November - Oregon State University Extension Service

Meet the Board Candidates
The following Master Gardeners are candidates for the 2014 Lane County Master Gardener Board. See the ballot on the back
page of this edition of the Garden Gate. The biographies on this page were written by the candidates.
Barbara Dumesnil: In 2013
I served as the LCMGA President-elect,
so I will automatically
become President in
2014. I am a retired Middle
School science teacher who
became a MG in 2007. I have
served on the LCMGA Board
as Secretary and President
Elect. I enjoy teaching Vermicomposting
and composting as a Compost Specialist
and I am working on my hours to become a Diagnostics
Specialist. During my first several years as an
MG I worked the hotline weekly, then spent a couple
of years as a Mentor. As President next year, I am
very excited about the upcoming move to the Kaufmann
house and the increased visibility the location
will provide, as well as outdoor space for demonstration
gardens.
Jeff Muir, candidate for
President-elect. I have been
a Master Gardener since
2011. I am also a Compost
and Pruning Specialist as
well as treasurer of the Diagnostic
Specialist committee. I
have been gardening with joy
for more than 45 years. My
current passion is plant diagnosis.
I love to try to solve problems!
Don Burkhalter, candidate
for Vice President
I am a recent immigrant to
Oregon having retired here
last year from Mississippi.
Compared to Miss., Oregon
is a paradise. I will not be
moving again. Shortly after
moving, I signed up for and
completed the MG class
beginning in Jan. of this year. It was a great class and
extremely helpful to me, having bought a house with
a terraced yard from hell. Because of the class, good
advice I have received from other MGs, what I have
learned serving as a volunteer, and the time slaving
in it when not volunteering for MG's, my yard has
been promoted to purgatory.
I have learned much of value from the MG program.
I have enjoyed the opportunity to volunteer on behalf
of MG's. My placing my name on the ballot as a candidate
for Vice President is my attempt to, at least
partially, payback to the MG organization for what it
has provided to me. If elected, I will work to continue
the successes of Master Gardeners.
Vickie Coover, candidate
for Treasurer. My name is
Vickie Coover, and I just
completed the Master Gardener
class this last winter.
I retired last year from Levi
Strauss & Company, following
a career in
Accounting/Finance for both
large and small companies. Other than gardening, my
interests include traveling, hiking, sewing, photography,
and my two Labs. I have really enjoyed meeting
other Master Gardeners and sharing experiences,
mostly with me learning from theirs!
Ann Rollins, candidate for (and current)
Secretary. I am a transplant
from Boston, where I worked
for over 40 years in the computer
industry. I graduated in
the MG class of 2011 and
have been hooked ever
since. My interests include
diagnostics because it’s so
hard, and worms because
they’re so friendly.
Diane Lane, candidate for OMGA Rep. My name
is Diane Lane, but I am mostly
known as “The Macaroon
Lady.” I have been a gardener
my entire life, but I became a
Master Gardener in 2003 and
completed Pruning Specialist
and Compost Specialist
courses at the same time. I
helped coordinate the Pruning
Specialist group until the end of 2011. It has also
been my pleasure to act as a mentor to several groups
of students in the Master Gardener program. I try to
Continued on page 17
The Garden Gate November 2013