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December 2016 McLennan County Master Gardeners Association

Georgia Kapczynski—Welcome Back!

New Master Gardener and former

MCMG member, Georgia

Kapczynski, was born in a

farmhouse in Pilot Point Texas

(near Denton). She has a brother

and three sisters. Georgia attended a

Catholic elementary school and one

semester of high school in Pilot

Point. Her family moved to

McGregor, where she completed

high school.

Following high school Georgia moved to Dallas with her

brother and one sister, where she worked in an insurance

company accounting department. With her sister she drove

home to McGregor on weekends, where they went to

weekend dances in Elm Mott. That’s where Georgia met

her husband Raymond, a pharmacist in West. The couple

loved dancing. They dated for two years and married in

1966 in West. It was a large Czech wedding and they made

West their home for 42 years.

Georgia and Raymond had two daughters, Diane and

Denise. After their daughters were born, Georgia attended

MCC and earned a nursing degree (RN). Georgia worked

at both Waco hospitals and a local clinic as an orthopedic

trauma nurse. It took three tries before she successfully

retired! Said Georgia: “I really loved nursing, the patients I

took care of and the team of doctors and staff I worked

with.”

Together with Raymond, Georgia owned a floral/catering

business. Their daughters and their boyfriends helped with

the business. Most weddings they catered were on Saturday

evenings. “I went to a class to learn how to bake and

decorate the bride and groom cakes. Most of our work was

in the Central Texas area; sometimes we even traveled to

Dallas, Austin and Houston.” Holding down professional

jobs and running the catering business on the side was

challenging, but the extra income paid for their daughters’

college education.

“Growing up on a farm, we always had large gardens. My

grandparents lived nearby and had a large garden also. They

immigrated from the Czech Republic and brought their

knowledge of gardening.” Georgia lived next door to her

mother-in-law, who taught her a lot about gardening.

Georgia heard about Master Gardeners after her first

retirement attempt. She went through the intern class and

became an MCMG member more than a decade ago. But

after two years as a Master Gardener, arthritis in her knees

became a major problem for Georgia. In addition,

Raymond’s medical condition was worsening. Georgia

knew she needed major surgery so she could take care of

Raymond. So Georgia dropped out of the Master Gardener

program, much to everyone’s regret.

After knee replacement surgery (both knees) and many

complications, Georgia gradually recovered. “Since I

retired recently [the third try — Ed.] I chose to re-join the

group this year and become certified again.”

“You can usually find me outside digging in the dirt or

tending to plants. All the hard work of tilling and digging I

leave for Kenneth, my son-in-law, who enjoys gardening

too. New projects with Master Gardeners have added to my

enjoyment of gardening and sharing it with others.”

Georgia volunteers at St. Catherine’s chapel Sundays and

most weekdays. She sings in the ladies’ church choir in

West, mostly for funerals and special occasions. Georgia

and Raymond loved to travel. “One year it would be a

country and the next year an island. I have continued to

travel with my sister and friends from West to Europe each

year.”

December 13, Tuesday, 6-8 pm. Join

us for our Christmas Dinner at the

Pavillion.

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Georgia is fluent in the Czech language. She enjoys

listening, singing and dancing to Czech music — waltzes

and polkas. “In my spare time my goal is to learn to play

42, the domino game, and Taroky, a Czech card game.

Another hobby of Georgia’s is sewing. Georgia lives with

daughter Diane and her husband Kenneth in McGregor.

We are so glad to have you back with us as a Master

Gardener, Georgia. It was fitting that you were the first in

the terrific 2016 Intern Class to earn your Texas Master

Gardener Certificate.

From Janet Schaffer Notes from the President—

It has been an honor to serve as MCMG president in 2015

and 2016. Thanks to our dedicated Master Gardener

volunteers, much was accomplished during that time. Our

2017 officers will assume their duties during the Christmas

party, to be held at the Pavilion. Managing the Arboretum,

Woodway Family Center and serving as the director of

tourism for City of Woodway is a fun and fulfilling job that

led me to our Master Gardener Association. As rewarding

as the past two years have been, I’m looking forward to

becoming the immediate past president.

