Yorktown, VA
Attendance
(Arlington) Marti Klein; (Blacksburg - VA Tech) Sarah Lineberger; (Chesapeake) Kerry Goldmeyer; (Fauquier) Frank Reilly, Jim Scibek; (Fredericksburg, Stafford, Spotsylvania, King George, Caroline) Ann Gorrell;(Hanover) Cheri Haggerty, Evelyn Parker; (Newport News) Gary Bill; (Northern Neck) Jinny Estell, Barbara Shultz; (Prince George) Cheryl Elmore, Tom Geer; (Prince William) Pat Reilly; (Roanoke) Jerry Crumb; (Rockbridge/Bath) Caroline Norrington, Chuck Norrington; (Stafford) Cheryl Bunting, Betty Freedman; (York) Mary Frances Baker, Norma Jackson, Janet Ledebuhr, Bernice Little, Jim Orband, Sybil Przypek, Diane Short.
Call to Order President Pat Reilly called the meeting to order at 1003, 1403 GMT, in York County, Yorktown, VA. She thanked everyone for attending the meeting.
Pat introduced Sybil Przypek who introduced York County attendees. A video was shown about York County Master Gardeners and their programs. The video was produced by the MG's of York County and goes out on the airways of the local government starion and is played during times of breaks between different programs. Also shared was a flow chart/organizational diagram of their MG organization. Jim Orband, Extension Agent for York County, was introduced.
The minutes of the February meeting were read and approved with corrections.
Treasurer Sybil Przypek reported a total balance of $16,459.15. The Treasurer's report was accepted as presented.
(Pat skipped to the Newsletter committee report prior to giving the President's report.) 1.) Name tags - White on top engraved with your name and Master Gardener Volunteer. Bottom is forest green. Has VCE and logo on bottom. We are the only group, out of 85 Extension volunteers, that state what type of volunteer on the name tag (i.e. Master Gardener). All others just say Extension Volunteer. Qualification added - those name tags to go to volunteer with continuing responsibility. Each unit to decide who the volunteers are with continuing responsibility. Units and agents to determine requirements of continuing responsibility. These are special name tags. 2.) Pat has not gotten any requests for tables for Brag Night. Let her know if your unit wants one. She will send out a reminder on May 1st.
Ann Gorrell - Education Committee will meet at Shoney's on May 15th at 1800 on Rt. 3 east of I-95 towards Fredericksburg. This is a planning meeting.
Pat reported some initial problems. The one being mailed out is about 10 pages long. Passed around an example. Still need reporters for Northern and Southeast District. Pat asked for volunteers to take notes (report news) on VMGA meeting (presentations given, chitchat, etc., not minutes) and send to Maria to include in newsletter as a report of the VMGA board meeting. Kerry Goldmeyer volunteered to do this for today's meeting. Items for inclusion in the newsletter can be sent to Maria at papadamc@rica.net. Discussion on possibility of designing one newsletter per year to go to the Legislature, probably in January time frame.
Gary Bill - 38 Life members, 404 Regular members. Total 442 members. Need help on Membership Committee. Year runs June through May. Publish new membership booklet in October. A reception will be set up after the Award Ceremony at MG College. Bring a bottle of sparkling cider or something.
Chair Frank Reilly reported - committee members are Shelby Snider, Cheri Haggerty, Julie Cochran, Alice Nicolson, and Frank Reilly. 1) Biggest activity is the web page. a) Since the last meeting, we had 972 different visitors to the web page. b) The page has been updated 6 times and has a new look. Buttons are now at the bottom of each page. This allows easier printing of contents. c.) Later this summer, the site will be reorganized to decrease the number of clicks to get to each page. d.) Alice Nicolson is accepting entries for the calendar page which also hasa new look, provided by Julie Cochran. e.) Cheri Haggerty has updated the links page with all correct web addresses. f.) Shelby Snider has added some pictures from MG College to the picture part of the web page. g.) MG's of Central Rappahannock have a new web page and we have provided a link to it. 2) Since the last meeting we received a request for help in forming an association or corporation from the Hampton Roads MG secretary. We were able to offer good information due to the article by Alice Nicolson concerning obtaining the exempt status. 3) Hope to update some of the contact telephone numbers in that piece and mount it on the web site before MG College. 4) Shelby Snider is handling requests for MG window clings. These are decal appliques without the glue. They can be reapplied as desired. They are 4" X 12" on clear background with green print, hand is tan, soil brown. Cost is about $1.00 each. Contact Shelby to order. 5) The CD that was going to be prepared advertising MG College that was shown at the last meeting - Julie Cochran's hard drive crashed. She is back on it again. Delivery date to be announced.
