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Awards Program
AMGA has developed a number of awards to recognize exceptional volunteer service in support of the Master Gardener goals.  These include awards for non-master gardeners and master gardeners.
  1.  Mary Lou McNabb Alabama Master Gardener of the Year Award
  2. Gary Murray Award for Outstanding Service and Dedication to the Alabama Master Gardener Program.  This award is intended to honor non-Master Gardeners.
  3. Jean Lee Lifetime Hours Award.
  4. Top Hours of the Year Award.
  5. Reach for the Stars Program.
  6. Outstanding Newsletter Award*

Click the above award for additional detail.

Award recipients are ineligible to receive the same award in the future

For responsibilities of the Awards Committee, see Page 15 of Alabama Master Gardeners Handbook.  The Awards are presented at the Annual Meeting and Conference, except the Reach for the Stars Program.

The bronze, silver, and gold stars, earned under the Reach for the Stars Program, are sent to the local associations for presentation to the recipients.  The Gold, Platinum, and Lifetime badges, as well as the Advanced Star Awards earned under the Program, are presented at the Business Session of the Annual Meeting/Conference.

* is a new award introduced in 2011

AMGA Awards Recipients (click here)
Mary Lou McNabb Award: Master Gardener of the Year Lifetime Hours Award Top Hours of the Year Award Gary Murray Award
1997 Mary Lou McNabb (Madison County) 2003 Jean Lee (Madison County)

2002 Jean Lee (Madison County) 892 Hours

2003 Gary Murray, Etowah Co. Extension Agent
1998 Patricia Barnes (Walker County) 2004 Jean Lee (Madison County)

2003 Brenda Tapp (Madison County) 1,173 Hours

2004 Dr. William B. Shell, Lee Co.
1999 Jim Call (Madison County) 2005 Jim Call (Madison County)

2004 Theda Goodridge (DeKalb County) 1,525 Hours

2005 Jean Inscho, Wiregrass Master Gardener
2000 Barbara East (Etowah County) 2006 Brenda Tapp (Madison County)

2005 Margaret Holler (Lee County) 2,080 Hours

2006 Chuck Browne, Lee Co.
2001 Bess Parks (Madison County) 2007 Cookie Kruvand (Madison County) 2006 Kathie Bass (Madison County) 1,581 Hours

2007 Charles E. Andrews, Shoals Agent
2002 Brenda Tapp (Madison County) 2008 Ann Houston (DeKalb County)

2007 Kathie Bass (Madison County) 1,270 Hours

2008 Harvey Cotton, Huntsville Botanical Gardens
2003 Linda Stephens (DeKalb County) 2009 Helen-Sue Kemp (Wiregrass)

2008 Brenda Tapp (Madison County) 1,104 Hours

2009 Dot Burke, Shoals Master Gardener
2004 Harriet Turner (DeKalb County) 2010 Kathie Bass (Madison)

2009 Helen Sue Kemp (Houston County) 1,358 Hours

2010 Alice Lawler, North Alabama Master Gardener
2005 Brenda Close (Morgan County) 2011 Delores (Dee) Hubbert (Shoals).

2010 Dee Hubbert (Shoals County) 1,837 Hours

2011 Rachel Dykes, Wiregrass Agent
2006 Ann Houston (DeKalb County 2012 Joan Jones ( Madison County)

2011 Kathie Bass ( Madison County) 2,593 Hours

 2012 Rick Beauchamp (Ret. ACES Agent Elmore County)
2007 Janet Szofran (Madison County) Linda Stephens (DeKalb County) 2012 Ona Garwood (Coffee County) 2013 Chris Becker (ACES Agent-Shoals)
2008 Fred Evans (Elmore County) 2013 Jerry Blecher (Capital City)
2009 Dottye Pierce (Madison County)
2010 Kathie Bass (Limestone County)
2011 Cathy Maddox (Capital City)
2012 Dee Hubbert (Shoals)
2013 John Baker (Shoals)

Service Award

 

Garden Pathways Spring Edition

Happening Around Alabama December 2012 Newsletter

Congratulations 2012 Search for Excellence Award Recipients!

North Alabama Master Gardener Association for the Demonstration Vedgetable Garden at the Huntsville Botanical Gardens!

MobileMaster Gardeners Association-From Farm to Table

  • International Master Gardener's Conference 2013
    • Don’t Bug me Webinar Series 2013
  • Don't Bug Me Webinar: Fire Ant Home Remedies - What Works, What Doesn't
  • Don't Bug Me Webinar: Ants! Ants! Ants!
  • Don't Bug Me Webinar: You Have Fire Ants Where?

    • AMGA Database PPT Slideshow

    Request for interest in supporting a UAB Research Study of Cancer Survivors and Healthy Eating through vegetable gardening with support of Master Gardeners mentorship.