MCMG Social Director Della Setser expects up to 200

people at the Christmas party, starting at 6:00 p.m. on

December 6. There should be enough parking spaces

available in the two Pavilion parking lots. But if not, it’s

okay to park along the street near the entrance driveway. I

hope to see you there. Della said the theme will be “Boots

and Bling” so please dress accordingly. I wish you and

yours a happy and prosperous 2017.

Janet Schaffer

From the Cardinal’s Corner

WHY DOES MCMG HAVE SUCH A BIG

BANK ACCOUNT?

Several members have asked why MCMG has accumulated

nearly $30,000 in our bank account. Others have asked

about getting reimbursed for expenses incurred while

volunteering on an approved project.

Let’s begin with expense reimbursements. If you incurred

an expense for an approved MCMG volunteer project,

please turn in the sales ticket or invoice to Treasurer Ann

Sefcik along with a note explaining the item purchased and

for what volunteer event you purchased it. Ann will

reimburse you. It is time now to request reimbursement for

unreimbursed 2016 expenses. These expenses must be paid

from the 2016 budget. The books will be closed in mid-

December so financial statements can be prepared.

We have guidance from Texas Master Gardener

Association and other sources about what is a reasonable

amount of money to hold in reserve. Anywhere between

one and three years of normal operating expenses meets the

reasonableness test. We are well within that range. When

we spend MCMG funds, this must be for educational

projects. We cannot spend the money on ourselves as

members. For example, we cannot use the money to cover

the expense of the Christmas party. MCMG is a 501(c)(3)

non-profit organization.

We will probably be asked to host the 2019 state

convention, so we will need substantial funds available to

cover deposits, fees and other up-front expenses incidental

to hosting the convention. The executive committee has

discussed setting aside funding for that purpose in our

Temporarily Restricted Net Funds Account. In the near

future that will likely be brought before the members for a

vote. If and when we do host the convention, we expect to

break even cost-wise, or perhaps better. But we will have

to cover (temporarily) the advance expenses involved in

preparation for the convention.

Austin’s Natural Gardener Nursery

Demonstration Beds

In our quest for gardens of likely interest, we usually limit

our search area to destinations not requiring an overnight

stay. This means within a two hour drive from Waco.

This month we focus on Austin’s The Natural Gardener on

Old Bee Caves Road. We are happy to mention nurseries

by name if they have worthwhile demonstration gardens

visitors can tour for free. Eva FitzGerald, Anne Plasek and Barry Vokes made the trip in early November.

The nursery has been in business for many years and has

built a reputation based on native and naturalized plants.

The inventory includes plants not readily available in

Waco. The demonstration gardens attracted our attention,

and there are several of them for a visitor to stroll through

and admire. Some are labeled as wildlife habitat. There is a

display of edible plants and traditional in-ground vegetable

beds. The butterfly garden is quite nice. Most of the plants

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are labeled. There are whimsical touches and an excellent

labyrinth. The large staff is friendly and helpful. We visited

on a rainy morning and mostly had the place to ourselves.

The nursery draws customers from a wide area. Owner John

Dromgoole hosts what is billed as America’s longest

running (28+ years) organic gardening radio show on KLBJ

radio and has done much to promote organic growing in

Austin and country-wide.

.

MCMG Welcomes Ten New Texas

Master Gardeners

Congratulations to our newest Texas Master Gardeners,

who are now full, voting members of MCMG. Carol

Corley, Marci Dameron, Karen Hix, Janet Kettler, Patty

Klein, Mickey Page, Irma Serrato, Debbie Vanous and

Polly Woodard were presented their Texas Master

Gardener Certificates and MCMG name badges at the

November 9 meeting. Linda Baggett has also completed all

her certificate requirements and is a full member. She will

receive her certificate and name badge later.

