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 Virginia Master Gardener Association, Inc.

Bi-Monthly Board Meeting

August 11, 2007

Winchester - Shenandoah University

(Final)

Attendance

(Bedford) Patty Gamache, Bob Gamache; (Chesapeake) Pinky Derieux; (Fairfax - Merrifield) George Graine; (Fauquier) Jim Scibek; (Green Spring) Joan Richards; (Hanover)  Christy Brennan, Cheri Haggerty; (James City County/Williamsburg) Ann Odle; (Loudon) Dave  Hellums, Pat Martin; (Lynchburg) Deborah Straw and Steve Straw; (Manassas) Frank Reilly; (Middletown) Paula Brownlee; (Northern Neck) Julie Denny, Edward A. Munns, Jr.; (Northern  Shenandoah) Lani Matson, Josh Marvel, John Stevens, Carolyn Wilson, Fran Gregory; (Goochland Powhatan) Chuck Miller; (Prince William) Frank Reilly, Bill Scott; (Roanoke) Kathryn Debnar; (Rockbridge) David Mims; (Virginia Beach) Paul Campbell, Mary Ann Kincaid, Jim Kincaid, Fran Shelton; (Virginia Tech/VCE) David Close; (Warren) Marsha Burd; (York) Jackie Lohr. 

Call to Order –

President Cheri Haggerty called the meeting to order at 10:00a.m.

Introductions

Fran Gregory, North Shenandoah Master Gardener Representative, welcomed everyone and thanked the hosting committee.  John Stevens, President of the Northern Shenandoah MG unit, and Josh Marvel, VCE Agent, said a few words regarding history of the area.  Introductions followed around the room

Minutes – Angela Cingale

The June minutes were accepted as submitted.

Treasurer’s Report – Ted Jenks

Bill Scott presented the treasurer’s report in Ted’s absence.  He discussed the new format which now shows a balance sheet in addition to the two month receipts, disbursements, and transfers and year the date summary of income and expenses which had previously been shown.  Treasurer’s report was accepted as read.     

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Education - Fran Shelton, Pinky Derieux, Co-Chairs

Fran informed the membership that the education program at Montpelier was cancelled.  She also stated that the committee will keep looking into a spring and fall program for 2008.   Cheri is considering writing a letter to the Montpelier Board regarding the circumstances for the cancellation of the program.  We were reminded to use the VMGA Education Committee for our unit’s programs and to use the website, www.vmga.net, to publicize event(s).  

Newsletter - Florace Arnold, Editor

The July/August newsletter had members’ articles on their Master Gardener College experiences.  The P. Diane Relf Scholarship Fund article was not included in this issue but may be sent by Dave Close thru his mass e-mail list. The article explains the process of how recipients are chosen for this award.  

Membership – Mary Ann Kincaid, Chair

As of August 8, there are 464 members of the Virginia Master Gardener Association.  Of these, 307 are Active members; 4 are Auxiliary members; and 153 are Lifetime members.  157 members have not renewed.  She explained the three classes of VMGA membership.  She had a list of non-renewing members for some of the unit representatives. 

Fund Raising – Betty Villers, Chair

Mary Ann Kincaid announced that she had some supplies of the T-shirts, license plate frames, and decals for sale.

Communication/Unit Support - Frank Reilly, Chair

Unit Support Members: Pat Reilly, Karen Sacasky, Kerry Goldmeyer, Pinky Derieux, Cheri Haggerty, Frank Reilly.

No activity to report since the June meeting.

Communication Committee Members:  Cheri Haggerty, Kathryn Debnar, Shelby Snyder, Betty Truax, Tom Bolt, Paul Campbell, George Alapas, George Graine, Bob Schmidt, and Chair Frank Reilly

Since the June regularly scheduled meeting there have been 2828 visitors to VMGA.net.  Nearly all of our visitors visit the front page during their stay.  On average for every 100 who enter through this site through only 35 leave the same page.  The balance of visitors visit someplace else in the site.  This makes it a very productive place to make announcements, and is why most new messages are mentioned there.  The most popular pages in the last three months have been the Endowment page, Hort Updates, Minutes, Unit Reports, MGPW site, College, Stewards and News.  Frank is interested in getting pictures from MG College so that his committee can begin to produce the MG College recruiting page for next year in time for a December posting.

Finance Committee – Bill Scott, Chair
Bill gave report under Treasurer’s report.

Fund-raising – Betty Villers, Chair

Cheri stated that Betty is looking into mugs and other VMGA marketable items to continue with our fundraising efforts for the endowment.

New Business

Cheri Haggerty brought up a discussion for having a VMGA Logo to uniquely identify our organization to all Master Gardeners.  Due to VMGA being in existence for many years now and yet does not have a logo.   We were asked to if there was someone we knew or even one of the members present that could work on a logo and send it in by our next VMGA Board meeting which is on October 13, 2007.  A pin was suggested but may not be worn by all members of our organization.  The artist does not have to be a VMGA member or even be a Master Gardener.  Someone who would like to create a masterpiece that VMGA can call their own.  All entries can be brought to the October Board meeting at which time the entries will be reviewed.  If anyone has any questions, please contact Patty Gamache, Bedford, at rgama37@aol.com, by telephone at (540)587-0524, or by mail to 1714 Kingston Circle, Bedford, VA  24523.  Due to Paul Campbell retiring as the scholarship committee chair, George Graine has accepted the position of chair of the Diane Relf  Education Committee.

