Monthly Meeting Minutes

The meeting was called to order by President Richard Boland at 9:05. There were 44 in attendance. Thanks to Richard and Shirley Waggoner-Eisenman for refreshments.

Announcements:
- West Brunswick High School Home and Garden show - March 24 & 25 will need volunteers. Sign up sheets will be available at the next meeting.
- Plant Sales will occur on 4/12-14 and 5/10-12. Details will follow and volunteers will be needed to help prior to and during sale.
- A trip to J.C. Raulston Arboretum in Raleigh will be 2/26. This will include a pest management training seminar for gardeners and include lunch at a cost of $10. See Richard if interested. If 8 members attend, transportation can be provided.
- Brunswick Business Expo in Leland will be held 1/27. Don Gilbert has purchased booth space for BCMGVA so volunteers are needed. Sign up sheet passed and members to see Richard if interested. Remember this counts as hot line time.
- Jim Blake offered a book “Ultimate Guide to Backyard Bugs”.
- Blair (4 H activities representative at the Extension center) mentioned Southport Library's request for teaching children (course similar to “Life on the Farm”). This is to be held the last 2 Thursdays in February from 1:30-2:30. See Blair or use sign up sheet if interested in participating. The 4 H is also having a fund raiser on 2/14 for a $6 a plate lasagna, pre-order, take out. Candy grams are also available. Blair has all the information.
- Richard reminded all volunteers to sign MG recertification sheets found in Hot Line office. The front of the sheet needs to have “40 hours” added in the appropriate spot and a signature on the back. He also encouraged all to go on line and get a copy of the BCMGVA by-laws. A sign up sheet was passed for providing refreshments at future general meetings.
- New Hanover County Arboretum Foundation & NH MG host the Wilmington Garden Show at the Schwartz Center on February 9-11. BCMG, Jan Denney and Arlene Hubner will be represented at the Cape Fear Orchid Society booth.

Reports of Officers:
Vice President: Shirley Waggoner-Eisenman reported on the State MG Conference held in Raleigh 10/8-10 which includes a pig-picking dinner and tours on 10/8.
Treasurers: Former treasurer, Linda Limieux gave a report on the final balance at the end of 07. Current treasurer, Al Smith explained the treasurer's Monthly Balance Sheet listing a balance of $5, 013.70. He also has a new committee budget sheet available to committee chairs. These reports were received as information.

Horticultural Agent's Report:
Richard reported in David Barkley's absence that a meeting to be held on 2/28 needs a volunteer speaker on vegetable gardening. More details to follow from David. There will be MG's from Bladen County visiting during the February general meeting on Thursday, 2/22.
A fund raiser of a lunch buffet is being held to help raise money for the wife of RL who is a county worker with the operations department. The cost is $10 and will be held on 2/23. The Extension office will have more details.
There is county wide pesticide disposal at the Extension center on March 6 form 10-2.

Special Orders:
Policies and Procedures: Shirley Waggoner-Eisenman motioned to take the Policies and Procedures from the table and that they be adopted. Ash Tyler seconded the motion.
Discussion:
1. Membership: Need certification certificate before recertification certificate which is done on a yearly basis. Richard and Shirley gave explanations regarding membership. Certification is domain of Horticultural Agent, but we can recommend using BCMGVA suggestions. New MG classes will not get certification and name badge before 40 volunteer hours are completed.
2. Clearer definition of “membership of association”. Shirley gave explanation. Linda Rudick has rewritten this section to clarify.
3. Receipt of NL - all certified MG members should receive.
4. Leave Plant Sale section as is. It was also suggested to have an experienced MG for each time slot during days of sale. Time counted as Hot Line hours only during day of sale.
To give everyone an opportunity to study changes and to suggest any others, Richard will accept suggestions by e-mail and place Policies & Procedures on the agenda for the next meeting. A Motion was made by Shirley Waggoner-Eisenman to set a deadline for changes in Policies and Procedures submitted to Richard Boland by 2/1/07. The motion was seconded by Dominique Loewenstein and carried.

Election of Officers: Richard asked for volunteers for the nominating committee for the slate of officers for 08. Volunteers are Bev Mastrovich and Linda Rudick. Lynn Schwartzkopf was appointed to this committee. Richard suggested that the secretarial position be included in the slate of nominated officers. He asked the association to consider this change and to deal with this matter at a later point in time.

Al Smith is forming a committee to explore the association's use of automation such as better use of our web site. See Al if you have expertise or talent in this area.

The meeting was adjourned following the program by guest speaker Bill Cline on grapes and blueberries.

Respectfully Submitted,
Beverly Mastrovich, Recorder
Cathie Rod, Transcriber