The President's Column
Georgi Hall, Loudoun County
President’s Letter November-December 2023
On October 14, Southside Master Gardener Association (SSMGA) hosted our October Bi-monthly meeting. Twenty-three units were represented either in person or via zoom. SSMGA President, Lee Baldwin and Extension Master Gardener Coordinator for Halifax, Bill McCaleb presented some highlights of SSMGA’s projects. Agnes Gregory shared and added comments to a video showing highlights of the Southern VA Botanical Gardens. Link to the YouTube video of the Southern VA Botanical Gardens https://youtu.be/hrx-tEfnU3g?si=_GAqLKmqN-d0UQX6
Due to unpredictable weather in December and February, we will hold our December 9, 2023 and February 10, 2024 meetings via zoom. More information will be available as we get closer to the meeting dates. If you do not receive information, contact your Unit Representative. We are still looking for a host unit for an in-person meeting April 13, 2024. Contact our Vice President, Nelda Purcell Vice-President@VMGA.net if you are interested in hosting the April meeting or have questions about hosting a VMGA meeting.
I want to thank the State Fair Committee, the VCE Master Gardener Coordinators Office and all the Master Gardeners who volunteered at VMGA’s Booth at the state fair, September 22 through October 1st.
Elections for positions on our board are coming up soon. We will be looking for a slate of officers in February. If you know of someone we should ask or if you would like to run for one of the offices let Frank Reilly – Frank@TheReillyGroup.net , Joe Kelly sjdkelly@comcast.net , Ben Dukes bendukes73@gmail.com , or Leslie Paulson ljp6651@comcast.net on our Nominations committee know. It would be nice to get a mix of people across the state to serve so we get a good representation of units throughout the state. Give it some thought. It would be nice to see a crowd vying to run. We need your ideas for ways to carry out VMGA’s mission of fostering, communication, education, and fellowship among those involved in the Virginia Extension Master Gardener Program.
If you haven’t registered for the November 11th VMGA Education event to be held at the Nelson Center, 8445 Thomas Nelson Highway, Lovingston VA from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm please register so we’ll have an accurate count of attendees.
The three speakers in the morning are:
Grace Monger on Plant Problem Diagnosis that will be of particular interest to Help Desk and Plant Clinic EMGs
Pat Reilly on Boxwood Diagnosing Problems and the development of resistant varieties.
Jim Revell on Plant Phenology concerning Growing Degree Days Impact on Insect Populations for targeted and effective pest control.
Registration is open to all EMGs. The cost is $5 for VMGA members and $20 for non-members. The registration form includes a link to join VMGA for $12.
Detailed information at https://vmga.net/wordpress/vmga-education-events/.
As we watch November and December fly by, let me say thank you for all you do for your units and educating your communities. I wish you and your families a wonderful holiday season.
Thank you,
Georgi Hall
VMGA President – President@VMGA.net
President’s Letter September-October 2023
On August 12, we had our first FY24 Bi-monthly meeting. Loudoun County Master Gardeners Association hosted the meeting and their Community Engagement Coordinator and Master Gardener Coordinator, Barb Bailey presented some highlights of LCMG’s projects and awards.
Our VMGA members were surprised and saddened by Kathleen Reed’s announcement that she had resigned as the State Coordinator and taken a new position outside of VCE. We enjoyed working with Kathleen. She provided great support to VMGA and EMGs throughout Virginia.
Due to the vacancies of both the EMG Program Director position and the State Coordinator position, our members are concerned about the support to Virginia Extension Master Gardeners and VMGA over the next few months. Therefore, Dr. Mike Gutter Director, VCE & Associate Dean, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Dr. Mike Evans Director, School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Dave Close, Specialist, Volunteer Engagement, VCE and Devon Johnson, Communications Project Coordinator, Extension Master Gardener Program joined our meeting via zoom to address our concerns and answer our questions.
Our next Bi-monthly meeting will be in-person on October 14 hosted by Southside Master Gardeners Association. Our October meeting will be a great opportunity for you to stock up on Master Gardener merchandise. All proceeds benefit the State Master Gardener Coordinator Endowment Fund.
