Followed by Yakima County Master Gardener Program Meeting

September 11, 2024

President Dan Fortier began the meeting at 10:30 a.m.  34 participants attended this Foundation and Program meeting.

Additional Old Business:  Approval of August 29, 2024 Board Meeting Minutes.  Beatrice Reiss made the motion to approve the minutes.  Julie Hunziker seconded the motion.  The motion was carried and approved.

TREASURER REPORT:

Amber Knox said that at last month’s meeting, a question on the plant sale proceeds was made.  The figures can be found on the Foundation website.  Amber provided the plant sale revenues as $93,335.00 gross income, $10,000.00 for general plant sale expenses.  The net income for the plant sale is $83,335.00.

For the Fall Symposium, registration fees to date total $800.00.

Greenhouse costs for soil, etc. is at “a couple thousand dollars” to date.

2 slots are available for the Advanced Education Conference of $100.00 with proof of registration.  Contact Treasurer Amber Knox to request the $100.00 scholarship.

The two full scholarships are taken.  John Strong will notify the Master Gardeners receiving the scholarship slots.

Amber asked the Master Gardener participants if they had any questions.  None raised.

John Strong made the motion to approve the Treasurer Report.  Carol Barany seconded the motion.  The motion was carried and approved.

NEW BUSINESS:

Approval of the Fiscal Policies and Procedure Manual

Gilbert Plascencia shared the manual with Master Gardeners and called for approval of the document.

John Strong made the motion to approve the manual.  Amber Knox seconded the motion.  The motion was carried and approved.

Updated Officer Board Position Descriptions

Gilbert Plascencia advised that John Strong posted the descriptions along with a paper copy being provided to members.

Gilbert pointed out that major responsibilities of the Past President have been realigned.

New officer recruitment will be the responsibility of the membership body.

Position updates will be up for formal approval at the October Foundation Meeting.

If members have questions on the position descriptions, then email Gilbert at his personal email address.

OLD BUSINESS:

Strategic Planning/Expand Fund Raising Committee

Diana Pieti advised the Committee focus is to reduce the reliance on the one source income that Master Gardeners have in place.  The committee is working on getting public donations at the various activities that Yakima County Master Gardeners offer to the public.  Diana asked if soliciting and receiving donations from the public is allowable.  Carol Barany stated “yes.”

Barbara Schmidt designed a promotional label that will be affixed to an attractive donation jar.  Diana read this promotional label to the membership.  The donation jars can be set out at activities such as garden classes.  A question about the length of the promotional label was made with input that it may be too lengthy.

Patty Ratzlaff suggested assuring collection uniformity.  WSU Cougar stickers are available for the label.  Patty also emphasized that procedures for collection and turning in donations needs to be established.

Question about the Farmer’s Market allowing Master Gardeners to have a donation jar at our table there.  Ken Tolonen will explore if it is allowable by the Farmer’s Market.

A suggestion that a QR code is incorporated on the label for the public who do not carry cash.

Jenny Mansfield offered that she and Sarah Judd sought donations at one of their Master Gardener Yard Sales.  Jenny advised that the public willingly made donations.  Over $100.00 was collected.  The WSU logo was used.  The safeguards used in this effort, to always keep the donation collection in the sight of the coordinators and to count the donations together at the end of the event. 

John Strong made the motion to adopt collecting additional funds through public donations with the improvements suggested during this meeting.  Peggy Chambers seconded the motion.  The motion was carried and approved.

Strategic Planning/Foundation Infrastructure for Safety

Beatrice Reiss heads this committee.  Beatrice reports that in addition to herself, committee members include Darrell Monroe, Kim Foster, and Karen Troianello.  They are beginning their work.

TomatoFest

Carol Barany said that this year’s TomatoFest will be held on September 25 at noon in the Red Barn.  John will post the event in the MG Weekly Activity listing.

Carol encouraged Master Gardeners to bring their tomato based recipes and to sample the tomato varieties that will be on offer.

It is also an opportunity to dress up like a tomato or a bottle of ketchup.  Carol has these outfits.  She will be wearing one of them.

There are contests for entered tomatoes for Ugliest, Most Beautiful, Best Cherry, Sweetest and Best Tasting.

Advanced Education Conference

John Strong said that there are 500 people registered for the Zoom Conference starting on September 27.  The registration fee is $129.00.  33 classes are on offer.

The morning of September 27, the annual meeting will be held.  All Master Gardeners are invited to attend this Zoom meeting whether they are registered for the AEC.  An Awards Ceremony will be held during this annual meeting.  John will send out the link for the Annual Meeting.  Participants will log out of the meeting and thereafter use a different link to log into the AEC.

