CMGA Meeting Minutes 2/13/14

Coconino Master Gardener Association (CMGA)

Meeting Minutes 2/13/14

Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church

1601 N. San Francisco

Charlotte Dodgson on “House Plants”

Charlotte has been a resident of Flagstaff for 9 years.  She is a master gardener, class OF 2010 and is the CMGA VP.   Charlotte works as the volunteer coordinator for the Arizona Historical Society at the Pioneer Museum and Riordan Mansion.  Charlotte and Dave Brimhall are the team leads for restoring the gardens at the Riordan Mansion where they make and sell recycled glass light catchers to sell in the gift shop.  Proceeds from the light catchers are donated to the Riordan garden project and goes towards the garden supplies. Charlotte also volunteers as the Treasurer for National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association, Flagstaff Chapter 1699; is a Driver Training Instructor for AARP and is a co-chair in Northern Arizona for the Arizona Alzheimer's Association. 

New Master Gardeners!  Hattie Braun presented Angela Fritz, Joan Alcaron and Lori Tamblingson with their master gardener certificate and name badge. Congratulations!

Regan Emmons announce the CSA is ready to take applications for this season’s veggie starts.  She made herself available during the break for anyone interested.  Regan also announce that the Arboretum is looking for volunteers.  Educational training opportunities; Docent training sessions start March 4^th and are held Tuesday and Thursday afternoons at 1:30-3:30pm in March and April.  Volunteer Orientation is Thursday April 11^th from 9am-12pm.  Field Trip Leader training sessions are on Friday March 7^th, 14^th, and 28^th from 1:30pm-3:30pm. For information or sign up contact Kim Helfinstine at 928-774-1442 x227 or email Kim.Helfinstine@thearb.org.  There is also Raptor program volunteers needed; contact airborneraptors@yahoo.com for more information on this program.

Thanks to Debi Stalvey and Christine Orr for the refreshments.

Andrea Guerrette was our raffle prize winner!  The beautiful house plant prize was provided by Sutcliffe Floral and Gifts.  Congratulations Andrea!

Business Meeting – Hattie Braun

CMGA is currently looking for a volunteer to support Community Programs, specifically our participation in Flagstaff Community Markets.  This individual or individuals would be responsible for arranging dates and getting Master Gardener volunteers to sit at our information booth.  More information is available.

There are still a very few calendars left, get one before they are all gone!

CMGA will be participating for the Earth Day celebration this year.  The event is scheduled on 4/19/14 from 10am-4pm.  We will need one speaker to give a talk.  Look for a meeting announcement next month.

The benefits of having membership in the CMGA are all the discounts offered by Violas, Native Plant & Seed and Warners nurseries.  We have Pay Pal on the CMGA website so you can use this method to pay your membership.

Financial report – Linda Guarino

We made a total of $679.00 in January.  $300 from calendars, $310 from membership dues, $34 from last month’s raffle and $35 donation on the manure deliveries.  Expenses were $37 for gifts.  We have made a total of $729 on calendars.

 MG Program Happenings (class/home show) – Hattie Braun

Home and Garden Show will take place March 28^th-30^th at the Sky dome at NAU.  Volunteers are needed to staff the Master Gardener booth and give gardening talks. Take a look at the sign-up sheet.  It has times volunteers are still needed. Jackie Clark will be working on posters describing what CMGA does each month though out the year.  We would like to have things to hand out; some ideas were the laminated calendar by Julie Lancaster, maybe magnets with CMGA information.  Hunter Kemmet and Ed Skiba have volunteered to move things for us.  We will need a new banner this year.  We are getting an area for eight booths.  Most of that area will be taken up for our presentations.  A master gardener information table will be set up at the other end of this area.  The next Home Show meeting will be February 26, 2014 at Noon at the extension office.  Contact Hattie at hbraun@cals.arizona.edu if you want to help.

                               

MG Projects – Loni Shapiro

Some of the documents on our website need updating.  Loni is working hard to make this happen by March 1^st.  She is looking for a volunteer to help her with the editing.

               

Volunteer Support – Crys Wells

We had 5120 ½ volunteer hours and 931 ¾ education hours recorded for 2013.  There are currently 40 paid members.  The new cards have been printed and are now available. 

Volunteer hours should be submitted after volunteering for approved projects (list is on the blog,) time spent on behalf of the CMGA or Extension Office (meetings, documenting, business part of monthly meeting, etc.,) Community Markets, Home Show, Earth Day, speaking at the CMGA meetings (prep time included) or as a speaker at another community gardening event.  Travel time may be included for volunteer hours.  Volunteer hours do NOT include helping a friend, neighbor, or relative with their gardening.  If you have a question about whether or not an activity counts, please contact Hattie with your question beforehand, or if afterward, submit the hours with a question in the comments section.

Continuing Education hours should be submitted for actual time spent in an "official" class, workshop, seminar, or lecture.  The speaker portion of monthly CMGA meetings counts, as do the summer garden visits, talks at garden centers, or gardening related classes.  For full-day or multi-day events, only the time actually spent in talks or lectures counts as educational time.  Education hours do NOT include simply talking about gardening with others, reading on one's own, or gardening related television/radio/internet programming.  Travel time may NOT be included for education hours.

For volunteer opportunities refer to “Educational Opportunities and Events” portion of our website.  Remember to record your volunteer and education hours. http://coconinomgassociation.blogspot.com

Bobby Eccleston has a trailer and is willing to help Hunter Kemmet deliver manure.

                                               

We are currently working on a speaker for next month.   

Gardening Questions?

The Flagstaff area is very dry right now, make sure to water bushes and trees.

Meeting adjourned.