JCMGA October Board Minutes

Jackson County Master Gardener Association

Board Meeting Minutes

October 10, 2025

Board Members Present:

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

Linda Millus, President-Elect, Member Services WG Co-Chair

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

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

Regula Pepi, Assistant Treasurer

Ann Ackles, Membership Secretary

Jory Kaplan, Member-at-Large

Joanne Daane, Member-at-Large

Mary Schrouder, Member-at-Large

Jane Moyer, Fundraising WG Chair

Janine Salvatti, Gardens WG Chair

Teresa Jarratt, Co-Archivist

Rebecca Cohn, Member-at-Large

Linsey McNab, Co-Student Representative

Erin Galbraith, Co-Student Representative

Michael Hornbeek, Community Outreach WG Chair

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

Kaleen Reilly, Member-at-Large

Grace Florjancic, OSU MG Program Coordinator

Board Members Absent:

Kathy Apple, Recording Secretary

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

Carrie Holmes-Stanton, Co-Archivist

Guests:

Lynn Kunstman

Call to Order:  President Barbara Low called the Board meeting to order at 9:06am.

Approval of the Consent Agenda:   The Spring Garden Fair report was corrected to note that the sponsors were Kellogg and the Grange.

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

Additions to the Agenda:  Janine Salvatti requested the Board discuss obtaining nine frost-free faucets for the gardens.

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 12, 2025:

MOTION:  It was moved and seconded to approve the September 12, 2025 Board Meeting Minutes as written.  Motion passed.

Approval of the Fall Board Retreat Meeting Minutes from September 19, 2025:

MOTION:  It was moved and seconded to approve the September 19, 2025 Fall Board Retreat Meeting Minutes as written.  Motion passed.

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

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

MG Program Coordinator Report:  Program Coordinator Grace Florjancic reported that OSU has not completed the draft Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between SOREC and JCMGA.  Grace noted that the Plant-a-Row program brought in 708 pounds of food for ACCESS.

President’s Report:   President Barbara Low reported that President-Elect, Linda Millus has joined the monthly meetings with MG Program Coordinator Grace Florjancic and Farm Manager Jake Hoyman.  SOREC is still waiting for ODOT to widen the entrance driveway.  The invasive blackberries will be replaced with native plants.  Barbara noted that the Fall Board retreat was successful.  Working Group chairs were asked to complete the Event Matrix for any community and/or member events so far this year and to email the matrix to Barbara.  The Working Group chairs met immediately after the September Board meeting and shared what each working group is responsible for in JCMGA.  The Working Group chairs did a brief sharing of their working group function at the Board meeting.

Membership Secretary Report:   Membership Ann Ackles reported that it is membership renewal time.  Members from the last five years will be contacted directly.

Discussion & Business:

2025. The Garden Guide review group has finished the first three sections. The group will meet to review the second section on October 23,2025.
2026. The Executive Committee reported that no one was found for the approved stipend offer to help the Native Plant Nursery. The Executive Committee was given the task to address issues regarding hiring employees and other options for the future needs of the Native Plant Nursery.  We value Lynn Kunstman and all that she has contributed to JCMGA, her expertise and passion regarding native plants.  We are disappointed the stipend offer to help volunteers in the Native Plant Nursery has not worked out.   In discussing the needs of the association as a whole, in the context of our mission and purpose, the EC noted:

• We are a small nonprofit association that relies solely on volunteers.
• We need to stay focused on the full width and breath of our purpose and mission.
• Given foreseeable expenditures/costs, this is not a time to consider the concept of employees.
• We all have to work within the limitation of our volunteer and financial resources.
• The Board needs to have a conceptual discussion on how to best allocate volunteer resources to meet all the needs of our goals and objectives especially with the maintenance of 15 demonstration gardens and the Native Plant Nursery.
  • Marcie reported that she has talked with the Demo Garden GEMS and they don’t want to change their gardens. They love working in them as they are.

1. Bylaws Committee: The Board discussed the proposed changes to the bylaws and discussed how the logistics might work as two Co-President-Elects move into the position as Co-Presidents.
2. 2026 Board Ballot: The proposed 2026 Board ballot was presented to the Board.

MOTION:  It was moved and seconded to approve the election ballot for the 2026 Board of Directors.  Motion passed.

4. JCMGA Strategic Plan 2025: The Board reviewed and discussed Strategic Goals #2-4.  No changes were made at this time.
5. Gardens: Gardens Working Group Chair Janine Salvatti requested the Board approve the purchase of nine frost-free faucets.  Three bids were presented with a recommendation for one bid.  Since the price of the recommended bid seemed high, the Board requested two more bids be obtained.

MOTION:  It was moved and seconded to obtain two additional bids for this project and ask the Executive Committee to review all bids and make the final selection.  Motion passed.

Announcements:

1. The JCMGA 2026 Board of Director ballots will be sent to members soon.
2. The JCMGA membership renewal for 2026 will open in November.
3. The Jackson County Medford Library Showcase is now available.
4. Winter Dreams Summer Gardens Symposium will be held October 17, 18, 24, and 25.
5. Monthly meeting of Working Group chairs will be held in the small classroom at the end of each Board meeting.

Adjournment:  The meeting was adjourned at 10:40am.

Next Meeting:

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

Respectfully Submitted by Kathy Apple, Recording Secretary