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Texas Master Gardener Association
2009 ASSOCIATION AWARD
Association Membership/Size: Large (Small, Medium, Med. Large or Large)
Number of Members: 232
County: Galveston
Address: 5115 Highway 3
City: Dickinson , TX Zip 77539
Phone: 281-534-3413 Agents e-mail: wm-johnson@tamu.edu
Association Title: Galveston County Master Gardener Association, Inc.
James C. Edwards, GCMGA President jcejwe@msn.com
Name(s) of person(s) submitting the nomination e-mail
William M. Johnson (Approved by Agent for Submission)
Name of County Extension Agent or County Program Coordinator
THIS SUBMISSION SHALL NOT EXCEED FOUR (4) PAGES TOTAL.
I. DESCRIPTION OF THE MASTER GARDENER ASSOCIATION (10 pts)
In 150 words or less please describe the association.
Galveston County Master Gardeners have responded with enthusiasm and dedication to their
mission of supporting the County Extension Office in serving the community’s horticultural needs.
The 2009 class with 20 Interns is the 12th consecutive group to achieve 100% completion for all
program requirements. These interns added 2,832 volunteer hours. MGs contributed to new and
expanded gardening activities this year. Master Gardeners presented 32 educational seminars for
the public at the Extension Office and 88 programs to community groups. We expanded our
digital photo library, enlarged our Writers Guild, generated 88 articles, launched 2 book projects,
increased the educational columns to our newsletter, and added a Problem Solver for Gardeners
web-page to our website. Through a spirit of sharing with each other and with the community,
this association continues its remarkable achievements to support the Extension Office and serve
our communities.
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Please answer the following questions as they relate to the 2009 entry year.
10 points each
1. What is the leadership structure? How is it selected?
Leadership positions are: President, 2 Vice Presidents for Educational Programs, 2 Vice
Presidents for Projects, Vice President for Volunteer Development and Vice President for
Publications & Media. Two secretaries document all official meetings and a treasurer is
responsible for the budget, audits, financial operations, and all filings with the state and federal
governments. Officers are elected to two-year terms. A five-person Board of Directors functions
as advisors. The “Thursday Work Crew” and three maintenance teams provide the leadership for
the two demonstration gardens. Team leaders and coordinators lead committees such as MG
Intern Course, Hospitality, Speakers Bureau, Junior MG Program, EarthKind™ Rose Study, and
Grants/In-kind Support. Insect Collection Curator, Photography Team Leader, Videographer,
Newsletter Editor, Webmaster and three Historians are among the appointed positions.
2. How do leaders solicit input/ideas from members and Texas AgriLife?
The relationship between the Association, CEA-HORT and AgriLife staff is seamless and
continually accessible for discussions on ways/avenues to expand, improve and/or implement the
GCMGA. Our Association’s monthly meeting in November is always dedicated to evaluating
programs, soliciting volunteer concerns and planning programs/activities for the upcoming year.
MG Interns are assigned mentors, and part of a mentor’s responsibility is ensuring that concerns
and suggestions of Interns are communicated to officers and the CEA-HORT.
3. How does the association inspire support and participation in projects and programs?
Our Association uses a simple but effective approach: We heavily rely on the personal “thank
you,” and we listen to our volunteers! Officers lead by doing. They are vital participants in all
activities. Volunteer support toward projects and programs are recognized through our weekly e-
newsletter (Weed It and Reap), our monthly newsletter and at our monthly meetings. At each
graduation & recognition meeting in June, we present our deserving members with recognition
awards.
4. How are volunteer hours reported and recorded?
Hours are submitted either electronically or by paper record to the MG Volunteer Hours Recorder
and maintained at the Master Gardener Office.
5. Describe the multi-year plan for goals and objectives.
The Association plans activities on a basis of three to five years. The Writers Guild has 2 books in
progress to be completed over the next 2 years. Future electrical power for the Discovery Garden
will be provided by additional solar panels. In 2009, the Association finalized plans to develop a
serenity garden in the Discovery Garden. A five-year plan includes an on-site utility/storage
building with a small classroom and office. A three-year Earth-Kind™ rose research project was
extended to 2009.
