Annual Meeting, Sept 26, 2025

Master Gardener Foundation of Washington State
Annual Meeting
September 26, 2025

Held on Zoom

ATTENDANCE

Officers present included President Tana Hasart, Vice President Cathi Lamoreux, Secretary John Strong, Treasurer Gilbert Plascencia, and State Program Leader Jennifer Marquis.

In attendance were 153 people, including official representatives from 17 chapters. A quorum was met!

OPENING

President Tana opened the meeting at 9:00 am, and welcomed board members, chapter presidents, program coordinators and others to our Annual Meeting

PROGRAM REPORT

Jennifer echoed Tana’s welcome to all. She described the path that our program has followed since 2018, when six initiatives were adopted. They include:

  • Professional Development
  • Cultivate belonging, welcoming all
  • Telling Our Story
  • Program / Foundation Relationships
  • Infrastructure and technology
  • Quality Resources

Citing several examples, Jennifer is proud to report that significant progress has been made in all these areas. She thanked all program coordinators, master gardeners, and WSU Extension staff and leadership for their contributions to this success.

In the process of achieving these goals, we have impacted individuals and families. including her own, and for that she thanks us all!

FINANCIAL REPORT

Gilbert presented the financial reports through August, pointing out that our State Foundation is healthy.

In response to recent legislation passed by our state legislature, Gilbert discussed the possible impact that new tax law may have on our foundations, local and state. In short, effective October 1st of this year, organizations who host and charge a fee for live presentations must now collect and remit state Sales Tax, and pay Business and Occupation (B&O) tax on those receipts. While the State Dept. of Revenue (DOR) has not yet provided guidance on this new legislation, it is important that we understand that it is likely to impact the cost of many activities that heretofore have been exempt.

Activities that are affected by this include events such as lectures, symposia, workshops, classes, etc. for which we charge a fee. Also affected are Information Technology Services, meaning that the subscription fees for UFW services to local foundations will now come with Sales Tax charges. Other services are included… this list is not exhaustive.

Gilbert is working with DOR to arrange for a representative to meet with us for full clarification.

Many questions and comments were made by attendees. Gilbert fielded them to the best of his abilities, but stressed that full understanding will come when DOR releases their complete guidance. And he is watching for that, and will share it with all local treasurers. To facilitate communication among all treasurers across the counties, each chapter is asked to update the state foundation directory with current contact information. (https://mastergardenerfoundation.org/mission/board/board-directory-update)

AEC

Cathi began by reminding all that the Zoom link for this meeting is different from the one for the conference. At the close of this meeting and award presentations, conference attendees must close out of this session and open the conference with the Zoom link sent to them previously.

She thanked all who will attend AEC today. We have over 450 registered. She also thanked the AEC committee for all their hard work to bring it to us. Going forward, we know that many prefer an in-person experience for our conference, and this year’s Shared Learning Experiences (SLE) is intended to provide some of that. The SLE is very much an experiment, and it’s vital that everyone answer the survey that will be sent out immediately following today, or send comments in so that we may learn what we might do better in the future.

Tentative plans for future AECs are as follows: 2026 and 2027 will again be virtual. 2028 will be in person. It is important to note that no one has yet stepped up to lead a conference for 2026. Without a lead person, it may not be possible to host an AEC next year.

Registration will open again next week for people who wish to watch all this year’s classes, but who didn’t register for the conference.

ELECTION

Thanks to the nominating committee for their work. It continues after the conference to fill several appointed positions. Tana announced the committee’s slate: Cathi Lamoreux for President for a three year term; Judie Stanton for Vice President for a three year term. Tana then asked three times for nominations from the floor. None were made.

**** Action: Peggy Madonia moved and Kitty Linden-Ness seconded a motion to accept the slate as presented. Motion passed.

Congratulations to Cathi and Judie!!

STATE FOUNDATION REPORT

Tana presented a report of the accomplishments of the State Foundation over the year.

  • Succession planning – VP and President alternate years with Secretary and Treasurer; each serve 3-year terms.
  • Board Handbook completed.
  • Communications plan developed.
  • Historian has poured through many banker boxes and is developing a modern filing system to make our history available for all to easily find.
  • M365 has been obtained and is beginning to be adopted by state and local foundations.
  • Seed for Thought subscriptions and Evergreen Thumb downloads are increasing.
  • Uniting Foundation Websites (UFW) has been implemented in 14 of a possible 19 chapters. Work is underway to find ways to help the remaining five adopt the plan.
  • Collaboration and support to local chapters was attested to by three local representatives: Erica Johnson, Matt Velasco, and Elaine Jamerson.
  • Corporate documents have been revised and a new MOA template developed.
  • A stable funding picture has been established and effective investment strategies are in place.

Looking forward, we anticipate continuing growth in these areas and progress toward new efforts:

  • Alignment of MOA and corporate documents.
  • Expanded means of fundraising (including announcement today of a holiday sale of custom sox.)
  • Foundation training
  • Continued chapter support
  • Explore a business hub concept

HOW CAN YOU HELP

  • Provide input.
  • Come to the table ready to find solutions and help us learn.
  • Commit to MGFWS work.
  • Help establish a statewide and mutually beneficial relationship between local and state, program and foundation.

ADJOURMENT

The meeting was adjourned at 10:20 and Jennifer was asked to lead the presentation of awards.

AWARDS

Jennifer thanked Tana for her years of service in the President’s chair, and specifically for her leadership, mentorship, and “heart work.”

Jennifer then discussed the Presidential Awards which are given to individuals for outstanding hours of service in a non-profit. This year AmeriCorps has decided to pause this program for now. Those who have earned awards in this program will get them when the program is reestablished. In our group, there were 57 master gardeners who served over 500 hours in one year (Gold Award.) And we have 12 volunteers who qualify for the Lifetime Award (over 4,000 hours.)

The national award for Master Gardeners known as the David Gibby Award was given to the Island County WSU Extension Master Gardener program for their long-running ‘Whidbey Garden Workshop.’

Our State Foundation Awardees are:

  • Media Award: Joyce Frazier (Pierce County)
  • Ed LaCrosse Award: Tim Kohlhauff (Spokane County)
  • Master Gardener of the Year: Tana Hasart (Pierce County)

Details of all nominees and awards will soon be posted to the state foundation website.