President's Message - May 2019
At last I think it is safe to say that spring has arrived throughout the Province and that members of all MGABC Chapters are now able to be spending time in the garden.
It is also safe to say that there have been many great horticulture related activities happening in all Chapters. Just a couple of examples are “The Spring Affair” in Vancouver and “Mixing it Up” in Victoria. All of the other Chapters have also been very busy providing advice and education to the members of the public who are so appreciative of the various clinics and other workshop opportunities.
At the recent MGABC Council meeting we had a lengthy discussion regarding the cultivation of Cannabis and the most appropriate response to questions to Master Gardeners from the public. As a result of this discussion it was agreed that Master Gardeners should focus on how to grow these plants and not get into discussions regarding the regulations around growing Cannabis. The Vancouver Island and Okanagan Chapters have produced excellent guidelines on this subject. I would ask that if you have any concerns that may arise at clinics or workshops regarding this topic; please share them with your Chapter Rep. so that we can deal with the issue collectively.
Another item on the agenda was the upcoming MGABC Annual General Meeting.
This year the AGM weekend is being hosted by the Okanagan Chapter in Kelowna.
The dates are September 21 st and 22 nd 2019. A great weekend of activities is being planned; this is a great opportunity to meet other Master Gardeners whilst enjoying the Kelowna area in the fall. This is also a wonderful way for us all to celebrate the achievements of the host chapter!
The AGM agenda also includes the election of officers. We are looking for nominees for the following positions:
- President Elect
- Secretary
- Treasurer
If you would like to become involved or would like to recommend an individual for one of these positions please speak to your Chapter Rep.
A most important item on the AGM agenda is the presentation of “The Golden Trowel” award. This is an opportunity to recognize a person who has provided exemplary service to the Master Gardener program in British Columbia. Criteria and nomination forms are available on the MGABC website.
I would like to close by thanking you all for your commitment to your chapters and to the aim of sharing your knowledge and expertise in so many ways.
I also hope that you will all take some quiet time to enjoy your gardens with family and friends.
Mike Juleff
President MGABC
President’s Message – MGABC AGM September 23, 2018
Welcome MGs, students and guests to our 2018 AGM. I am so pleased to see everyone.
Our current provincial council members are: Linda Derkach, Secretary; Trine Helsoe, Treasurer; Mike Juleff, President Elect; Lynne Chrismas, Director; and our chapter representatives: Jill Wright, Vancouver; Keith Campbell, Victoria; Chris Southwick, alternate for VIMGA; Lynn Barker, Prince George; Anne Marie Bell, Okanagan; and Chris Guiver, from our local chapter here in Kamloops, and I’m Karen Bennett, your president.
Thank you very much to the members of the Thompson Shuswap chapter for hosting the AGM this year, and for arranging the tours and the meet and greet yesterday. It is much appreciated. Learning about the transition of the Dufferin Wetland over the past two years was very enlightening, and the speaker, Kirsten Wourms, is a delight. It was also very interesting to tour the Secwepemc Museum and Heritage Park and listen to the tour guide there, Jackie Jewels.
Your provincial council actions this year:
Your Provincial Council is the forum and coordinating function for chapters to share their ideas and challenges, and we have great potential and a lot to offer each other. Council also sets the standards for education and membership, by which we all operate. I continue to hear that chapter members sometimes wonder why they need to be a part of MGABC, and why they need to have a chapter representative on Council. Simply put, MGABC is the chapters, and the chapters are MGABC. Keeping that connection strong is what we strive for.
We continued this year to pursue the goals we established last year. The issues we face are similar to many organizations, but master gardeners are about welcoming new beginnings, in our gardens AND in our organization, and about embracing change as it unfolds, so we continued our ongoing discussions regarding member retention, and succession planning. Admittedly, progress is a bit slow, but chapters are making headway within their own ranks, and sharing their plans with us all, so those results are tremendous. Thompson/Shuswap was the first chapter to share a recent strategic plan back in 2016, and that has served as an inspiration to the rest of us.
Also, we have strived over the past few years to increase communication, transparency, and sharing, and our website has the potential to be the vehicle that connects us all, so we hope that all members will continue to increase their usage of, and contribution to, the website, in order to keep up to date with events that are happening in their local chapters, around the province, and to share information with all of us.
