The meeting was held at the home of Ann Nye in Bridgeport on July 24th after the Farmer's Market.  In lieu of a secretary, I read the minutes of the last meeting in Sutton and gave the treasurer's report for Kathy.  We have $1653.58 in the checking and $12,398.82 in the savings.  Carol Schweiker took notes for us so we would have these minutes to present for which we are all grateful!

In old business Melissa passed on the news that the Bucket project did not receive any feedback from the recipients so it will be on hold for the present.  The seed packet project was completed and 1300 were turned over to the Master Gardener's committee in May. Additional seed packets have been made and are being distributed at farmer's markets and meetings.  The magnets are also being distributed and we will have an additional 500 to give away at our booths at our festival and the Int. MG conference.
 

Lis Caudill reported that the garden at Tamarack has come together, in great part thanks to Melissa's donation of all the plants to fill it, and some weeding done by Dot, Ann, and Lis.

 

At the farmer's market Sun., three MGs expressed interest in helping at our conference.  I'm hoping all of you will ask your MG friends if they'd be interested in doing the same.  They can get CE or volunteer hours and may end up joining so it should be a win-win.  Melissa is going to see if some of our former members would be interested in coming back -if not this year, for our 20th anniversary next year.
 

A sign up sheet at meetings and at the registration table at the festival was suggested for helpers for the many tasks that pop up during the day.  I want to put one in the next newsletter, also.  It was proposed that we offer scholarships to young people (like 4Hers and FFA) to get them to come and get involved.

 

Registration  will be in the Admin. Bldg this year because those eating meals in the dining hall will have to get their tickets at the front desk as in the past.  Each registrant will get a bag with the usual freebies, ballot for the election of officers at Sat.'s lunch meeting in the WV bldg., evaluation sheets for classes and for the whole festival, schedules, biographies, maps, calendar, a review of the year and a list of board members and festival chairladies.  They will pick up badges and meal tickets while there.

 

We talked about the various methods we could use to publicize the event.  Everyone was asked to find the email address of the contact person at the local newspapers and newsletters in their area and send them to nyeann@ma.rr.com so I can send out press releases as we get closer to the festival.  Deaonna Crowe will be asked to help with signs and posters and facebook.

 

The Kitchen Band will again provide music in the WV building and if we have any musicians who'd be willing to be roving thru the crowds as at Scarborough Fair(Ann-Mike) we'd love to have them, also.

 

Judges for the appetizer contest will be Marion Harless, Carol Schweiker, and Sue Cosgrove.  We will need helpers for set up and clean up.  Prizes will be the same as last year.  It was suggested that we give prizes for the photo contest, also.

 

Dot offered to check with bee keepers as a possible speaker.  Emily Grafton has agreed to do a presentation on native pollinators.

 

Melissa spoke on the need to contact members for products for us to sell at our "farmer's market" booth at the IMG conference.  She will write up a press release on our presence at that event.

 

I've asked Doug Elliot if he will publicize his coming to our event on his website and newsletter.

 

Makeit-takeit presenters will be asked to figure the cost of their supplies  so we can charge a fee to recuperate their expenses.  Those doing tufa pots will be asked to bring containers to be used for forms.

 

Just talked to Dave Hawkins.  Mark English got the dryer from Dean and will put it to use.  He also suggested we auction off the greenhouse at the conference as mention Sun. at the board meeting- with a minimum bid to cover our costs.  Kathy will send Melissa a check for $75 to cover her cost of getting the greenhouse to her farm.  We will put it's description in the next newsletter.  Also in the newsletter, we will ask for donations to the raffle from vendors(to advertise their products) and from members with crafty talents.

 

In addition to board members, Anne Romance, Ann Nye, Dot Montgillion, Janice Sumpter, Melissa Dennison, and Lis Caudill:  Carol Schweiker and Ellie Cronlund were in attendance.  Thanks so much to all of you.

 

Ann Nye