820 East Cottonwood Lane, #C Casa Grande AZ 85122-2726 (520) 836-5221 FAX: (520) 836-1750

820 East Cottonwood Lane, #C • Casa Grande AZ 85122-2726 • (520) 836-5221 • FAX: (520) 836-1750 extension.arizona.edu

MASTER GARDENER PROGRAM POLICY

The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, Pinal County Effective January 1, 2006, (Revised September 1, 2010)

The Pinal County Master Gardener Program, administered by The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, is a partnership between Cooperative Extension and volunteers enrolled in the program. Cooperative Extension trains, certifies, and supervises Master Gardener volunteers who help Cooperative Extension professionals provide to the public home horticulture information that is endorsed by The University of Arizona.

Certification and Recertification Upon acceptance into the Master Gardener Volunteer training program, volunteers are designated as Associate Master Gardeners. In order to become Certified Master Gardener Volunteers, Associates must: 1. Complete the Master Gardener volunteer training course. Attendance is mandatory and no more than 3 absences will be excused (makeup’s are required for excused absences).

2. Complete the final exam.

3. Complete and document 50 hours of approved volunteer service by December 31st of the year following the completion of training.

4. Maintain a current Volunteer Information Sheet on file at the Extension office.

5. Maintain a signed Terms of Agreement on file at the Extension office.

6. Record volunteer hours performed on an approved Extension report form.

Volunteer Service To remain a Certified Master Gardener Volunteer, each volunteer must: 1. Submit documentation of completion of 25 hours of approved volunteer service each year.

2. Show documentation of 6 hours of approved continuing education hours per year.

3. Maintain signed, current copies of the Volunteer Information Sheet and Terms of Agreement on file at the Extension office.

There will be no exceptions to these requirements. It is the responsibility of the volunteer to maintain their credentials appropriately. The Master Gardener year runs from January 1 to December 31.

Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, James A. Christenson, Director, Cooperative Extension, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, The University of Arizona. The University of Arizona is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution. The University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or sexual orientation in its programs and activities. 820 East Cottonwood Lane, #C • Casa Grande AZ 85122-2726 • (520) 836-5221 • FAX: (520) 836-1750 extension.arizona.edu In order for activities to count toward approved volunteer service, the Master Gardener must be identified as a Master Gardener by wearing the approved Pinal County Master Gardener Badge. If applicable, promotion of the event should include reference to the contribution made by Master Gardeners. Hours beyond the minimum requirement may not be carried over to the next year.

Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, James A. Christenson, Director, Cooperative Extension, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, The University of Arizona. The University of Arizona is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution. The University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or sexual orientation in its programs and activities. The following activities count toward approved volunteer service: 1. Performing free educational activities that provide information to the public on non-commercial horticulture and gardening when you are represented as a University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Master Gardener.

2. Answering home gardening and pest management telephone calls and helping visitors at the Cooperative Extension office or its satellites.

3. Conducting unpaid horticulture presentations, demonstrations, tours, plant clinics; staffing exhibits, helping with seminars, or other approved activities. In these cases you must represent yourself as a University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Master Gardener.

4. Making unpaid radio, television, or other electronic media appearances as a Master Gardener volunteer.

5. Writing unpaid articles for a newspaper or newsletter; preparing publications. The byline must include “Master Gardener Volunteer, The University of Arizona.”

6. Spending time organizing, researching, planning, and preparing for a talk, plant clinic, educational exhibit, seminar, or other approved Master Gardener projects or events.

7. Preparing art work, posters, fliers, or displays that benefit Master Gardener Program purposes.

8. Spending time on committees or as a coordinator for any Master Gardener Program purpose.

9. Working with other groups as an educator or organizer for a horticultural event.

10. Organizing reference materials and performing clerical or administrative work for the Master Gardner Program or for Cooperative Extension.

11. Picking up and delivering supplies for a talk, clinic, exhibit, seminar, or other Master Gardener functions.

12. Working on research projects and reports for the purpose of developing and disseminating information on non-commercial horticulture or pest control topics under the supervision of a Cooperative Extension advisor.

13. Traveling to and from a volunteer activity.

14. Other educational activities with the prior approval of the Cooperative Extension agent assigned to the program.

Activities that do not count towards volunteer hours of service include: 1. Physical labor for a community garden, home gardener, or community group where no educational purpose is served. However, installation, maintenance, and support of sanctioned educational gardens may be counted as volunteer hours. Contact the assigned Pinal County Cooperative Extension agent to find out if a project is eligible for volunteer hours. Please keep in mind that we are educators, not a free source of labor for other agencies or community groups.

2. Any activity where you charge a fee. 820 East Cottonwood Lane, #C • Casa Grande AZ 85122-2726 • (520) 836-5221 • FAX: (520) 836-1750 extension.arizona.edu

Continuing Education As representatives of The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, Master Gardener Volunteers are expected to keep abreast of current local horticulture issues and current University of Arizona recommendations relating to gardens and landscapes. The requirement of 6 hours of continuing education per calendar year can be achieved by attending such events as local garden seminars, agriculture-related classes (classroom time only), and talks by experts in specific horticulture or agriculture fields. If there are questions about the applicability, contact the agent assigned. Travel time is not counted toward continuing education hours.

Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, James A. Christenson, Director, Cooperative Extension, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, The University of Arizona. The University of Arizona is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution. The University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or sexual orientation in its programs and activities. Reporting Hours Records of volunteer service and continuing education must be submitted on the official electronic or hard copy reporting form. Documentation must be legible and contain a sufficient description for each activity to give the reader a good understanding of the nature of the event. One copy must be submitted to the Pinal County Cooperative Extension office monthly and one copy should be retained by the volunteer. Both volunteer hours and continuing education hours must be reported by the end of business on the last day the office is open before December 31.

Exceptions Master Gardener volunteers who have substantially, but not completely, fulfilled the volunteer and/or continuing education requirements may submit a written request to the assigned Extension agent for permission to donate the missing hours during the next calendar year. Such donations would be in addition to the normal hours required during that calendar year. Master Gardener volunteers who do not meet the criteria due to illness, family emergency, or other reasons may submit a written request to the assigned Extension agent for a temporary inactive classification. Temporarily inactive volunteers will be required to complete only the current year’s requirements during the next calendar year. Any Master Gardener volunteer who resigns or has been “inactive” may submit a request to rejoin the program. The request should include plans for completing 25 volunteer and 6 continuing education hours within 12 months.

Use of the Master Gardener Title As a Master Gardener volunteer, you are representing The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension. Your Master Gardener name badge must be worn when you are engaged in Master Gardener activities. You may not charge for the services that you provide as a Master Gardener except to request reimbursement for personal expenses such as travel and duplication of handouts, etc. If you are charging for a service, you may not do so as an official representative of The University of Arizona Master Gardener Program.

Master Gardener credentials may be proudly displayed, except when the use of such implies endorsement by The University of Arizona or the Pinal County Cooperative Extension for monetary gains.