Minutes of the Regularly Scheduled Meeting of the

Virginia Master Gardener Association, Inc (VMGA, Inc.).

Chesterfield County, VA

February 12, 2000

Kerry Goldmeyer called the meeting to order at 10:00 AM on February 12, 2000 in the meeting room of the Chesterfield County Central Library. She thanked the Chesterfield MGs for hosting the meeting. All those present introduced themselves.

Attendance:

Officers: Kerry Goldmeyer (President), Sybil Przypek (Vice-President), Gary R. Bill (Treasurer), Frank Reilly (Secretary)

Committee Chairs: Evelyn Parker (State Fair), Pat Reilly (Membership), Mike Feris (VMGA Report editor), Kerry Goldmeyer (Long Range Planning ad hoc committee), Wilma Paceley (Unit Support).

Unit Representatives: Pamela Armstrong (Hanover), Ann Gorrell (Fredericksburg, Stafford, spotsylvania, King George, & Caroline), Mike Feris (Chesapeake), Sybil Przypek (York), Tom Geer (Prince George), Pat Reilly (Prince William), Kathy Heslep (Arlington), Phyllis Bayer (Norfolk), Jim Scibek (Fauquier), Sid Self (Bedford),Chuck Norrington (Rockbridge, Bath), June Rosini (Chesterfield), Angela Cahn and Susan Adriance (Lancaster & Northumberland), Shelby Snider (Roanoke), Bill McCaleb (Halifax), Bill Bonwell (Hanover), Gary Bill (Newport News).

Also Attending: Cheri Haggerty (Hanover), Walter Przypek (York), Barbara Geer (Prince George), Alice Nicholson and Tom Carlson (Arlington & Alexandria), Annagreta Oswald Self (Bedford), Caroline Norrington (Rockbridge, Bath), Peggy Johnston (Chesterfield).

Minutes of the December Regularly Scheduled Meeting were approved with the proviso that the names of all those in attendance be entered into the minutes.

Treasurers Report: Our checking account balance as of January 31, 2000 $ 2,921.32, and the net worth of our total assets is 13,692.95. Because of our decision to put part of our holdings into an interest bearing account, we have earned over $203.00 in interest. Our total financial outflows this year have been $2,558 or about 32% of our budget. Our total financial inflows this year have been $5,370.00 or about 68% of budgeted income. The complete budget and Treasurer’s report can be found on the Treasurer's page at the VMGA, Inc. web site (www.vmga.net).

Committee Reports

Communication Tom Park has been named as the new chair, and was unable to attend due to the weather. No report was available.

Education: The Gregorys could not attend due to the weather. However Mike Feris reported that the announcement for the March Continuing Education Event will be a full page advertisement in the VMGA Report. The March event will be held at Sandy’ Plants in Mechanicsville. See the VMGA Report for details and registration information.

Membership Pat Reilly reported that there are 389 members currently.

The membership committee arranged for a special hotel rate for the Hort Show in Virginia Beach. Chuck Norrington reported only 6 rooms were taken, and therefore the hospitality room was not used.

She has developed a "why join VMGA handout." It is like a recent resume’ of what the VMGA has done. She asked for input on what could be added. Mike Feris will publish it as a work-in-progress in the VMGA Report, and it will be added to the web page. She believes that each VMGA member should have one of these handouts so that they could answer the questions "Why join VMGA. Chuck Norrington suggested VMGA’s activities could be more important than ever since VCE is trying to extend into every county, and VMGA is a resource for MGs to accomplish their goals, and act as a go-between to VCE for MGs.

Pat has a large supply of VMGA applications prepared and asks that all the units that have training classes going on now consider distributing the applications to their trainees.

VMGA Report: Mike Feris reported that the VMGA Report will be mailed this Tuesday.

State Fair: Evelyn Parker reported that there may be a restriction on the number of free MG admissions from each county this year for the fair. Perhaps only 12 per county may be allowed. This has not yet been finally decided.