6. How, when and by who are the plans made?
The full membership participates in the November meeting that is dedicated to a critique and
review of the past year’s activities and to the planning future programs and projects. The
leadership is always open to new suggestions and encourages individual volunteers to take
ownership of new programs and projects. Several officers & team leaders meet with our CEA-
HORT on Thursdays to assess programs/activities/concerns. The Association’s Board of
Directors cooperates with the CEA-HORT in providing final approval of plans.
7. How are specific portions of the community targeted?
(i.e. children, seniors, disabled, minorities etc.)
The Association provides landscaping (installation assistance and ongoing consultations for
proper maintenance) for Habitat for Humanity and the Galveston Neighborhood Housing Initiative
for economically disadvantaged residents. A major Junior MG program is located in community
elementary schools identified as a Title One school with a majority of at-risk students from
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economically disadvantaged families. Youth population is primarily Hispanic, Vietnamese and
African American students from economically disadvantaged families. New horticulture therapy
gardens are associated with the Wayne Johnson Senior Citizens Center located in a county park
and the College of the Mainland Seniors program in La Marque. MGs were involved in 4 summer
youth enrichment programs conducted by our CEA-HORT. MGs cooperate with our Family &
Consumers Extension Agent in providing educational programs on gardening, food safety, etc. for
The Jesse Tree, an ecumenical community support network. A Master Gardener Specialist –
Entomology volunteer cooperated with our 4-H Agent in providing an educational program on
"Insects in the City . . ." at our county fair's Youth Day. Funding and construction of all-weather
walkways to the Discovery Garden will service and provide access for handicapped residents.
8. Describe how the Association responds to seasonal or emerging educational needs of
the community.
Information on current and future horticultural needs is distributed to the membership through the
weekly "Weed It and Reap" e-newsletter and “The Galveston County Master Gardeners" monthly
newsletter. The MG Office is staffed daily to answer the hotline and assist the public visiting the
Extension Office. This year 32 programs were provided to the public through the Saturday
Horticulture Seminar Series (despite Hurricane Ike forcing cancelation of several programs), and
members of the Speakers Bureau provided 88 educational programs to local communities and
surrounding counties. An evaluation form handed out at all presentations includes
requests/suggestions for needs and future programs.
9. Describe how individual talents and resources of Master Gardeners are used.
From the application process forward, our Association approaches interns for their ideas and
interests. The leadership actively seeks and encourages volunteers to present their ideas and
supports and mentors their plans in developing programs or projects. Gardening passions are
stepping-stones into leadership roles that produce programs and projects that benefit the
community.
10. List partnerships and how utilized.
The GCMGA has a long history of cooperation with local organizations. Volunteers assist, advise,
educate and provide presentations to the Galveston County Parks Department, The International
Oleander Society, The Houston Rose Society, Texas City Sundance Gardens, MD Anderson
Cancer Institute, Habitat for Humanity, Junior Master Gardeners, 4-H Clubs, University of Texas
Medical Branch Earth Day, Samuel May Williams Victory Garden for Youth, Moody Gardens,
Horticultural Therapy, Sunshine Supportive Employment, Galveston ISD, Santa Fe ISD,
Dickinson ISD, College of the Mainland Senior Citizen Center, Galveston Neighborhood Housing
Initiative Home-Buying Fair, Galveston Island Home and Garden Show, Home Fruit Growers
Tour, Precinct #3 Road Department, area garden clubs, and local colleges. Contributing partners
include Home Depot, Burpee Seed Company, Memorial Southwest Hospital, Galveston Eastend
Historical District, College of the Mainland, Kroger Foods, and TreeSearch Farms Nursery.
11. Describe how programs and projects are evaluated.
Attendees of all programs submit an evaluation form at the conclusion of a program or
presentation. Evaluators rate each program on content, speaker, audiovisual materials and
handouts. Attendees are also asked to submit future topics for programs. The Board of Directors,
Officers and the CEA-HORT then review and critique these evaluations at quarterly meetings.
