2021 July PCEA-EC Minutes

Minutes: Piscataquis County Extension Association Executive Committee Meeting July 12, 2021, at 3 p.m. By Zoom

Present:

  • Members, Beth McEvoy, Karen Murphy, Judy Cross, and Rick Cabot
  • Staff, Donna Coffin, Trisha Smith, Emily Mott, Sheila Norman, and Anette Moulton
  1. President Beth McEvoy called the meeting to order at 3 p.m. and was appointed a timekeeper.
  2. Check-in was completed.
  3. Emily Mott provided a Tech Tip to members and staff present.
  4. Minutes of the May 10, 2021 meeting were discussed and there were no errors or omissions. Judy Moved and Rick 2nd to accept. Motion passed.
  5. The treasurer’s report was discussed. Rick moved to accept and Beth 2nd. Motion passed
  6. Elizabeth Walsh is our on-call clerk. Paperwork has been completed so she can help now.

Program Updates from Staff

Donna Coffin

  1. Keep your outside lights off so brown tail moths are not attracted.
  2. Extension on the Road, 4-H will go to Guilford on July 16. We will be in Milo on Aug. 6 with house plant information.
  3. Donna will host an Ag market price meeting at Dysart’s on July 22. 
  4.  Judy asked about moths and horses. The caterpillar hairs are the problem. The moth caterpillar hairs get on the horse and then to the person. These hairs cause some people a great deal of trouble. The caterpillars are mostly gone now, but the adults are still here and can carry hairs on them. Judy asked where to send grass and hay to be tested. We have a hay borer people can borrow. Samples are sent to DairyOne Forage lab.
  5. Rick has done a lot of soil sampling on his farm. Directions are available online. 

Emily Mott

  1. Mask and meeting guidance unchanged since June. There is a program checklist for meetings.
  2. Piscataquis Valley Fair will be held Aug 26-29.
  3. Judges are needed for the Exhibit Hall. Anette has a signup sheet for volunteers in the Bell Building.
  4. The Summer Learning Series is going on now. Here is the link to the series.  https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/4-h-summer-learning/.
  5. The Parkman Area Adventure Club is starting up, accepting new members of all ages. The Commons will allow us to hold meetings there.

Trisha Smith

  1. Garden in a Box is going well. There are 16 gardeners and 5 libraries in the program. Garden coaches have a ZOOM meeting once a month.
  2. Merilee has a new project with the JOY Truck, traveling around the county with resources for people in collaboration with the library.
  3. Trisha wore the carrot suit to the dance/block party.
  4. The Share Shed is in place at the Extension office and is being used. Anette is trying to keep a poundage record of things in the shed. People are dropping off non-perishable goods as well as produce.
  5. When using hashtags, capitalize the first letter of each word of the phrase so it works better for people with screen readers. 
  6. Trisha has been working in the Sedo school garden.
  7. She has put out Extension materials at the block party and the dance party at the Commons. The last Saturday of every month is a dance party at the Commons. The Commons is interested in multi-generational activities.
  8. The Food Cupboard will continue through August and September on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of each month.
  9. We will need to do a One Tomato survey on the 3rd Thursday in September.
  10. Trisha did a weed management class at the library.

Unfinished Business

  • Annual Report–
    • The draft of the annual report is available. Let Donna know if you notice any typos or have suggestions.
  • 2021 Piscataquis Program Plans
    • Judy asked what was involved with helping at the Fair. Volunteers greet the public, open and close the building, and answer questions. 
  • Extension on the Road Plans
  • What can the Executive Committee do to assist staff to reach more people and be more effective?

New Business

  • New Covid-19 protocol – Reopening Plan
    • People must wear masks when indoors on any UMaine property or at UMaine-led activities. There is a protocol checklist for meetings and classes. 
  • 2022 Piscataquis County Budget Request Options-
    • The request goes in at the end of August. In 2020, we asked to be open 3.5 days per week before COVID. We did not ask for any increase in 2021. This year (2022) options include a balance of funding to be open 4 days per week + negotiated pay increases. Another option includes funding for CL2 support staff. In 2020 we told the county commissioners that we want to work up to being open 5-days a week. The fourth option would be to increase home horticulture hours to 4 days a week. There was a discussion about these options. We ask for operating expenses (personnel & services).
    • Donna will get information on Step levels of CL1 & CL2. Also, consider a survey at the fair to ask for program information interest.
  • Other The next meeting will be on August 9 at 3:00 to address the upcoming budget request by ZOOM. Staff needs to get their activity reports in the Google Folder. They will not be discussed at the meeting.

Meeting Adjourned at 5:00 p.m.

Next Special Meeting: August 9th, 2021 by Zoom  at 3 pm 

Next regular meeting: September 13th at 3 pm by Zoom and live (place to be determined)

We will be meeting every other month (odd months) in 2021 at 3 pm by Zoom and live when possible.