CENTRAL RAPPAHANNOCK

Mike Holmes

¨      Wreath making classes for historic Fredericksburg

¨      Participated in the Christmas Tree display at Hope House

¨      2 MGs are active in the local schools on Environmental Education

¨      Introduced Donn Saunders, incoming association  President

CHESAPEAKE

Pauline Price

¨      New class will meet January 28 - April 15

¨      Will continue Lunch and Learn Series at the Central Library

¨      Collecting recipes for the next edition of their cookbook

¨      Working on their Greenhouse project with the Chesapeake Arboretum

FAIRFAX

Charlie Hood

¨      Enrolled 37 new Interns along with 178 returning members for a total of 215 for 2003

¨      Training will begin January 9 and last 10 weeks

¨      Held 22 plant clinics in 2002 at 16 different locations; begin the first weekend in May and extend through September

¨      Diagnostic laboratory is staffed 2 days a week;700 samples diagnosed in 2002

¨      Participation will continue in Ready Set Grow program in the Fairfax County Schools

¨      Several short term activities being finalized include the Spring Fling with Prince William and assistance at Mount Vernon and Blandy Farms plant sales

FAUQUIER

Jim Scibek

¨      New agent is in place

¨      Training starts in January

GLOUCESTER

Sherry Ratcliffe

¨      Have published a handbook, "Home Gardening in Gloucester"; interviewed people with hands on experience on gardening in Gloucester (it covers lawns, trees shrubs, vegetables, etc)

¨      Although they are a "very conservative group", they entered the Christmas parade and wore flowerpots on their heads! and gave out seed packets along the route

HANOVER

Reported by Willie Mills, current association President

¨      Held a very successful  town hall meeting with Delegate Frank Hargrove to discuss the budget cuts and the effects on their VCE office

¨      New class reception will be held January 6

¨      Currently working with VT on updating volunteer hours

HENRICO

Ann Boland (given by Cheri Haggerty)

¨      They are down to one agent, Karen Carter, who has assumed the position of Director

¨      Are planning an e-mail newsletter to save funs

¨      New training will be in February and March

¨      Are doing all they can to assist extension

JAMES CITY COUNTY

Angela Cingale

¨      Offered to host the August meeting of VMGA

¨      Establishing a website with Rudy Roberts as webmaster

¨      New class convenes January7 with 24 residents and 6 professionals enrolled

¨      Farmers Market in Colonial Williamsburg has asked them to participate twice a month instead of once a month; will start in May this year

¨      The CW-Nursery - MG Outreach  Program hopes to meet with Elderhostel groups at the nursery, furnish the information for the helpline and the nursery will serve as a classroom for one training session for the new class

¨      The CW Nursery 4H project will meet twice monthly for youths 9-19

AMHERST/LYNCHBURG/

CAMPBELL/ HILLCITY MGs

Karen Sacasky reporting

¨      Have a continuing program in 4 elementary schools that enhances the science SOLS

¨      In October and November they presented  programs in the schools that reached 1300 children

¨      Support these programs by a grant fund, recently added another $6000 to the fund

¨      Classes start in February and are held at a local community college

NORTHERN NECK

Jinny Estell

¨      Graduated 19 new MGs

¨      Angela Kahn is the new Coordinator

¨      Have restructured their association

¨      Lancaster Schools have asked them to present a science program every 6 weeks for the 3^rd graders

¨      Have a monthly program for Home Schoolers

¨      Will receive 1000 seedlings from the Potomac River reforestation project

¨      Northumberland schools have also invited them to present to their elementary schools also.

PRINCE GEORGE

Cheryl Sebera

¨      Training starts the end of January

¨      "Crape Murder"  symposium, memory of Tom Geer, will be held March 15

PRINCE WILLIAM

Pat Reilly

¨      New class will have 29 members

¨      Spring Fling will focus on Master Gardener leadership

¨      Pilot site for splitting out the stewards modules; have interviewed key people in the community and completed a needs assessment  to identify audiences in the community to come up with specific educational objectives to meet those needs

¨      Have an 81% retention rate in the class of 2002

¨      Worked with Soil and Conservation on Recycle Days

¨      Presented 6 classes to the community ; 164 participants

ROANOKE

Shelby Snider

¨      Graduate 21 new MGs including a mother and 2 young daughters, ages 12 & 13!

ROCKBRIDGE and BATH

Chuck Norrington

¨      In 4 elementary schools; harvested pumpkins, potatoes and peanuts

¨      New class starts in January

YORK

Jackie Lohr

¨      Just graduated 20 new MGs and are integrating them into existing committees

¨      Have set up their advanced Pruning series

¨      Decorated the Dudley Diggs House

VIRGINIA BEACH

Paul Campbell

¨      Still breaking in their new agents

¨      Participate in the Virginia Flower and Garden Show and Mid Atlantic Horticulture Short Course by providing children's activities and introducing the speakers