HCMG Announce 2010 Officers

GAINESVILLE, GA – The Hall County Master Gardeners has announced its officers for 2010. Additionally, the 150-member group recently presented its awards for 2009.

Irene Michaud is President of the group; Mindy Wade is President-Elect; Mike Carson is Vice President; Beverly Brinson is Treasurer; Leslie Johnson is Secretary; Ron Brechter and Jelle Tamminga are Board Members at Large. Lori Carson is Immediate Past President. The group’s Adviser is Hall County Extension Agent Billy Skaggs.

Patsy Kilmartin is the 2009 Master Gardener of the year. Kilmartin is active in a number of projects for the Hall County Master Gardeners, including Habitat for Humanity/Women Build, Junior Master Gardeners and Wilshire Park. She is frequently on site when the organization does community work with various organizations.

Mike Carson was named Intern of the Year. As a Master Gardener intern in 2009, Carson showed exemplary dedication to the program in volunteering and supporting events and activities of the Hall County Master Gardeners.

Hall County Master Gardeners is a volunteer program offered through the Hall County office of the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. Through this intensive educational program, individuals are trained and certified in horticulture and related areas. Hall County Master Gardeners donated nearly 18,000 hours to the community in 2009.

Currently, there are more than 150 Hall County Master Gardeners who volunteer their time and talents to promote correct gardening practices. At the end of January the organization will host the state meeting of the Georgia Master Gardeners. Additionally, the group will host its Spring Garden EXPO in April and its Fall Garden EXPO in September, both at Chicopee Woods Agricultural Center. The organization is involved in a number of community-based projects.

This year, the organization worked to landscape projects for Habitat for Humanity homes and continued to assist the Northeast Georgia History Center with the Cherokee gardens. The group is actively involved in work with Smithgall Woodland Gardens in Hall County, a project of the Atlanta Botanical Garden, and cross-promotes events with Elachee Nature Center.

Hall County Master Gardeners is sponsoring Junior Master Gardener Programs in cooperation with a number of public and private schools in Gainesville and Hall County. Currently, more than 300 students participate in the program. Hall County Master Gardeners has also designed “Gardens on Green,” an educational and demonstration garden located adjacent to the Hall County Board of Education on Green Street in Gainesville.

Members of the group volunteer as community speakers; they also staff “Ask-a-Master-Gardener” booths at various events throughout the county.

For more information about Hall County Master Gardeners, visit www.hcmgs.com or call the Hall County Extension Office at 770-535-8293.

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