March 2025 Monthly Meeting Recap
- Apr 8
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 14
3/18/2025
The March monthly meeting was held in-person and via Zoom from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. Attending this meeting can be counted as 2 hours of Continuing Education. Per request of the speaker, this presentation was NOT recorded.
RCMG Board Announcements
Kay Wimer, RCMG Board Chair, opened the meeting of the nonprofit organization.
RCMG Audit Results
She introduced the Audit Committee report, which the Board has approved and is attached to the minutes of the Board’s March meeting. Kay introduced Martha Lantz who gave the report on behalf of the committee as follows:
The Audit Committee, consisted of Frank Delosi, Christina Hughes, Diana Rankin, and Martha Lantz. They reviewed materials in early January and held an in-person Audit Committee meeting on Saturday, January 11th. The Committee:
Reviewed progress on addressing recommendations made in the 2023 audit. Most have been instituted or are in the process of being instituted. The main outstanding item is the purchasing of a financial software package suitable for a small nonprofit, and this item is being researched.
Reviewed the documentation of all income and expense transactions for 2024. There were no discrepancies in the accounts, and all entries were made correctly.
Made recommendations for 2025.
Develop written policies and procedures for project leads on how to handle project budgets, making purchases, use of cards, etc.
Develop policies and procedures for people other than the treasurer to have access to financial records for review. This will help with transparency.
Have consistency in language used in regard to the amount available to pay speakers.
Ensure there are receipts given for every donation.
Concluded that the accounting records and practices are transparent, and the financial records for 2024 are accurate and complete. We believe the volunteers should feel confident that funds are being spent for educating the public, using research-based information on best practice in consumer horticulture and environmental stewardship.
Thanked Kathy Passe who, as our past treasurer, has done a tremendous job with few resources to support her in doing that.
Questions about the audit can be sent to the Treasurer.
Project Updates
RCMG Plant Sale
Beth Fritcher shared the following updates about the 2025 plant sale.
Grow Team – Anyone planning to plant needs to inform the committee by March 31st. We can only accept plants that the committee knows about. The setup and label teams will begin their work in April. The committee would also like to know if you are unable to deliver the number of plants you anticipated.
Publicity – Nanette Boudreau has posters available at a cost of 80 cents each. Email Nanette if you want some to post.
Molly O’Rourke needs 2 or 3 people to pick up boxes from grocery stores. Email her if you can help.
Susie DeShon would like to have nice pots to sell. You can bring them to the April meeting.
Statewide Master Gardener Conference
Diana Rankin, who serves on the planning committee for the 2025 Statewide Master Gardener Conference, spoke briefly about the conference. Registration opens April 1st and details can be found on the MG website and in the Master Gardener newsletter.
State Fair Gardens
Julie Coopet, project lead, reported that this is now an official State Fair Adopt-A-Garden. It is located outside the Horticulture building. The theme for 2024 was Creative Container Gardening.
Darren Lochner's Coordinator Updates
Darren welcomed the interns. He urged them to attend the Project Fair on March 27th.
Gloves will be available to purchase at the April meeting.
The new database is not yet available, so record your hours on paper. The new database should be up by mid-April.
Darren thanked Brianna for putting together the updated volunteer directory. It is available on the RCMG website.
Darren reminded volunteers to complete the Skills and Interest survey.
Darren asked volunteers to consider helping with meeting set-up, take-down, and AV troubleshooting.
Permanent nametags for 2024 interns who completed the course and temporary nametags for 2025 interns are available.
Program – Marissa Schuh, Considerations in Pesticide Selection and Use
Gene Ranieri introduced Marissa Schuh, Extension Educator - Horticulture Integrated Pest Management. She works with vegetable farmers, pesticide applicators, and Master Gardeners.
Marissa's presentation focused on Integrated Pest Management, including how pesticides are regulated, what has to happen before a pesticide ends up being available for sale, things to think about with common vegetable specific pesticides that are available for sale, and home remedies. She also wanted to help Master Gardeners understand what it looks like as an Extension staff person to make recommendations.
Specific topics included:
The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)
Role of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
How pest management products are tested for
toxicity; efficacy and performance;
environmental degradation, mobility, and residue;
effects on wildlife and the environment
Reading Pesticide Labels
Information contained on the label
Why it is important to read it
How to read and interpret it
The use of signal words (example – CAUTION) that inform the user of the risks of exposure for toxicity
Organic insecticides
Use of OMRI label
U.S. Department of Agriculture regulation
Includes those made from plant materials (Neem, Pyrethrin) and those from bacteria (Spinosad, Bt).
Extension stance on garden "home remedies" (detergents/soaps, potassium salts of fatty acids, milk) and studies on their effectiveness.
Per request of the speaker, this presentation was NOT recorded.
Questions can be directed to Marissa at mschuh@umn.edu.
Recap provided by Diana Rankin
RCMG Volunteer
