Coconino Master Gardener Assoc. Meeting Minutes 7/14/11

Attending: Bob Cooper, Jim Mast, Val Bryant, Allison Howard, Juanita Gillis, Paul Lambert, Harvey Cantrell, Beverlly MacAllister, Ann Eagan, Linda Moriarty, Charlotte Dogson, Scotty, Andrea & Galen Guerrette, Molly Larsen, Cindy Murray, Leslie Penick, Ed Skiba, Loni Shapiro, Tom Mackin, Karen Enyedy

6:30pm-6:40pm Welcome – Agenda Jim Mast
Brief review of agenda for the evening
Introduction of speaker

6:40pm-7:30pm Continuing Education
Speaker: Tom Mackin, Secretary of FNAF
Topic: Friends of the Northern Arizona Forests
This non-profit has 60 members and does 8-9000 hours each year of volunteer work. It consists of equestrians, mountain bikers, hikers, retired forest service employees, and trail riders. They do a variety of activities to supplement the work of the forest service that is limited by budgets and manpower.
Trail maintenance – Jim & Pat McGeorge
Ambassadors patrol trails and answer questions, give advice - Dave Laplander
Back country permits issue ski permits for the back country– Mary Nutali
Fire outlook volunteers assist the 5-day service done by the forest service– Ralph Baierlein
Lead agency for donations to the Schultz Fire Restoration to begin in 2012
Aspen program volunteers do weekly work on exclosures to preserve the aspen forests– Dave Downs
Tom encouraged people to join to help fund their many programs which are all non-profit. They help to preserve our aspen forests and many other flowers, species that inhabit them.

Karen Enyedy from MNA reviewed opportunities available for garden volunteers. She brought a map of the campus and took names for tours from Connie Cowan. She also mentioned that there are occasional weed pull activities and she will contact Loni to post on the blog. There is an article posted on the blog outlining activities available and contact information.

Doorprize drawings were held for 4 plants (Shasta Daisy, Moonshine Yarrow, Native Yarrow, Daylily) from the Olivia White Hospice Gardens.

7:30pm-7:45pm Refreshments
Thank you to Val Bryant and Julie Holmes

During the break several people met to do planning for next months meeting about county fair entries (Jim Mast, Bob Cooper, the Guerrettes and Bev McCallister). They hope to have Carol Burris and Nick Lipinski join them.

7:45pm - 8:30pm Business Meeting – Jim Mast
7:45pm – 8:00pm Overview of recent Executive Meeting – Jim Mast
Openings for officers for next year (Pres., Vice Pres., and Secy), with nominations due Oct. meeting and voting in Nov. Loni Shapiro circulated a list of secy duties and is willing to train anyone interested. Loni to chair Education with Dana Prom Smith’s assistance for 2012.
Financial – Ed Skiba banking/memberships – balance 967.59. Three new memberships this evening with a total of 44 members.
Monies spent on calendar deposits/grants for Sunshine Rescue Mission and the YMCA. Pending – final calendar payment and sponsoring Arboretum newsletter for fall.
Secretary – Loni awaiting proof for final calendar. It will include many photos from Tom Bean from the Native Plant Society contest for the last 2 years. Loni encouraged people to be taking photos of their gardens for next year. The cover photo is from the Flagstaff Sunday Market. Advertisers will be printed on the last page (Warners, Violas, and Native Plant and Seed). Should be ready sometime in August. Sales at the local CSA, Flagstaff Community Markets?, Highlands Garden Conference, Native Plant Society Garden visits if received in time. Loni is open to other ideas for selling.

8:00pm – 8:20pm Committee Reports:
Continuing Education – Dana Prom Smith (see schedule for future meetings)
Community Programs – Molly Larsen/Julie Holmes
Flagstaff Community Markets – all markets scheduled have volunteers. They include 2 each month for the Wed. markets. We may have more Sundays in the fall available.
Jim Mast, Cindy Murray, and Dana Prom Smith worked at the Arboretum plant sale. They set-up a table and answered questions about gardening and the CMGA.
Coordination of MG Projects – Linda Guarino
Linda is revising the guidelines for MG projects to include rules for for-profit agencies. They can have volunteers if they meet the criteria for businesses but no grants will be given. Hattie needs to review the changes.
Volunteer Support/Social – Hattie Braun
Crys reported 517 volunteer hours recorded in June/52 education hrs.
Picnic tentatively scheduled for 9/11 4-6 pm. Need door prizes like plants or gently used garden tools/art. MNA will provide some passes. Hattie needs to reserve the ramada.

8:20pm – 8:30pm Garden questions?
Molly Larson had a question about trimming a blue spruce that has grown too large. Hattie Braun – conifers can be trimmed back at any time. It may fill in again after trimming. Loni Shapiro - if you take out branches they will not grow back. This has been done at the Arboretum to make sitting areas under large trees.

Next meeting: August 11, 2011
Expert Panel on County Fair Entries
Jim Mast, Bob Cooper, Andrea & Galen Guerrettes, Bev MacCallister, Ron Hiebert
Nick Lipinski, Carol Burris
Future meetings:
September 11 Recognition Picnic
October 13 Pollinators and Honey Bees – Joel Kefuss
November 10 Steve Yoder from the Arboretum
December 8 Holiday Party

Educational and Volunteer Opportunities from the Blog (coconinomgassociation.blogspot.com)