Due to unpredictable weather in December and February, we will hold our December 9, 2023 and February 10, 2024 meetings via zoom. We are still looking for a host unit for an in-person meeting April 13, 2024. Contact our Vice President, Nelda Purcell Vice-President@VMGA.net if you are interested in hosting the April meeting or have questions about hosting a VMGA meeting.
The Virginia State Fair is from September 22 to October 1. The primary education topic of VMGA’s booth is Good Bugs and Bad Bugs, educational tour and handouts. Contact Christy Brennan, State Fair Chair ctb47@comcast.net. if your unit is interested in volunteering.
Thank you,
Georgi Hall
VMGA President – President@VMGA.net
President’s Letter July-August 2023
It is hard to believe we are starting a new VMGA fiscal year and my second year as President. Thank you to our Board, Unit Representatives and VMGA members for all your support over the last year. I am excited about the new year. We are planning to have more in-person meetings with opportunities to renew acquaintances, meet new members and share ideas in person. Our August meeting will be hosted by Loudoun County Master Gardener Association on August 12 at Claude Moore Recreation & Community Center, 46105 Loudoun Park Lane, Sterling, VA 20164. The meeting will be hybrid. The lunch order form is included in this newsletter. You will be receiving additional information soon. Our October meeting will be hosted by Southside Master Gardeners Association on October 14th. We are looking for units to host our February and April 2024 bimonthly meetings. If your unit is interested, contact our Vice President, Nelda Purcell at vice-president@vmga.net.
We have just completed the 2023 VCE Master Gardener College in Blacksburg, VA. This year’s Steward program was Tree Steward. The 150 Master Gardeners and guests who attended the event learned valuable information to share with their units from the great speakers. It was nice to be able to see all our friends from across the state. Thanks to Kathleen Reed, Devon Johnson, the EMG State Office Team, members of the 2023 EMGC Advisory Team and other helpers for all their planning and work. VMGA was one of the sponsors of the event. A letter of appreciation from Kathleen Reed and the Office of the Extension Master Gardener State Coordinator team for VMGA’s sponsorship is included in this issue.
The Virginia State Fair is September 22 – October 1st at the Meadow Event Park, 13191 Dawn Blvd., Doswell, VA 23047 in Caroline County. The primary education topic for this year’s VMGA’s booth is Beneficials and Invasives. We need Master Gardeners to staff our Master Gardener State Fair Booth. It takes many Master Gardeners to carry out and make this ten-day event a success. See more information about the benefits of volunteering at the state Fair in this newsletter. Contact Christy Brennan, State Fair Chair ctb47@comcast.net if your unit is interested in volunteering.
Thank you
Georgi Hall
VMGA President – President@VMGA.net
President’s Letter May-June 2023
We had a nice size group join us in Falls Church on April 8th for our Bimonthly VMGA board meeting. I want to thank the Fairfax Master Gardeners for hosting us and Leslie Paulson for coordinating the breakfast finger foods and the lunch. Everything was delicious. Thank you to all who traveled to join us and to Frank Riley for making the Zoom connection.
After our board meeting, we remembered our friend and fellow master gardener, George Graine who passed away August 18th 2022. We recognized George with the “Friend of Master Gardener Award .
Please consider hosting our October or one of 2024 VMGA Bimonthly board meetings. It is great to see people in person from around the state and exchange ideas.
I am looking forward to Master Gardener College June 8 through 11 and hope to see many of you in person this year. EMGs participating in Tree Steward Training in 2023 will start Wednesday, June 7, at 9 AM and spend that day and the next in dedicated classes plus a field trip to the wonderful trees at Historic Smithfield on the Virginia Tech campus. Early registration for Master Gardener College ends May 17 and late registration ends May 31st. Classes are offered on a first come first served basis, so make sure to register early to make sure that you get the classes you want. Switching schedules is not advised unless you trade spots with someone. All the classes with limited enrollment are filled by pre-registrations, and there will not be enough materials for unregistered attendees. Our VMGA Annual Meeting will be Friday, June 10, 4:30pm at Master Gardener College.