As I complete my term as president, I must say that during my history with the provincial council, first as chapter rep. for VIMGA from 2013 through 2016, where I really gained a much broader knowledge about the six MG chapters in our province, and then for these past two years as president, it has been my pleasure and honor to serve MGABC. The learning from, and laughing with, our dedicated council members has made the time very enjoyable. Thanks very much to you all!
Chapter reports from today will be posted on the website in the near future.
I am pleased to announce that the AGM in 2019 will be hosted by the Okanagan chapter! We look forward to seeing many of you again next year in Kelowna. Respectfully submitted,
Karen Bennett MGABC President
President’s Address – MGABC AGM Sept. 24, 2017
Welcome MGs, students and guests to our 2017 AGM. I am so pleased to see everyone. Our
current provincial council members are: Linda Derkach, Secretary; Trine Helsoe, Treasurer;
Lynne Chrismas, Past President; and Chapter Representatives: Jill Wright, Vancouver; Mike
Juleff, Victoria; Jo Canning, VIMGA; Christiane Hirt, Prince George; Sue Ackerman, Thompson
Shuswap; Anne Marie Bell, Okanagan; and I’m Karen Bennett, your President.
Thank you very much to the members of the Vancouver Chapter for hosting the AGM this year,
and for arranging the Darts Hill and Burns Bog tours yesterday. Also for arranging for visitors to
walk VanDusen Gardens this morning with our fellow local MGs. There’s been fun, education,
and some great plant acquisitions as well.
Your provincial Council actions this year
Policy Manual Revisions:
Extensive time and discussion has been spent on our policy manual this year and the revised
and consolidated version, dated May 15, 2017, is now posted on the website under governance
documents.
Constitution and Bylaws:
Transition to the new Society Act of BC required only minimal changes to our constitution and
bylaws, and Linda Derkach will be reviewing that in just a few minutes. Those documents will
be posted on the website under governance documents.
Goal setting:
This year Council felt it was time to identify key values, activities, opportunities, and challenges.
After much discussion, we established a list of three council goals and they are:
- Member retention
- Improved communication initiatives between council and chapters/members
- Succession planning.
Implementation of these is in process, but it has already made us more aware at meetings.
Several chapters are, or have recently, gone through strategic planning as well. (The last time
council and chapter presidents identified goals was in Nov 2013)
MGABC: Communication and sharing.
We believe that our organization has great potential, and that we have a lot to offer each other
and our communities. The Provincial Council exists as a forum and coordinating function for
chapters to share ideas and challenges, and also to set the standards for education and for
membership, by which we all operate.
I encourage you all to visit the website frequently where you will be able to find out what other
chapters are doing, and keep up to date with events. Our Council members all agree that
hearing about what is happening in other chapters is the best part of our council meetings.
Lastly, we have continued our relationships with Seeds of Diversity and the Invasive Plant
Council which are projects initiated by Past President, Lynne Chrismas.
Chapter reports from today will be posted on the website.
Respectfully submitted,
Karen Bennett
MGABC President
Mon, 11/02/2015 - 02:45 -- Admin
At the MGABC AGM which was held in Victoria at the Horticulture Centre of the Pacific I mentioned that 2015 will be my last year as your president. The past three years have been enjoyable, a learning experience, sometimes worrying, sometimes a laugh and always an honour. I have made some good friends over the years who, without their help and dedication, we could not have achieved all that has been done.
We have finished laying the ‘bones’ of the association. We have worked to create partnerships with Seeds of Diversity and Invasive Species Council of BC - as my two pet projects. You may ask why these two when there aremany worthy causes out there. I picked Seeds of Diversity as it is based on the premise that it is very important to keep diversity in our food system, and that we need to keep a variety of seeds, organic, natural and non-GMO. The partnership with the ISCBC provides a way to educate ourselves and the public about invasive plants and alternatives that can be used in our gardens – and thus protect our environment.
We have continued the work on communication for all members. We have upgraded our website and hope the new brighter look and feel, the easy drop down menus and more member security will be enjoyed by all. I hope that all members will learn to use the website to keep up to date with events that are happening in their local chapters, around the province and to share information with all.
