St Charles County Master Gardeners

St Charles County Master Gardener

 

Steering Committee Meeting Minutes

 

Friday 13 March 2020

 

Attendees:  Kevin Minard, Jan Carron, Rebekah Davis, Joe Walker, Justin Keay, Cindy Platzer, Mary Medina, Patti Kolek

 

Call to Order:  Kevin Minard called the meeting to order at 9:14 AM

 

Secretaries Report:   Rebekah Davis-  Steering Committee Meeting Minutes for 14 February were approved as written.

 

Treasurer’s Report:  Joe Walker- Joe reported the net monthly change for February ($232.23), a greater amount is shown in Quicken due to a refund from Hummerts that was paid invoiced incorrectly in December.  End of February 2020 cash in bank was identified.  Unallocated dollars were shown.  Joe reported that the unallocated amount is a larger negative number this year because of the $5,000 pledge set aside for the Creek Bank Stabilization Project.  Remaining Demo Garden allocation was shown.  Joe also presented to the group how to navigate the Treasurer’s spreadsheet.

 

MU Horticulturalist Specialist:  Justin Keay-  Justin reported on the first MG Core Training Class.  A Focus Group session scheduled before the February monthly meeting was held to discuss ideas regarding the formation of the Education and Outreach Committee.  A followup meeting is scheduled to meet prior to the March monthly meeting.  Justin is moving forward with the Sustainable Gardening and Kitchen Seminar 14 March.  Justin mentioned implementing a program called “Zoom” as a possible means of streaming presentations online.

 

MU County Engagement Specialist:  Alex Reichert-  Cindy reported on the progress of the Creek Bank Stabilization Project:  Around $1,500 was still needed to be raised and the Extension pledges would go down proportionately after that amount has been met.  The contract for the project has been delayed, the project is waiting on a study. 

 

Community Council nominations for Community Builder Awards event is due 15 March.

 

Committee Reports-

 

Membership:  Waneta Parmenter, Bonnie Winkler- Kevin reported that Bob Lee has met the requirements and requested to obtain Emeritus status.  The Bylaws state any MG eligible to become an Emeritus must submit a request to the Advisory Board (Steering Committee) to be reviewed and approved before status is awarded. Upon review, the Steering Committee approved the request.  Rebekah suggested, based on input from an Emeritus, using gift certificates for MG plant sales as a means of acknowledging the continued commitment of Emeritus MGs.

 

Demo Gardens:  Cindy Platzer- Cindy reported on the Library classes: Six teachers, seven topics and eight classes were well received.  The classes brought at least two individuals for MG Core Training.  Cindy is planning to schedule tour training, both Library and Garden Tours are subject to be canceled depending on developing virus outbreak procedures.  Del Moeller, the lead of the Pantry Garden, is sheltering in place and is trying to organize other MGs to adopt each of his beds until he is able to return.  Leslie Mitchell Jackson and Jeanine Legg, the Square Foot and Cottage Garden Leads are absent due to medical injury, otherwise Demo Gardens are fully staffed.  The stone raised bed will be  maintained by the St Charles Community College youth program this year.

 

Greenhouse:  Amanda Templer, Marsha Brown-  Kevin reported Greenhouse operations are in full swing with a full team for each day, with the exception of missing a lead on Wednesday.  Evening operations will begin March 15th.  Currently signing up volunteers.

 

Plant Sale:  Marsha Brown, Laura Stiemel-  Kevin reported Cool Season Plant Sale is scheduled for 21 March in Room C. 

 

Donna Lindsey, Glenda Duffy- Kevin reported Hoop House potting, digging, dividing is on Saturdays March 14, 21, and 28.

 

Speakers:  Val Mertz-  Report for the latest scheduled monthly Speakers and Hosts was shown.

 

Hort Line:  Pattie Kolek-  Hort Line training is scheduled for 7 April 10:00 – 12:00 PM, everyone is welcome.  Justin mentioned exploring a more in-depth Hort Line training with a plant doctor class worth Advanced Training credit.

 

Education:  Mary Medina-  Dig-In: A Gardening Seminar “Missouri Climate Trends” was a SUCCESS!  Final report for the Dig In was shown and discussed.  The event was well attended with118 participants preregistered.

 

New Business:   Mary Medina- MGs will be at the Lake St Louis Farmers Market 18 April, 27 June, 29 Aug, and 10 Oct.  Mary suggested the Master Gardeners (or St Charles Extension in general) needs a formal canopy tent for events.  Mary also discussed a Monarch migration monitoring project to commence through the summer/fall.  Kevin Minard-  Two additional individuals have volunteered to mow XC grounds.  Justin Keay-  Is investigating acquiring a pest monitoring kit for the Extension Center to conduct plant pest monitoring.  An INaturalist app demonstration has been scheduled in the Demo Gardens 27 April 3:30 – 6:00 PM.

 

Old Business:   Open discussion on communication/ social media needs, per February SC meeting, will be discussed at April SC meeting.

 

MGSC President Kevin Minard will be sending approved meeting minutes for publication to our website www.stcharlescountymastergardeners.com and to our newsletter, after each meeting.

 

Good of the Order:  Kevin is organizing a fieldtrip for MGs to Rolling Ridge Nursery to visit their Rooftop Gardens sometime in May.  Several other locations for summer fieldtrips are also being investigated.

 

Meeting was adjourned at 11:14 AM

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

                                   Rebekah Davis

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

APPROVED   29-APR-2020