Skip to main content

JCMGA Board Meeting Minutes September 13, 2024

Board Members Present:

Barbara Low, President, Co-Chair, Winter Dreams Summer Gardens WG, Co-Chair Marketing &      Technology WG, Chair Member Services WG

Marcie Katz, Past President, Co-Chair Spring Garden Fair WG

Keltie Nelson, Treasurer, Co-Chair Marketing & Technology WG

Kathy Apple, Recording Secretary

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

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

Rebecca Cohn, Member-at-Large

Janine Salvatti, Chair, Gardens WG

Jane Moyer, Chair, Fundraising WG

Michael Hornbeek, Student Representative

Sandy Hammond, Member-at-Large

Regula Pepi, Assistant Treasurer

Pam Hillers, Archivist

Cassandra Toews, Member-at-Large

Ronnie Budge, Chair, Community Outreach WG

Kaleen Reilly, Member-at-Large

Board Members Absent:

Ann Ackles, Membership Secretary

Grace Florjancic, OSU MG Program Coordinator

Guests:

Lynn Kunstman

John Miles

Call to Order:  President Barbara Low called the Board meeting to order at 9:30am.

Additions to the Agenda:  President Low added formation of this year’s Budget Committee to the agenda.

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

Approval of the Consent Agenda:

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 amended. Motion passed.

Approval of the Board Meeting Minutes from August 9, 2024:

MOTION:  It was moved and seconded to approve the August 9, 2024 Board Meeting Minutes as written.  Motion passed.

Finance Report:  Treasurer Keltie Nelson presented the latest financial statements for Board review.  She noted recent approved expenses, that were not budgeted for, have seen placed in “projects” in the financials in order to keep track of them.

Budget Committee:  President Low asked for volunteers for this year’s Budget Committee.  Preparing next year’s fiscal budget begins in October.  Keltie Nelson as Treasurer will chair the committee along with Jane Moyer, Regula Pepi, Lucy Pylkki, and Barbara Low.

MG Program Coordinator Report:  OSU MG Program Coordinator Grace Florjancic was unable to attend.  President Low referred Board Members to Grace’s written report in DropBox.

Josephine County Master Gardener Update:  John Miles was a former member of the Josephine County Master Gardener Association and is now a member of Jackson County Master Gardener Association.  John was invited to give the Board an update on the status of Josephine County.  A September 19, 2024 County Commissioners meeting will include discussion of what next steps might look like regarding the now closed extension center programs.  There is a recall election of one of the Commissioners and the other two Commissioners are up for reelection in November.

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

  1. President Low reported that during the monthly meeting with MG Program Coordinator Grace Florjancic, it was noted that SOREC Director Alex Levin believes that use of the new utility trailer falls under a previously signed Memorandum of Understanding between SOREC and JCMGA and that a fee would be charged to JCMGA for use of the trailer. The Board questioned its previously decision to help pay for the new utility trailer if this is the case.  More research and discussion are needed on this issue.
  2. A website professional consultant was hired to assess and update the security and other issues on the JCMGA website.
  3. President Low participated in an OSU Level-Up Series on “Giving It Away: Growing Produce You Can Take to the Food Bank” on July 9,   She talked about our program here which to date has given 314 pounds of produce to Access.
  4. The DropBox training was held on September 11, The recording of the session will be linked on the JCMGA website.
  5. The Board’s Fall Retreat will be held October 4, 2024 from 9:30am to 11:30am. Possible topics include review of the Practicum classroom building design, strategic plan, building membership, a possible three-year strategic plan, and the vacant President-Elect position.

Membership Secretary Report:   Membership Secretary Ann Ackles was unable to attend today.   President Low reported that 17 Josephine County Master Gardeners have become members of our association.

Discussion:

  1. Member-at-Large Kaleen Reilly presented the sample T-shirt with the Board approved design. She asked the Board to reconsider the tag line underneath the design.

MOTION:  It was moved and seconded to approve the proposed wording “Friends of JCMGA™” under the design.  Motion passed.

  1. Practicum Design Ad Hoc Committee Update: Jane Moyer presented a revised bid from Pacific Breeze Construction with a contract to begin initial work totaling $20,300.  The Board raised several questions concerning the contract, a request to itemize the $20,300, the need to talk first with SOREC Director Alex Levin, and whether the contract needs review and approval by the county attorney.  New member John Miles offered suggestions and said he would review the information from Pacific Breeze Construction and provide further input all based on his professional background in construction.
  2. Nomination Committee: Chair Marcie Katz updated the Board on building a slate of candidates for the 2025 Board.  Some nominees have come from the MailChimp that went out to the membership.  The Committee called members in the directory and secured three nominees for the archivist position, and more than five nominees for member-at-large positions.   The Committee has not secured a President-Elect nominee as yet.  The Board briefly discussed the concept of co-presidents.

Business:

  1. Approval of Revised “Assignment of Non-Exclusive Rights” Document. President Low presented the revision based on the Board’s previous discussion and responded to questions from the Board.

MOTION:  It was moved and seconded to approve the revised document “Assignment of Non-Exclusive Rights”.  Motion passed.

Announcements:

  1. Fall Festival Update: Lucy Pylkki and Marcie Katz, Co-Chairs for the Fall Festival provided an update to the Board.   Of seventeen vendors who were approached, only four responded.  Marcie suggested that next year this event simply be a Native Plant sale and not a festival.
  2. Honey & Mead Festival: This festival is scheduled for September 21, 2024 and is still in need of a few volunteers.

Adjournment:  The meeting was adjourned at 11:30am.

Next Meeting:

  1. The next Board Retreat is scheduled for October 4, 2024 from 9:30am to 11:30am
  2. The next Board meeting will be held October 11, 2024 from 9:00am to 11:30am.

Respectfully Submitted by Kathy Apple, Recording Secretary