for Jefferson County(WA) Master Gardeners
The Jefferson County Master Gardener Foundation offers a great many ways to contribute. Every member is contributing at some level at all times, even if only by gardening using sustainable and eco-friendly methods, reading the newsletter, visiting the website, or attending the monthly meetings. All members should feel they are contributing, and every member is encouraged provide leadership over time. Our goal is to share the fun broadly, so no person feels put upon. Make It All Fun!
VOLUNTEER OPTIONS IN THE JEFFERSON COUNTY MASTER GARDENER FOUNDATION
Admin
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Board Member: The Jefferson County Master Gardener Foundation Board has nine voting members: four officers and five members-at-large. One member, non-voting, is an intern chosen from the current Master Gardener class after completion of the course to serve until the end of the calendar year. The purpose of this latter board member is to provide communication between the interns and the leadership of the Foundation. Elections are held each November. Each of the officers is elected for a one-year term and cannot serve more than two years in a row in the same position. The members-at-large are elected for two-year terms; two in odd-numbered years and three in even-numbered years. The Board meets the first Thursday of the month at 4 p.m. All Master Gardeners are welcome. As we are a chartered chapter of the State Foundation, we select one representative from our local Foundation to serve at the state level in the Master Gardener Foundation of Washington State. Many of our local members have also served on the state Executive Committee.
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Monthly Foundation Meetings: Two Board members organize Foundation meeting programs, obtain speakers for an educational science-based presentation, and coordinate refreshments for our monthly Foundation meetings. Please see our Monthly Meetings page for details. It includes a one-hour educational presentation with a break for social time and refreshments followed by the meeting. This meeting keeps the members informed of events and projects.
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Communications:Committee members are responsible for MG event publicity in the local newspapers, KPTZ radio, and other media as deemed appropriate. The JCMGF Co-Chair is responsible for communicating monthly website changes/updates to the webmaster.
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Newsletter:The WSU Master Gardener Coordinator edits and produces a bimonthly online newsletter with notices from the Master Gardener membership. The publication also includes continuing education and volunteer opportunities available to Master Gardeners.
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Field Trips: Excursions are made to gardens, horticulture-related businesses or other places of educational interest to home gardeners. Board member is responsible for coordinating outings; suggestions are welcome.
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Archives/Historian: One person organizes JCMGF records to allow easy retrieval, retires records after six years, and protects information and documents of legal or historical significance. This is a year-round, low-level responsibility, where you can set your own schedule.
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Library: The librarian chooses, acquires, and maintains a research and lending library of gardening-related books and pamphlets. This is a year- round activity as needed.
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Grants and Scholarships Program:As the Foundation is able to raise funds in excess of that necessary to sustain the activities, the Foundation felt these excess funds should be utilized for worthy horticulture projects and education in the community. Once a year, Grants Committee sends out requests for proposals and applications to groups and individuals who may request grant money for projects and education that would benefit the community. The committee reviews all proposals carefully for well-thought-out, realistic plans and then selects the ones that best align with our goals and values. The Board reviews the committee’s selections for final approval.
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Merchandise Management: One person is responsible for maintaining an inventory and selling Master gardener related merchandise.
Events
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Secret Garden Tour: Our biggest fundraiser, this wildly popular (500+ tickets!) June event showcases private gardens in our community. The committee meets periodically through the year to plan, identify and line up gardens. All Master Gardeners are asked to pitch in just before the event and the day of the event. Volunteers are needed to distribute flyers, identify and label plants and tour the gardens with the coordinators ahead of time. On the day of the tour, Master Gardeners are in each garden to take tickets, act as docents and identify plants. Garden owners are encouraged to be on hand to share their gardens’ stories.
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Plant Sale: This fundraiser is a time to show what we can do as gardeners. Members are asked to grow and contribute plants for this event held in the spring. The committee meets periodically through the year. Many volunteers are needed the day of the event.
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Yard and Garden Lecture Series:: Featuring experts lecturing on gardening and gardening-related topics, this popular winter fundraiser is an educational outreach to Jefferson County, the region and to us! A volunteer committee works with the WSU Master Gardener Coordinator, begins planning in early summer, meets through the fall, and engages in more intense work during the programs held on six Saturdays in January and February. The series has been canceled for 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ongoing Assistance
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Master Gardener Park: Master Gardeners designed, constructed, and planted this garden located at 600 Sims Way in Port Townsend. The garden is open to public viewing all year. Volunteers plant, prune, deadhead, weed, check irrigation, mulch and tour visitors. Every season needs workers.