Approved Volunteer Opportunities

December 2016

Date and Time Activity Contact Person

12/1/16

8:00-3:00

Cedar Ridge

Elementary

Garden Classroom

Nelda Cooper

Sandy Katz

12/1/16 3:15-

4:15

Bell’s Hill JMG

Club

Debby DeGraff

Jeanette Kelly

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12/2/16 10:100-

11:30

Rapoport N.

Acadamy JMG

program

Sherry Bagby, call

for signup

12/4/16 1:00-

5:00

Mayborn Museum Louie McDaniel

Diane Walter

12/6/16 3:15-

4:15

Bell’s Hill

Elementary JMG

Club

Debbby DeGraff

Jeanette Kelly

12/8/16

10:10-11:30

Rapoport N.

Academy JMG

Program

Sherry Bagby

Jeanette Kelly call

for vol. signup

12/10/16 8:15-

1:00

Farmers Market

Winter Gardening

Penny Gifford

Rianna Alvarado

12/13-14 BIG Conference,

various shifts

James Seale

Every Tuesday and Thursday at 1:30 to 4:30 we have

volunteers needed at the AgExtension Office downtown for

the MG hotline! Go to www.signupgenius. Or call Carol

Reinking at 399-0927. Go to www.signupgenius.com Log

in or set up new account Select "Groups" and look for

Master Gardeners Extension Office Then select date and

click to sign in. Or, email Carol Reinking at

sscarol.24@gmail.com

November 2016 Speaker’s Report

November 5 - Barry Vokes hosted the Steel Magnolia

Garden Club at his ranch. He spoke about Keyhole

Gardening, Hugelkultur, and Redesigning a Garden. Eight

members enjoyed his talks.

November 5 - Jeanette Kelly spoke on Composting and

How to Build a Composting Pile to a Boy Scout Troop at

the Arboretum. Thirteen troop members and seven adults

enjoyed her program.

November 16 - Patricia Goaley presented Anecdotes from

the Garden - Scandals in the Garden for the Lunch with

the Masters. Forty people enjoyed her interesting

program.

Nelda Cooper

Speaker's Bureau Coordinator

If you are a certified MG and would like to be a speaker or

have questions about becoming a speaker to area

clubs/organizations, please contact Nelda Cooper at 254-

749-4499, coopernelda53@yahoo.com. We have

prepared programs on the MG laptop that can be checked

out from the Agri-Life Office. Current MG speakers are

willing to act as mentors.

McLennan County Master Gardener

Monthly Minutes- November 2016

The regular meeting of the McLennan County Master

Gardener Association was held at the Carleen Bright

Arboretum, Whitehall Center on November 9, 2016.

President, Janet Schaffer, called the meeting to order at

12:00 PM. Betty Tawwater, Secretary, recorded minutes

of the meeting.

A motion to approve the minutes as written in the

November 2016 newsletter was made and seconded. There

was no opposition, and the motion carried.

Ann Sefcik reviewed the Treasurer’s Report as submitted

by email with additional copies on the sign in table. Since

there were no questions, the report will be filed for audit.

Tom Burr reminded members to submit ballots for At-

Large-Members. He then collected the ballots for count.

New Business:

Jeanette Kelly discussed the development of a new project

with Bells Hill Elementary. Debbie DeGraffe, intern and

teacher at the school, will be teaching students the LGEG

curriculum using MCMG volunteers. Volunteers will need

to submit a background check form with WISD unless

they have already done so. Mrs. Kelly gave an overview

of the Learn, Grow, Eat ,Go (LGEG) program for those

not familiar with it. A motion was made and seconded to

approve the project, and since there was no opposition, the

motion carried.

President Schaffer introduced and congratulated our

newest Master Gardeners: Linda Baggett; Carol Corley;

Marci Dameron; Karen Hix; Janet Kettler; Patty Klein;

Mickey Page; Irma Serrato; Deborah Vanous; and Polly

Woodard. New members with the exception of Linda

Baggett who was not present received their certificates.

Emily Davidson presented the slate of officers for 2017:

President, Barry Vokes; Vice-President, Louie McDaniel;

Secretary, Betty Tawwater; and Treasurer, Ann Sefcik.

