Meeting Minutes 6-9-2009

Master Gardener State Advisory Committee Meeting

June 9th, 2009

Dawes Arboretum

In Attendance: Cindy Burskey, Troy Cooper, Tim Malinich, Julie Crook, Faye Mahaffey, Donna Foss, Susan Liechty, Dan Poast, Gene McCluer, Carolyn Allen, Candace Pollock, Pam Bennett, Greg Meyer, Carol Edmister, Lori Stanton, Denise Ellsworth, John Haley, Judy Niggemeyer, Diane Bambenek.

Welcome & Introductions: 

Pam Bennett called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.

Lori Swihart from Licking County welcomed everyone and urged people to take a tour of the Arboretum.

Pam thanked Lori and Carol Edmister for organizing the location for the meeting.

Travel forms were passed out and attendees were asked to fill out forms for reimbursement.

Budget Update:

Greg Meyer submitted budget for 2009

Additional monies were allotted for Coordinators Conference, website development, curriculum development committee (total $3 thousand) and support staff (total $3 thousand).

John Haley motioned to accept the budget and Carolyn Allen seconded the motion.

Committee Restructuring: 

Committee had a discussion of staffing issues throughout the state; state map was passed out to show counties where help is needed.

Pam Bennett passed out the State Master Gardener Volunteer Advisory Committee Roster for 2009. Pam asked that if anyone knew of a MG volunteer who might be interested in helping with the advisory committee that they invite them to come to the next meeting. The importance of filling these spots was stressed because communication between state and county groups will be important during the restructuring process.

The Sub-regions will be disbanded and restructured according to the EERA's in Ohio.  Each EERA will have representatives (2 MGVs, 1 Educator, 1 Coordinator)

Liability Insurance:

Pam Bennett passed out information about insurance.

County Coordinator Updates:

Pam Bennett discussed that in order to make the transition during the restructuring county coordinators have started having monthly Webex/conference calls to keep communication lines open. Biweekly County Coordinator updates are sent via email to all coordinators to keep everyone in the loop if coordinators are not able to get onto the conference calls.

Awards Program:

Faye Mahaffey reported that everything is up and running. Each county is allowed to nominate 1 person per county for awards and is due June 30th.

Pam Bennett discussed that Scotts is supporting the awards this year and have given $3 thousand dollars.

Website: 

Pam Bennett reported that this year an additional $2 thousand was allotted to go to Tim Rhodus to revamp the MG website to make it easier to navigate and use.

State Conference: 

Greg Meyer reported that the Warren County Master Gardener’s will be sending out state conference flyers to all MGs in the state. Registration will start mid July. The cost of the conference will be $35 for the awards banquet and $110 for Saturday. Participants will be able to pay by credit card or check. The limit is $350 and the deadline to register is September 2nd.

Scotts Training Institute:

Pam Bennett discussed that Scotts has agreed to invite the Master Gardener volunteers out to their facility on July 18th from 8-3 for a tour of the company and their testing sites. This day is limited to 150 people and no cameras will be allowed.

Volunteers for Scotts Training: Cindy Burskey, Susan Leichty, Troy Cooper, Carolyn Allen, and Dan Poast.

Marketing & Promo Items: 

Carolyn Allen reported that she is still working on getting some promotional items for counties to buy. She is working with Holmes Printing to possibly get the following; water bottles, mugs, pens, kneeling pads, and reusable bags.

State Master Gardener Resource Committee:

Denise Ellsworth reported that the first meeting of the committee will be June 23 from 10-3.

The advisory committee decided to rename committee to the Resource Development Subcommittee.

The advisory committee brainstormed other possible resources such as; universal brochure, PowerPoint’s for training, exam, generic display, list of instructors, coordinators manual, promotional packet, CD with general information, usable factsheets, and database of images.

Emeritus Status:

Committee unanimously decided to let counties decide how/if they wanted to explore this and will not become a state issue.

 Next Meeting will be September 9th, 10-3.