Fall Symposium

John advised that the Fall Symposium, “Adapting to Our Changing Climate”, is coming up.  The date is Saturday, October 26 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Location:  Pacific NW University in Yakima.  A box lunch is included in the $60.00 registration fee.  Those Master Gardeners working at the event will also pay the $60.00 fee.

Debra Kroon is the keynote speaker presenting on the topic “The Resilient Yard.”  Four speakers in all will present at this one day conference.

The Foundation portion of the meeting concluded at 10:59 a.m.

Yakima County Master Gardeners Program Meeting

Program Coordinator

Patty Ratzlaff opened the Program meeting at 10:59 a.m.

Patty previously advised Master Gardeners of the open Program Co-Lead positions at the August 14 Meeting.  That information did not get entered into the August meeting minutes.  The positions available are as follows:

Youth Team:  Kelly Klingman needs a Co-Leader.

Garden Tour Team:  Needs two Co-Leaders as Jenny Mansfield and Sheila Gunderson are stepping away.  Both will support new co-leaders coming on board.

Directory:  Debra Kroon has done this work for numerous years.  Debra will hand this duty off to a new leader.  It is an intensive work effort.

Facebook:  Needs someone immediately.  Kaitlin in Kittitas County is handling their Facebook presence and will work with Yakima.  Postings can be shared.

Name Tags Available

For those who ordered, Patty has the new name tags available at this meeting.   The cost is $6.00 for the magnet type and $5.00 for the name tag with the pin attachment.   

Program Activity Summary

Master Gardener Program Activity summary to date will be posted on the website.  Patty thanked John Strong for posting the Outreach Forms to the website.

Reapplication for the 2025 Master Gardener year is upcoming.

 Emeritus reapplication will occur over the period of October 1 – October 31. (Requirements 5 hours CE and 1 hour Volunteer time.)

 All reapplications will be made online this year.  Last year paper applications were also available.  That method is not available this reapplication period.  

Veteran reapplication will occur from November 1 – November 30.  (Requirements 10 hours CE and 25 hours Volunteer hours.)

Master Gardeners will receive an email with the link to click on opening the online Reapplication Form.  

All reapplications must be completed online.  If you are not able to apply online, then contact Patty Ratzlaff.

Apply, then confirmation will be made if the required hours have been met.  The process starts with reapplication.

Emeritus needing assistance may come to open office hours at the Yakima County Extension Office.

Wednesday, October 9, 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Wednesday, October 23, 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Wednesday, October 30, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 pm.

The first Master Gardener to complete reapplication will receive a prize.

GivePulse

Julie Hunziker said that the GivePulse Team of Patty Ratzlaff, Michelle Murphy and herself will rotate duties every few months.

Julie advises that GivePulse is currently straight forward to use.

All monthly Program, Foundation meetings, as well as Foundation Board meetings are to be entered into GivePulse as Program Support with the reporting code Foundation or Program meetings.

For meeting work, such as, Strategic Planning Committees or any sub-committees, enter Program Support with reporting code Working on Supportive Teams or Meetings.

Social Media Presence/Facebook

Andrea Altmayer said that in the past 28 days, 3,150 showed Followers with 146 persons posting comments/likes/or forwarding.

The most popular post was “Success with Orchards.”

Photo Library

Andrea Altmayer thanked Reggie Sanderson and Lindy Sheehan for the photos that they sent in.

Some past photos received by Andrea are compressed.  Andrea asks that Master Gardeners doublecheck that their phones are not changing the format when sent.

Laura Willett asked where photos are to be sent. They go to Andrea.

Kelli Barton asked how many photos to send in an email attachment.  Email normally handles four or five photos.  Andrea said that sending photos singly is also fine.

Writer’s Guild and Speakers Bureau

Carol Barany said that the Writers Guild is “rolling!”  Don Flyckt has been writing great articles as he has a passion for pollinators.

Julie Hunziker, and Caroline Crowley are writing for the Writer’s Guild.

Gary Meisner has invited Speakers Bureau to participate with the Yakima Valley Regional Library.  Mr. Meisner established History Happy Hour at the Library with many professionals in the community giving interesting and helpful presentations to the public.

A recent presentation by Master Gardeners at the Sunnyside Library was held.  The topic was “Growing A Garden of Cut Flowers.”  Five people attended this well received presentation.

In October, a presentation will be given at the Regional Library West Valley Branch.  In November, a presentation will be given at the Downtown Yakima Branch.

The Speakers Bureau will begin again in March 2025 presenting twice per month.

Carol was asked how long the library presentations are scheduled for.  They are scheduled from 3:00 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. and that includes fifteen minutes for questions.  At the Sunnyside Library presentation, Carol left at 4:45 p.m. due to the participants’ interest.

