- Author: Melissa G. Womack
- Contributor: Marcia Rosenberg
Do you have a delicious local delicacy or a favorite gardening tool?
Are you an artist with a unique masterpiece?
Do you have a vacation home a fellow Master Gardener could enjoy?
Are you a crafter that loves to build birdhouses or design fairy gardens?
Get creative, have fun and help support a program you love!
Please consider donating items for the 2014 UC Master Gardener Conference silent auction. The silent auction is a unique opportunity to raise funds that help offset costs and provide scholarships for attendees at future UC Master Gardener conferences.
“Growing Together” is the theme of this year's conference and can be incorporated into a variety of exciting donation ideas, including a county basket.
Donating silent auction items is easy
Work with your coordinator and designate a member in your county responsible for collecting donation(s), forward contact information to Marcia Rosenberg, silent auction coordinator. Once you have determined the items your county will donate (recommended minimum value $50 ) - download the Silent Auction application and return no later than August 1, 2014.
Return application:
Attn: Marcia Rosenberg
RE: Silent Auction
Fax: 559.225.5482
Email: johnmarcia3000@sbcglobal.net
Visit the conference website to learn more details about the silent auction and how to package silent auction donation baskets. We are grateful to have generous and dedicated University of California, Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Master Gardeners and are looking forward to hearing from you!
- Author: Melissa G. Womack
An alternate local lodging list for near the Tenaya Lodge is now available. It is highly recommended attendees secure lodging for the 2014 conference in advance.
Carpooling is recommended for Master Gardeners staying in or near Oakhurst, Calif. If a significant amount of Master Gardener attendees elect to stay at The Pines Resort located in Bass Lake, Calif. a morning and evening bus will pick up and drop off at the conference.
The statewide office is currently working with the Tenaya Lodge to verify all room reservations under the conference code are valid and duplicates are not present. Continue to check-in with the Tenaya to see if additional rooms are available as the conference date is closer.
- Author: Melissa G. Womack
As University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Master Gardeners, we are all doing great things. Search for Excellence (SFE) awards is an opportunity to celebrate and share accomplishment by showcasing the tremendous talents of Master Gardeners statewide. Master Gardeners are invited to submit an educational and innovative county project for consideration April 1 – July 1, 2014.
What is the “Search for Excellence”?
Master Gardeners have successfully developed outreach projects in their local communities and have dedicated an huge amount of time and resources to ensure the project's success. The Search for Excellence awards are a small way to recognize and thank Master Gardeners for all that they do.
Search for Excellence is a statewide competition which recognizes county UCCE Master Gardener Programs for outstanding projects that support the mission of the UC Master Gardener Program.
What are SFE Categories?
Projects must fall under one of the following categories:
- Youth programs
- Demonstration gardens
- Workshop or presentation
- Community service
- Innovative projects
- Special needs audiences (senior, disabled or horticultural therapy)
- Research (applied scientific methodology)
What Projects Count for SFE Award Considerations?
Project submissions must fit the following parameters to qualify for SFE awards:
- Projects judged on merit for work completed between 2011 – 2013
- Projects must be completed for a full year to be considered
- Entries must be group, not individual, projects
- Each county may submit multiple SFE applications, only one project per category will be considered
Search for Excellence awards are designed to highlight the statewide conferences and we hope you will consider submitting an application for a project in your county that educates the public in a special, fun and creative way. Additional details including guidelines and an application for the 2014 SFE awards are attached below and also available on the 2014 UC Master Garden Conference website.
If you think one of the projects is a candidate for an award based on its' development, implementation and impact in the community, let your Master Gardener Program Coordinator or leader know about it!
Questions? Contact Kevin Marini, 530-889-7399
2014 SFE Application
2014 SFE Guidelines
- Author: Melissa G. Womack
Thank you for registering early to ensure the UC Master Gardener Conference will be an extraordinary event. Currently more than 400 attendees have registered for the conference!
The Tenaya Lodge is officially sold out of rooms (don't panic) from Oct. 8 -10, 2014. There are a few ways you can do to help manage the situation as outlined below:
- Attendees are encouraged to check with roommate(s) for duplicate hotel reservations and release unneeded reservations as a courtesy to their fellow Master Gardeners.
- Still need lodging? Continue to check on room availability by contacting the Tenaya Lodge directly, (559)683-6555. There is no waiting list - rooms are offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
- The Statewide Office is looking at alternate accommodations and those options will be published as soon as they become available.
We are reviewing the lodging list from the Tenaya Lodge to ensure accuracy of reservations. Be on the look-out for an email confirmation from UC ANR regarding your lodging plans in the upcoming weeks. We still have plenty of space for UC Master Gardeners who would like to attend the event.
We promise to keep you informed on hotel updates and conference activities in the near future!
- Author: Melissa G. Womack
Registration has never been easier. Follow these three simple steps to completing your registration for what is sure to be the gardening event of the year!
A huge thank you to University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC DANR) for their generous support. The UC DANR cost offset helped significantly reduce registration fees for all attendees.
$275 registration fee includes:
- All track sessions
- Keynote speakers
- Welcome reception (Weds. Oct. 8, 2014)
- Lunch and hosted dinner (Thurs. Oct. 9, 2014)
- Continental breakfast (Fri. Oct. 10, 2014)
- Conference activities: MarketPlace, Search for Excellence, Vendor Mall . . . and more!
Read more about each session on the conference website. Make sure and register early – class sizes are limited!
Join Mariposa, Madera and Fresno County volunteers for some of the most exciting and diverse tours offered at a UCCE Master Gardener Conference. From taking in the majestic view of Yosemite Valley to sipping wine along the Madera wine trail, there is surely a tour activity for you to enjoy!
- Loofa Farm & Mount Bullion Vineyard
- Gardens of the Central Valley
- Cowboy Dinner, train ride and campfire
- Full day at Yosemite Park
- Zip- lining adventure
- . . . and much more!
The Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite is located in Fish Camp, Calif. just two miles south of Yosemite National Park's south entrance. Guests can enjoy this AAA four diamond-rated hotel's many amenities, which include:
- Full service spa
- Two heated indoor swimming pools
- On-site activities – Archery, racquetball and rock wall climbing
- Walking and hiking trails
- Pet friendly
- . . . and much more!
The entire Tenaya Lodge is reserved for UCCE Master Gardeners attending the conference. Reserve your room early and secure the reduced $169 per night room rate.
Questions? Contact UC ANR Program Support Unit