The floor was opened for additional nominees. Since there

were none, a motion was made and seconded to approve

the slate of officers as presented by the Nominating

Committee. A vote was taken and the motion was

approved.

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Barry Vokes presented Ila Jean Carothers and Louie

McDaniel as nominees for Directors to the Texas State

Master Gardener Association. A motion was made and

seconded to approve these nominees. Since there was no

opposition, the motion was approved. President Schaffer

asked for two volunteers from the floor to serve as

alternates. Since no one responsed, President Schaffer,

made a motion to allow the Executive Committee to

appoint alternates. The motion was seconded and

approved.

President Schaffer addressed members’ concerns as

reported by the At-Large-Members. Members need to

submit any receipts for MCMG projects to Ann Sefcik no

later than December 9. It is important so an accurate

budget can be planned for 2017. To clarify the reason for

keeping a large sum of money in the budget, President

Schaffer explained that TSMG recommends we keep one

to three years of available funds for operating expenses.

We, also, need to start saving for upfront costs for

possibly hosting a future TSMG Conference. Mrs.

Schaffer reported that the Executive Committee discussed

concerns about the intern project, but the discussion was

tabled until absent member, Louie McDaniel, can be part

of the discussion.

Louie McDaniel gave an update in the Southern Regional

Master Gardener Conference. The Association consists of

thirteen states. He reported that 220 Master Gardeners

attended the Conference, and there were discussions about

the differences in their regions. Marci Dameron, also,

attended the meeting and commented on the Conference.

President Schaffer reminded the Membership that dues are

being collected and need to be submitted to Ann Sefcik.

President Schaffer announced that problems accessing the

internet at the office are being evaluated by a professional

and will be corrected.

Louie McDaniel announced the results of the 2017 At

Large Members vote. Option number two passed: Pat

Marlin will serve from January 2017 through the end of

December 2017, Melody High will serve January 2017

through June 2017 and Billy Burchfield will serve July

2017 through December 2017.

Old Business:

Della Setser gave an update on the Christmas Party. She

announced that the party will be held on December 6,

2016, the theme will be western (“Boots and Bling”), and

all members, interns, and their spouses or significant

others are invited. Attendees need to submit payment of

$14.00 per person to her or Ann Sefcik by November 28

so there can be an accurate table count. Members and

interns wanting to create centerpieces will meet at 10:00

AM at the Pavilion on December 6. Centerpieces from

members and interns who signed the centerpiece sign up

sheet will be placed on the tables and others placed in

different locations. Prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places all

be awarded.

Della Setser announced that there are cookbooks on the

table for purchase.

Ila Jean Carothers announced that the office will be closed

from November 7, 2016 until a date yet to be determined

in February 2017. She asked if anyone would volunteer to

make copies of the monthly newsletter and place them in a

designated drawer at the office. Ann Sefcik agreed to take

on the responsibility.

Jim Seale gave a report on the BIG Conference. He

announced that the conference will be held at the Extraco

Center, ten hours of educational hours will be available,

and he will have an organizational meeting after the

General Meeting at the Pavilion.

Committee Reports/Volunteers:

Denise Kinneson reviewed the Volunteer Opportunity

Report for November/December 2016.

Sandy Back requested one additional Volunteer

Opportunity be added to the calendar. Cedar Ridge will

have a Day in the Garden on December 1. Louie

McDaniel announced that there will be a workday for the

Texas Water Star Project on November 15 at 10:00 AM

and a research update at 1:30 PM.

Dianne Walter gave an update on the Mayborn Museum

Project. Volunteers are needed the first Sunday of each

month from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Volunteers will be

given a flip book with information to help identify plants

at the Historic Village. Volunteers are welcome even if

they did not attend the orientation.

Educational Opportunities:

Come Sail Away!

2017 Texas Master Gardener Conference

Register for the 2017 TMGA Conference aboard the

Carnival Liberty http://texasmgconference.com/

Care & Concern:

Member, Xan Foulks passed away on October 25. A

donation was given to Baylor Life Long Learning in her

memory. Ramona Watson’s husband passed away.

