Members meeting:
Program:
Meeting called to order:
The
previous meeting minutes were approved as read.
Mary
announced that we have lost a valuable member, Bill Polley. A floral
arrangement was sent.
The
treasurer’s report is available upon request.
Lynn
Coffeen reported that the Chicago Botanical Gardens is offering horticultural
therapy training classes for MGVs. The classes teach gardening to people with
special needs, such as those with physical disabilities. The cost is $50 per
day. You may choose to attend any day from May 15-Oct. 15. For more
information, call 847-835-8250.
There is a
new Web site affiliated with the Cooperative Extension in which experts in 16
areas offer answers to consumers on a variety of topics. A link to this Web
site is on our Web site, www.ocmga.net, and can be accessed by
clicking here.
The “Got Dirt”
program needs a leader. Basically, this person instructs teachers and day care
supervisors to teach children gardening.
The 4-day
multi-state conference is coming up. The cost is $150 before April 14 and $175
after this date.
There is
also a workshop on grape pruning. The cost is $60. If you would like more
information, ask
There will
be a background check on our members for the safety of children in our
programs. The extension will pay $2 per person.
Karen
DesJarlais announced that there is only about 1 month of the beginning classes
left. Last class is April 15. They are going to work on retention by having a
potluck. They will have the project leaders, who still need help, at the May
meeting. Tom Brinkman will demonstrate container gardening. Hopefully, meeting
more people with shared interests will make them more inclined to attend the
meetings.
The state
would like us to get more involved with the community. Consider helping
landscape with Habitat for Humanity and think about Arbor Day also.
They would
like to have a few education classes open to the public: one in July and
possibly one in August. Hopefully, one of them will be about diagnostics.
The
Education Committee is hoping to keep the Herrieds involved as facilitators.
Some
members asked about having a class on using the laptop and PowerPoint for demonstrations.
Saturdays in May would work best for Kevin, who would be the instructor. The
Education Committee will discuss further.
Kate
Langner was not present, but if you have a project that needs sanctioning,
forward it to Denise at the UW-Extension. An overview of the projects is on our
Web site and can be accessed by clicking here.
Meg
Hunsader gave us the heads-up for the upcoming meetings.
Meg
announced that there are about 10 seats left for the June 18 bus trip to Villa
Terrace, etc.
Meg asked
the group if they would be interested in an overnight trip to
Jackie
Rickel needs volunteers for planting, yard-digs and plant sale. Now is the time
to start thinking about which plants you will be bringing. Jackie brought
posters to be distributed and the sign-up sheets. Hopefully, the program for
forms will be up and running by May 1. Then you will be able to fill in the
lines and print them off. If you would like to print plant labels and you have
Microsoft Word installed on your computer, click here to open the form and save
it on your computer.
Sally Jaeger-Alterkruse
announced that the newsletter should be out early next week, due to a computer
glitch. Ruth DeBruin has volunteered to do the mailing.
Colleen
Reed announced that there will be more variation in the newsletter due to two
more people on staff. There are also two more people doing e-mailing. The staff
has grown by four people.
A pair of
women’s gloves were found at the conference. If you lost them, contact Sue Gremmer
or the UW-Extension.
Kevin Jarek
shared his thoughts that members of the OCGMA underestimate their hours. He
knows how much work goes into all our efforts. He also suggested a book for
everyone, “The 100 simple Secrets to Happy People.”
Unfortunately,
he could get nowhere with the Grand Chute Town Board, so the greenhouse is a
no-go.
Kevin
explained that the UW-Extension would like a long-range landscaping plan for
the grounds, such as,
He reported
that the new class facilitators are doing a great job.
Greenhouse:
A motion was made to sell the greenhouse back to the Herrieds for the minimum
of $500 to the maximum of $1,000, since the Herrieds have done so much for the
association.
Budget:
$19,630. Mary Learman reminded the group that the Memory Garden Committee does
not have a budget. They ask for money as needed. Anything more than $100 must
be approved by members.
Chris
Schaefer brought up the fact that the state receives $560 from the dues, which
was not on the budget from 112 paid members. This was inadvertently omitted.
Budget approved.
Pam and
Mary review the budget half-way through the year and have printed copies in
May.
We need
help with the hoop house for the plant sale. If you can help with plans,
contact Judy Miller at jmi54911@aol.com or 920-734-0615.
Sat., April
19 is Earth Day. Volunteers are needed to man the booth from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
at the Habitat for Humanity Restore on E. College Ave. Volunteers are also
needed for the booth at the Garden of the Fox Cities annual Spring Garden
Festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on May 17.
Chris
Schaefer needs 2 more people to answer telephone questions at the UW-Extension.
This is for 3 hours once every 6 weeks. There are many resources available to
give help. If you do not know, just leave a message for David Bauer. If
interested, contact Chris at 920-757-1403 or christo243@aol.com. Chris also informed
the group that the Burning Bush is now considered invasive.
Project
leaders are involved to the April 15 new class potluck. Please bring info on
your project if you need help. New members will need hours.
Mary
Learman announced that one of her personal goals for 2008 is to bring the group
“Back to the Basics.” If you have any ideas that you think may be interesting
enough to bring more members back to the meetings, e-mail Mary at britmary7@yahoo.com.
Dale
Schaber needs someone to take over the refreshments and set-up. You can come at
Garden
Expectations recap. Kathy Baum expressed it was a great success. Kathy also
asked for ideas for future conferences. One idea was herbs, growing them and
using them in cooking. Someone suggested a hands-on session, but it was decided
the facility wasn’t large enough and there would be too many people. However,
we could have project seminars set up for our members. If you have anything you
are interested in or a certain speaker, let Kathy know.
Meeting
adjourned
1¼ hrs.
education and travel time
1 hr.
service time