Master Gardener Foundation of Washington State
Board Meeting
November 20, 2024
Held on Zoom
ATTENDANCE
Officers present included President Tana Hasart, VP Cathi Lamoreux, Secretary John Strong, Treasurer Gilbert Plascencia, and State Program Leader Jennifer Marquis.
At the meeting opening, Secretary John Strong announced that 16 chapters were represented by 28 members in attendance. (Several more members joined the meeting late.) A quorum was met!
President Tana opened the meeting and called on Jennifer for the State Program Report.
STATE PROGRAM REPORT
Jennifer reported that the 2023 Annual Report is now available on the website. She assures us that the 2024 report will be complete in the Spring this year.
Evaluations were launched in 2024 with 5 counties participating. Over 300 responses to the survey were received. Goal for 2025 is to have 12 counties take part in the evaluations and get over 1,000 responses. Counties are encouraged to use the Priorities Toolkit to assist with this.
“Telling Our Story” – This is our way of proving our public value. At one time, simply quoting statistics was enough to prove our value. Today we use evaluations and testimonials to accomplish that goal. These evaluations are important to show our program’s impact. So please ask attendees at your teaching events to complete the surveys. The toolkit includes the evaluation template and more to help you in this effort.
Tana added that evaluations can benefit local foundations to help improve our work and tell our story.
Don Enstrom added that our foundations provide a full third of the program financial support state-wide, and that telling our story helps make that possible.
Annual re-certifications are being taken this month. Be sure that all in your chapters have completed them to remain in the program.
Northwest Flower & Garden Festival: The theme this year is “Gardening in a Changing Climate”. This year’s booth is completely redesigned. There will be hands-on activities. CE-approved seminars will be marked in the program. We will soon have link for the purchase of NWFGF tickets. MGFWS will earn a commission from sales through that link. Tana noted that letters have gone out to local presidents seeking support.
TREASURER’S REPORT
In addition to his normal YTD financial statements, Treasurer Gilbert Plascencia presented accounting of the NWFGF, showing a carryover from 2023 of $1,887. He noted that we are paying a discounted rate for our booth this year because we paid early.
The accounting of this year’s AEC shows a profit of about $55,000. This amount allows us to make a generous contribution (about $10,000) to the Endowed Chair Campaign, pursuant to our commitment two years ago to give 25% of our profit over $15,000.
The finance committee decided to move $25,000 from maturing CDs and excess cash into our Agency Fund at Yakima Valley Community Foundation, where it has the potential of earning more than in money market and CD vehicles.
ADVANCE EDUCATION CONFERENCE
Debbie Benbow (2024 AEC Co-chair) noted that 27 recordings have been sold. 360 class surveys from the conference have been received. 31% indicated they gained knowledge from classes they rated. The top rated classes included Native Cultivars, Climate Change, and its impacts, Native bees and wildlife. She noted that we had 13 non-MGs in attendance, including some from Florida, California, and other East Coast sites.
Cathi reported that she has received several notes of congratulations and appreciation from speakers as well as attendees to our 2024 AEC.
All members are asked to consider joining the 2025 AEC committee, and/or find volunteers from your county to do so. Specifically, leadership of the program and sponsor committees are needed. The first planning team meeting is scheduled November 25 at 1:00 pm.
BYLAWS, POLICIES
Cathi showed a minor amendment that needed to be made since our new bylaws were approved at the last meeting. The bylaws committee had decided that a “membership committee” was no longer a needed position. However, the term “membership committee” was not removed from the bylaws. So this revision takes care of that omission by editing Article VIII. Additionally, it was decided that Sections 2 and 3 should be reversed, since the original Section 3 discussed chartered chapters, of which there are many more than unchartered, that are discussed in Section 2.
*** Cathi moved that these changes be made as described above and shown on the screen. Don Enstrom seconded. Motion carried without opposition.
Policy and Procedures – A Table of Contents has been added. A new title has been added: Chapter Documentation Coordinator replaces Membership. Positions are shown in alphabetical order, as are standing committees.
The new P&P manual will come out soon. Please review it and send comments to Cathi.
The new bylaws will be submitted to the Secretary of State. This is a good example that can be used by local chapters in their efforts to revise bylaws.
RECOGNITION
Tana recognized the following past board officers with whom she has worked:
- Candice Gohn, who was especially valuable in her leadership of AEC site selection and contract negotiation.
- Melody Westmoreland, who directed the AEC in Olympia during the COVID years, with grace and skill.
- Marylou Krautscheid, our membership coordinator who single-handedly arranged for chapter charter renewals.
- Don Enstrom, whose strong leadership, wisdom, and historical perspective developed a firm foundation upon which our new State Foundation could be built
- Steve Spitzer, whose short but important service as Communications Director provided a good starting point for a future director in that position.
ANNUAL REPORT
Tana recognized Carol Anne Ebert for her help in preparing this report. It summarizes the goals set nearly two years ago, and the progress made toward achieving them in the time since. The Executive Committee will meet in January in Ellensburg to review these achievements and set new goals for the coming year. Both qualitative and quantitative aspects are to be considered.
Tana led a goal-by goal review of the report, asking for input… surprises, comments, suggestions for future goals.
OTHER BUSINESS
Upcoming renewals:
Our MOA with the University needs review. Work is being done to determine what elements in the MOA are WSU requirements, and which are flexible, to simplify their review.
This year we need to renew chapter charters. Perhaps we will extend the deadline to have time to improve the model.
ADJOURNMENT
Tans adjourned the meeting at 5:40 pm.