It is hard to believe that I am already six months into my MG presidency. It was more work than I had imagined, but also much more fun. We have an active and involved board that keeps me on my toes.
But our entire group has been productive and busy. The social committee has done a brilliant job of “gathering” us on several fun occasions. The travel committee has been highly creative, with each trip drawing more members. The two greenhouses have had banner sales, enabling us to put money back into the membership. Our project allotment has doubled from $200 to $400. The stuff committee has given away over 300 free tee shirts to members that paid their dues on time.
Whew…many accomplishments to ponder. But while we have no general membership meetings in July or August, our thirty-two projects will continue working. The board will be working this summer as well. We plan to look at our Busy Bee program and see how we can streamline it. So many members have posted for so many hours that we need to find an easier method of tracking everyone. The PEST committee will continue to meet with projects in July and August to see if they need any additional help. And as if that’s not enough summer fun…the board will be interviewing applicants for our fall training program. We only have twenty-five openings, and we want those people to be as dedicated to the program as our current membership.
The absolute best part about our MG program is the enduring friendships that we make. I recently attended a memorial ceremony at Historic Arkansas Museum remembering longtime master gardener Marianne Ligon. Her project group planted a decent size Nuttall oak tree in her memory and provided a lovely reception for her family. It was touching to realize that several of the project members had taken the class with Marianne in 2010, and from that first class formed a lifelong bond.
Community…it is the absolute best part of being a master gardener.
See you at the September meeting, if not before.
Carol Mendel
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