November 2014 Meeting Minutes

Master Gardener Meeting Minutes 11/13/14, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church 1601 N. San Francisco

Introduction of speaker – Ed Skiba

Continuing Education Joe Costion presenting “Greenhouse Design and Construction”.  Joe Costion has been the Construction Technology Department Chair at Coconino Community College for 10 years. In 2000 he developed the Alternative Energy Associates Degree program, and in 2004 he initiated the Sustainable / Green Building Associates Degree Program at the college. Joe teaches courses in Solar Home Design, Rainwater Harvesting, Green Building, Solar Applications, and Solar Greenhouse Design. He is currently designing an Organic Gardening Certificate Program for local foods initiatives.  Joe is a Founding Board Member of the USGBC Northern Arizona Chapter; a Board Member and Northern Arizona Director of the Arizona Solar Energy Association; and a Founding Member of the Coconino County Sustainable Building Program. He has a Master of Arts in Vocational Education and a Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Supervision. He is the Founder & President of the Board of Vocational Building Skills on the Navajo Nation and is on the Construction Trades Faculty for Northland Pioneer College. Joe is a 2003 graduate of the Flagstaff Leadership Program. He lives outside Snowflake, Arizona, and is actively gardening and developing a sustainable lifestyle. He is also the owner of Ashokala Gardens, a distributor of Soil Secrets Products.
A hat was passed to collect funds for the Highland Support Project fund for Teaching Sustainable Agriculture School in Western Guatamala. Joe and Kim have been teaching for this project. See First Giving for the details or if you want to contribute more:   http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/natalieprunty/sustainableagricultureschoolfundraisingpage

Refreshments provided by Kathy Hilton, Melissa Amberson and Barbara Johnson

Business Meeting – Hunter Kemmet

Are there any other officer nominations from the floor? No

Vote on officers; President - Jim Mast,    VP – Ed Skiba,   Treasurer - Sue Madden, Secretary – Sherline Alexander; New Officers elected for 2015 one year term.

Standing Committees There is a sign-up sheet on the table to show your interest for any of the following committees next year.  Continuing education, Volunteer Support, Community Support, Master Gardener Projects, Special Projects

We need volunteers to organize this year’s Christmas Party on Dec. 11 Church is reserved – regular meeting day.  $50 budget, but there are supplies available.  If you’re interested, there’s a sign-up sheet on the table.  Martha Davis and Patti Van Tuyl volunteered.

MG Coordinator Happenings - Hattie Braun.  Conference: Jackie Clark and Hattie Braun attended the conference meeting in Prescott.  Jackie has agreed to chair the planning committee for the next conference.  There will be a brainstorming meeting the first week in December.  There is a sign-up sheet for anyone interested in volunteering to serve on this committee.  Discussion will be about when to hold the conference, speakers, budget, ideas and forming the committees. Spring Class: Spring class starts 2-5-15. 1-4:30pm. Education rooms next to Basha’s, price the same.

MG badges and certificates: new master gardeners Emily Ross, Patti Van Tuyl, Marilyn Schwind, Martha Davis.

Financial report – Linda Guarino/Crys Wells Income $115.11 = 105 for aprons, 10 for membership, 0.11 for interest, expenses $598.36 = 500 for calendars, 98.36 for lunch for garden raffle volunteers, current balance = 3875.09 in checking, 141.35 in PayPal, total $4016.44.

Committee Reports:

Fund Raising

Aprons – Loni Shapiro – no aprons tonight, but will be available at the NAU South Campus Bazaar at the du Bois Center November 22nd and 23rd from 10 am to 4pm.

Calendars – Debi Stalvey - Calendars available for sale at Warner’s and Native Plant and Seed and tonight’s meeting $12 or 3 for $30. We will also sell them at the NAU South Campus Bazaar at the du Bois Center November 22nd and 23rd from 10 am to 4pm.  I need volunteers to help sit the table.  I am thinking two hour shifts.  Need 2-3 more volunteers. NAU requires a liability release will have to be signed by each volunteer. 

Sold 31 at the conference, sold 6 to others, have not checked with nurseries. Need 3 thank you cards for nurseries.

Give calendars to individuals who had a picture in the calendar.  

Hattie always takes (5) to the County Supervisors and (6) to the city council with a letter. 

One 2015 calendar to each speaker.  2015 speakers through May and 2014 speakers June to present.  Total of 10 calendars.

Continuing Education – Ed Skiba January – Grant Recipients reviews (not confirmed) will be contacting grant recipients 2014, then go back to prior years to fill the hour. February – Kim Howell-Costion Greenhouse soils and Soil Secrets (not confirmed) March – Ed; one hole at a time. April – Hattie on flowers.  We will be needing a volunteer to take over continuing education because Ed is now the clubs vice president.

MG Projects/Blog - Loni Shapiro – currently collecting receipts

Volunteer Support – Crys Wells 264.25 volunteer hours and 54 education hours. YTD totals are 3208.25 volunteer hours and 518.5 education hours

Gardening Questions? What do you do with raspberry after they have produced berries?  Cut growth after 2^nd year.  What can you do with sunflower carcass?  Shred them and use in compost or let them dry and use them as stakes.

Next meeting: Christmas Party, December 11, 2014