Outagamie County Master Gardeners Association

Members meeting, Feb. 21, 2008

 

Meeting called to order: 7:45 p.m. by President Mary Learman

 

The previous meeting minutes were approved as read.

 

Treasurer’s report

 

The treasurer’s report is available upon request.

 

State representatives report: 

 

Kathy Baum announced that the state conference has turned into a Midwest conference. It will be at the Wyndham Airport Hotel and Conference, July 16-19. The cost is $150 before April 14 and $175 after that date. 

 

We also need people to answer the phone and answer plant questions at the UW-Extension office. This will be on a Thursday from May through August. Training for this will be 1-day classes: 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. in Wausau on May 29 and in Madison on May 30. Participants will be taking diagnostic classes, such as insects, diseases and pesticide use.

 

Lynn Coffeen announced that the state has decided that rather than 12-week advanced classes, it will be divided into two, 4-week sessions.

 

The board also has decided that prep time for a presentation counts as service hours. Educational projects will count as education service. 

 

Lynn Coffeen will be having a “WIMGA Face-to-Face” on March 29. Bring questions you have to the March 20 members meeting.

 

The state is working on revising the bylaws. This will clarify which and what hours belong in the three categories: service, education or community service.

 

Lynn Coffeen informed us that there are three states working on making national requirements. Hopefully, in the next 5 to 10 years, every master gardener organization across the country will have the same yearly hour requirements.

 

There are now 609 MGVs getting the WIMGA newsletter on line.

 

Lynn Coffeen said Susan Mahr wants us to be aware that the bees are in trouble. Susan has much more info about the bees on the WIMGA Web site at www.hort.wisc.edu/mastergardener/. Please take a look.

 

Education Committee:

 

Karen DesJarlais forwarded her requests for more information and advanced classes on the beginning class chapters in the binders at the UW-Extension library. When asked, the members preferred to have these classes on Saturdays.

 

Karen also informed the group that there will be a pruning workshop from 1 to 4 p.m. on March 1 at Mosquito Hill. Cost: $10.

 

Project coordinator:

 

Kate Langner not present.

 

Program chairperson:

 

Meg Hunsader announced that Jan Sommerfeld will be at the next meeting to answer any questions about the Web site.

 

There will be a bus trip June 18. It will be going to the 600-acre Boerner Botanical Gardens near Hales Corners. There will be a guided tour of the Village Terrace on Lake Michigan and a guided tour of the Charles Art Museum in the same area. We will also be going to the Minor Garden Center in Milwaukee. There will be an ad in the newspaper as the trip will be open to the public. The cost will be $36. Bring your lunch.

 

 

Fund-raising chairpersons:

 

Carol VandeBerg and Jackie Rickel not present.

 

Communication chairpersons:

 

Colleen Reed and Sally Jaeger-Alterkruse will now be co-chairing the Communication Committee. They need someone with a good amount of computer knowledge who knows how to use the Dreamweaver software program to be a back-up person for the Web site.

 

The March, April, May newsletter will be coming out soon. Ruth DeBruin will be doing the mailing for those w/o computers.

 

The calendar is on the Web site. This includes a lot of different information, such as cancellations, upcoming events and who is in need of volunteer help.

 

They are changing the name from mass e-mailing to bulk e-mailing to sound less menacing. Kathy McCarthy and Judy Davis has volunteered to help with these.

 

Colleen was very proud to announce that three new members have already volunteered to help on the Communications Committee.

 

Horticultural advisor: 

 

Kevin Jarek not present.

 

Old business:

 

Greenhouse- Kevin is going to make one last appeal to the village board before it is sent back to the Herrieds.

 

New business:

 

Mary Learman announced that we may have new sign-in sheets. All you have to do is check off your name. If your name is not listed, write it in. Also, check to see if we have your correct telephone number and e-mail address.

 

Also check to see if you have a new name tag in. 

 

Mary reported the results of the award cumulative volunteer service hours: 1,000+ hrs – Kathy Baum; 750 hrs. – Cathy Schwieso; 500 hrs.- Carol VandeBerg and Ken Wegener; 250 hrs.- Colleen Reed, Meg Hunsader, Dale Schaber and Rod Sternhagen; 150 hrs – Pam Hagen, Bernie Meyers, Judy Peters and Mary Learman.

 

Mary reported that the Garden of the Fox Cities is looking for volunteers. They are trying to keep the Web site updated for volunteer opportunities.

 

Budget: We made about $1,200 on Garden Expectations. The budget proposal is on the back of the agenda.

 

A question was asked about general expenses. This was explained as money for unexpected miscellaneous debts. However, if the budget has been exceeded and the expense is over $100.00, it must be voted on by the members. The misc. includes things such as, the beverages for general meetings, the potluck supper, etc.

 

Mary stated that anyone is welcome to attend any committee or board meeting. Plus, ask to see the checkbook to see where the money is going.

 

Mary and Pam Hagan will be getting together every quarter to go over the expenses. Then in 6 months, the board will review the budget to see if it is working. The 2008 budget will total $18,570.00, leaving approximately $13,000.00.

 

A suggestion was made to give more grants - $500 each to tech UW-EX and UWEX Midway Road.

 

There is no budget for the Memory Garden. However, they can ask for money when needed.

 

A question was asked about the UWX budget. This money is intended for demonstration gardens.

 

Rather than being lumped with Community Outreach, a new category of “Sanctioned Projects” is being considered. 

 

It was asked and answered that we are a nonprofit organization.

 

A question was asked about the Charity item. It was explained as a challenge to other M.G. counties.

 

Meeting adjourned: 8:30 p.m.; attendance 39.

 

1¼ hours of education, ¾ hours of service.