Okaloosa County

Master Gardeners Association

Minutes of the General Meeting

February 6, 2008

Stacey Taylor introduced the speaker Doug Corbin, Florida Department of Agriculture, Apiary Inspector, who spoke on the threat of the Africanized honey bees.

The Meeting was called to order at 10:30 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 44 MGs attended.

Extension Agent

Larry Williams, Okaloosa County Horticulture Agent and Master Gardener Coordinator, mentioned the passing of John Hipp’s wife and asked MGs to keep John and his family in their prayers.

Larry offered his thanks to Roger Stalker and his volunteers for their landscaping work at the Extension Office.

Larry noted that Lynn Fabian has completed work on the Plant Sale flyers and the flyers look good.

Larry presented plaques for 10 years of service to the following MGs: Val Boyles, Sandie Olsen, and John Palm.

Larry discussed the use of the Donation Form which will be an important tool for Larry in tracking donations made to the Master Gardener Program. He wanted to make the MGs aware of the need to identify any donations received primarily from outside sources such as donations of: 1) use of facilities such as auditoriums; 2) flyer printing; 3) potting soil or any such items that are donated. Please fill out a form if you are aware of such a donation. MGs will try to get the form on the website, but if not, contact Larry for the form.

The Home Show will be held April 5 and 6 (Saturday and Sunday) at Okaloosa Walton College. The Contact is Jennifer Fleming.

On March 10 there will be an Advanced Training class for MGs. The location is DeFuniak Springs at the Walton County Extension Office. The subject is the new law for labeling fertilizer. Dr. Laurie Trenholm, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Environmental Horticulture will take part in the program. A sign-up sheet was circulated for those interested in the training. Space is limited.

The Financial Expo will be held on March 1^st at Santa Rosa Mall.

Larry noted that Laurie Mackey had sent him information relating to the Chilli Thrips. This pest is now considered the newest rose exterminator. Its name comes from the fact that it feeds on chili peppers and it is named by the Florida Growers Association as one of the thirteen most dangerous pests.

Business Meeting

Bob Bayer, President, noted that he has received a Thank You note from Linda Van Beck for OCMGA participation in the Daffodil Sale.

Bob also noted that he had received a Thank You note from John Hipp for all the MG support he and his family have received since his wife’s passing.

Bob asked Shelia Dunning, Okaloosa County Commercial Horticulture Agent, to comment (as it related to the presentation on Africanized Honey Bees) on a recent First Responder Training held at the Extension Office in January. Shelia noted that of the four county’s present at the training, only one fire truck in all the county’s had any equipment to counter an attack on a human by Africanized Honey Bees, and that equipment was minimal.

Bob noted that there are a number of flyers and sign-up sheets in the back of the room. He thanked Kathy Gresko for her book review in the latest newsletter and complemented Shari Farrell on her comments on good manners at MG meetings. Bob followed this up with a reading on decorum from Robert’s Rules of Order.

Bob noted that we have received clarification on the mandated hours contained in the Master Gardener Bylaws. MGs are required to perform 35 volunteer work hours and 10 continuing learning education hours per membership year. One hour of education for each monthly membership meeting will be credited towards those in attendance, which means that to fulfill this minimum requirement of education hours, MGs must attend at least 10 monthly membership meetings or obtain the education hours from another source such at MG Annual Conference or special training such as the Advanced Training on fertilizer laws to be held on March 10. Pat Collins, Records Coordinator, will automatically record the 1 hour of education for each MG present at the monthly membership meetings, however, she will not automatically record the volunteer portion of the hours earned at the monthly membership meeting (each MG must do that when they submit their volunteer hours). Travel time to the monthly membership meetings can be counted as volunteer hours.

The January 2, 2008 Monthly Membership Meeting Minutes were approved as emailed to the members.

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

Bob presented the proposed OCMGA Budget for 2008. He noted that the OCMGA Board has approved the Budget and that the Budget is now being presented to the membership for its approval. A motion to approve the Budget was made and seconded. Bob opened the floor to discussion of the Budget. A number of concerns and considerations were voiced before the Previous Question was raised and closed the discussion. The MGs voted on the motion to approve the Budget and the motion carried. The Budget was accepted.

Committee Reports

Info/Publicity: Lynn Fabian reporting: Kathy Gresko has agreed to help Lynn on the committee. The colored flyers for the Plant Sale are ready and available for distribution.

Nursery: No report by Chair. See Ways and Means Report.

