Transylvania County Master Gardener

Extension Master Gardener℠ Volunteers Advisory Board of Directors Meeting Minutes

March 7, 2023, at 12:00 – 1:30 p.m.

Welcome and Call to Order:  Mary called the meeting to order at 12:08 p.m. We celebrated Cindy Gilberts birthday with delicious cake/coffee provided by Maryann.

Other attendees:  Nancy Anderson from the current EMGV class. She may be interested in being on the education program committee next year.

February Minutes:  reviewed and accepted the February 6, 2023 minutes.

Finance Report:

• Maryann reported there were February expenses for soup luncheon and income from dues received (~$266) for a current balance of $5,429.48. See spreadsheet for details.
• The memorial bench for deceased MGs has been purchased and will be reflected in next month’s budget. Maryann is still looking at options for a plaque. The bench will be placed at Silvermont near the pollinator garden and kiosk.

Old Business

Education Committee – Spring Symposium Updates:

• Maryann shared that 71 people have registered for the Symposium and door prizes (e.g., gloves, books, etc.) have been collected. There will be “vendor” tables in the back of the room with materials but no goods/services can be sold in the library except for books. Volunteers have been found for the “Ask a MG” table. There will be a planning meeting today.

2023 MG Class Update:

• Bart shared that the new class is going great. Maryann noted that there is a mentor lunch scheduled at Mayberry’s.
• The Farmer’s Market sign-up is available and was announced in the TransPlanter. No one has signed-up for April 1 yet. It was noted that a few MGs are volunteering at Assault on the Carolinas on April 1.

Status of Non-EMGV Gardening Class:

• Bart will be leading a Beginning Vegetable Gardening class at the library on Wednesday, March 15 at 1:00 p.m.
• Bart is planning/organizing a beginning gardening class to meet the needs of non-EMGV to start in late July. Members suggested using the demonstration gardens and utilizing MGs to help teach the class.

February Soup Luncheon Recap:

• Maryann reported the program/luncheon had the best turnout ever and lots of MGs signed-up for the various activities (so it appears that passing the sign-up sheets around was effective).
• Maryann noted there was a lot of soup left over and suggested next year limited soups to 6 and asking people only bring what they have signed up to bring (in other words, not to just show up with soup).
• One suggestion for future programs is to provide the speaker with a lapel microphone so if/when they move away from the podium, participants can still hear them. One woman mentioned to Cindy G. that it was difficult for her to hear the speaker.
• Maryann proposed buying cafeteria trays ($1.20-$1.50/tray x 65 attendees) to make it easier to go through the buffet/soup line. There was general agreement on this idea. Also, when the current stock of paper cups/bowls is exhausted, she proposes replacing with ceramic soup bowls.

Progress on Open Leadership Positions:

• Mary Ellen Farley will co-lead the Silvermont vegetable garden with Linn.
• Lynn will contact Steve M. and Holly V. to fill the photographer position.
• Maryann will continue to look for education program committee members.

New Business          

Field Trips:

• Very good response for the Botanical Garden at Clemson and Table Rock Tea Plantation trip.
• March 9 – no tour guide available for Clemson; 13 people signed up
• March 23 – tour guide available for both locations; 21 signed up
• Maryann will send carpool lists/instructions for March 9 trip tomorrow.

Spring Plant Sale Update:

• Maryann reported that Carolina Native Nursery (CNN)did not have several of the pants on the order so she bumped up numbers of other plants; and no shrubs were ordered this year.

Request From Liz Menis for Plant Purchase for Silvermont Woodland Garden

• Mary received a question from Liz regarding the budget for demonstration gardens. She would like to purchase ~$300 in plants to replenish the woodland garden.
• Maryann stated that the Silvermont annual allocation is $1000 (for all the gardens there) and the other gardens (AD, Ranger Station, Library Rain Garden) are each allocated $200. The leads are asked to notify the board of purchases over $100.
• There was support for Liz’s request and Maryann will review her plant order to see which plants can be added to the CNN order to save money.

2023 Garden Season Start in the Demonstration Gardens:

• Work days have been scheduled for the following gardens:
• March 15, 10:00 – 12:00, Allison-Deaver House (noted on website calendar)
• March 16, 10:00, Silvermont vegetable garden
• April 1, Silvermont herb garden
• Cindy D. shared that composting is every other Thursday. She and Mary will select a start date soon.
• Lynn will reach out to the other garden leads (e.g., rain garden, ranger station, woodland, pollinator) to see when they plan to start work days.
• Maryann will announce work days in the TransPlanter.

Brainstormed Ideas for Volunteer Recognition/Retention

• Group like the idea of acknowledging birthdays monthly in the TransPlanter.
• Maryann will put out a call for birthdays since that information is not on file. She will also be putting out a call for emergency contact numbers.
• The Extension Director Addison would like to have a bulletin board with EMGV photographs (similar to Buncombe County). More info on this at a future meeting.
• Maryann shared that she did not receive much/any interest in the EMGV spotlight section of the TransPlanter in the past.

Schedule for the Remainder of the Year:

Today’s meeting adjourned 1:27 p.m.

Minutes submitted by Brenda Doroski, Secretary.