Executive Board Meeting Minutes

President, Richard Boland opened the meeting at 9:10. Present: Shirley Waggoner-Eisenman, Charlie Spencer, Linda Lemieux, Maggie Hoon, Hilton Holcomb, Becky Dus and Cathie Rod.

The minutes of the February 16 read and approved. Motion to accept made by Shirley Waggoner-Eisenman and seconded by Charlie Spencer.

Coordinator - Charlie Spencer: Supply Elementary program will create good publicity for the BCMGVA. The future programs, (soils - April 4 & 5) and (composting - April 25 & 26) will have organizational meetings prior to presentations. Scheduling for the propagation presentation has been worked out with the Principal and MGVA.
Previous presentations: Southport & Leland Library, Retired/Active Federal Employees meeting presentations all very well attended with many Gardening by the Month books sold.
Future presentations and volunteer events include: March 17 Landscape Management by David Barkley, March 24 Coastal Garden Center - $15 fee, March 28 Oak Island Beautification Club, April 13 Southport Library, April 15 Southport Wal-Mart, April 15 & ? Shallotte Wal-Mart for hazardous waste, April 19 Leland Library, April 20, 21 & 22 plant sale at MG greenhouse, end of May Hickman Cross Roads Library.
All should be reminded to work the HOT LINE! Visit the greenhouse to view improvements and new plants - especially “knock out” roses.
Projects and Trips: Oak Island Beautification Club donating items and working on project at Dosher Nursing Home for court yard garden. Inmates will work in Botanical Garden and Greenhouse areas on March 20.
A possible trip north in Sept. or Oct. with stops in VA., PA and MD to various botanical gardens, places of interest and wineries was suggested. All members of BCMGVA are invited. Shirley recommended the trip not coincide with the St. MG Conference the beginning of Oct.
Monies requested: To John Kellett for all the photography work he has and continues to do for BCMGVA. Motion made by Shirley Waggoner-Eisenman and seconded by Becky Dus to give $100 to John for past photographic service. There will be a line item for this expense in the 07 budget. This motion was approved by all.
Purchase of decorative trees from the State Forestry Dept. to be sold and propagated by MG association for the 07 “free tree give away”. Donations for these trees will help recoup the prepayment cost. Charlie made a motion to use $500 to purchase these decorative trees and Becky Dus seconded the motion. This expense will be placed in the 07 budget for these specific trees and other specimens. The motion was approved and will be presented to the general membership at the March 26 meeting.
A request for an additional recognition of appreciation and thanks to the Blazichs' for their continued support and contribution to the BCMGVA was made. To reduce discussion on the best gift idea, Richard appointed Shirley, Maggie and Linda to recommend appropriate gift at which point in time a motion will be made.

Greenhouse: In the absence of Ash Tyler, Charlie requested the purchase of a labeler to be used for plant sales. The approximate cost is $1,100 which includes labels. Shirley Waggoner-Eisenman made a motion to approve this purchase and Maggie Hoon seconded. A vote will be taken at the general meeting.

Vice President - Shirley Waggoner-Eisenman: Has spoken to Julia Cook of Shallotte Middle School to discuss help with a water and butterfly garden. The school will follow up when possible.

Brunswick hosting of State Conference in 07 is on hold. Other counties may be interested in hosting this event. Sue Fogle (MG) is taking Gardening by the Month to Heller Bookery to be sold on consignment.

Newsletter - Becky Dus: Has received 19 responses to newsletter survey. Not many suggestions. Hilton mentioned he could not fill out the questionnaire on line and return it to Becky. If this is corrected, more responses may be given.

Gardens - Hilton Holcomb: Attendance at presentation to Retired Educators at Brunswick Electric was very good. Future presentations will occur at Sea Trail and Hickman Roads Library. Presentations will cover propagation, plants good for area, soils, turf grass and answer questions and concerns of attendees. Charlie needs date of presentation, # of people and items discussed. He also suggested scheduling presentations 6 weeks apart to catch the changes in the season.
Restitution workers will weed and spread pine straw on Sat. March 18. Inmates will work on drainage at greenhouse/hoop house on Mon. March 20. More work on hard scape is needed and creation of a new list of gardening chores.

Gardens - Maggie Hoon: Wet conditions did not allow work in gardens the first Monday of March. No response for more volunteers in the greenhouse or gardens. Maggie suggested more emphasis in MG class programs to get volunteers out to work and be more involved with the entire program. Richard will look into this.

Treasurer - Linda Lemiux: Discussed confusion of dues paid by new members - first year membership is per paid by fee for class. The committee on membership might be helpful in contacting members on this issue and getting more members to volunteer.
Current balance is $9, 650.97, expenses - $610.19 for plant sale, $1,000 donation to LA and MI, more Garden by Month ordered at $810, profits - $25 dues, $ 700 sale of Gardening by the Month.
Linda and Shirley will determine appropriate accounts for all the purchases requested at this meeting. Linda will announce at the March 23 general meeting that this is the last month to pay dues.

President - Richard Boland: The newly formed Membership Committee is being chaired by Linda Rudick, Dominique Loewenstein and one other unnamed member. Duties to be outlined.
RE Membership: Shirley suggested the membership list for the association be purged this month as stated in the by-laws. There should be two master gardener lists. One is a list of all master gardeners who receive information concerning the Extension MG business. The other is a list of all the master gardeners who conform with the definition of BCMGV in the by laws. Richard suggested that names of spouse or significant other be added to the BCMGVA list.
Historical Committee - Vicki Kay and Barbara McCoy are collecting and organizing all historical items (articles & pictures) along with John Kellett to create a permant record of the BCMGVA. Hilton recommended a power point presentation of these items. Charlie has equipment which needs some work to be operational. Lisa Miner will be asked to put selected digital pictures on disk to be used in future presentations and for safer and easier preservation.
Richard would like the recording secretary position become part of the elected body.
The by-laws need to be changed for this to occur.
Richard adjourned the meeting at approximately 10:30.

Respectfully submitted,
Cathie Rod, Recording Secretary