We really need to encourage more of our EMG Volunteers to join our state association to take advantage of what VMGA offers. Please consider talking this up as you host events and meetings locally. Imagine our membership roster growing to over 550 members with potential for even more. Direct your volunteers to our website https://vmga.net/wordpress/vmga-membership-applicationrenewal-form/ or contact Tonya Harper at membership@vmga.net. Current VMGA members, be sure you renew your $12 annual membership which will expire on May 31 or consider renewing as a Continuing Member for a one-time payment of $120.
Thank you
Georgi Hall
VMGA President – President@VMGA.net
Leslie, ____ County
President’s Letter February 2022
Spring is coming and I’m sure you are looking forward to it as much as I am. My daffodils are about 4 inches tall already. As we approach April 9th and our next meeting, I encourage you to consider attending our Board meeting in person. It will be held in Dillwyn which is near Charlottesville. Mary Martinez-Rigo, our Merchandise lead, will host our meeting at Littlebird Alpacas of River Ridge Farms. The address is 670 River Ridge Rd Dillwyn VA. You will have a chance to see all the VMGA merchandise on display to buy. Yes, we are shaking it up a bit. It will be nice to be together in person, for the second time since the pandemic began ruling our lives. I hope to see many of you there. Dress for the weather. It’s a beautiful Amish Barn we will be meeting in, but there is no heat. We are gardeners and can adapt and enjoy.
Soon we will all be holding events and working in our Unit’s gardens and our own. It’s an exciting time of year and who does not look forward to the flowers of spring and the awakening of butterflies and bees to come help pollinate our gardens. You all take care and enjoy. I am looking forward to the clock springing forward to have more daylight to work in my garden. I am sure you all are as well. See you in April.
Take care.
Leslie
VMGA President – president@vmga.net
President’s Letter December 2021
Happy New Year!
As gardeners, most of us think of December as a time of reflection and planning, adjusting to crazy weather conditions and to our stage in life. The Virginia Master Gardener Association is very excited to start the New Year with a list of new opportunities. Sadly, I still hear from Master Gardeners who do not know about the Virginia Master Gardener Association and our mission to support Cooperative Extension, the Master Gardener Program and beng a voice for all Master Gardeners. We are committed to the success of the Master Gardener program and providing resources and encouragement to all Master Gardeners, groups and associations.
The Communications Committee is working really hard to streamline the website and have been working on a new online format for The VMGA Report, our bi-monthly newsletter. The committee is looking for someone to help with converting the newsletter; please let Frank Reilly (frank@thereillygroup.net) know if you are interested. The VMGA Report is a great tool to promote what is going on with Master Gardeners throughout the state and share ideas and projects with other Master Gardeners. Please submit articles to Jan Worthy (jancwva52@gmail.com) and share the success of your unit and your expertise.
The education committee is hard at work planning advance education events for 2016. These events will provide opportunities to meet a variety of professionals and network with Master Gardeners. Visit www.vmga.net for news on these exciting opportunities.
We have reached an incredible milestone for the Master Gardener Coordinator Endowment Fund. We are over half-way! The interest from the endowment is being used to provide an assortment of web-based classes for Master Gardener training. These modules are a wonderful addition to the Master Gardener program and we can be proud that each one of us has contributed to the success of the program. The Endowment team of the Fund Raising Committee is looking for some volunteers to help plan future activities. Please contact Pat Reilly (pat@thereillygroup.net) if you are interested in joining in this committee.
The nominating committee has submitted a slate of officers for 2016-2018: President- Angela Cingale, JCC/Williamsburg, Vice President- Joe Kelly, Northern Virginia, Secretary- Wanda Gerard, Suffolk, and Treasurer- Diane Keen, Northern Neck.
We are very excited to start the New Year and hope to see you at the next bi-monthly meeting February 13th, hosted by the Northern Neck Master Gardeners.
Christy Brennan