Extension Liaison - Dave Close, MG Coordinator

America’s Anniversary Garden – Myers Elementary School in Gainesville, GA was selected as the national winner of the AAG/Jr. Master Gardener School Design contest. Winners went to Jamestown Settlement August 9-11 for their prize package. Statewide  AAG contest concludes September 1st. The awards will be distributed on October 5th at the VA State Fair.  The summer “In-Season” newsletter will be out soon.  MG College was huge success due to good enrollment (245 officially), 40+ speakers and special guests.  He is already planning for MG College 2008 which is scheduled for June 17-22, 2008.  The MG College Advisory Team will be meeting in September to plan for speakers and topics.  Tour of VA – since the April meeting, Dave has met with MG units for the first time in Portsmouth and Henry County/Martinsville.  The handbook revisions have been received on at least 3 chapters; more are in the process of being reviewed and updated.  Misc:  International MG Conference –Dave did not get to attend. He did learn that 1,300 people participated (from 42 states and 3 provinces).  2009 conference will be in Las Vegas and the 2011 conference will be in Charleston, WV.   Dave informed us that the Southern Region MG conference will be in Oklahoma next year (June 18-21).  The North Caroline MG Conference will take place, October 8-10, 2007 at NC State.  Operation Rejuvenation Swarm – deposits were due August 10. Total costs are $850/person for double occupancy and $1250/person for single. Bus will depart from and return to Richmond. Stopping at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden on the way down and Bellingrath Garden and Homes on the way back (and possibly the Sarah P. Duke gardens too).  For the new contacts reporting forms; unit reps were asked to talk to our local agent, coordinator, and/or record keeper about the new expectations.  He has partly done the preparation for a USDA audit on civil rights compliance which will be in effect in August.  Master Gardener Coordinator Endowment effort – Dawn Lerch and Dave will be traveling throughout VA meeting with individuals and MG units to discuss fundraising efforts toward the endowment.  There is an opportunity with Fine Gardening to raise $10/new subscription for the VCE MG program which will run through May 2008. He will get details to us as the program is worked out and every unit will be asked to help promote this effort.  The survey regarding the Vt-Edu website has to be completed in Adobe Acrobat Reader as that is the only program that the website will recognize.

State Fair- Christy Brennan

Christy has coordinated the schedule for the VA State Fair with the various units that volunteered their time.  She has ordered the same amount of insects for the insect demonstration which was very successful last year.  There are lots of educational handouts for children and adults   There will also be a demonstration on pruning crape myrtles, pruning in general, composting, vermiculture, good and bad bugs, and land stewardship,.  She still had open slots for unit reps to volunteer their group.

Announcements-Cheri Haggerty

MG Coordinator Endowment Fund-Cheri had a handout from college to show the unit reps.  This handout is an excellent account of different ways to endow this Fund and local reps are encouraged to show their unit. They can contact Dave or Dawn for these handouts.  Greening of Central Virginia is a free “Totally Green” seminar offered by the Union Bank in Caroline County and everyone is invited to attend.  VA Garden Festival at Lewis Ginter on September 22nd and they’re looking for educational booths.  The Maymount Flower and Garden Show will take place on the 3rd week of February, Judging Category 3, for the America’s Anniversary Garden, Sub-division category, will take place in Williamsburg. MaryAnn Kincaid and Cheri will review the entries for this category, which was funded by VMGA.

Unit Reports

The Unit reps attending were asked to send their reports to the secretary.  They will be posted at www.VMGA.net and printed in the next newsletter.

Unfinished Business-Cheri Haggerty

History Project - An MG from Prince William has made a tentative offer to continue the History project on a temporary basis.

She also has a tentative offer for the MG College Goody Bags.  .

New Business 

Search for Excellence-“Brag Night” for units on their most successful project for judging.  Every unit will be encouraged to participate in 2008 at MG College.  The Sustainable Landscape Management Categories for awards are; Environmental Stewardship, Working with Youths, Value of the Landscape, Food & Nutrition, Overall Quality of Life.  It was suggested that the project is chosen well in advance of June and start focusing on putting it together on one of the stated category.  The purpose of Search for Excellence was discussed by the MG College Advisory Team on how to increase participation by all the units attending.  A possible CD with all the information for the Search for Excellence is a possibility and could be sent to all the units.  Displays are also used at local and state fairs and should contain all the information to include the SLM criteria.  Purpose of Brag Boards is to showcase the types education to the public performed by a unit, share their success stories of their projects and it could also be used on a national and international competition not just Virginia.  Cheri will report to the advisory team that VMGA supports the Search for Excellence and she will contact people that have been at national and international conferences who may have guidelines on this competition, before October.  There is also a need for find out why there is a small percentage of MG’s that participate at MG College, especially with units that have a large membership but only a few attend MG College.  For two years, VMGA has written a letter of support to the Beautiful Plant Program because they get grants to run their programs.  VMGA is listed in their spreadsheet as a $61,000 donation in time for the 75 MG’s participating in this program and 5 at the AREC Centers. We don’t have a host unit for the February or December 2008 meeting.  Cheri will coordinate the schedule with one of the following units, Hanover, Chesterfield, or Henrico, because it is centrally located, in case of inclement weather. 

Announcements

Next VMGA meeting will be held on October 13 – Fairfax/Green Spring Gardens, 10:00 a.m.  

Meeting adjourned at 1:45 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Angela Cingale, VMGA Secretary

Virginia Master Gardener Association, Inc

Treasurer’s Report

August 11, 2007

Virginia Master Gardener Association, Inc

Treasurer’s Report

August 11, 2007