November Member Meeting - 11/16/2021

Present: Steven Eilers, Katie Boaldin, Mira Tsunashima Evans, Sally Brown

Treasurer's Report: Approved
Minutes of September General Meeting: Approved

Promotions and Development Report

• Sally asked for content for newletters, website front page, and Facebook page. Steve suggested items from Master Gardener emails and the Oak for Hartman Reserve news. We also need a board member knowledgeable about mental health, including Covid-related issues, perhaps someone from NAMI, Black Hawk Grundy, or a nurse practitioner or social worker or someone from Pathways.

Theme Group Updates

Sustainability

• Barb Ritchie has requested that NEIFB be on the 2022 Practical Backyard Tour.

Fresh Produce Availability

• The director's position needs to be filled. Steve will talk to Mary Wallingford of the NEIFB garden volunteers. Would DaQuan be interested?
• There were no new Food Corps this year, so the school gardens didn't continue after the Americorps cohort left.
• Mira reported for A Garden in Every Lot. One school garden was started at Orchard Hill and they hope to start more next season. Steve asks if they wish to do a booth at the Home Show.
• Steve said that Master Gardeners plans weekly booths at both the Waterloo and Cedar Falls Farmers' Markets next year. A MG is needed to coordinate at each site.

Health & Wellness

• Katie reported that Covid vaccine is now available for ages 5-12. Her agency is considering sponsoring a presentation on pelvic floor issues and the connection to balance, probably in the summer, and other community outreach activities after Covid wraps up.
• Steve announced that the Brain Injury Support Group won't hold a winter banquet for the second year in a row. He also received information from Sarah Steinmeyer and Kathryn Gilbery about playground stencils that could be purchased and shared by schools and other sites to promote physical activity. They are available from https://thesensorypath.com. Katie suggested schools could fundraise for them. As a physical therapist, she thinks they are fantastic. A second project called to our attention is StoryWalk, developed by the Kellogg-Hubbard Library in Vermont. Steve isn't sure what's being asked of HCVC, but we agreed both seem excellent.

New Business

• Election of officers was postponed until January to give us time to recruit a new vice-president and Fresh Produce Director.

Member Announcements

• Steve announced a new initiative to encourage veterans' participation in both Master Gardener and Master Conservationist programs.

Meeting adjourned.
Submitted by Sally Browne