Jackson County Master Gardener Association
Board Meeting Minutes
June 13, 2025
Board Members Present:
Barbara Low, President, Winter Dreams Summer Gardens WG Co-Chair, Member Services WG Co-Chair
Marcie Katz, Past President, Co-Chair Spring Garden Fair WG
Linda Millus, President-Elect, Member Services WG Co-Chair
Keltie Nelson, Treasurer, Co-Chair Marketing & Technology WG
Carrie Holmes-Stanton, Co-Archivist
Regula Pepi, Assistant Treasurer
Ann Ackles, Membership Secretary
Colet Allen, OMGA Representative & Winter Dreams Summer Gardens WG Co-Chair
Kaleen Reilly, Member-at-Large
Mary Schrouder, Member-at-Large
Jane Moyer, Fundraising WG Chair
Michael Hornbeek, Community Outreach WG Chair
Lucy Pylkki, Spring Garden Fair WG Co-Chair & Marketing & Technology WG Co-Chair
Erin Galbraith, Co-Student Representative
Linsey McNab, Co-Student Representative
Grace Florjancic, OSU MG Program Coordinator
Board Members Absent:
Kathy Apple, Recording Secretary
Teresa Jarratt, Co-Archivist
Rebecca Cohn, Member-at-Large
Joanne Daane, Member-at-Large
Jory Kaplan, Member-at-Large
Janine Salvatti, Gardens WG Chair
Guests Present:
Sandy Hammond
Sandy Hansen
Elizabeth Peard
Susan Koenig
Call to Order: President Barbara Low called the regular JCMGA June Board meeting to order at 9:59am, following the conclusion of the 2025 JCMGA Annual Membership Meeting.
Additions to the Agenda: No additional items were added to the agenda.
Approval of the Consent Agenda: All filed, written reports under the Consent Agenda were reviewed by members of the Board.
MOTION: It was moved and seconded to accept the Consent Agenda as presented. Motion passed.
Approval of the Agenda:
MOTION: It was moved and seconded to approve the agenda as written. Motion passed.
Approval of the Board Meeting Minutes from May 9, 2025:
MOTION: It was moved and seconded to approve the May 9, 2025 Board Meeting Minutes as written. Motion passed.
Approval of the Board Retreat Meeting Minutes from May 23, 2025:
MOTION: It was moved and seconded to approve the May 23, 2025 Board Retreat Meeting Minutes as written. Motion passed.
Finance Report: Treasurer Keltie Nelson presented the financial statements for June 2025 and responded to questions from the Board. Discussions included budget allocations and the need for better categorization of fundraising activities. The financial report highlighted the success of the Spring Garden Fair, which exceeded revenue expectations.
MOTION: It was moved and seconded to approve the financial statements for June 2025. Motion passed.
MG Program Coordinator Report: Program Coordinator Grace Florjancic provided an update on the potential reinstatement of programming in Josephine County, pending a vote on tax collection. The Board discussed the logistics and financial implications of a positive vote and the gradual rebuilding of services in the county.
President’s Report: President Barbara Low reported on the success of the Spring Garden Fair and the potential for expanding vendor space by renting an additional building. The president also talked about Doug Kirby’s (Gardens & Grounds) plan for irrigation and blackberry removal, which he will present to the Gardens Working Group.
Membership Secretary Report: Membership Secretary Ann Ackles reported the need for funding hard copy mailings for members who prefer not to access the material online. She also reported that she has been reviewing a list of outstanding members from the past 5 years, with the hope that some might re-engage with the program.
Update on Community Gardens Grants: Michael Hornbeck, Chair of the Community Outreach Working Group, reported that the process for granting money to community gardens is working well. After a thorough review, all five applicants were granted money based on their individual needs. A field trip to community gardens, once they have been given some time to become established, has been proposed.
Spring Garden Fair Update: Marcie Katz, Co-Chair of the Spring Garden Fair Working Group, updated the board on the sparsely-attended SGF Appreciation Luncheon, presented awards to Master Gardeners who were outstanding during this year’s SGF, and then talked about the possibility of holding next year’s event inside — by renting and utilizing the Pagham Building instead of the lawn area. After some discussion a motion was made in favor of renting the Pagham Building.
MOTION: It was moved and seconded to approve the rental of the Pagham Building next year (instead of the lawn space), along with the Mace Building. Motion passed.
OMGA and JCMGA Award Nominations Committee Update: Linda Millus, Member Services Working Group Co-Chair, reported that nominations have been sent to the state for 2025’s JCMGA and OMGA Awards. The Board approved the nominations.
Discussion & Business:
- Hiring an Employee Versus a Contractor: The Board engaged in a lengthy discussion, led by Treasurer Keltie Nelson, of logistics and potential liabilities associated with hiring an employee to help manage the Native Plants Nursery.
MOTION: It was moved and seconded to hire a part-time employee to work four hours per week, from February through October, in the Native Plants Nursery. The motion was seconded. After a friendly amendment was made to include the contingency that the position will be “paid for by a grant or sponsorship,” the motion was repeated and again seconded.
AMENDED MOTION: to “hire a part-time employee to work four hours per week, from February through October, in the Native Plants Nursery, paid for with a grant or sponsorship” passed, with seven members “for” and five members “against.”
- Upgrading Zoom Account so More Members Can Access it: Treasurer Keltie Nelson proposed that we add additional Zoom meeting licenses so that someone would be available at all times, especially to host impromptu meetings. After a discussion, it was suggested that we start by adding one additional Zoom license.
MOTION: It was moved and seconded to pay for one additional Zoom license. Motion passed.
Note: The remaining items on the June 2025 JCMGA Board Meeting agenda will be addressed during the July board meeting, due to time limitations.
Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned by Board President Barbara Low at 11:31am
Next Meeting:
- The next regular Board meeting will be held July 10, 2025 from 9:00am to 11:30am.
Respectfully Submitted by Erin Galbraith in lieu of Kathy Apple, Recording Secretary
Here is a Mason Bee hanging out with an Ornate Checkered Beetle on coreopsis in my pollinator garden.
On a breezy, overcast morning bursting with the vibrant colors of May, a group of enthusiastic Master Gardeners embarked on a tour of Troon’s biodynamic vineyards and farm in the Applegate Valley. The air was infused with the sweet aroma of blooming flowers, and the gentle hum of bumblebees created a lively symphony that highlighted the farm’s thriving ecosystem. This experience offered a firsthand look at how modern agricultural practices can harmonize with nature’s intricate processes.
As we moved past rows of lush grape plants, we saw cover crops of red clover and a diverse array of flowering plants—including radishes, poppies, flax, and wild burnett—each planted (or simply embraced) to enrich the soil and attract beneficial insects.
A visit to a solar array underscored the farm’s commitment to renewable energy, while a friendly Great Pyrenees named Beau, one of the vineyard’s livestock guardian dogs, exemplified the farm’s reliance on natural pest control and animal companionship.
horticulture. The outbuilding housing the irrigation system fascinated us with its great bubbling vat of compost tea, a vital soil amendment that fosters microbial life which will soon inoculate the vineyard. An enormous wooden worm bin sits inside the entrance, gently covered with wool from the farm’s sheep.
Oregon State University Extension