There was a general discussion on Tidewater.
Evelyn Parker - Get your spokesperson, give Evelyn a call, set up a date, pick your people. August 15th is the deadline.
Sarah Lineberger reported: 1) MG College is June 21st - 24th. Information was sent to the Extension agents and coordinators the 1st of March. Trying to get registrations in by May 14th to give people in housing a month beforehand on how many rooms we are requiring. This year housing is separate. Only thing that has to be prepaid is the cost of College. 2) Has copies of information on International Master Gardener Conference in Orlando, May 28th to June 1st. 3) Record keeping system is almost finished. Now it has an editing function. Only thing left is to add more reports. 4) Youth MG program - Title we will use is "VCE 4-H Youth Master Gardener Program" and it is based on curriculum out of Texas and adapted for Virginia. It is a youth 4-H horticulture program. Works in cooperation with 4-H leaders, 4-H agent and VCE Master Gardeners and ANR Environmental Hort Agent. Training will be held throughout the state in May and June. Have to preregister for it through the 4-H agent. Dates are: 5-2-01 Northwest 5-15-01 Southeast 5-16-01 Central 5-31-01 Northeast 6-4-01 Southwest 6-6-01 Northern Working on having it at MG College on Sturday or at least an introduction. The way the program is set up, each group will have 2 leaders - both must demonstrate kowledge of horticulture and, if not Master Gardeners, will have to find a MG advisor. The difference from the original JMG curriculum is there are a bit fewer activities. JMG has 98 to complete. We will have 48 different individual or group activities to do. Must have at least 25 hours of training, then there will be 25 hours of service. Any units, 4-H agent, and volunteers that go to training and say "yes" they want to start within a year will receive a free copy of the leaders' guide and youth handbook. Each unit can get up to 3 copies. To earn a certificate, all seven chapters are done in one year. Geared for 3rd through 5th grades. 5) Putting together an MG College Advisory Committee, and is looking for people that would be interested. Probably meet twice a year, once Sunday morning at Master Gardener College and perhaps once in the fall in a central location. Purpose is to help in planning and deciding on speakers. It shouldn't involve too much time. If interested, contact Sarah.
Now consists of Susan Wingfield, Bud Gregory, and Chuck Walters. Probably will have Pat or one of the officers sit in also. If anyone else is interested, let Pat know.
Pat Reilly stated that without Diane Relf there would be no Master Gardeners. A proposal was made to make her a lifetime member of the VMGA. Approval was given to have a plaque made up and worded as follows: "In honor of your many years of support and service to the Virginia Master Gardeners, the Virginia Master Gardener Association presents to Dr. Diane Relf a Lifetime membership." Present it to her at Awards Night.
1) Next board meeting is in Blacksburg on Thursday, June 21, 2001, at 1130 in Litton Reeves. 2) Annual meeting - Saturday June 23, 2001. 1900-2000 Annual meeting 2000-2100 Awards ceremony 2100- VMGA reception - Honoring award recipients (bring sparkling cider and snacks) 3.) Officers of VMGA will be meeting with Drs. Barrett and Umberger on Thursday, June 21, 2001 at 1500. 4.) Prince William is having their Spring Fling on 4-28-01 from 0900-1600 at Prince William County Fair Grounds. 5.) Fauquier, Loudon, Prince William, Northern Shennandoah will be staffing a Master Gardener booth at the State Arboretum on Mother's Day weekend 5-12-01 & 5-13-01. 6.) Ginter having plant sale yesterday and today. 7.) Rockbridge area Master Gardener plant sale in Lexington on 5-12-01. 8.) York County plant sale May 5th, 0900-1200.
The official meeting was adjourned at 1320, 1720 GMT.
Respectfully submitted,
Jim Scibek Secretary VMGA, Inc.