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President Schaffer asked members to remember these

families in their thoughts and prayers.

Miscellaneous:

Ila Jean Carothers announced that she will have a pre plant

sale at her home, and anyone, interested in shopping in her

garden, should contact her before the first freeze.

President Schaffer announced that Lunch with Masters

will be held on November 13, and Pat Goaley will do a

presentation on “Anecdotes from the Garden”. Members

will be able to earn two hours of education.

Brenda Golubski reminded interns and members to check

their required volunteer and education hours and to turn

them in before December 31.

Since there was no further business, the meeting

adjourned at 12:50 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Betty Tawwater. Secretary

November 2016 Attendance Members: Barnett, Mark; Beets, Barbara; Belanger,

Bonnie; Belanger Dick; Burchfield, Billy; Burchfield,

Linda; Burr, Tom; Calhoon, Ralph; Carothers, Ila Jean;

Cole, Catherine; Cooper, Nelda; Corley, Carol; Creech,

Robert; Cunningham, Jean; Curtis, Virgil; Dameron,

Marci; Daniels, David; Davidson, Emily; Dixon, Jenny;

Fauver, Myrt; Federwisch, Ernest; FitzGerald, Eva; Ford,

Kris; Gifford, Penny; Hamilton, Wayne; Henson,

Margaret; Hering, Jene; High, Melody; Hix, Karen;

Hopkins-Higham, Debbie; Kapczynski, Georgia: Katz,

Sandy; Kelly, Jeanette; Kelly, Taddie; Kettler, Janet;

Kinnison, Denise; Klein, Patty; Kruse, Linda Deal;

Lovecky, Steven; Lutz, Lori; Marlin, Patricia; McAdams,

Norma; McDaniel, Louie; Mersinger Barbara; Milam,

Elizabeth; Newton, Kai; Norman, Edith; Page, Mickey;

Plasek, Anne; Powers, Robert; Reinking, Art; Reinking,

Carol; Reynolds, Darlene; Rich, Jennifer; Richardson,

Sharon; Romano, Sharon; Saladin, Diane Kay; Schaffer,

Janet; Schmeltekopf, Judy; Scott, Sandra; Seale, James Jr.;

Sefcik, Ann; Serface, Jan; Serrato, Irma; Setser, Della;

Tawwater, Betty; Valentine, Catherine; Vanous, Debbie;

Vokes, Barry; von Rosenberg, Jo; Waldrop, Melba;

Warriner, Sonia; Whitehead, Dorothy; Whitehead, M J;

Woodard, Polly

Interns: Blum, Gayle; Crenwedge, Melinda; Liebe,

Robin; Quintero,Isolda; Rogers, JoAnne; Walter, Diane

MCMG Hours 10/26/16-11/25/16

Volunteer hours 670.65

Continuing Education hours 23

Miles traveled 4006

Contacts 3716

PROJECT HOURS

(The hours listed below are included in the above

summary)

Project Hours volunteered

Ask a Master Gardener

Telephone Line 2016

39

Back Forty 7

BIG Conference December

2016

4

Cedar Ridge Elementary

Green Classroom 2016

4

Children’s Garden Fair 15

Continuing Education 2016

17

Class 23014 Shade Tree

Garden

3

Intern class 2016

24

Mayborn Museum

83

MCMG

Administration/Clerical

2016

63

Other hours 199

Plant Sale 2017 35

Print articles/social

media/webpage 2016

23

Rapaport Academy

42

Speaker's Bureau 2016

9

Texas Star Water Project

2016

22

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Urban Garden

Coalition

7

Waco Farmer's Market

2016

53

Thanks to: Rianna, Linda Baggett, Mark Barnett, Marti, Dick,

Tom, Ila Jean, Catherine, Nelda, Robert, Lisa, Marci, Debby,

Jenny, Jane, Nancy, Myrt, Melody Fitzgerald, Barbara M.,

Penny, Brenda, Dolores, Wayne Hamilton, Pam Hilcher, Karen,

Georgia, Sandy, Jeanette, Taddy, Janet K., Patty, Linda D-K.,

Benjamin, Robin Liebe, Lori, Pat M., Donna, Addie, Janie,

Susan, Louie, Dana, Barbara, Laynie, Edie, Mickey, Rita, Ron,

Ron, Mireille, Janet S., Judy, James, Ann, Della, John S.

