This month's program was comprised of a series of slides illustrating garden stories submitted by RCMG volunteers. The presenters and their topics are included in the 'Program' section of the recap.
11/19/2024
The November monthly meeting was held in person and via Zoom from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 19, 2024. Watching the recording of this meeting can be counted as 2 hours of Continuing Education. (Find the recording in the Archives of the Monthly Meeting page.)
RCMG Board Announcements
Update from retiring Board Chair
Julie Bechtold, retiring chair of the RCMG nonprofit corporation, thanked all the Board members she has had the privilege of serving with over the past two years. The Board of Directors will be holding their annual winter retreat on Saturday, December 7th at the Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District building. New board members start their terms on January 1st, 2025.
New technology role
Starting January 1st, Julie Bechtold will be in a new role of technology administrator for the nonprofit corporation. Any technology needs for the Board of Directors, plant sale, fundraising or other nonprofit corporation needs will be directed to Julie Bechtold (juliebechtold@gmail.com, 651-497-7072).
Give to the Max Day
We are participating in Give to the Max Day (givemn.org) again this year, which is on Thursday, November 21st. The money from this fundraiser helps us supplement our general fund. Small donations can make a big impact, so please consider donating as you plan your year-end donations.
Glove sales transition
Thank you to Susan Oven for her many years leading the glove sales. She'll be stepping down at the end of the year. Mary Parenteau will continue to co-lead the glove sales with Sherry Bianchi-Knod.
2025-27 Strategic Plan Review
Julie shared a draft organizational chart showing the relationship between the Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Program and the Ramsey County Master Gardener 501c3 corporation representing the volunteers. The Articles of Incorporation were adopted in 1995 and the Bylaws revised in 2023. The Strategic Plan was drafted in 2024 and is proposed for implementation in 2025-27.
The strategic planning process included the following steps
May 2024 -- Recruit Task Force
June - July 2024 - Research and gather input
Aug 2024 - Adopt vision, mission, guiding principles
Sept - Oct 2024 - Develop goals and action steps
Nov 2024 - Membership review
Dec 2024 - Finalize and create work plan
The draft is open for comment through December 1st. Members can read and review the plan at https://bit.ly/rcmgplan and leave comments at https://bit.ly/SPcommentform.
2025-2026 Board of Directors elections
Voting was held from October 16 through October 30. Thank you to the 112 members who voted. The new Board will take over January 1st. The following persons comprise the 2025 Board:
Tiffa Foster -- 2025 New Member Chair
Susie DeShon - 2025-26 New Member Co-chair
Gene Ranieri – 2025 Education Chair
Susan Mason -- 2025-26 Education Co-chair
Stacy Sola -- 2025 Marketing & Communications Co-chair
Nanette Boudreau -- 2025-26 Marketing & Communications Co-chair
Kristina Hughes -- 2025-26 Treasurer
Laurel Watt -- 2025-26 Secretary
Beth Fritcher -- 2025 Vice Chair, 2026 Chair
Kay Wimer -- 2025 Chair
Darren Lochner's Coordinator Updates
Reminder to all master gardeners to put your hours into the state database as soon as you can - this is what is used to represent all the amazing work we are doing.
Magnets are available for name tags.
Consider signing up to be a mentor and to serve on the Yard and Garden line.
Soil tests for community gardens should be submitted to Ramsey County by November 30th.
Please record hours; 20% of volunteers have reported zero hours for this year.
Please return educational materials and event supplies to the office.
There is no monthly meeting in December.
Project Updates
2025 Minnesota Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Program Conference - Diana Rankin
The state conference will be held on Friday, June 27 (1-6pm) and Saturday, June 28 (8:30am-3pm) at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. Watch for details on the program Google site and in Tim Kenny’s monthly newsletter.
Plant Sale - Beth Fritcher, Grow Team Lead
SUGs will be coming out to start plants from seeds.
There is still a need for someone to lead the houseplant team.
Tina Frederickson has native seeds available for growing in one's own landscape. There is still time to scatter seed before the ground freezes.
Brianna Gohde has dahlia slips available.
Program - Blooms, Thorns and Buds - 2024 Garden Stories
This month's program was comprised of a series of slides illustrating garden stories submitted by RCMG volunteers. They included:
Jo Sullivan, Invasive Discovery – purple loosestrife and Dames rocket found at a Garden Gate tour.
Sueellen Campbell, Sand Hill Garden – use of a Rice Creek Watershed District grant.
Margaret Hart, Lotus Flower.·
Taylor Lee, Family Farm - story of the farm documented on Bright Bird Acres, available on YouTube.
Gene Ranieri, Cover Crop - use of olla's for watering and cereal rye as cover crop for gladiolus and dahlias.
Julie Ann Wegscheid, Creeping Bellflower Campaign – native plantings, education, publicity.
Kerry Morgan, Bev Anderson & Jan Fransen, Community Rain Garden Revitalization - St. Anthony Park using a Capital Region Watershed District grant.
Susan Mason, African Violets – how to propagate and propagation success.
Karen Randall, Tree Peony.
Carol Mollner, Amy Jay & Olivia Blanchflower, Monarch Way Station – new garden at the Extension building on White Bear Avenue.
Patricia Ohmans, Our Village Community Garden - 32 raised beds in multi-ethnic community garden off Rice Street.
Simba Blood, Seed Saving - use of organza bags to capture bluebell and spiderwort seeds.
Alex Meyer, Pressing Flowers - used to record the garden through the years; will use some pages for wall art.·
Agata Miszczyk, Side Yard Garden – transformed bare side yard into beautiful garden.·
Travis Sandland, Tulip Bed - process for planting up to 300 tulip bulbs in raised beds and then using the space for dahlias, gladiolus, and ranunculus bulbs and tubers.
NOTE: The January and February meetings are online only. The March meeting will be hybrid.
Recap provided by Diana Rankin
RCMG Volunteer