Board of Directors Meeting Unofficial Minutes

Texas Master Gardener Association

August 13, 2016

Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas

Call to Order, Invocation, Pledge to the Flag – Mary Means, Collin County, called meeting to order at 12:30 pm

Minutes – Pat Allen, Bell County-- no additions or corrections / approved as posted

Treasurer’s Report – President Mary Means presented Treasurer’s Report for Dale Powell, Denton County in his absence. There is a year-to-date balance of $44,765.00. Treasurer’s Report will be posted for Audit.

The Gardens at Texas A&M University – Garey Wylie, Johnson County

 Garey presented two checks to Dr. Doug Welsh, Texas A&M University. The first was a $500.00 check from TMGA given to The Gardens in memory of Dr. Welsh’s son, Tyler. The second check, of $800.00 was presented from the quilt raffle tickets sold at the annual state conference. Garey reported on the June 17th Groundbreaking Ceremony for the Gardens

 Donations are still coming in from around the state. Garey had certificates to give to Aransas/San Patricio, Hidalgo, and Ellis Counties for their recent donations to The Gardens, however, there were no directors from these counties in attendance.

 Dr. Welsh thanked group for their generosity and gave a brief update on The Gardens. The main goals for the gardens are to be the premier Teaching, Research, and Extension Gardens in the SEC and to create beloved outdoor space for the Aggies and the community. The Gardens will impact A&M students, K-12 students, Master Gardeners, faculty and staff, and the 100,000 plus people who come for the football games as well as other athletic events during the year. These will all be teaching gardens, not just pretty botanical gardens. There will be Bird, Bee, and Butterfly Gardens, Rain Gardens, Earth-Kind®, Texas Superstar, and Mexican and German Heritage Gardens. Dr. Welsh stated that Phase I has begun and should be complete by the spring of 2018. He also stated that he is retiring and that his replacement will be Joseph Johnson, Class of 1988.

 Currently the Texas Master Gardeners have donated a little over $136,000 to The Gardens at Texas A&M University.

Awards Committee Report – Peggy Rogers, Wood County; Beth Turlington, Wichita County Peggy Rogers announced that the 2016 Awards Handbook has been slightly changed and will be online very soon. Awards will be required to be submitted in Word. Everyone should view the specific guidelines and follow them precisely.

Program: “Technology for Master Gardeners” by Jim Ewoldsen, Collin County

Jim Ewoldsen presented a wide range of technological tools that are very helpful to master gardener associations ranging from basic internet to Survey Monkey and beyond with My Cloud, Dropbox, all kinds of Social Media, Pay Pal, and YouTube. Jim discussed all aspects of each including price and usefulness.

Conference Updates – Nicky Maddams, Waller County

 Nicky made a presentation on the 2016 Southern Regional Conference being held in Fort Worth in November 2016. The conference will offer great speakers, food, and tours. Register before Labor Day to be eligible for special prizes. Registration is open on website.

 2017 Cruise/State Conference is sold out but we are currently holding onto a few rooms to accommodate late comers.

 2018 State Conference will be held in College Station to celebrate our 40th anniversary for Master Gardeners in the state of Texas and the Grand Opening of The Gardens. It will be a 3- day conference, April 4-6, 2018 on A&M campus. Conference theme is “Honoring the Past, Celebrating the Present, Embracing the Future”.

Conference Planning Committee – Barbara Porsch, Permian Basin

Barbara asked that any county interested in hosting the state conference in 2019 should have a presentation ready for the February 2017 meeting.

Newsletter/Website Committee – Nicky Maddams, Waller County

Nicky was praised by President Mary Means for her outstanding job on newsletter and website. Nicky stated that readership is up due to the shortened version of the newsletter. She stressed the importance of everyone reading it.

Nominating Committee – Barbara Porsch, Permian Basin

Barbara reported for Committee Chair Donna Hagar and presented the 2017 Slate of Officers:

President – Peggy Rogers, Wood County

1st Vice-President –Nicky Maddams, Waller County

2nd Vice-President – Jack Downey, Bexar County Treasurer – Elizabeth Castro, Montgomery County

Secretary – Pat Allen, Bell County

Past President – Mary Means, Collin County

There were no nominations from the floor. This slate of officers will be voted on at the December meeting.

Tax Advisory Committee – Wayne Rhoden, Williamson County

Wayne reported that 49 of our 51 counties have their 501c3 status

Outreach Committee – Eleanor Tuck, Tarrant County

Eleanor will be communicating with counties through the newsletter so everyone needs to read the newsletter (only 1 county has not paid dues)

State Master Gardener Coordinator – Jayla Fry, State Coordinator

 Any Master Gardener Association who is still having problems with the Volunteer Management system should contact Jayla for help and/or training.

 The new Horticulture 301 Lab class is using the Master Gardener Handbook as their basic curriculum (hands-on approach to learning)

Door Prizes

 Some 40 plus new tomato plants were brought in by Lou Kellogg of Bexar County to be given away as door prizes.

There was no New Business, nor Old Business to report.

Meeting Adjourned at 3:24 pm

Respectfully submitted by Pat Allen, Secretary