Board Blurb: March 2026

3/11/26

Prepared by Laurel Watt (2026 RCMG Secretary)

Summary for the March RCMG Board of Directors Meeting

The RCMG Board of Directors Meeting was held on March 10, 2026 on Zoom. The next Board Meeting will be on Tuesday, April 14, 2026 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Zoom. All volunteers are welcome to attend.

Committee Updates

Communications Committee Update –Nanette Boudreau

Nanette Boudreau reported that the Plant Sale poster will be ready soon after a few minor edits. It’s a beauty!

Education Committee Update – Susan Mason and Jo Sullivan

The March meeting presenters will be Amy Jay and Olivia Blanchflower who will be sharing their knowledge and experience in developing and building a Monarch Way Station. April's speaker will be Dr. Vera Krischick, Associate Professor, College of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resource Sciences at the University of MN. Dr. Krischick will help us understand bird, bee, butterfly and beneficial insect protection and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and learn why systemic insecticides and pollinator conservation are a bad mix. No meeting in May is scheduled because of the Plant Sale, but a number of webinars will be available for volunteers who are looking for continuing education opportunities.

Finance Committee Update – Julie Bechtold

The committee is currently working on multiple policies and procedures, reviewing a new project proposal, discussing Treasurer succession planning and committee recruitment, and easing the Vice Chair into attending the committee’s monthly meetings.

Membership Committee Report - Susie DeShon

Two interns have transferred to Ramsey County from Dakota and Hennepin for a total of 98 interns for 2026. Currently 41 interns, 16 mentors, and 10 presenters are signed up for the Project Fair.

Leadership Updates

Secretary Update – Laurel Watt

The February Board Minutes were approved.

Treasurer Update– Kathy Passe, Interim Treasurer

The February 2026 - Statement of Activity and February 2026 - Statement of Financial Position were approved.

The Board also approved two separate motions:

• To require two instead of three signature cards for both the Huntington bank accounts - checking and money market, and for the Fidelity Investment account.

• To allow the Board Treasurer for the remainder of 2026 to manage cash transfers between the Huntington Bank Checking Account (non-interest bearing) and Money Market account (interest bearing) without obtaining Board approval for each transfer.

Program Coordinator Update – No Report

Vice Chair Report – Maggie Maggio

The 2025 Audit will be presented to the full membership at the March 17th meeting. Maggie will be reaching out to the appropriate people for following up on the 2025 Audit recommendations.

Chair Report– Beth Fritcher

Beth provided an update on the 501(c)(3) discussions with Extension regarding the proposed plan to gradually shift the nonprofit’s roles over to the Program side of RCMG. Initial feedback from Extension includes concerns about the schedule, clarifying the end date for Extension’s role in the transition, moving the decision on the 2027 Plant Sale to June 2026, and the branding used for the 2026 Plant Sale. Also, a separate Program Treasurer needs to be appointed to be able to see Speaker’s Bureau donations in the U of MN Foundation Account as part of the ongoing separation between the Program side and the 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation.

New Business

Julie Bechtold reported that the Finance Committee recommends self-insuring for our new rental storage unit because of expensive monthly insurance rates and that the nonprofit purchase a USPS P.O. Box subscription to make sure that mail intended for the nonprofit is secure and accessible.

Old Business

The Board briefly reviewed the next steps needed to encourage volunteers to apply for New Project Grants and to ensure member access to 501(c)(3) documents.

2026 Board Leadership: Beth Fritcher (Chair), Maggie Maggio (Vice-Chair), Laurel Watt (Secretary), Kathy Passe (Interim 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).