MCMGA Board Minutes for May 28, 2024 (via Zoom)
/Attendees:
Cynthia Chase, Carole Hardy, Jen Hazen, Susan Marcus, Lorna Schilling, Mike Rutherford, John Jordan, Heidi Nichols, Linda Goldser, Rich Becker, Jack Lazareck, Marcia McIntyre, Heidi Luquette
April 23rd meeting minutes:
Motion to approve - Carole
Seconded - Jen
Approved by all
Discussions:
Heidi Luquette. Cynthia introduced Heidi, Director of External Relations for OSU Extension. The brand-new position has three primary functions: legislative work (attending town halls, city council events, etc.); stakeholder relations (works with OMGA, grower groups, etc.); and advocacy expertise (works with extension agents and MGs and anyone else doing advocacy work to provide support and make sure they fully know what extension offers). Mike and Carole discussed their personal experience in testifying before local meetings.
Membership Directory. Voted and agreed that Heidi will include zip codes but not full addresses in membership spreadsheet. Directory will only include those MGs who said their data could be published. Mike will send directory to chapter members via email along with a statement that contact info is for MG use only and is not to be used for non-MG communications.
IE Sale. Unanimous agreement that IE Sale was one of the best in terms of organization, sales, volunteer experience, and vendor business. Expect about $11,000 in profit. Classes were well attended due to in large part to Carole’s efforts. We didn’t donate as many plants as we did last year because we sold more than expected. The ability to make late additions to our order will be improved next year. Extra plants were donated to OFB, Growing Gardens, Produce for the People, Arbor School, NE Emergency Food Bank, and Bybee Hope Center. Carole reported that 200 people opted in to give us their email addresses (through raffle) so we have expanded our contact list. Final attendance about 950 people, a little down from the IE Sales prior to the pandemic. Wrist bands worked well for timed entry. Rich suggests we review the existing contract with the church as there are some potential issues with it. Rich approached Carole and Linda about being co-chairs next year. HUGE thanks to Rich for all the work he’s done on the IE sale over the years.
Demo Garden Report. Heidi discussed that things at the DG are ramping up - most of the spring crops are finished, starting to put in the warmer weather crops, and the school tours have gone very well. Second big wood shed is up and dry farm almost all planted. The city finally removed the pine tree that was threatening to fall down; took half its height and left the snag. There was a 3” diameter hornet nest in a high traffic area where they were aggressive if disturbed. Some Wisdom of the Elders volunteers removed it for us. Question is what will we do going forward as we’re not allowed to use non-OMRI certified chemicals, but there’s a risk to our volunteers if we leave a nest on site. Cynthia asked the DG to discuss it and come up with a recommendation for next board meeting. Linda reported that 38 volunteers expressed interest in the DG and 14 of them have already scheduled their first volunteer shift.
Circle of Life education at the DG report. Carole said of the 7 classes that have signed up for tours, 4 have been completed and 3 are left to do. About 180 kids (2nd-5th graders) and 35 adults have participated so far. Teacher feedback is that the program is appropriate curriculum and might work for middle school kids as well. MG volunteers who are actively teaching Circle of Life program can record those hours as program hours; MGs working in supporting roles must list those hours are partner hours. Carole is going to follow up with a formal survey asking teachers for their input. Some of the adults who came with the tours have started volunteering at the DG.
Update - beginning partnership with Wisdom of the Elders for the land adjacent to the DG. Carole presented the attached power point showing drone footage of the plot and an excellent summary of the planned habitat restoration.
PPS Arboretum Transition School Restoration
Education. Carole agreed to lead the DG education effort. Started with the kids education (Circle of Life) and now would like to add community classes for adults. She suggested one Saturday or Sunday a month during the summer that we have a community class focused on a specific topic. Possible topics include bees (have a couple of stations that teach about importance of wild bees as pollinators and how to identify them) and water-wise gardening/dry farming/xeriscape gardening. Other people suggested classes on composting, fall/winter gardening, and the no-dig cover-crop method. Marcia suggested putting a mention in the Sellwood Bee and posting at the nearby community gardens.
Harvest Fest. Linda asked to confirm previous discussions about the board putting the event on, but still holding it at the DG. Cynthia suggested that Cynthia, Carole and Linda meet to discuss.
Training. Marcia said training is proceeding and 80 trainees have taken the plant diagnostic training so far. DG workshops are being promoted. The irrigation class has been very popular with about 20 people signed up so far. Info on workshops is sent out via Canvas and also email. Marcia reported that Extension received funds from OSU and a grant for a two-year state-wide initiative on climate change. The program will include a public relations campaign and information/tool kits. MGs are uniquely positioned to have conversations with the general public so she hopes we will get involved. It will also be publicized at OMGA’s Joy of Gardening.
Miscellaneous. Next board meeting will be held at 6:30pm at Susan Marcus’s house. Cynthia will bring food from Salvador Molly’s and Susan will provide beverages. Cynthia and Jen are working on a policy stating that any chapter related accounts are to be opened in the name of the chapter and must go through the bookkeeper and/or treasurer. Mike created a new email: inventory@multnomahcountymastergardeners.org which is to be used for communicating stuff like the old books, slide projector, etc., that we want to collect and donate. Discussed setting up an email address in G-Suite specific to the IE Sale which all IE Sale related emails should go through so that we can retain a chapter record of those communications.
Next Board Meeting:
June 25th @ 6:30pm at Susan Marcus’s house
Note: The June board meeting was cancelled due to covid concerns.
Meeting led by: Cynthia Chase
Adjourned at: 7:40pm
Notes taken by: Susan Marcus
Minutes approved on: July 23, 2024