Ginger, Patsy, Debbie V., Jaquita, Barry, Diane, Sonia, and

Polly for recording your efforts on vms for this report.

Education Opportunities

2017 Texas Master Gardener Conference

Register for the 2017 TMGA Conference aboard the

Carnival Liberty http://texasmgconference.com/

Election of Officers for 2017

MCMG Officers are nominated in October and the election

is held at the November meeting. The MCMG executive

committee serves as the steering committee, for we have no

board of directors. That’s because MCMG is a unit of Texas

Master Gardener Association (TMGA), which has a board.

Each November we elect two voting members of the

TMGA board. For 2017 our two TMGA directors are Ila

Jean Carothers and Louie McDaniel. At the November

meeting, attendees authorized the executive committee to

name two alternates to the TMGA board.

Two at-large officers and members of the executive

committee represent the members. They are charged with

staying in touch with our members, learning their concerns,

ideas and suggestions and bringing these to the attention of

the committee for discussion and appropriate action. At-

large members have voice and vote on the committee. Pat

Marlin was elected to serve for the entire year; Melody

High was elected to serve through June 30, at which time

her eligibility expires. Billy Burchfield was elected to serve

from July 1.

Barry Vokes was elected 2017 president. Louie McDaniel

was elected vice-president. Special thanks go to Betty

Tawwater and Ann Sefcik, who agreed to serve another

year as secretary and treasurer, respectively. All were

elected by acclimation. It takes a considerable commitment

of time and expertise to serve as secretary and as treasurer.

Both Betty and Ann have served admirably in those roles

and deserve our thanks and gratitude.

Our 2017 officers assume their duties at the December 6

Christmas party (beginning at 6:00 p.m. at the Pavilion)

when president Janet receives her past-president’s name

badge along with our other past-presidents. It was decided

earlier this year by the executive committee to honor our

past-presidents with a special name badge.

A Special Thanks to All of You

As some of you may know, I am stepping down from my

position as the newsletter editor. This will be my last issue.

I have enjoyed working with all the fine people who have

contributed so much to the newsletter. I want to especially

thank Barry Vokes for his tireless work to make this

newsletter a success. Each month he has contributed

articles that are interesting and well-written. Most of the

time he has not wanted his name attached to the articles—

evidence of his humility. Many others of you have

contributed photos and articles over the years. I have talked

to the new editor, Karen Hix. I am very excited to see her

first article. She is very knowledgeable and experienced

with this kind of work and will probably exceed me in many

ways, so your newsletter will only get better. I could not

ask for a better replacement. Everyone has been so good to

me and helped me in any way I needed. We have a great

organization with so many fine and talented people that I

feel it a great honor to be a part of it all.

I look forward to serving as the PowerPoint instructor and

as a lecturer next year. I know that with all our current

members and the fantastic new Interns we are going to do

great things.

Melody Fitzgerald

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Master Gardeners About Town

McLennan County Master Gardeners Association Officers 2016

President-Jeanette Kelly Vice President-Janet Schaffer Secretary-Sharon Richardson

Treasurer-Andrea Moore

AgriLife Sponsor – Shane McLellan, County Agent

Our website: www.mclennanmastergardeners.org

Educational programs of Texas AgriLife Extension Service serve people of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level,

race, color, sex, religion, disability, or national origin. The Texas A&M University System, U. S Department of

Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating

President: Janet Schaffer, Vice-President: Tom Burr,

Secretary: Betty Tawwater, Treasurer: AnnSefcik

Master Gardeners answer children’s

questions and teach at the Farmers

Market.

Demonstrations at the Farmers

Market are great fun for the

children.

Master Gardeners explore the beauty

of the Austin’s Natural Gardener

Nursery Demonstration Beds