12. List any awards or recognitions received from local and/or state organizations.
In 2009, our state association recognized the GCMGA with several awards for Mass Media,
Educational Programs, Graphics Presentation and Outstanding Master Gardener Association.
The Galveston County Commissioners Court recognized the extraordinary work and dedication of
the MGs by proclaiming June as “MG Appreciation Month.” The Galveston Parks Department
presented recognition awards to two MGs for their service to a county park.
13. List on-going programs and projects.
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The GCMGA supports the MG Intern Mentoring Program, Junior Master Gardeners and the
Tomato Tasting/Evaluation Program. It cooperates with Sundance Gardens and Habitat for
Humanity, holds Saturday Seminars on Gulf Coast Gardening, and assists Marine, 4-H and FCS
Agents. The Association continually expands, updates and maintains the MG website and writes
newspaper columns. It runs a Home Fruit Growers Tour, a February Fruit Tree Sale, an October
Perennial and Ornamental Sale. The Writers Guild continues to plan and produce new books (2
this year), A Speakers Bureau develops new programs and publishes a catalogue of current
programs. The Insect Collection expands and is preserved. The Association participates yearly in
UTMB Earth Day, the Oleander Festival, Galveston Island Home and Garden Show; it
participates in College of the Mainland Senior Citizens Summer Courses, 4-H Horticulture
projects (weed ID, Judging 4-H projects), maintains Friendswood ISD Nature Learning Center,
manages test gardens of EarthKind™ roses and develops and maintains 2.21 acres of
horticultural demonstration and research gardens and a fruit tree orchard.
14. List any programs or projects that are new this award year.
In cooperation with our County Horticulture Agent, our MG webmaster developed a new webpage
for assisting residents impacted by Hurricane Ike (September 13, 2008). She posted information
provided to her by several Texas A&M Extension personnel as well as articles posted by our
MGs.
15. Describe any special training programs developed in 2009.
11 classes on digital photography were held this year though our Master Gardener Image
Seekers, and these classes greatly increased both the number of MG photographers and the
professionalism of their photography.
14 volunteers enrolled in 5 classes on developing PowerPoint programs for providing educational
programs. As a result of these classes, our speakers’ bureau continues to expand in outreach.
A series of 3 classes was conducted on basic computer skills (Internet usage, e-mailing, word
processing, etc.).
16. How many new members and interns integrated into programs and projects in 2009?
20 Interns achieved 100% of program requirements for certification in 2009 and provided 2,832
volunteer hours between April and December, 2009. 4 Certified Master Gardeners from other
counties also joined the Association.
17. Describe the best educational program or project of 2009 (external).
On April 21-22, 2009, a team of 42 Galveston County MGs cooperated with the Texas Forest
Service in conducting a sample street tree survey…they did the training and we did the footwork!
Our MGs conducted a sample street tree survey in Galveston covering 9.47 miles, or 5 percent of
the 204 miles of streets in city. Based on survey data, approximately 10,840 right-of-way trees
and 31,000 private property trees were identified as dead or dying.
Prior to removal of trees on the historic Broadway Boulevard entryway, MG teams also walked
the boulevard to reassess trees with potential for survival, to ease citizens’ considerable fears
that living trees would be removed. On November 20, eleven MGs assisted with a distribution of
2000 trees donated to Galveston residents and providing planting/ care information. Several MGs
were requested to serve on two newly formed city reforestation planning committees in response
to Ike’s destruction.
18. Describe the best program or project for Master Gardeners (internal).
Association members developed and taught several internal education programs to MGs to
increase their technical competencies. 11 classes on digital photography were held this year
though our Master Gardeners Image Seekers, and these classes greatly increased both the
number of MG photographers and the professionalism of their photography. In addition, 14
volunteers enrolled in 4 classes on developing PowerPoint programs for providing educational
programs. As a result of these classes, our speakers’ bureau greatly expanded. A series of 4
classes was conducted on basic computer skills (Internet usage, e-mailing, word processing),
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