nsvmga.orgnsvmga.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/387703666.docx · Web viewCall to Order. The Northern Shenandoah Valley Master Gardener’s Association held an Association meeting

Minutes for Northern Shenandoah Valley Master Gardener Association Association Meeting Held March 18, 2018

Call to OrderThe Northern Shenandoah Valley Master Gardener’s Association held an Association meeting March 18, 2018 at the Warren County Government Center in Front Royal, Va. Cy Haley, President, presided over the meeting and called it to order at 4:05 p.m. Sandra Ward served as secretary.

Opening Remarks: Agenda Review

Attendees Forty-seven members (including 41 active members) and one guest attended. (25 active members are required for a quorum.)

Officers’ Reports

Vice PresidentSuzanne Boag thanked the Warren County MGs for hosting this meeting and introduced the speaker for the educational part of the meeting – Angie Hutchinson – who is one of our NSVMGA members. Her presentation will be “Weeds.” Lynn Hoffmann has donated a Plant Rooting Station that we will give away to a lucky attendee!

April’s Association Meeting will be held Sunday, April 15, 4:00 p.m. at the Blandy Library, located in Boyce. Dr. Steve Carroll will give a presentation on Tree ID followed by a brief walk. Clarke County MGs will be hosting this meeting.

May’s Association Meeting will be held Sunday, May 20, 4:00 p.m. at Master Gardener Lynn Hoffmann’s house. The MG Class Coordinators will organize the Intern Graduation for this meeting, which will be hosted by the Frederick County MGs.

June’s Association Meeting will be held Sunday, June 10, 4:00 p.m. at Master Gardener Cheryl McDonald’s house. Master Gardener Charlie Newton will do a presentation on Luray’s Remarkable Chinquapin Oak Tree, and MGs can stop by and see it after the meeting. Page County MGs will be hosting this meeting.

In the near future, Suzanne will send an email via VMS with a list of the remaining Association Meeting dates & times, locations, and speakers.

Secretary Sandra Ward presented the secretary’s report in person. She noted the minutes for the February Association meeting were sent out by email.

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Approval of Minutes: Susan Garrett moved to approve the minutes of the last association meeting as emailed. Bob Gail seconded the motion. The motion carried with all in favor and none against.

Correspondence: The Association received a thank-you note from Donna Downing for her nomination to Emeritus Member.

TreasurerBob Gail reviewed the Financial Reports. (See attachments for the Financial Reports).

At its March meeting, the Board had reviewed a request to purchase a laptop and projector for Association use. The Education Committee Chairman would be responsible for the laptop and projector, and it would be available for sign-out by County Coordinators or other Association members for use as appropriate.

Motion: Susan Garrett moved that the Association approve $900.00 for purchase of a laptop and projector. James Jones seconded the motion. The motion carried with all in favor.

Membership Report

Mary Craig reported that the Association has 127 members:

Active 90Emeritus 8Honorary 2Adjunct 3Intern 1Trainees 23

OLD BUSINESS

New Association Logo Submissions for the new Association logo were distributed via email prior to the Association meeting so that the membership could review them before voting. A paper ballot vote of the membership was held at the Association meeting, with 32 of 40 votes cast for the winner. Elena Lycas was the artist who created the winning logo.

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Standing Committees

Communications and PublicityNo report.

Education CommitteeThe Spotted Lanternfly Presentation/Project by Eric Day will be held April 26, 6-8 pm at the Warren County Government Center located in Front Royal. This event is being hosted by the NSVMGA. All NSVMGs are welcome to attend the presentation and participate in the Banding Detection Project being spearheaded by Eric Day. The Front Royal Tree Stewards have also been invited. The Master Naturalists will also be invited once we have an idea of how many MGs and Tree Stewards will be attending. Space is limited; a head count is needed for the presentation as well as for those who wish to participate in the Banding Detection Project. Eric Day will provide the materials for project participants.

Our first MG Ed Adventure for 2018 was coordinated by Committee Member Lynn Hoffmann. On Saturday, February 24, several carloads of MGs carpooled to the National Arboretum for a presentation, The Assassin’s Plot and the Physician’s Garden, presented by medical artist, Jeffrey Day, MD. MGs also explored a lovely Bonsai display as well as the Arboretum grounds.

Ladew Topiary Gardens, located in Monkton, MD, will be our next MG Educational Adventure, which will take place Wednesday, April 25th. Committee Member Rose Fairman is coordinating this trip, which will include a guided tour of the gardens, lunch, and a guided tour of the historic house for a total cost of $36. The deadline for turning in registration forms and payment is today. We will need volunteers to drive for the carpools.

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A trek to White Oak Lavender Farm, located in Harrisonburg, VA, is being coordinated by Committee Members Shan Kilby and Tricia Boyd. This trip on Wednesday, June 20, will include a guided tour of the lavender farm followed by a lavender wand making class, and lunch in town. Cost for the tour is $10.00, due by May 20. More details will be emailed to members.

NewsletterStacey Smith reported that the newsletter is in editing and proofreading this week. The newsletter will be two pages longer this issue because of the article on the Spotted Lantern Fly.

A prize is being awarded for handing out event flyers – Eight dollars off Garden Plant Fest plant purchases! Bob Gail won the drawing.

FinanceNo report.

Unit Projects and Special Committees

Scholarship Committee Lynn Hoffmann reported that two applications have been received. The deadline for submission of the applications for the scholarship is March 31.

