JCMGA February 2025 Board Minutes

Jackson County Master Gardener Association

Board Meeting Minutes

February 14, 2025

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

Ann Ackles, Membership Secretary

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

Jory Kaplan, Member-at-Large

Michael Hornbeek, Community Outreach WG Chair

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

Jane Moyer, Fundraising WG Chair

Janine Salvatti, Gardens WG Chair

Grace Florjancic, OSU MG Program Coordinator

Board Members Absent:

Carrie Holmes-Stanton, Co-Archivist

Kaleen Reilly, Member-at-Large

Guests:

Linsey McNab, Student, Master Gardener Class of 2025

Erin Galbraith, Student, Master Gardener Class of 2025

Sandy Hansen

Sheri Morgan

Call to Order:  President Barbara Low called the Board meeting to order at 9:02am.

Additions to the Agenda:  Members requested the following items be added to the agenda: February Executive Committee meeting minutes and an OMGA update.

MOTION:  It was moved and seconded to add additional items 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.

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 revised. Motion passed.

Approval of the Board Meeting Minutes from January 10, 2025:

MOTION:  It was moved and seconded to approve the January 10, 2025 Board Meeting Minutes as written.  Motion passed.

Approval of the Board Retreat Meeting Minutes from January 24, 2025:

MOTION:  It was moved and seconded to approve the January 24, 2025 Board Retreat Meeting Minutes as written.  Motion passed.

Approval of the Executive Committee Meeting Minutes from February 7, 2025:

MOTION:  It was moved and seconded to approve the February 7, 2025 Executive Committee Meeting Minutes as written.  Motion passed.

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

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

After meeting with the insurance broker, Treasurer Nelson resolved previous questions from the Board regarding coverage and reported that the premium increase for this year would be minimal.

Master Gardener Class of 2025, Student Representation:  Linsey NcNab and Erin Galbraith, both students in the 2025 Master Gardener class would like to co-share the student representative position on the Board.

MOTION:  It was moved and seconded to appoint Linsey McNab and Erin Galbraith as co-student representatives from the 2025 Master Gardener education class.  Motion passed.

MG Program Coordinator Report:  OSU MG Program Coordinator Grace Florjancic reported that a part time employee and/or contractor to help with the Native Plant Nursery is permissible on SOREC grounds as long as this person signs the standard OSU waiver form.  Grace also reported that JCMGA could purchase farm hand help for a fee or JCMGA could hire a landscape maintenance person for specific demonstration garden tasks.  Board members noted how helpful farm staff have been and requested that a thank you card be sent to them. The Master Gardener education class started the practicum portion of the course via Zoom due to the heavy snow fall.

Grace also reported that Andrew Norwood, OSU Foundation Development Director will be on SOREC property for the Legacy Tree event on April 22, 2025.  Grace has received permission to plant the tree on the west side of the main building.

President Low noted that a Board committee needs to be formed to outline the pros and cons of a part time employee versus an independent contractor for help with the Native Plant Nursery.  Keltie Nelson will chair the committee with Linsey McNab, Marcie Katz, Kathy Apple, and Lynn Kunstman as committee members. The committee was directed to come back to the March 14, 2025 Board meeting with a recommendation.

OMGA Update:  Colet Allen, OMGA Representative reported that the 2025 Joy of Gardening conference will be held July 11 & 12, 2025.  OMGA has confirmed the majority of speakers.  The Board was reminded of the “Send a Friend” grant to support Master Gardener attendance.  The Board also discussed making a donation versus gathering items for the annual silent auction.

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 this month regarding various issues.
2. Thanks to Lucy Pylkki and Doug Kirby for the new locks on the supply cabinet in the auditorium.
3. JCMGA accepted all the donated white tables from the classroom for future event use.
4. Board members were asked to meet with the President if they continue to have Dropbox questions. President Low asked Regina Boykins to craft changes to Drobox that would make award nominations easier and a resources location for the President and President Elect positions.
5. President Low discussed the requirement that each Working Group have an assigned person to attend Board meetings if the Working Group chair cannot attend.

MOTION:  It was moved and seconded to approve the following Working Group Chairs:

          Community Outreach – Michael Hornbeek

            Fundraising – Jane Moyer

            Gardens – Janine Salvatti

            Marketing & Technology – Lucy Pylkki & Keltie Nelson

            Member Services – Barbara Low & Linda Millus

            Spring Garden Fair – Marcie Katz & Lucy Pylkki

           Winter Dreams Summer Gardens – Barbara Low, Colet Allen, & Susan Koenig

Motion passed.

Membership Secretary Report:   President Low reported that Keltie Nelson, and Teresa Jarratt are working on the publication of the 2025 membership directory.

Discussion & Business:

1. Practicum Design Ad Hoc Committee: Chair Jane Moyer presented a sketch of what the committee has discussed for the design.  It is still not clear how much space on the SOREC property will be available.  A draft letter requesting design help from the OSU Engineering Dept was also shared.  The Board recommended that OSU Foundation Development Director Andrew Norwood review the draft letter.
2. Spring Garden Fair Update. Co-Chair Lucy Pylkki reported that the Grange has been approached to be a sponsor for the Spring Garden Fair.
3. Practicum Update: President Low reported that there have been unforeseen problems including lack of access to water and electricity as a result of the demolition of the Creepy Old House.  An electrician will be contacted for various proposed options.
4. Community Outreach Chair Michael Hornbeek reported that community garden grants have so far been limited to a garden that is sponsored by a nonprofit organization. He asked the Board if that could be changed.  The Board discussed rational such as legitimacy, responsibility, and accountability.  The Board asked Michael to bring a recommendation from the Working Group back to the Board for consideration.
5. President Low presented a draft matrix for JCMGA events that would collect various data elements of the event. The Board was very supportive of collecting this data as it would help plan for the future and provide valuable information for various reports.
6. President Low presented the updated summary of accomplishments by JCMGA for 2024 with pictures. The Board offered several suggestions for additions.

Awards Committee:  President Low asked for volunteers for the 2025 Awards Committee to be chaired by President Elect Linda Millus.  Ann Ackles, Colet Allen, and Kathy Apple volunteered.

Spring Garden Fair Plant Prices:  President Low asked the Board to approve raising the Super 6 pots from $5.00 to $6.00 for the 2025 Spring Garden Fair sale.

MOTION:  It was moved and seconded to approve the price increase for the Super 6 pots from $5.00 to $6.00.  Motion passed.

Announcements:

1. Earth Day at the Blue Heron Park event will be held April 29, 2025.
2. The Legacy Tree event will be held April 22, 2025.
3. The Spring Garden Fair will be held May 3 & 4, 2025 at the Expo.
4. The Medford Open Streets event will be held May 31, 2025.

Adjournment:  The meeting was adjourned at 11:08am.

Next Meeting:

1. The next regular Board meeting will be held March 14, 2025 from 9:00am to 11:30am.

 

 

 

 

 

Respectfully Submitted by Kathy Apple, Recording Secretary