Master Gardener Association Meeting Minutes 1/13/11

Master Gardener Meeting Minutes 1/13/11
Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church
1601 N. San Francisco
6:30pm – 8:30pm

Attending: Freddie Steele, Faith Britain, Jim Mast, Sheryl Houston, Harvey Cantrell, Sherry Lewis, Linda Guarino, Cindy Murray, Julie Holmes, Ed Skiba, Carolyn Larsen, Debra Crisp, Crys Wells, Hattie Braun, Gwen & Jim Koreltz, Ann Eagan, Jan Busco, Kerry Rank, Laura Parker, Jeanne Steele, Beth Dyskstra, Linda Moriarty, Danna Hendrix, Irene Matthews, Leslie Pennick, Galen & Andrea Guerrette, Bea Cooley, Loni Shapiro

6:30pm-6:40pm Welcome – Agenda Jim Mast
Hattie Braun presented two new master gardeners – Cindy Murray/Linda Moriarty. Spring class starts 2/8. It will be in the Daily Sun Saturday.
Brief review of agenda for the evening
Introduction of speaker

6:40pm-7:30pm Continuing Education
Bird Loving Plants
Bea Cooley, Master Gardener and member of the Audubon Society
Bea talked about how to accomplish bringing birds to your yard by using natives, working less, using less water, and enjoying more. She began by describing how to garden in Timberline after moving here from California where the water was essentially free. She described the birds typically seen in her yard, which includes everything from hawks to hummingbirds. She has just 3 trees on 2.5 acres. The trees and shrubs she has that lure birds into her yard included: Arizona Cypress, New Mexican Locust, Black Elderberry, Arizona Honeysuckle, Red Twig Dogwood, Fernbush, Barberry, Hops, Skunkbush, Staghorn, Golden & Wax Current. Plants included a variety of penstemons, grasses, salvia, and agastache. Red most attractive to hummingbirds but most tubular flowers work. She emphasized the need for shelter, water, and food. Her talk described practical ways to provide that without spending a lot of money, as well as more costly methods. In describing how to attract birds, Bea was also able to provide a great deal of information about to identify birds and their unique characteristics and habits.

7:30pm-7:45pm Refreshments
Thank you to Loni Shapiro
Donation jar will return next month.

7:45pm - 8:30pm Business Meeting
7:45pm – 8:00pm Grand Canyon Project (Jan Busco)
Jan is the botanist for the Grand Canyon and will have a project beginning in the spring and continuing through the summer to enhance the beauty of the area around the new Visitor’s Center at Mather Point. She will be looking for one and multiple day volunteers. Watch the blog for information on need for volunteers and or contact Jan at the canyon beginning probably in March.(928-638-7782) As projects become more specific they will be posted on the blog.

Overview of recent Executive Meeting – Jim Mast
Repeat of calendar project for 2011 (May 4 deadline for photos) – see handout
Last year – sold about 150/distributed 50. About 50 remaining will be sold for January at half price ($5)
Membership – Jan/Dec
We begin collecting memberships for 2011. The cost is $10 and you will receive discounts at Viola’s and Native Plant & Seed (details on back of card). Warner’s will be included – details later.
The cards are being done by Crys and will be available next month. There will be 3 levels of membership
- Member /certified MG up to date on volunteers & education hours
- Associate member / MG but not up to date on volunteer & education hours
- Trainee / master gardener in training, not yet certified
All eligible for discounts if purchasing membership

New venue – this is it! We will be paying the church $200 a year to cover utilities.
By-laws to be updated next month.

Finance Update – Ed Skiba Membership/Calendar sales
Currently in savings 226.98 checking 813.51
Income specific categories not accounted for last year (donations for food, memberships, and calendars), but with new receipt book will be for 2011. All monies may move to savings to save the checking fee, and money orders used to write a few checks as they are few. Ed will also check on obtaining tax free status this year.

8:00pm – 8:20pm Committee Reports:
Continuing Education – Dana Prom Smith (see schedule below)
Dana is always looking for writers for the column. Articles now appear the Saturday before the meeting with the speaker topic.
Community Programs
Community Markets- to continue in 2011
Speakers Bureau-need more to sign up
Hattie had a request for a xeriscape talk, anyone interested should contact her. Jim mention he will be doing a talk on April 22, for New Frontiers – details later.
Home Show – Hattie Braun/Faith Brittain
Home show March 25-27th at the old K-mart store on 4th St. Meeting on Thursday 1/20 at 130pm at the Extension Office to do planning – all welcome. Will need speakers – probably looking for a short show and tell talk but will advise later. Hours to be advised later.
Coordination of MG Projects – Linda Guarino
Volunteer sites for 2011 are done and up on the blog. Hattie has 2 to add Coconino County Parks & Rec and Riordan Mansion. Jan Busco’s Grand Canyon project will also be added.
Volunteer Support/Social – Hattie Braun/Crys Wells
Crys has sent e-mails to all who have reported hours with totals. If you have any suggestions about changes in the system contact her. This year she will be e-mailing reported hours monthly to help people keep up with hours. Totals for 2010 are as follows, 3322.75 hours for all reported for volunteering, 536 continuing education hours. Spring and fall classes were great about reporting hours. Spring 842 and Fall 77 volunteer hours.
Jim emphasized the importance of reporting to justify the master gardener program with the county supervisors and the U. of A.

8:20pm – 8:30pm How to – touring the blog!
Loni did a tour of the blog live on screen to show people what it contains, how to access documents and other sites, and to encourage people to send her information to add on the blog. Many people beside MGs contribute – Native Plant Society, AERA, Arboretum, Warner’s, etc. If you have any questions feel free to contact her.

Next meeting: February 10, 2011
Shepherd of the Hills Church
1601 N. San Francisco
Spiders of the Winter
Freddie Steele, writer and former naturalist with the park service

Schedule for future meetings:
March 10 Chaa Organic Farm in Belize – Linda Neff, anthropologist
April 14 Therapeutic Horticulture vs. horticultural Therapy – Loni Shapiro
May 10 Flagstaff Community Market – Art Babbott
June 9 Foxglove Gardening – Joanie Abbott
July 14 Sustainability – William Auberle

Other Educational and Volunteer Opportunities
February 8 – May 17, 2011 Master Gardener Training
October 22 – 2011 Highlands Garden Conference/Yavapai County
For details on above opportunities check out the blog – coconinomgassociation.blogspot.com