Kathy Apple

Jackson County Master Gardener Association 

Board Meeting Minutes 

January 12, 2024 

 

Board Members Present (In-Person or Via Zoom): 

Barbara Low, President, Co-Chair, Winter Dreams Summer Gardens WG 

Keltie Nelson, Treasurer 

Regula Pepi, Assistant Treasurer 

Pam Hillers, Archivist 

Kathy Apple, Recording Secretary 

Colet Allen, OMGA Representative & Co-Chair, Winter Dreams Summer Gardens WG 

Rebecca Cohn, Member-at-Large 

Lucy Pylkki, Member-at-Large & Co-Chair, Spring Garden Fair WG 

Cassandra Toews, Member-at-Large 

Ronnie Budge, Chair, Community Outreach WG  

Jane Moyer, Chair, Fundraising WG 

Janine Salvatti, Chair, Gardens WG  

Grace Florjancic, OSU MG Program Coordinator 

 

Board Members Absent: 

Rob MacWhorter, Member-at-Large 

Marcie Katz, Past President 

Ann Ackles, Membership Secretary 

Randa Linthwaite, Member-at-Large & Co-Chair, Marketing & Technology WG 

 

Call to Order:  The meeting was called to order at 9:31am by President Barbara Low. 

Additions to the Agenda:  There were no additions to the agenda. 

Approval of the Consent Agenda:   Comments were raised regarding the Member Services Report regarding possible duties of Friends of the Gardens including people who are experienced in writing grants and assisting with seeding and transplanting seedlings for the Practicum.   

 

MOTION:  It was moved and seconded to accept the Consent Agenda as discussed.  Motion passed. 

Approval of the Agenda:  The agenda item Cosmic Coir was moved from Announcements to Motions.   

MOTION:  It was moved and seconded to approve the agenda as amended. Motion passed.  

Approval of the Board Minutes from December 2023:  The minutes were amended to indicate Rob MacWhorter’s presence at the meeting and that the presentation by the Governing Documents Committee included review of the Articles of Association, the Bylaws, and the Policy Manual.   

MOTION:  It was moved and seconded to approve the December 2023 Board Minutes as amended.  Motion passed. 

 

Announcements: 

1. President Low shared that she has not heard back from Irv Johnson’s family regarding the JCMGA appreciation plaque. 

1. Recording Secretary Kathy Apple presented a new revision to the Bylaws for the Board’s review; therefore, the Board will not vote on the Bylaw revisions until the February 2024 Board meeting.  The new addition to the Bylaw’s adds the Recording Secretary position to the Executive Committee membership. 

1. OMGA Representative Colet Allen shared that she will keep the Board updated at each meeting regarding the OMGA Joy of Gardening conference (July 12 & 13).  All conference presenters have been confirmed. 

1. President Barbara Low stated that based on the recent membership survey, all Board meetings will be hybrid meetings (both in person and Zoom) for the entire year. 

 

Business: 

1. Update on SOREC Extension Remodeling:  Heidi Gehman, SOREC Administrative Office Manager, shared with the Board that the proposed house with two or more bedrooms may require an additional septic system and leach field.  This may in turn affect where the house will be built and the future of the JCMGA Vegetable Demonstration Garden.  The conference room in the main building is being converted into three offices and Heidi is in the process of ordering an Owl for videoconferencing in the small classroom.  The demolition of the creepy old house has not been scheduled. 

1. JCMGA President-Elect Position:  President Low stated she has not as yet found a member to fill the President-Elect vacancy.  She encouraged Board Members to send her suggestions of members who may be interested. 

1. Appoint Members to the Bylaw Committee. 

 

MOTION:  It was moved and seconded to appoint Barbara Low, Jane Moyer, Sandy Hansen, and Kathy Apple to the 2024 Bylaws Committee.  Motion passed. 

1. Appoint Members to the Executive Committee: Per the Bylaws, the Executive Committee includes as members, the President, President-Elect, Past President, Treasurer, and three Board Members appointed by the President. 

 

MOTION:  It was moved and seconded to confirm the appointment of Colet Allen, Janine Salvatti, and Lucy Pylkki as the additional members of the 2024 Executive Committee.  Motion passed. 

1. Appoint Members to the Budget Committee:  The Budget Committee is chaired by the Treasurer. 

 

MOTION:  It was moved and seconded to confirm the appointment of Barbara Low, Regula Pepi, and Jane Moyer to the 2024 Budget Committee.  Motion passed. 

1. OSU Class 2024 Student MG First Lunch Committee:  The first MG class will be held January 24, 2024.   JCMGA typically hosts lunch for the new students.  

 

MOTION:  It was moved and seconded to appoint Barbara Low, Jane Moyer, Colet Allen, Lucy Pylkki, Kathy Apple, and Janine Salvatti to the student lunch committee.   Motion passed. 

1. Business Plan Committee:   This committee met briefly in 2023.  The goal of a business plan and/or a strategic plan will be tabled to the Board Retreat scheduled for January 26, 2024. 

1. Treasurer KeltieNelson presented the proposed 2024 budget to the Board and responded to questions from the Board. 

 

MOTION:  It was moved and seconded to approve the proposed 2024 fiscal budget.  Motion passed. 

1. Review & Approve Revisions to the Articles of Association:  Secretary Apple presented the proposed revisions to the Articles of Association as recommended by the Governing Documents Review Committee. 

 

MOTION:  It was moved and seconded to approve the proposed revisions to the JCMGA Articles of Association.  Motion passed. 

1. Review & Approve Revisions to the JCMGA Policy Manual.   Secretary Apple presented proposed revisions to several policies.  Policy 3.5 OSU Scholarships was held for additional revision and will be presented at the February 2024 Board meeting for review and approval. 

 

MOTION:  It was moved and seconded to approve all policies in the JCMGA Policy Manual except Policy 3.5 OSU Scholarships, as reviewed and revised per policy 1.2 Governing Documents Review.  Motion passed. 

1. Future Lath House:   Jane Moyer raised the question of whether the Board should consider building a Lath House for shade plants in the near future.  It was also noted in discussion that Greenhouse One and the Tool Shed will need replacement soon as well.  The old propagation greenhouse which contains asbestos may need to be demolished. 

1. Board Retreat:   The Board will hold a retreat at the SOREC Auditorium on January 26, 2024 from 9:30-11:30am.  Discussion items will include review of 2023 strategic goals and identification of goals for 2024. 

1. Cosmic Connections Donation:   Jane Moyer reported that Cosmic Connections, where JCMGA purchases blocks of coir, has requested JCMGA receive annual donations of coir blocks for distribution to gardeners in need.  This request is to honor the memory of Cosmic Connections founder Dr. Ajit S. Nehra who passed away in January 2023. 

MOTION:  It was moved and seconded to accept the annual donation of coir blocks from Cosmic Connections and redistribute the blocks to gardeners in need.  The donation distribution will be overseen by the Community Outreach Working Group and the OSU MG Coordinator.  Motion passed. 

MG Program Coordinator Report:  OSU MG Program Coordinator Grace Florjancic reported that the new 2024 MG class will begin this month and will likely have 55 students and possibly a waiting list.  She also reported that evening continuing education classes have begun. 

Adjournment:  The meeting was adjourned at 11:00am. 

Next Meeting:   A Board Retreat will be held Friday, January 26, 2024 from 9:30am to 11:30am.  The next Board meeting will be held February 9, 2024 from 9:00am to 11:30am. 

Respectfully Submitted by Kathy Apple, Recording Secretary