Kerry Goldmeyer called the April Regularly Scheduled Meeting
of the Virginia Master Gardener Association, Inc. (VMGA, Inc.) to order at
10:08 AM on April 8, 2000, in the Central Library of Newport News,
Virginia. Gary Bill gave a little of the
local history and an orientation to the area.
Kerry welcomed the MGs to the meeting, and thanked
Gary Bill and the Newport News Master Gardeners for hosting us at the
meeting. Everybody present introduced
himself or herself.
The Minutes of the February Regularly Scheduled
Meeting of the VMGA, Inc were approved with minor corrections.
Treasurers Report:
Gary Bill distributed the latest Treasurer’s Report
which was current through the 31st of March. VMGA, Inc. has accumulated 71% of the income
projected in the FY 2000 budget, while only expending 37% of our projected
budget.
The Treasurer’s report was approved.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Communication/Unit
Support
Tom Park the chair of both of these committees gave
the report. He feels that these two
committees are in flux and have very many duties that overlap between
themselves, and with other offices and committees. At this point there seems to be good reason
to beef up the Unit Support Committee since new units are expected, and will
need the start up support that VMGA, Inc. can give.
Education:
Due to Bud Gregory’s recent hospitalization and
convalescence, neither he nor Fran were able to attend. Kerry Goldmeyer read a
report from Fran and Bud. 37 attended
including 2 new VMGA, Inc. members at Sandy’s Plants. On May 6 Andy Hankins has organized a program
including hydroponics, etc. co-hosted by
Chesterfield Co MGs.
414 members with 12 already renewed for next
year. Next week she will send an email
solicitation for renewal. Right after
that, she will send a snail mail version.
The 2nd week of May she will send post card reminders, and
she will also arrange for quickie renewals at MG College. Gary felt it was important to include the
dates that membership covered.
Circulation is going up not only from new memberships
but also with the addition of the legislature.
We are due for another newsletter out this week depending on the status
of the educational event.
Diane Relf warned us to be careful not to include any
verbiage that makes it seem like MGs are self-serving. Karen Sacasky agreed to a certain
extent. Kerry pointed out that in fact
we as VMGA members are virtually unknown, and we need to send the message about
all of the good that MGs do throughout the state like feeding the hungry,
educating the public about horticulture and proper environmental practices.
Diane and Karen seemed to think that this should be a
one-shot mailing or at most an annual, special mailing. Pat Reilly suggested including a letter with
each newsletter asking them to see what MGs are doing in their home
locations. Lively discussion
ensued. Tom Geer suggested that a
special annual issue be constructed that summarizes the community services that
MGs provide by locale. Consensus was to
stop the mailings to the legislators.
Long Range Planning:
Kerry reported that she has put together a cover
letter that explains that the committee needs to know what the membership
wants. A questionnaire is developed and
the Newsletter committee will be asked to send it to the membership, soon. Hopefully this information will be available
for the board taking over in June.
State Fair
Evelyn couldn’t attend today due to her MG groups big
plant sale. It is the time of year that
she begins planning. If your local
association is interested in volunteering some of the time at The State Fair,
get in touch with her to schedule it.
Extension Liaison Report:
1.) USDA
Forest Service started Urban Forestry.
Now it includes the entire urban forest (under story etc.) therefore it
is horticulture. They have asked VCE to
report on a national level.
2.) AOS
division is putting up money to help to develop urban gardens/community
gardens. Tech’s share could amount to a
good deal of financial support for MGs.
3.) CAS
is comprised of all of the major professional associations in ag/hort, and will publish a position paper asking the USDA
to support much more urban work.
4.) VMGA
and VCE are meeting together.
5.) Steve
Umberger scheduled a meeting with the agents
re-enforcing the ideas that they are an element in the education of MGs, and
told them that MGs were a major part of VCE’s mission achievement.
6.) The
position of Hort department head was written with specific language dealing
with consumers rather than just commercial hort.
7.) Wednesday
is the interview for the state MG Coordinator.
Two have been selected for interview.
8.) The
state flag is being re-furbished. The
historic committee could have the old flag – Diane will not keep it.
9.) There
is a new exhibit board for State MG activities.
10.) New award
certificates have been designed for interns, trainees, MGs, and urban tree
stewards.
11.) Award pins are made
for MG serviced levels and for tree stewards
12.) There is a new tree
steward handbook, and interest in NC in using ours
13.) There is a water
quality steward handbook nearly ready for distribution.
14.) She is working on a
yard waste program for advance MG training – perhaps it will be called soil
steward.
15.) Final report has
been written regarding IPM survey from a few years ago. It will be available on the web soon for our
review.
16.) 4-H group is
interested in starting a junior MG program.
17.) A new course is
being promulgated for graduate level teacher re-certification. 20 teachers per course. 38 hours of classroom lecture, a project, and
a final report are required.
18.) Mgs can now buy the
new MG handbook filler for $35.00.
Deadline is May 15th, and the MG coordinator or agent must
place the order for all of them at once.
Diane does not have a way to take individual orders.
19.) Diane commented that
the Record-keeping system is available for use.
20.) Oct 10 NE MG
Conference in Wheeling, West Virginia.
21.) MG College Jun21- New MG Coordinator Training – At this
time no pre-conference trip is planned.
Thursday 22 MG coordinators meeting.
VMGA Board Mtg at 12:00. Thursday afternoon there will be tours. Diane gave a brief overview of the plans for
MG College.
22.) It was emphasized
that we will need a shuttle for MG College since some of the MG College
Attendees have trouble getting around the distances at Tech.
23.) This should be out
by email end of next week – hard copy the middle of the following week.
24.) We asked for
internet training,
Karen is finalizing the history, and a hard copy will
be delivered to Kerry by June
The ballots were sent by first class mail. The slate is:
President Pat Reilly
Vice President:
Ann Gorrell
Treasurer: Sybil Przypek
Secretary: James Scibek
Ballots due to Bob Hopper by may 8th
A comment that it was the easiest ballot ever.
The audit Committee has been in contact with Gary
Bill. The meeting will be in June near
the Geers since it is a midpoint of the members.
Get all re-imbursements to Gary no later than the end
of May so the books can close with the change of officers. Committees and
officers should submit a budget request to the current treasurer soon so it can
come to the board meeting in Blacksburg.
Bylaws call for any bylaw revisions to be distributed
greater than 30 days prior to the mtg. So the suggested changes will be sent
out by the Newsletter Committee no later than Mid May.
At the Friday meeting between VCE leadership and VMGA
Leadership, badges were discussed. Dave
Barrett comes from a volunteer based background (4-H) they have heard the
message that people are unhappy with the nametags. We can have a presence on that committee.
The next Board Meeting will be Thursday June 22 at
11:30 AM at MG College in Blacksburg.
The next Annual Meeting will be Friday the 23rd also
at MG College.
The meeting was adjourned at 1:26 pm
Respectfully submitted
Frank Reilly
Secretary
VMGA, Inc.