    The partnership of ACES and UAB offers an exciting opportunity to expand a study on healthy eating of cancer survivors. A pilot program in the Jefferson County area of cancer survivors sustaining their own garden has a potential to expand the study across Alabama. ACES is requesting to know if any Master Gardener across Alabama may be interested in assisting a cancer survivor to design and implementing a vegetable garden.

    1. Study cancer survivors who have completed treatment, are within 5-years of diagnosis, and have a good prognosis would be recruited by UAB investigators. UAB will interview, track and record all data regarding each "survivor" and their families in this study. 2. The "survivor" would be paired with a nearby Master Gardener who would mentor them over a 12 month garden cycle on fruit and vegetable gardening. This is conceived as a container or raised bed gardening project and supplies will be purchased by each "survivor" with grant funds. 3. Each "survivor" will be in the study for one year. Master Gardener mentor can choose to participate for one year or for two. Mentors participating a second year will be paired with a new "survivor" in the second year. 4. At 1-year follow-up, "survivors" and their families will be asked about their future plans to garden. All participants and mentors will additionally be asked to complete a survey regarding their experiences in the study. *[Please note that we may or may not need assistance from everyone who favorably responds]

    ACES & UAB are pursuing a grant funded project with researchers at UAB - if funded this project will partner each selected cancer survivor (UAB responsibility) with a gardening mentor (ACES responsibility) for 12 months - growing fruits and/or veggies who's interested: we need to know this as part of our grant application process - please share the link below with your membership - a description of the project is included in the survey http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/harvest4health we will check the results of the survey weekly and need as many responses as possible by Sept. 16 - we will continue to take responses after that in preparation for the study (anticipating funds)

    Sara Rogers, a graduate student in the Horticulture Department at Auburn University is collecting data to assess the consumer purchasing and consumption habits for fresh fruit and vegetables in Alabama. In particular, the interested in your attitudes and perceptions towards the purchase of locally-grown (Alabama grown) fresh produce. The survey will take approximately seven to ten minutes to complete and can be found at the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/consumer fresh produce.

    To donate to the AMGA Endowment fund for Auburn University please make check payable to Alabama Master Gardeners Association (AMGA) and in the "For " Line at the bottom left hand corner of the check please annotate Endowment. Please send the check to Jane Shalhoop at 8143 Wynlakes Blvd., Montgomery, AL 36117
    Alabama's Gardens & Arboretums
    • Auburn
    • Birmingham
    • Dothan
    • Huntsville
    • Mobile
    • Troy
    • Tuscaloosa
    Auburn
    Donald E. Davis Arboretum
    Garden Dr. & College St.., Auburn, AL 36849
    On the Auburn University campus.
    Birmingham
    Birmingham Botanical Gardens
    2612 Lane Park Road, Birmingham, AL 35223
    Dothan
    Dothan Area Botanical Gardens
    5130 Headland Avenue, Dothan, AL 36303
    Huntsville
    Huntsville Botanical Garden
    4747 Bob Wallace Avenue, Huntsville, AL 35805
    Mobile
    Mobile Botanical Gardens
    5151 Museum Drive, Mobile, AL 36689
    Troy
    Troy University Arboretum
    210K McCall Hall
    Troy University
    Troy, AL 36082

    Tuscaloosa
    University of Alabama Arboretum
    4800 Arboretum Way
    Tuscaloosa, AL 35487

    Resources(Click on an URL below and a new window will appear with the information.)

    AMGA Board of Directors Calendar Note: Local Associations may have position titles or job descriptions that differ from those used below, but in any event, the stated Dues Collection, and Hour and Membership reporting requirements must be accomplished.

    (click on topic below to view information)

    Advisory Council
    • Jan, Apr., Jul., Oct. Advisory Council meets in Clanton.
    • Jan meeting - select a leader.
    AMGA Board of Directors

    • AMGA Board of Directors:
      Meeting Schedule: March. (State Conference), First Tuesday of :June. -Sept. -Dec.

    Audit
    • Feb 28. The Audit Committee presents an audit report of AMGA financial records at the State Conference Board meeting.
    Awards
    • Jan. 1. Search for Excellence award from ACES. More information on submittal process click http://www.aces.edu/mg/SFE.php  
    • Jan 31 - Deadline for submission of awards nominations to AMGA Awards Committee.
    • Jan 31 - Local Volunteer Hours Coordinator submits names of qualified applicants for gold, platinum and lifetime badges and the stars advanced awards to the AMGA Awards Committee Chair. Go to www.alabamamg.org and click on Reach For the Stars Award Program at the bottom of the page, to access order form, click on "view order form".
    • Jan. 31. - Mar 1 - The Awards Committee evaluates submitted nominations for the various AMGA awards, selects award winners, and plans for their presentation at the Annual State Conference
    • Sep 15. Submit article for Garden Pathways announcing Awards deadlines and providing a brief explanation and criteria for how to submit awards.
    • Dec 1. Submit any requests for any potential monetary awards to the treasurer for discussion and approval at the December AMGA BoD meeting.
    Budget
    • Dec 1. The Finance Committee prepares an Annual AMGA Budget for discussion and approval by the BoD. This approved budget is presented at the next annual AMGA meeting
    Calendar

    • Dec 15 - The Communication Committee prepares the "Calendar of Master Gardener Due Dates and Action Items". Distributes copies to the State Coordinator, AMGA and Local leadership, and for publication in Garden Pathways. The Calendar will be revised and redistributed as needed and agreed upon at Board Meetings.

