Board Blurb: September 2026
9/09/2026
Prepared by Maggie Maggio (2026 Board Vice Chair)
Committee Updates
Communications Committee Update – Nanette Boudreau
No report.
Education Committee Update – Jo Sullivan
No report.
Finance Committee Update – Julie Bechtold
Grant Structure parameters for UMN Foundation will be shared after full monthly meeting next week.
Website: Change from program to non-profit ownership continues. University of Minnesota Extension is working on public-facing and volunteer-facing websites. Info will remain on non-profit website during the transition. Non-profit still needs to take over the domain name; Julie is working with Darren on this. Work continues on a plan for maintaining the non-profit website.
Finance Committee: This month the Finance Committee discussed updating the Give MN website for 2026 and plant sale budgeting procedures.
Membership Committee Report - Susie DeShon and Travis Sandland
No report.
Leadership Updates
Secretary Update – Laurel Watt
The August minutes were approved.
Treasurer Update– Kathy Passe
Kathy reported that it has been a quiet month. Several previously approved project requests were paid out. Assets: $15k in restricted, $189k unrestricted, $204k total. Fidelity statements come every other month; will update in September. Report approved unanimously.
Program Coordinator Update – Darren Lochner
No report.
Vice Chair Report – Maggie Maggio
No report.
Chair Report – Beth Fritcher
Proposed by-law changes will be reviewed at the September monthly meeting and posted on the blog, including information on how to ask questions.
New Business –
Julie Bechtold moved that the non-profit add a MarComm position for 2027-28, passed unanimously.
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).
