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
Thanksgiving Cactus – Schlumbergera truncata – flowers in October and November. Flowers grow more upward and outward. Leaves have downward scallops with sharp edges. It grows best in light shade. Full sunlight is beneficial in midwinter, but bright sun during the summer months can make plants look pale and yellow. Ideal growth occurs at temperatures between 70° and 80° F during its growing season from April to September. Do not let temperatures rise above 90° F once the flower buds are set in the fall. Continuous warm temperatures can cause flower buds to drop. Water the growing medium when it is dry to the touch. The holiday cactus is tolerant of dry, slightly under-watered conditions. Do not let the soil become waterlogged, especially during the dark days of winter. It is important to not let the soil dry out either. Reduce watering from fall through spring. The Thanksgiving cactus flowers best when kept somewhat pot-bound. Repotting is necessary only about every three years.
rounded edged scallops facing downwards. In order for indoor plants to flower well during the Christmas season, it is best to provide the following as of mid-September: (a) bright daytime light, (b) night temperatures between 55 and 65 degrees F., and (c) long nights consisting of 13 hours of total darkness (i.e., cover plant with a black cloth or place plant in a totally dark room from 6 pm to 7 am each day for 6-8 weeks). If indoor temperatures at night can be kept at 45-55 degrees F. (which admittedly can be difficult to do in a home), buds will usually form in autumn without employing the strict 13-hour darkness regimen. Soils should receive consistent but moderate moisture. Plants will tolerate dry, slightly under-watered conditions, but soils should not be allowed to dry out or become overly moist. Reduce watering from late winter to spring.
Easter Cactus –Hatiora gaertnerii (Formerly Rhipsalidopsis sp.) – flowers in March through May. Flowers are star-shaped blooms that open at sunrise, close at sunset and last for several weeks. The leaves are scalloped like the Christmas Cactus but do not face downward and are evenly spaced outwards along the leaf. They do best in bright natural light with no direct sunlight. This is a long-lasting houseplant so older ones (10+ years) can reach 2′ x 2′. Give yours a good drink of water & let it all thoroughly drain out of the pot. Make sure the plant goes dry before you water it again. You don’t want to keep the roots constantly moist or they’ll eventually rot out. Let the soil dry out in between waterings. You don’t want it to go completely dry when in bloom however, so water more often during this time.
Oregon State University Extension
