Okaloosa County

Master Gardeners’ Association

 

Minutes of the General Meeting

Okaloosa County Extension Office, Crestview, Florida

 

April 2, 2008

 

Stacey Taylor introduced the speaker: Bob Walker, a tortoise biologist, who spoke on “Nokuse Plantation and its flora & fauna”.

 

The Meeting was called to order at 10:15 a.m. after the speaker gave his program.  Officers present:  Bob Bayer, President; Stacey Taylor, President Elect; Amy Jo Rosati, Treasurer; Suze Comerford, Secretary.  A total of 43 MGs attended.

 

Extension Agent

Larry Williams, Okaloosa County Horticulture Agent and Master Gardener Coordinator, read a thank you letter from James Ellis, PhD, Assistant Professor of Entomology, Honey Bee Research and Extension Laboratory, University of Florida, for the donation the OCMGA made to the Honey Bee Research Program.

 

Larry recognized Betty Burr, long time MG, who was present at the meeting.

 

Larry presented information on a potential Fort Walton Beach (FWB) landscape project to be developed by the OCMGA at the request of the Okaloosa County Commissioners.  The project involves MGs developing a plan for trees and native vegetation that will improve the looks of the landscape at the FWB location.

 

Larry gave his presentation on “The Basics of Growing Tomatoes”.  Handouts were provided to those interested.

 

Larry mentioned the following events of interest to MGs:

 

1)     April 4 -  Butterfly House workday and lunch

2)     April 5 & 6 – The Home Show to be held at Okaloosa Walton College.

3)     April 24 – Backyard Tomato Workshop, USDA Agriculture Service Center, Andalusia, AL

4)     April 26 – OCMGA Plant Sale, FWB Fairgrounds

5)     Plant Clinics 4th Wednesday, 10 am -1:00 pm.  Fort Walton Beach Annex

6)     Week of May 5 – Larry will be speaking at Epcot

 

Business Meeting

The March 5, 2008 Monthly Membership Meeting Minutes were approved as emailed to the members.

 

Amy Jo Rosati, Treasurer, reported that there is a balance of $XXX in the treasury. 

 

Committee Reports

 

Info/Publicity:  Lynn Fabian reporting:  Lynn asked that everyone remember to bring flyers for the Plant Sale when speaking to groups.  Lynn explained the new publicity program to be used for the Plant Sale.  OCMGA will be paying LaMar Signs $300 to display Plant Sale information at three different electronic billboard locations for a total of 14 days of coverage.  MGs will try to get public feedback at the Plant Sale on whether the use of the electronic billboards increased attendance at the Sale.

 

Nursery:  Andy Donatelli reporting:  The greenhouse suffered some damage and will need to be repaired.  It is unsure how the damage occurred, but there is money in the budget to cover the repairs. 

 

There will be a Plant Sale Workday on April 17 at the Nursery.  The next propagation planting clinic will be scheduled after the Plant Sale.

 

The Nursery has been asked to grow host plants for the Butterfly House. 

 

Ways and Means:  No Report.

 

Education:  Shari Farrell reporting.  The Dogwood Garden Club has requested a speaker for Monday, April 7 at 7:00 pm.  If anyone is available to do this, contact Shari.

 

Community Outreach:  Sandy Killingsworth and Val Boyles reporting:  The Indian Temple Mound program went very well.  The Home Show is scheduled for April 5-6.  Alex Keith and Dick Hickenbotham built the display.  Volunteers are needed to set-up and take down the display. 

 

Earth Day Program is scheduled for April 18 and volunteers are needed to help.  Val asked for a show of hands on how many MGs could help with the Milton Flower Show (April 11-13).  Because so few MGs could volunteer to help, the OCMGA participation in the Milton Flower Show was scraped for this year.  Val asked for volunteers to help make the table signs for the Plant Sale.

 

MG Activities:  Carol Moody reporting.  Carol thanked those who brought refreshments for the April Meeting.  Since there are just a few volunteers who signed up to bring refreshments for the May Meeting, Carol asked for additional volunteers to bring in food.

 

Landscape:  No Report

 

Old Business

 

Master Gardener Volunteer Hours:  Pat Collins gave a presentation on how to prepare the “Master Gardener Volunteer Hours Worksheet”.  A separate worksheet is required for each month.  Pat noted that she will not be taking hours from the sign-in sheet at the OCMGA Monthly Meeting, but will take hours off of the “Worksheet” only.  The new “Worksheet” form was updated March 21, 2008 and the form will be available online soon.

 

Five Year Plan:  Dick Hickenbotham, Chairman of the Five Year Plan Committee, has been invited to attend the next Board Meeting.

 

By-Laws:  Bob Bayer noted that the revision of the By-Laws has been sent to Gainesville for approval, but OCMGA has not heard back from Tom Wichman yet.  The changes to the Policies and Procedures do not need to be voted by the MGs.

 

MG Training:  Larry Williams said that the presentation on tomatoes that he gave at the Membership Meeting on this date could be counted towards training.  Therefore 2 hours will be credited for those who attended the April OCMGA General Meeting on April 2, 2008.

 

New Business

 

The MGs discussed the procedures to be eligible for the door prize.  It was decided that the names on the sign-in sheet would be used to determine the winner for the door prize, but the recipient must be wearing his/her nametag at the meeting to claim the prize.

 

Sandy Licht noted that she has brought in copies of The House that Love Built:  The Story of Linda and Millard Fuller Founders of Habitat for Humanity and The Fuller Center for Housing by Bettie B. Youngs for anyone who would be interested in reading the book.

 

Carol Moody won the door prize. 

 

The next OCMGA Board Meeting will be held at 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, April 16 at Lynn Fabian’s house.  All MGs are always welcome to attend the Board Meeting.

 

Meeting adjourned at 12:06 pm.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Susan J. Comerford (signature on record)

Secretary

Okaloosa County Master Gardeners