    Conferences and Special Events
    • April 15-17, 2013 State Conference---Shoals
    • April 28-30, 2014 State Conference---Baldwin County (Daphne Civic Center)
    • March 23-25, 2015 State Conference---Blount/Cullman County held in Cullman County
    Dues and Membership Reporting
    • Jan. 15 Membership Chair notifies local presidents and treasurers of associations that have not submitted dues for current year that members are not in good standing.
    • Jan. 31 - The local Membership chair must reconcile Dues paid to AMGA with Members reported to the Database Manager. Members should be reported as "active" members only if their dues have been paid to AMGA at that time.
    • Sep. 15- Membership Chair sends a supply of membership cards to local associations.
    • Oct. 1-Local associations begin membership drive and dues collection process.
    • Nov.1 - Dec. 31 The Local Membership Chair collects annual dues and membership applications. The Local Treasurer sends state dues collected to the AMGA Treasurer and Local Database Manager sends changes to membership marked in an updated spreadsheet to the AMGA Database Manager. These should agree with the dues sent to the AMGA Treasurer.
    • Dec. 31- Deadline for dues and spreadsheets from local associations to AMGA Treasurer and Database manager. (Dues and updated spreadsheets may be sent at any time, but members who have not paid by January 1 are not in good standing.)
    • Quarterly- The AMGA Database Manager sends a list of current members to the Editor of Garden Pathways. Local Association Database Manager must have any updates in membership names, addresses and E-mails sent to the AMGA Database Manager by December 15th. This will ensure that everyone will get his or her hard-copy of the winter newsletter, which will contain AMGA Conference registration information.
    • The Newsletter, in PDF format, can be obtained by going to the AMGA website: www.alabamamg.org
    • AMGA Dues Tracker Training
    Elections

    • Dec 15 -The Nominating Committee prepares a ballot for election of officers, board members, and a Nominating Committee position, and provides it for publication in Garden Pathways, and for the election held at the State Conference.

    Garden Pathways Newsletter

    • March 15, June 15, Sept. 15, Dec. 15. Article submission deadlines. Newsletter available to members one month after each deadline.

    Project Funding
    • Jan. 15 Deadline for submission of project funding requests from local associations to the Project Funding Chair.
    • Feb. 28. Prior to this date, the Project Funding Committee shall have evaluated funding request applications and made decisions as to grants to be awarded at the Annual Conference Meeting.
    • Sept. 15 Submit article for Garden Pathways newsletter announcing deadlines and how to get submission information.
    Alabama Master Gardeners Project Funding Criteria (Click here for more details)
    CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION OF PROPOSED PROJECTS
    1. The applicant and the project must be in the State of Alabama
    2. Priority will be given to those projects that most closely meet the mission of AMGA and Master Gardeners in general.
    3. Master Gardeners must be directly involved in the project and should be the main force in the initiation and the implementation
    4. The project should be non profit and/or charitable in nature
    5. The project must have the potential to benefit a significant number of citizens
    6. The project should have on-going value
    7. The project should reflect creativity and uniqueness.
    8. The project will be evaluated based on the information submitted. No further contact will be made by the Evaluation Committee to obtain information
    9. An applicant may submit only one application per organization.
    10. An applicant may receive funding for only one approved project within a three year period.
    Scholarship/Endowment
    • Feb. 28. Notify The Auburn College of Agriculture if AMGA does not intend to award the usual $1000 annual scholarship for the year.
    • Dec. 1 Prepare a budget request and submit to the AMGA treasurer for discussion and approval at the December AMGA BoD meeting.
    Stars Purchase
    • The Local Hours Coordinator and Local Treasurer must coordinate purchase of Stars Awards as required for award to local members at a later time.
    • Go to www.alabamamg.org and under forms click on Reach for the Stars Awards Bronze-Silver-Gold Badges Form or Reach for the Stars Awards Advanced Stars and Badges Form, to access order form. Order form and money are to be sent to the AMGA Awards Committee Chairperson.
    • See address on Form or the updated Chair informtion on AMGA Contacts
    State Conference
    • June. 30. The Program Committee updates The AMGA Conference Manual to include important input, if any, from the host association of the previous Conference.
    • The Program Committee is also responsible for obtaining a final accounting and summary report from the hosting association, and for its filing as a permanent record.
    Volunteer Hours Reporting
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