Diana Pieti was asked to speak about her presentations at the Selah Library.  Diana said that she plants the Selah Library planters for them which prompted the invitation for her to present.  A recent class was on “Pressed Flowers.”  20 participants signed up.  30 people, including children, showed up.  There was lots of interest.  Thankfully, Diana said that she had enough dried flowers and card stock to cover the participants who attended.

Diagnostic Clinic

Andrea Altmayer advised that the Clinic is in its final 6 weeks of operation.  The Clinic will close the end of October, reopening in March 2025.

Andrea encouraged Interns to get their required hours in the Clinic now!

The public has been bringing in lots of insects.

There are still many slots open for Clinic shifts.

Farmer’s Market

Ken Tolonen will ask the Market Managers about the use of the suggested Master Gardener Donation Jar when staffing at the market.  Ken advised that the booth next to ours takes donations so it should be okay.

Participants must be setup at the Farmer’s Market by 8:00 a.m. per notice of Susanna Wilcox.  Also, participants have been notified not to take down early!

Ken has Central Washington State Fair tickets for Master Gardeners who will staff our booth at the Fair.  Parking tickets are also provided, and both are available at this meeting.

Ken will provide the Nine Program Priorities for those staffing the CWSF booth.

Youth Team

Kelly Klingman said that their activity and instruction on using flowers to make watercolors was attended by 47 children and 3 teachers.  The importance of pollinators was emphasized in this activity. The activity took place at the Yakima Farmer’s Market on August 25th.

Kelly has received 600 plastic CD jackets for their seed growing demonstrations. She will take more if Master Gardeners have them.

Regarding outreach to the local Boy Scouts partnering with Master Gardeners on Eagle Projects, none of the Eagle Scouts need a project now.  The Scouts are now aware that Master Gardeners can offer an Eagle Scout a project in future.  Liability waivers will be provided to any Scout undertaking a Master Gardener project.

Demonstration Garden

Kelli Barton expressed that ‘the Demonstration Garden is beautiful, and it changes weekly with the different blooms.’

Kelli and Diana Pieti were in the Demonstration Garden on a recent Friday evening.  There were many visitors in the garden taking photos.  The visitors asked Kelli and Diana to identify different flowering plants for them as they hoped to plant them in their own gardens.

Break time at the Demonstration Garden is used to discuss garden planning and to also provide mini training.  Paulien Hallet gave an exceptionally good presentation on Wasps during break time.  This training came after “Wasp Gate” in which very aggressive wasps were found in the garden that resulted in wasp stings.  Wasps found near the compost area and in the raised flower garden bed have been eliminated with some needing to be dug out.

Amber Knox is inputting the current Demonstration Garden layout into a landscaping program that she uses.  With completion, the plants in Lavonne’s Garden will be input to this program.  Jennifer Harris, 2023 Intern, will convert the plant list to QR codes for the public’s information.  This project will incorporate the entire garden.  In future, Demonstration Garden signage will provide information in different languages.

Heirloom Garden

Sally Mayo said that they had good attendance at their last garden class of this season.  30 people attended the class provided by Beatrice Reiss entitled “Improving Soil Content for Gardening.”

Snow peas will go to the Seed Library soon.

The Heirloom Garden team has taken on a project located in the Ahtanum Youth Park in the fenced area west of the Demonstration Garden.  Phyllis Pugnetti is planting heirloom squash in this garden patch.

West Valley Food Garden

Camille Smith said that they have had an incredible year for beans.  Last week they harvested 98 pounds of beans!

WVFG will try peas again next growing season.  Bunnies have been a problem.

On September 20, WVFG will switch back to Friday workdays.  Interns who need the hours are encouraged to get into the garden. 

WVFG will have its last garden class of the season on September 21.  Melody Westmoreland will present “Rotating Crops * Cover Crops.”

Demonstration Garden Classes

Angela Galbreath advised that the August 24^th “Success with Orchids” class presented by Nancy Kallenberger was well received.  In addition to her class presentation, Nancy provided the participants with a hands-on opportunity transplanting orchids.  Those transplanted orchids went home with those who transplanted them.

Demonstration Garden holds its final two classes on September 14, “Success with Natives” by Ann Autry, Tapteal Gardens owner and on September 28, “Changing Lawn to a Pollinator Haven” by Kelli Barton.

Angela announced that she would be stepping away as Demonstration Garden Co-Leader with the completion of the 2024 season.  Annette Olson will continue with Co-Lead duties in 2025.  As Demonstration Garden Class Co-leader, I took the opportunity to thank Angela for her expertise and talent in selecting garden classes.  Angela has top notch organizational abilities that she demonstrated as co-leader as she had a long, successful career as a classroom teacher.  

The Program portion of the meeting was concluded at 11:28 a.m.  One hour should be recorded in GivePulse for this meeting as advised by Patty Ratzlaff.