Unit Support: Wilma Paceley asked to be replaced as chair of the committee. Discussion ensued on how to accomplish these duties. Pat Reilly suggested that a web page be added to the VMGA Web site listing topics that other VMGA members are able to speak about. This will be a good service for the small and/or isolated units that need help. All agreed that the privacy of the speakers should be ensured on the web page. It was also agreed that many of the duties of Unit Support could be handled by the Communications Committee.

Long Range Planning: Kerry Goldmeyer stated that the committee had nothing new to report.

Extension Liaison Report: No representative from VCE was present. However, the VCE MG Coordinator position has still not been advertised. Given the amount of work needed to put on MG College in June, the consensus was to send a letter to Drs. Barrett and Umberger expressing our concern that the position has not even been posted yet. It has been known that Sheri Dorn, the last VCE MG Coordinator, was leaving the position since May of 1999.

A discussion ensued regarding the VMGA’s relationship with VCE and with the legislature. Again it is urged that each unit add its local legislators to the mailing list, and include a numerical report listing hours, contacts, time and relative dollar value.

Gary Bill proposed a committee to investigate educating the public and the legislature about the activities and the value of the activities that MGs provide. The motion was seconded and passed in a 15 for and 7 opposed vote. The committee is charged to make recommendations to the VMGA Board within the next 3 months. These recommendations will be in the areas of things that local units can do to become more visible; things that VMGA should do on a state-wide basis to advance Master Gardening; and a direction and recommendation for the future of the committee within VMGA, Inc.

It was moved to send the VMGA Report to the entire VA legislature and an initial letter of introduction for VMGA, Inc. that explains why the legislator is receiving the VMGA Report. The motion was seconded and passed.

History No report was given.

New Business

Nominations Committee: Chuck Norrington, Susie McCrea, Alice Nicolson, Bob Hopper and Mike Feris were named to the nomination committee. They must present a slate of proposed officers to the Board by the April meeting. They must also report to the board by the 23^rd of May of the election results from mailed ballots. The timetable for these events is prescribed in our By-Laws and all agreed that it seemed like a cumbersome procedure that should be re-viewed.

Audit Committee: Bill McCaleb, Sid Self, and Barbara Geer were named to the audit committee. They are to inspect the books at the close of the May bank statements, and prepare a report for the Annual Meeting in June.

MG Handbooks. There are a number of errors - some typos and some changes in the information presented in the new MG Handbooks. The soil section has changed, and there are very few apple varieties mentioned. Numerous comments regarding the MG Handbook, and obtaining the handbook in time for training classes were made. The place for suggested corrections is the MG List server, and suggestions to Diane Relf.

Meeting with VCE and VMGA Leaders: The meeting scheduled for February 11 had to be rescheduled for April. Several suggestions were made for topics of discussion for the next meeting.

VMGA.NET The web page has been moved to VMGA.NET. The new site is larger, faster, and easier to navigate. The webmaster, Frank Reilly, asked units to send him information and news tidbits for the VMGA web site, along with links to their web sites. The new web page will be updated much more frequently. News items will be added as they arrive. Eventually the Education Committee and the VMGA Report will have pages at the site for their announcements. A calendar is also anticipated where all local units are urged to post their events. Any units wishing to post any information should prepare the information and send it to the webmaster electronically.

Announcements:

March 18 the Arlington Gardening Symposium will be held by the Arlington MGs. See their website for information.

A Horticultural Extravaganza will be held March 11^th in York County. Call the York County VCE Office for details.

Prince William County MGs announce the "Spring Fling 2000: A Lawn and Landscape Extravaganza" on April 29. Scheduled guests include Adrian Higgins, the garden writer for the Washington Post, and Frank Reilly, VMGA Secretary. Contact the Prince William Extension Offices for information about this function.

On March 4, Water-wise Gardener Master Gardener Training will be held in Prince William County. Please make reservations for this program with Prince William County VCE.

On April 29, "Gardening 2000" will be held in York County at Christopher Newport College. Contact the York county extension offices for more information.

The meeting was adjourned at 1:28 PM.

Respectfully Submitted

Frank Reilly

Secretary,

VMGA, Inc.