uninstalled. All the programs which OMGA purchased are still on the laptop. Both sections of the hard drive have been backed up. Once a new Webmaster is appointed, Al Cook will provide him with the domains and passwords. Website Management Bids Sue Nesbitt Two bids were received: one from Jim Parks and one from Pine Box Studio. Economically Jim Parks was the best choice. He assisted with the design of our present website and people found him to be both congenial and efficient. His responsibilities will be to manage the website and not to correct or edit documents. However, he must have the entire Microsoft package including Publisher. Katherine suggested that he be paid quarterly. All information that needs to be posted to the OMGA Website must be directed to Jim Liskey, Past President who will be the Website gate keeper. Bylaws Update Sue Nesbitt Two additional changes were suggested. The first, in Article 6, Section 7, Part D it was moved, seconded and passed unanimously to remove the phrase “shall act as chair of the Registration Committee and be responsible for the Registration Packet publication” from the 2nd Vice Presidents responsibilities. In Article VIII, Section 2 the phrase “simplified and applied” was inserted after “Robert’s Rules of Order. The first reading of the OMGA Bylaw changes will be at the June 6, 2015 Board of Directors meeting. Policies and Procedures Jim Liskey All of the proposed changes can be found in the History of Changes. In the future this part of the document will be part of the Historians files rather than attached to the Policies and Procedures. The OMGA Position Descriptions were moved from the Bylaws to the Policies and Procedures to facilitate updating them more easily. Gail Langellotto will review the language in Section 1.20, Vulnerable Population Protection, and let Jim Liskey know if changes are needed. It was also suggested that in Section 1.3 the words “chapter advisor (agent or program asst.) be removed. Gail Langellotto will keep the Extension faculty informed of OMGA activities. In Section 2.2.1 Gail Langellotto asked that the words “24 hour notice” be included to provide people sufficient time to work an emergency meeting into their schedules. Al Cook will write a sentence about emergency meetings.
Katherine Johnson moved to accept the Policy and Procedures updates as presented and amended. Marcia Sherry seconded the motion and it was unanimously accepted. Expense Form Al Cook Al Cook has revised the OMGA Expense Form. Copies were distributed. OMGA Calendar Al Cook The new officers will be installed in November 2015 Mini-College Marilyn Scheffler The Mini-College website is up and registration is open. Marilyn Scheffler will be meeting with Marcia Sherry, Jim Lisky, Lynn Trimpe and Sue Nesbitt next week to finalize the preparations. The contract with Linfield has not yet been signed. The Linfield insurance company and the OMGA insurance company are working on the language about an area of disagreement. Since there are no applications for the Search for Excellence the Saturday morning program is changed to the OMGA President’s report by Al Cook; Program Leader, Gail Langellotto’s report and a summary of the Leadership Workshop by Jim Liskey. Clarification of OMGA, County MG Chapters and Extension Faculty roles Al Cook and Gail Langellotto The roles of each these entities are both interrelated and separate. Conflicts are best clarified by focusing on the mission of the Master Gardener program. Each county differs slightly due to their different circumstances. However, in general the relationship should be one of mutual understanding regarding projects. One of the entities cannot force another to participate or to not participate in a mission appropriate activity. The budgeting and use of Master Gardener chapter funds is determined by the Master Gardener chapter and will differ from county to county. Lobbying Taxes Katherine Johnson If a county Master Gardener donates funds to a Political Action Committee (PAC) to lobby for a specific action or event they must file Form 5768 both at the beginning of the lobbying effort and again at the end. There is a 25% tax on any donated funds that the county Master Gardener organization must pay in addition to the donated funds. OMGA policies state that OMGA is not responsible for this tax. However, OMGA paid the $36 mailing expense Treasurer’s Reports Katherine Johnson