JCMGA Board Minutes – October 11 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

Ann Ackles, Membership Secretary

Grace Florjancic, OSU MG Program Coordinator

Guests:

Lynn Kunstman

Annette Carter

Call to Order:  President Barbara Low called the Board meeting to order at 9:35am.

Additions to the Agenda:  A request was made to add the minutes of the October 4, 2024 Board Retreat to the agenda.

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

Approval of the Consent Agenda:   A request was made to pull the OMGA Report from the agenda.

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 amended. Motion passed.

Approval of the Board Meeting Minutes from September 13, 2024:

MOTION:  It was moved and seconded to approve the September 13, 2024 Board Meeting Minutes as written.  Motion passed.

Approval of the Board Retreat Meeting Minutes from October 4, 2024:

MOTION:  It was moved and seconded to approve the October 4, 2024 Board Retreat Meeting Minutes as written.  Motion passed.

OMGA Report:  Colet Allen, OMGA Representative responded to a question regarding a memorandum of agreement that was reported by the OMGA Executive Committee.   Colet will request further information and report back to the Board.

Finance Report:  Treasurer Keltie Nelson presented the September financial statements for Board review and discussion.

MOTION:  It was moved and seconded to approve the financial statements for September 2024.  Motion passed.

MG Program Coordinator Report:  OSU MG Program Coordinator Grace Florjancic reported that the Creepy Old House is now scheduled for demolition over a two-week period beginning October 21, 2024.   The Jackson County Commissioner decision to not allow Josephine County Master Gardener’s to volunteer in Jackson County was shared with the Board.  Grace reported that the “Plant-a-Row” project this year donated 815 pounds of produce to Access.

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

1. President Low reported that the monthly meeting with MG Program Coordinator Grace Florjancic and Farm Manager Jake Hoyman continues to go well, facilitating communication and a productive partnership.
2. The Winter Dreams Summer Gardens symposium now has 60 registrations including 13 landscapers. The Board discussed additional advertising to boost registrations.
3. President Low reported on the Board’s Fall retreat and thought the discussion went well.

Membership Secretary Report:   Membership Secretary Ann Ackles reported that the goal for this coming renewal is to get every member to sign all forms online including input on individual member interest areas.  Election ballots for the 2025 Board will go out in a couple of weeks and will include the new graduates.

Discussion:

1. Alec Levine, Director of SOREC met with the Board to propose a written Memorandum of Agreement for use of the SOREC “dump trailer” recently purchased by SOREC. Dr. Levine responded to questions from the Board.  The Board will review and discuss the agreement at a later date.
2. Proposal to Preorder New Gardening Shirts: Member-at-Large Kaleen Reilly proposed a preorder, online process for new gardening shirts for the incoming Master Gardener class.  Kaleen would like to pursue this process and will present more details for the Board’s discussion at a later date.
3. Proposal for a Part-time Paid Position for the Native Plant Nursery: Lynn Kunstman asked the Board to consider a possible part-time paid position to help care for the Native Plant Nursery specifically from May through November.  The Board discussed various ways to do this.  The Board requested more information about options to inform further discussion.
4. Possibility of Paid Labor in the Demonstration Gardens: Janine Salvatti also presented the need to have paid labor to supplement volunteer labor in the demonstration gardens.  Janine is gathering related information from statewide Master Gardener staff.
5. Community Outreach Working Group and Marketing & Technology Working Group for 2025: President Low reported that both of these working groups will need new chairs for fiscal year 2025.   The Board discussed having new Member-at-Large positions fill these chair positions.
6. Practicum Design Ad Hoc Committee Update: Jane Moyer shared with the Board that the contractor who the Board was most interested in has separated from his business partner and formed a new construction company.  Jane stated that a next step might be to just build a tool shed for approximately $12,500 and eliminate the current pod rental for storing tools.

Business:

1. Nomination Committee: Nomination Committee Chair Marcie Katz presented the following 2025 Board of Directors Slate of Candidates to the Board:

President- Barbara Low

President Elect- Linda Millus

Past President- Marcie Katz (incumbent)

Recording Secretary- Kathy Apple (incumbent)

Membership Secretary- Ann Ackles (incumbent)

Treasurer- Keltie Nelson (incumbent)

Assistant Treasurer- Regula Pepi (incumbent)

OMGA Representative- Colet Allen (incumbent)

Archivist and Co- Archivist- (Vote for 2)

Carrie Holmes

Susan Hoehn

Teresa Jarrett

Members at Large- (Vote for 5)

Joanne Daane

Connie Lyssand

Tami Cisneros

Jory Kaplan

Mary Schrouder

Cathy Millbank

Rebecca Cohn

Kaleen Reilly

MOTION:  It was moved and seconded to accept the 2025 Board of Directors Slate of Candidates.  Motion passed.

1. Approval of the Native Plant Nursery Logo: Lynn Kunstman presented the proposed logo for the Native Plant Nursery.  Use of the logo would also include reference to JCMGA and OSU.

MOTION:  It was moved and seconded to approve the new logo for the Native Plant Nursery.   Motion passed.

1. Additional Gardening Shirts for Graduation: Kaleen Reilly proposed purchasing additional gardening shirts in the V-Neck, purple shade for graduation.

MOTION:  It was moved and seconded to approve $220.00 for the purchase of additional gardening shirts.  Motion passed.

Adjournment:  The meeting was adjourned at 11:40am.

Next Meeting:

1. The next Board meeting will be held November 8, 2024 from 9:00am to 11:30am.

Respectfully Submitted by Kathy Apple, Recording Secretary