Ways and Means: Pete Gunn reporting: Preparations for the Plant Sale are going well. A volunteer is needed to head up the Clean-up Committee. Linda Morris has volunteered to be in charge of the food for the 2 days of set-up and the day of the Plant Sale. Pete is looking into whether it is necessary to hire security for the day of the Plant Sale.

Pete noted that Andy Donatelli, Nursery Chairperson, needs help at the Nursery. The Nursery Committee is considering various ideas for plant pick-up prior to the Plant Sale. Andy needs to be notified by email of MGs plants for donation to the Plant Sale.

Education: Val Boyles gave the report for Shari Farrell, who had to depart early: Linda Kulaw will be giving a presentation at the Eglin Officer’s Spouses Club on March 19. Lee Leon, Adult Education, reported that the gardening classes were going well at the University of West Florida. Val noted that Shari will be giving a presentation at the March Membership Meeting on the importance of the new contact form and how to fill it out correctly. Val reported that the Youth Center at Eglin AFB is ready to start its Junior Master Gardener Program. 24 children, ages 6 to 12, will participate. Val will need volunteers to help with this program.

Community Outreach: Sandy Killingsworth reporting: MGs have been asked to help with the Tree Give-A-Way at Lewis Middle School, Valparaiso, scheduled for 9:00 am, Saturday, February 16. Sign-up sheets for volunteers to help have been posted in the back of the room.

Sandy reported that Children in Crisis, a program to assist local children in need, has a newly constructed group home and an emergency home that are going to be landscaped soon. Children in Crisis has hired a landscape architect, but some of the plants contained in the plans are poisonous or unsuitable for an area with numerous children. Sandy has met with Ken Hair, Executive Director of Children in Crisis, and Shelia Dunning with be meeting with him, too. The MGs have been asked to set up a training date for the 12 volunteer groups to education the volunteers on how to plant the landscaping plants.

The Extension Office is sponsoring a Financial Expo at Santa Rosa Mall on March 1. The MGs have been requested to set up an exhibit on saving money in the landscape. A sign-up sheet is available in the back of the room.

The Heritage Park and Cultural Center (Indian Temple Mound) has invited the MGs to come there on March 15 to share information on native plants. Val has agreed to head up this event. 6 volunteers are needed to work with Val.

Sandy noted that she needs 2 volunteers for each day for the Home Show scheduled for April 5 and 6. Let Sandy know if you can help with this event.

Sandy needs 8 people to help on April 18 with the Earth Day program. This program will involve teaching children about plants. Sign-up sheets are in the back of the room.

MG Activities: Carol Moody reporting: Carol thanked the following MGs who provided the refreshments for the meeting: Annette Sheringo, Bob Bayer, Jane Montgomery, Joan Langham, Amy Jo Rosati, and Linda Kulaw. Carol provided the beautiful Mardi Gras decorations on the refreshment table. Carol reminded the MGs to sign-up to bring refreshments for future meetings.

Carol noted that Linda Kulaw, Hospitality Chairperson, needs help in setting-up before the meeting.

Shirley Howell, Extension Office Coordinator, reported that there are many empty dates in the Extension Office calendar and she encouraged everyone to sign-up to help.

Carol stated that if a MG needs to be reimbursed for expenses and the MG can’t get the Chair of the committee to sign, Stacey Taylor will sign for the Chair.

Carol noted that recently MGs have had to give up some office space at the South Annex.

Pat Collins, Records Coordinator, reported that she must have the December MGs hours. She needs to close the 2007 files and she will take the information via email.

Carol thanked Sandie Olsen for providing the birdhouse door prize.

Landscape: Roger Stalker reporting. Three work days were held in January. Over 200 hours were volunteered to help pull trees, transplant plants and prune. The next work day will be February 12 at the Extension Office. Roger plans to have the muhly grass trimmed.

Old Business

Five Year Plan: The Committee for the Five Year Plan will meet following the conclusion of the February Membership Meeting.

Printing Cartridges: Bring in the used printing cartridges. A bucket is in the back to collect them.

By-Laws and Policies and Procedures: Bob Bayer will get together with Sandie Olsen to review these documents.

Directory Update: Suze Comerford will send out an email with the most current listing of email addresses. Please attach it to the Okaloosa County Master Gardener Directory 2006 -2007.

New Business

Val Boyles reported that when she visited the Mobile Expo they had an exhibit on “Drought Tolerant Plants” that was very informative and eye-catching. She showed the MGs a small model similar to the Mobile display and suggested that it would be a good display to include at the Milton Festival.

Bob Bayer won the door prize.

Meeting adjourned at 12:30 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Susan J. Comerford (signature on record)

Secretary

Okaloosa County Master Gardeners