expect you to buy us lunch. Generally units make an arrangement with a local sandwich shop or caterer to provide lunches from a limited menu or purchase deli trays when there is no feasible alternative.  VMGA Board members expect to pay $5.00-$7.00  for their lunch that day.  
• Make a brief presentation regarding your Units activities.