MGV Meeting Minutes for March 10, 2022
Bob Eister opened the meeting and led the MGVs in the Pledge of Allegiance. He gave recognition to the MGVs with birthdays in March and the MGVs sang Happy Birthday.
Bob introduced the speaker Eileen Novotny for our continuing education program on Invasive Species.
Committee Reports:
Bring One Take One: Pinky Steffen told the MGVs the committee will have its first meeting in June.
Canfield Fair: Rhonda Harris reported they had met with the new MGV class to tell them about the Canfield Fair Committee.
Community Outreach: Community Outreach and Education Committees met at the end of February and discussed the subcommittees and contacts for each. (A copy is attached) Patty Kacenski reported on their plans for the Jr. Master Gardeners subcommittee. They will be planting peas on April 15th. They also have plans for hamburger plants and a scavenger hunt.
Education: Stephanie Barkay reported the education committee had an organizational meeting earlier tonight. The committee decided to continue having the education first before the meeting. If an MGV can’t attend the education, they could come later at 7:30 p.m. for the meeting. Ideas for field trips were discussed such as a trolley around Mill Creek Park or in Salem, organized by the Salem Historical Society.
Canfield will have a screen-free week for preschoolers and school-age children up to 10. They are looking for volunteers to walk around the park with the children and point out interesting things in the park to the children.
Garden Conference: Pam Baytos is collecting soup cans for the Garden Conference. The class size limit is 30. There is also a need for reed-type stems for the conference. Marianna Eister reminded the MGVs to sign up for the Garden Conference and we will need MGVs to help set up the day before the conference.
Hospitality: Natalie Fraser told us they need finger foods for the Garden Conference. If the MGV hasn’t taken the FCS Occasional Quality Cooks Training, the MGV can bring in purchased packaged foods that are unopened.
Plant and Pest Clinic: Dave Sprague is planning to schedule two refresher courses for the clinic. The refresher classes are scheduled for March 21st at 10:00 am and April 25th at 12:30 pm. The clinic starts on 4/4/22.
OSU Extension Grounds: Mike Beaudis is planning a work session Wednesday night, March 23rd. No mulching is needed.
Veterans: Mike told us the wreath-laying ceremony will be at Eckis cemetery again this year.
Administrative Report: Eric told us all the speakers are confirmed for the Garden Conference on April 30th and we still need one more for April 23rd. Eric encouraged the MGVs to write more Vindicator articles. Kristen inquired if there was interest in buying a table for the 4H auction on April 2nd.
New opportunities are available for a garden at the Boys/Girls Club. Also, the AHEPA senior center in Boardman would like help with starting an indoor herb garden.
Bob reminded MGVs to fill out and turn in the bio form and the form to identify our skills and specialty. The bio will be used for a pictorial directory highlighting each MGV. The skills and specialty form will help in identifying our strengths for requests made for volunteering opportunities.
All of the MGVs in training are assigned to a mentor.
There was a drawing for some maple syrup for all the MGVs that wore their name tag at the meeting. Val won the drawing. Carolyn Fankhauser donated the maple syrup to encourage all to wear their nametags.
Bob Eister adjourned the meeting at 8:20 pm.
CO and Ed Subcommittee Contacts as of March 2022
Community Outreach sub-committee contacts are as follows:
- Local Flavor – Thresea Harris * 330-743-5875
- Fellows Christmas Tree – Thresea Harris * 330-743-5875
- Master Gardeners – Patty Kacenski * 330-806-0503
- Smucker House – Marge Greenisen * 234-575-1380
- Public Pollinator Gardens – Marilyn McKinley * 330-702-1519
- City Scape – Kary Shively * 330-720-4240
The Education committee contacts are as follows:
- Speaker’s Bureau – Stephanie Barkay *330-853-0376
- Coffee Series – Peg Zeleznik *330-727-0754
- Garden Art – Pam Baytos) *330-547-2126
- Field Trips – Eileen Novotony *330-540-1986
Eileen will schedule and coordinate field trips to local gardens, related business and horticulture events.
- Continuing Education Hours – Stephanie Barkay *330-853-0376
Note: Stephanie Barkay as VP is the designated contact to schedule the location of MGV meetings. She will consider administrative, speaker, education needs to determine if a proposed off-site meeting area is appropriate.