MCMGA Board Minutes for January 2, 2024

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Attendees:
Lorna Schilling, Cynthia Chase, Carole Hardy, Susan Marcus, Christine Semeniuk, John Jordan, Rich Becker, Linda Goldser, Mike Rutherford, Heidi Nichols, Jack Lazareck, Lisa Kirby, Marcia McIntyre

Elected Officers for 2024 MCMGA Board:
Newly elected officers were introduced by past president Lorna Schilling.
President Cynthia Chase (key executive)
Vice President Carole Hardy
Treasurer Jen Hazen (key executive)
Secretary Susan Marcus (key executive)
OMGA Rep Rich Becker

Continuing Board Members and other appointed positions:
Past President Lorna Schilling
Historian Mike Rutherford
Fundraising John Jordan
Demo Garden Linda Goldser
Membership Heidi Nichols
Communications Susanne Cavicchi
Bookkeeper Christine Semeniuk (key executive)
OMGA Rep Alt Angela Myatt

November meeting minutes:
Motion to approve - Cynthia
Approved (all voted in favor)

Discussions:

  1. Membership & Directory. Heidi said Kaz has the link running and it will be included in eNews. Cumbersome process getting payment info to Heidi. Heidi will send email reminders to MGs who haven’t renewed for the last two years.

  2. Fundraising. BottleDrop program beat last year’s income by $20. We made $1235 for 2023 and over $5,000 since John started the program. Discussion about ways to increase participation in BottleDrop program. Carole suggested mentioning it at DG planning meetings. Lorna can buy bags and print MCMGA stickers at BottleDrop locations if she wants to participate. MGs can also donate the BottleDrop proceeds in their own account to MCMGA.

  3. Demo Garden. 2024 bed plans are being worked on now and will be presented to DG group at the end of January. Seed starting and bed prep starts in February. Regular workdays scheduled starting in March and plan to add two Saturdays a month for the volunteers who work during the week. Starting to plan 2024 events and program workshops.

  4. Treasurer Report. Nothing notable other than the estate donation which we expect to receive sometime this year. January is busy with membership renewals and OMGA annual report.

  5. Insurance. The annual cost is $2,845. Of that amount, $600 is for officers and directors’ insurance and $600 is required to meet PPR requirements. Lengthy discussion about auto insurance verification needs and how we’re going to roll out the program. Concern that volunteers may not be happy to provide personal data. *action item

  6. Communications Committee. Susanne will still chair the committee but doesn’t want to sit on the board/attend meetings due to time constraints. She is interested in selling merchandise.

  7. Merchandise. Lots of interest in selling merchandise. Need to figure out how to do it without endangering our non-profit status. Cynthia doesn’t want to have an inventory - wants it all sold through Bonfire. Discussion about how to market the merchandise - perhaps at an in-person event?

  8. OMGA. OMGA is attempting to document chapter procedures - look at the way individual chapters handle specific tasks/projects, etc. Considering offering a one-day Joy of Gardening conference option in 2025 and possibly moving the conference out of Corvallis. Poor turnout for the 2023 mini-college means they are looking at online options and considering going to regional in-person conferences vs. a state-wide conference.

Housekeeping/Miscellaneous:

  • Lorna will take notes at the 1/23 board meeting.

  • Time of board meetings - meetings will begin at 6pm starting on January 23.

  • We have a chapter zoom account now so people don’t need to use the OSU zoom account anymore. Contact Cynthia or Mike for info.

  • Discussion about alias email accounts. *action item

  • Possible board retreat sometime in the spring.

Action Items:

Susan to check with insurance agent about non-owned auto insurance requirements - do we need actual copies of insurance cards or can we collect summary data only?

 

Next Board Meeting:
January 23

Meeting led by: Cynthia Chase
Notes taken by: Susan Marcus
Minutes approved on: 01/23/24 (approved w/revision)