Highlights of the April 16, 2011 WIMGA Board of Directors

Meeting was held at the Hancock Ag Research Station.

Each of the local reps present introduced themselves and briefly described their most memorable educational project.

The Coordinator’s update included information on free promotional materials from the National Garden Bureau and a request for help with a research project on Miscanthus grasses.

The 2011 Annual Conference will be August 5-6, with the theme Celebrating our Past, Cultivating our Future at the CrownePlazaon the east side of Madison. There will be tours on Friday to Olbrich Gardens, West Madison Ag Research Station and Allen Centennial Garden. All conference information and registration is on the conference website at http://www.mamgawi.org/2011wimgaconference.htm.

The 2012 Annual Conference will be held September 14-15 in Ashland. They are planning an optional post-conference cruise of the Apostle Islands on the day after the conference.

The Finance Committee discussed the budget. Receipts and disbursements were mentioned because many things that are budgeted aren’t normally paid until the end of the year. They are looking at increasing the amount of the educational grants next year because so many groups are applying now. There was a reminder to those groups that received an award last fall that reports on how the grant was used are due in electronic format in July (details on the website). One of the outside groups that the WIMGA supports is the National Junior Horticulture Association. The national conference will be held in October in WI Dells in 2012. The host group will be asking MGVs to provide assistance before and during the conference. Volunteers can contact Byron Hacker if they are interested in participating in logistics, as speakers and more. There will be a newsletter article discussing the event and ways to become involved in early 2012.

The Western District report was presented by the various local reps in attendance outlining some of their recent successful projects, annual activities, and challenges of the nine groups in the region.

Susan reminded everyone to send info on events such as plant sales, workshops and seminars open to the public to be placed on the MG website and into the newsletter.

Matt Schmitz of the St. Croix Valley MGA was elected in the at-large directorship election. The Board thanked outgoing At-large Director Kathy Rubino (North Central WI MGA) for her work on the Board over the past three years.

The Fall Face-to-Face Meeting was scheduled for October 22, tentatively at Hancock ARS (that will be decided closer to the date). A suggestion for the afternoon educational activity was a discussion of financial status guidelines and considerations. Other suggestions included breaking into small groups to discuss problems and possible solutions; a presentation on resources and personnel in CES; and what’s on the website.

There was a short open forum for people to share and ask questions. It was suggested that each MGA develop a list of horticulture-related sites in their county – like the Top 10 per county.

The next meeting will be May 12 by Wisline at 4:30 p.m