Coconino Master Gardener Assoc. Meeting Minutes 3/10/11

Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church
1601 N. San Francisco
6:30pm – 8:30pm

Attending: Linda & Ted Neff Mast, Faith Brittain, Tess Wymore, Ed Skiba, Polly Velie, Carolyn Larson, Jeff Best, Beth Tucker, Rebecca Moore, Mathew Moore, Juanita Gillis, Paul & Julie Lambert, Irene Matthews, Sandy Bayes, Susan Thompson, Linda Guarino, Loni Shapiro, Crystal Wells, Ann Eagan, Liz Taylor, Rebecca Rosemon, Pam Koch, Andrea & Galen Gurerette, Leslie Penick, Beth Dykstra, Mary Latu, Linda Moriarity, Bob Corrigan, Debbie Shepard

6:30pm-6:40pm Welcome – Agenda Jim Mast
Brief review of agenda for the evening
Beth Tucker, the Director of the Extension announced that Jim Mast has been named the Extensionist of the Year.
Introduction of speaker

6:40pm-7:30pm Continuing Education
Chaa Organic Farm in Belize
Linda Neff, anthropologist
Linda and her husband have traveled to Belize for two years to do research and work on a farm/resort. They have farmed, and looked at the Mayan culture and their farm practices in this area. Much of the farming was done with terraces and rock walls. Stone tools, rock walls, and cultural remains tell the history. The area they visited is now a farm/resort, with the farm supplying the food for the resort. They went there as part of the Foothill Belize Program from a community college in northern California (Los Altos) and will be returning again in June of this year for the 3rd time. They will be working with other young students at the farm. The Neff’s focus is also on anthropology. The remainder of the talk was about what they looked at – cultural practices, gardening methods, mapping the area, soils, selection of plants and methods, climate effects, and this year they will focus more on plant inventories.

7:30pm-7:45pm Refreshments
Thank you to Andrea and Galen Guerrette

7:45pm - 8:30pm Business Meeting – Jim Mast
7:45pm – 8:00pm Overview of recent Executive Meeting – Jim Mast
Bylaws – changes briefly reviewed and approved by the association. New version of the bylaws will be on the blog if anyone wants a copy.
Volunteer vs. Education hours document – Crys Wells reviewed the document outlining guidelines for recording volunteer and education hours. It is also posted on the blog. The main point was that Volunteer hours require you be doing something (does not have to mean hands in the dirt) and Education requires to attend some kind of educational program (not just reading your favorite garden seed catalog). Volunteers can help with planning and other work required by the Association or Extension. Educational opportunities abound this spring check out the agenda or the blog.
Volunteer hours for February 42.25/YTD 106.75
Calendar – Loni Shapiro went over the calendar photo contest requirements and urged people to get their photos in. We have only received photos from one MG thus far. The deadline is May 4.
Historian & need for photographer – Val Bryant is the historian and we are looking for a photographer. Several people offered association photos – Ed Skiba, Andrea Guerrette. If you have any send them to Loni. If you would like to become our official photographer contact Loni.
Finance Update – Ed Skiba & Jim Mast
Fundraising/Banking/Use of funds collected/new committee –
Ed reports more than $1200 now in savings for the association. These funds are used for paying for our venue ($250 per year), office costs, fundraising costs, and misc items. Other possibilities could be MG projects, conferences, scholarships to the MG program, MG University and the Intnl MG Conference. A committee needs to be formed to decide priorities for raising funds and what they should be spent on. If you are interested in chairing this committee or participating contact one of the officers or come to our next Executive Meeting on April 7, at 7am, at About Coffee.

8:00pm – 8:20pm Committee Reports:
Continuing Education – Dana Prom Smith (see schedule)
Community Programs
Home Show update Hattie Braun & Faith Brittain. Meeting was held following our regular business meeting to plan final details. The schedule for talks was circulated among those attending and is now posted on the blog.
Coordination of MG Projects – Linda Guarino
The latest list of MG projects is posted on the blog and includes Jan Busco’s projects at the Grand Canyon.
Volunteer Support/Social – Hattie Braun/Crys Wells
Membership Cards - Crys Wells passed out the new membership cards which include discounts for a variety of nurseries. The details are posted on the back of the cards. Members are encouraged to wear badges to meetings so all can get to know each other.

8:20pm – 8:30pm Garden questions?
Russian Olive seeds – What kind of birds eat? Grosbeaks and maybe others.
Discussion about tree – pros vs. cons, flowers, seeds (sweet), etc.
Okra – Any ideas about growing in Flagstaff? Needs protection at this elevation – longer season – not sure of varieties.
Loppers – Are they useful? Some use, but require good arm strength/vision.Faith willing to loan to try.
Dalhia – When can I move? – Maybe dead from cold winter, if not as soon as the soil an be worked. Ed reports his survive outdoors in a protected area near rock.

Next meeting: April 14, 2011
Shepherd of the Hills Church
1601 N. San Francisco
Therapeutic Horticulture vs. Horticultural Therapy
Loni Shapiro