JCMGA April 2025 Board Meeting Minutes

Board Members Present:

Barbara Low, President, Winter Dreams Summer Gardens 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

Regula Pepi, Assistant Treasurer

Kathy Apple, Recording Secretary

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

Teresa Jarratt, Co-Archivist

Rebecca Cohn, Member-at-Large

Joanne Daane, Member-at-Large

Mary Schrouder, Member-at-Large

Jane Moyer, Fundraising WG Chair

Jory Kaplan, Member-at-Large

Michael Hornbeek, Community Outreach WG Cha

Lucy Pylkki, Spring Garden Fair WG Co-Chair & Marketing & Technology Co-Chair

Janine Salvatti, Gardens WG Chair

Kaleen Reilly, Member-at-Large

Linsey McNab, Co-Student Representative

Grace Florjancic, OSU MG Program Coordinator

Board Members Absent:

Ann Ackles, Membership Secretary

Carrie Holmes-Stanton, Co-Archivist

Erin Galbraith, Co-Student Representative

Call to Order:  President Barbara Low called the Board meeting to order at 9:03am.

Additions to the Agenda:  President Low added an update on the OSU Zoom account to the agenda.

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

Approval of the Consent Agenda:   All filed, written reports under the Consent Agenda were reviewed by members of the Board with the exception of the Program Report and the Gardens Working Group Report.

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

Approval of the Agenda:

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

Approval of the Board Meeting Minutes from March 14, 2025:

MOTION:  It was moved and seconded to approve the March 14, 2025 Board Meeting Minutes as written.  Motion passed.

Approval of the Minutes for Community Garden Grant Policy Revision:

MOTION:  It was moved and seconded to approve the minutes for the Community Garden Grant Policy revision as written.  Motion passed.

Finance Report:  Treasurer Keltie Nelson presented the financial statements for March 2025 and responded to questions from the Board.

MOTION:  It was moved and seconded to approve the financial statements for March 2025.  Motion passed.

MG Program Coordinator Report:  Program Coordinator Grace Florjancic reported that the Master Gardener class is more than half way over with students set to participate in their required Plant Clinic hours.   Grace asked the Board to participate in a volunteer working group education session on April 30, 2025 from 2:30-4:00pm.  Grace reported on a Seed-to-Supper program that is going well and that another tour of the Troon Vineyard has been scheduled.

President’s Report:   President Barbara Low shared the following information with the Board:

1. President Low reported on the monthly meeting with MG Program Coordinator Grace Florjancic and Farm Manager Jake Hoyman to discuss digging the holes for the Legacy Trees and the location of the tool shed.
2. The plants from Practicum are growing well and will be ready for Spring Garden Fair. There have been issues with the heaters in Greenhouse #2.
3. SOREC needs to know if there will be a large number of people attending events on the property to ensure available parking.
4. SOREC is waiting for approval from ODOT for constructing the third lane in the entrance driveway.

Membership Secretary Report:   President Low reported that there has been a merging files issue in producing the 2025 Membership Directory delaying publication.

Discussion & Business:

1. Gardens Working Group Chair, Janine Salvatti reported that she will be submitting cost proposals to the Board for needed tasks in the gardens. A helpful location was found for wood chip drop.  Janine expressed appreciation for two students being assigned to each demonstration garden.
2. President Low raised the question of our long-term vision for the Native Plant Nursery which will be discussed further at the Board’s May 23, 2015 retreat. The Board asked Lynn Kunstman to attend this discussion.
3. Fundraising Working Group Chair Jane Moyer reported that the Garden Guides are getting low and that updating the guide in preparation for reprint will need to get started after Spring Garden Fair.
4. Fundraising Working Group Chair Jane Moyer reported on her participation on the SOREC Advisory Council. Jane stated she does not represent JCMGA but is on the council as a citizen of Jackson County interested in SOREC. The Council meets quarterly.  Jane will share the Council’s bylaws with the Board.  The Board requested that Council minutes be reported to the Board and placed in Dropbox for archiving.
5. Past President Marcie Katz recommended to the Board that a free scholarship for the Master Gardener education course be offered as one of the raffle prizes during the Spring Garden Fair. Program Coordinator Grace Florjancic offered to cover the cost through her budget.  Raffle tickets will be offered five for $6.00.
6. OMGA Representative Colet Allen reported that registration for the Joy of Gardening conference is now open and encouraged the Board to utilize the “Send a Friend” grant program to help others attend the conference. 2026 will be the 50^th anniversary of Master Gardeners in Oregon.  Various celebration ideas are now being considered.
7. President Low reported on the recent OSU technology updates to improve security. The changes have created problems with the use of OSU zoom accounts and could be an issue for this year’s Winter Dreams Summer Gardens program.   Barbara will keep the Board updated.
8. Recording Secretary Kathy Apple presented the second reading of the proposed Bylaw revisions regarding Voting by Proxy in Article1, Section 2.b. and the Members Secretary Duties in Article 1, Section 10.

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

Announcements:

1. OMGA and JCMGA Award Nominations are due April 15, 2025.
2. Earth Day at the Blue Heron Park event will be held April 19, 2025 from Noon-4:00pm.
3. The Legacy Tree event will be held April 22, 2025.
4. The Spring Garden Fair will be held May 3 & 4, 2025 at the Expo.
5. The OMGA Silent Auction will be held July 11-12, 2025

Adjournment:  The meeting was adjourned at 10:55am.

Next Meeting:

1. The next regular Board meeting will be held May 9, 2025 from 9:00am to 11:30am.
2. The next Board retreat will be held May 23, 2025 from 9:00am to 11:30am.

Respectfully Submitted by Kathy Apple, Recording Secretary