2018 MG ClassBob Gail, class coordinator, reported that the class has 23 trainees (one dropped out). The class is going very well, with excellent speakers.

SymposiumHelen Lake reported that Symposium was a great success, with the largest attendance ever.

Garden FairJessica Priest-Cahill announced that an email has been sent out to members regarding volunteer opportunities at Garden Fair, held May 12 -13 (Mother’s Day weekend) at Blandy in Boyce, VA.

Garden FestCy Haley announced that a volunteer is still needed to handle sign-ups for the tool sharpening workshop at Garden Fest.

Angie Hutchinson will be accepting donations for “Second Hand Rose” on Friday, June 1 at Belle Grove.

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Garden Fest Plant SaleMGs should email Stacey if they want someone to come to their house and dig plants for the GF plant sale. One-gallon size pots are still needed (there are the “$4.00” size and are the most popular). Pots with trade marks or square pots cannot be used.

For interested MGs, Stacey has “pledge packs” available – 1 bag of soil, 10 labels, 10 pots, and 12 sticks to tape labels on.

VendorsSuzanne Boag reported that we have a total of 19 vendors so far: 13 retail and 6 non-profits. All are returning 2017 vendors and non-profits, with the exception of Sue Dill Designs, which is a retail vendor selling botanical jewelry. The deadline for vendor applications is Wednesday, May 16th.

Vendors include 0 to 60 Energy Café, Birdhouse Engineering, Eggs & Ears 4-H, Claylick Brooms, C&C Frozen Treats, Sue Dille Designs, Carolyn Findler Art Studio, Front Royal Tree Stewards, Glass Reflections, Hill House Farm & Nursery, Iris Hills Farm, K Phillips Enterprises, Mary Rose Lavender, North Mountain Wildlife Rescue, Olive Oil Soap Company, Spring Thyme Nursery, Valley Wildlife Care, Virginia Lovers Gourd Society, & Young Essential Oils.

18 vendors are returning vendors. More vendors are needed for items such as hummingbird feeders, pottery, garden ornaments, etc. For retail vendors, the price is $75.00.

Strasburg Community Garden Projects

Strasburg Community GardenRoz McIntosh reported that the Stasburg Community Garden is under way, with the design of the garden being planned by this year’s Master Gardening class. The dates for future garden activities will be posted in VMS.

Strasburg Community Garden WorkshopsSarah Pak reported that three workshops for community gardeners and interested people have been held, with 30-40 participants. The turnout has been big for the kids’ programs. Sarah is also setting up an Garden Coaching group – an e-group so people can get help from MGs. This group could also include “live” time at the garden site.

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Strasburg Greenway ProjectThis project, led by Roz McIntosh is part of the Strasburg Beautification Project. The town has received our list of plants. Suggestions are needed for a “Christmas tree” kind of tree that would be in keeping with the town’s plans.

County Coordinator Reports

Clarke CountyGinny Smith, Clark County Coordinator, submitted her report via email. Clarke County MGs met March 5 for a planning meeting. The following projects were approved for this year: Greenline, Farmer’s Market, Xeriscape Garden. Plant a Row/Giving Garden as a project was also discussed depending on availability of space. Ginny welcomed two new Clarke MGs who are taking the class this year: Andrea Brown and Colleen Liszewski.

Frederick CountyHelen Lake was not present. Cy Haley reported that the Frederick County planning meeting will be held on March 25.

Page CountyNo report.

Shenandoah CountySharon Rodriguez submitted her report in person.

Shenandoah County's Project Planning/Staffing meeting went smoothly, with discussion of different projects and time to visit with each other as volunteer names were collected for the individual projects. After an emailed follow-up summary that included a list of project volunteers, several project leads had additional volunteers contact them for inclusion. New leads were identified for a couple of ongoing projects.

A couple of projects are already in action: Corhaven Graveyard has a couple of group visits scheduled soon, and Carolyn and Elaine Harshman are scheduling for a New Market Rain Garden plant division to help supply the Garden Fest plant sales.

Warren CountyThe seed starting class for the children at John XXIII Montessori Children’s Center moved to March 6 and was a big success. Terry Bowman, Claire DeMassi, and Katherine Rindt worked with 30 children

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helping them plant their plastic jugs with the seeds of their choice. They set them outside the building to wait for germination.

The Help Desk schedule for the year has been put together. It will open on April 4.

Warren County Master Gardeners will have a table at the Samuels Library “A Taste for Books” event on April 14. Our table’s theme will be Victory Gardens of World War I and World War II. Jessica Priest-Cahill will be coordinating this event. Volunteers from other Counties are welcome to participate.

NEW BUSINESSNone.

VCE AGENT’S REPORTNo report.

VOLUNTEER COORDINATORS REPORTBob Carlton reported that he had attended three of the county planning meetings.

All project applications have been approved and passed on to Mark Sutphin.

CLOSING REMARKS

Monarch Venture WebinarsStacey Smith will forward a link to the monarch venture Webinars to the membership. Mark Sutphin has approved this webinar for continuing education hours.

ADJOURNMENT

Bob Gail moved that the meeting be adjourned. James Jones seconded the motion. The motion passed at 5:10 p.m. with all in favor.

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APPENDIX

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Documents

nsvmga.orgnsvmga.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/387703666.docx · Web viewCall to Order. The Northern Shenandoah Valley Master Gardener’s Association held an Association meeting