Board Blurb: June 2026
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
6/10/26
Prepared by Laurel Watt (2026 RCMG Secretary)
Summary for the June RCMG Board of Directors Meeting
The RCMG Board of Directors Meeting was held on June 9, 2026 on Zoom. The next Board Meeting will be on Tuesday, July 14, 2026 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Zoom. All volunteers are welcome to attend.
Committee Updates
Communications Committee Update –No Report
Education Committee Update – Susan Mason and Jo Sullivan
Sue shared that the Education Committee has booked presenters for the rest of the year. Garden Gate tours are also being planned with many wonderful gardens that volunteers will want to visit. Looking ahead to the upcoming summer meetings, there is a lot to look forward to:
• June: Four speakers at the Barn and in person only. We will be recording the sessions. As in recent years, we will have four rotating demonstrations and speakers. This year they include soil block making for seed starting, red wiggler composting, jumping worm root washing for transplant best practices, and watershed funding information. This is a good opportunity for mentors to introduce their interns to the Barn and the Barn Demonstration Gardens.
• July: Local Author Rhonda Hayes will present her latest book, Garden for Life: Easier, Greener, More Joyful Gardening as We Age.
• August: This meeting at the Bell Museum will feature presentations from the directors of the Herbarium, and Washington County Master Gardeners will be invited to attend as is the custom when we host this meeting every other August. This is a marquee event each year and will also be another great opportunity for mentors and interns to attend together.
Finance Committee Update – Julie Bechtold
The committee continues to work on multiple policies and procedures, reviewing incoming project grant proposal requests, discussing Treasurer succession planning and committee recruitment, and youth projects budgeting. Julie was also pleased to announce that three interns attended the June Finance Committee meeting. The committee is planning to address revisions to the Financial Aid Policy at a retreat on August 4th as we continue to work with a U of MN Foundation representative to clarify how donations and contributions will be managed.
Membership Committee Report - Susie DeShon and Travis Sandland
Susie and Travis have been contacting 2-year interns in our program to encourage those who have not yet entered any volunteer hours to do so. More information regarding the progress of 2026 interns will be available later this month.
Leadership Updates
Secretary Update – Laurel Watt
The April Board Minutes were approved
Treasurer Update– Kathy Passe, Treasurer
The following reports were approved.
Program Coordinator Update – Darren Lochner
Darren shared the following updates:
• He is working with Regina McGoth from Extension on the formation of a small group of volunteers to help advise on a volunteer leadership/advisory structure for our program. The goal is to get a permanent structure in place by the end of the summer for a program advisory committee that will support the work of RGEV and the Program Coordinator.
• Name badges for 2026 interns and all other RGEV’s (along with stars for hours/years of service) are being mailed. The intern mailing has been completed, and he is waiting on the stars before mailing the remaining badges.
• Extension is updating templates and logos with the Ramsey County Garden Education Volunteer name.
• RGEV t-shirt ordering is underway (200 volunteers have ordered).
Vice Chair Report – No Report
Chair Report– Beth Fritcher
Beth asked the Board for feedback on a proposed RCMG Logo which is needed for registering with GiveMN. Nanette will work on incorporating the Board’s suggestions. Although Plant Sale numbers are still being analyzed, Beth reported that 137 volunteers worked on sale day! Surveys are going out to volunteers who participated either on sale day or in advance of the sale, so please respond if you have been invited to participate. Plant Sale Committee representatives will be meeting with Hennepin County Master Gardeners to compare notes as part of the post-sale analysis. Beth also reminded the Board that we must have a slate of nominees for vacant posts by the October meeting.
New Business
Given that the Ramsey County Fair will return to the Barn grounds on July 16-19 this year, Darren was asked to find out how this will impact our projects that are underway at the Barn during this time. He is pursuing this information, so stay tuned, especially if you volunteer at the Barn Gardens or other projects that use the Barn facilities.
Old Business-None
2026 Board Leadership: Beth Fritcher (Chair), Maggie Maggio (Vice-Chair), Laurel Watt (Secretary), Kathy Passe (Treasurer), Julie Bechtold (Finance Chair), Susan Mason (Education Chair), Jo Sullivan (Education Co-Chair), Susie DeShon (Membership Chair), Travis Sandland (Membership Co-Chair), Nanette Boudreau (Communication Chair), Amanda Swanson (Communication Co-Chair), Darren Lochner (Program Coordinator).