I believe there is a great potential for our organization. We have so much to offer each other and our communities. I also believe the organization is more than just our own community or chapter – I know how hard itis to remember we are all part of a larger province wide organization when in the midst of our own local events.We are actually part of a much larger movement – the MG movement has been around for over 30 years. There are amultitude of associations and groups across North America. There are local, national and international MG conferences held across the US and Canada. The next Canadian Conference is being held in April 2016 and sponsored by the Ontario Master Gardeners. To find more information check out their website – mgoi.ca.
Thank you for your continued support and more importantly your participation - for without it our organization would not thrive and grow.
Lynne Chrismas, MGABC President
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It has been months since I last wrote to everyone and I do apologize for that. I have thought of all I want to tell you but I never seem to get it written before something new comes up. With the arrival
of spring we are reminded that it is the time of reflection, rejuvenation and rebirth. Now at the end
of April here in the lower mainland the trees are all in leaf, the cherry trees and pieris are almost finished and the last weekend was warm enough to start thinking of planting seed.
Your council met in March at VanDusen Botanical Garden. At that time we approved Trine Helsoe, Prince George Representative as Treasurer for the Association until the next AGM. We also welcomed Christianne Hirt as the new Prince George Chapter Representative to replace Trine. This leaves only one open position of President Elect on council.
Another piece of good fortune for the Association was the letter received from the Vancouver Chapter waiving the $5,000. balance owed to them. Other items of discussion were the partnership with the ISCBC, supporting Seeds of Diversity, the different manuals used by the chapters, the next AGM and how to share more information with the chapters. The Communication Committee has been given the go ahead to do some upgrading on the MGABC website.
It was decided that a summary of the meetings be done for the chapter representatives to forward to their members. Victoria confirmed that they will host the 2015 AGM and Prince George has offered to host 2016. The date for next AGM is September 27 and will be held at the Horticulture Centre of the Pacific, near Victoria. Please plan to attend and watch for more information to come from your chapter representative.
Another exciting event that I have heard about through a Canadian MG group is the Canadian Master Gardener Conference to be held April 8-10, 2016 in Huntsville, Ontario. This conference is in the early planning stages and sounds very interesting. There are Canadian MG Awards of Excellence to be presented during the conference. These awards are to recognize the outstanding projects that demonstrate excellence in the delivery of MG services to the public and are open to all chapters and groups of MGs across Canada. I will forward more information on the conference and the awards as I get it from the organizers.
I hope everyone has a chance to enjoy the many projects, workshops, clinics, tours and other events
taking place over the next couple of months, and hope you will share some of the activities through the website. Wishing everyone a happy spring!
Lynne Chrismas
MGABC – President
May 11, 2015
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For the Annual General Meeting we went to Kelowna on September 21. It was a joint effort between the Okanagan and Thompson Shuswap Chapters and I’d like to thank the members for all their work. For those who attended it was an enjoyable weekend. There was a private garden tour, followed with a couple wineries and then dinner at one of them.
The lectures on Sunday were interesting and enjoyable and the floral displays were impressive. The main business portion of the AGM was for the election of officers. I have the honor of being the president for another term. I would like to thank the council members who finished their terms and a welcome to the new members joining the provincial council.
I want to offer congratulations to Linda Derkach and Sally Shivers, both from Vancouver Island Chapter, as joint recipients of the Golden Trowel Award for service and dedication to the MGABC. And an honorable mention to Elaine Scott of Victoria Chapter for her service to the chapter and her community.
The new council held their first meeting in November. It was an all-day meeting when we will be setting the council priorities and the working budget, organizing committees and duties for the next year. The council calendar is also updated with skype meetings and other events and deadlines such as filing government reports. The first meeting is also when the new council members get the Council Manual and orientation as to the workings of the council. There is also a bit of history passed on how about the evolution of the society – how we have evolved from a group of volunteer gardeners to a registered charity society which has similar rules and government regulations to follow, just as if it was a business.
I ask that each chapter continue developing the partnership with Invasive Species council and supporting Seeds of Diversity. I would like to thank everyone for their participation and support of the CBC radio segments but, sadly CBC has decided to put this project on hold for a while. With your continued support we will continue to ‘grow our garden’
- thank you. Lynne Chrismas MGABC President
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