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MASTER GARDENER PROGRAM POLICY

Yuma Master Gardener Program Policy

The Master Gardener Program, administered by the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension in Yuma County, is a partnership between Cooperative Extension and volunteers enrolled in the program. Cooperative Extension trains, certifies, and supervises Master Gardener volunteers who help Cooperative Extension provide to the public information endorsed by the University of Arizona on home horticulture.

CERTIFICATION AND RECERTIFICATION

Upon graduation from the Master Gardener Volunteer Training Program volunteers are designated as Associate Master Gardeners. In order to become Certified Master Gardeners, Associates must complete and document 50 hours of approved volunteer service within one year of the date of their graduation, fill out a volunteer profile form, and sign a Memorandum of Agreement.
 Each year after certification, to become re-certified, Master Gardeners must submit documentation of completion of 50 hours of approved volunteer service and 12 hours of approved continuing education. The Master Gardener Year runs from January 1 to December 31.

I.          In order for activities to count toward approved volunteer service the Master Gardener must be identified as a Master Gardener by wearing a Master Gardener Badge. If applicable, promotion of the event should include reference to the contribution made by Master Gardeners.
Activities which count toward approved volunteer service:
(50 hours required of Associate Master Gardeners)
(50 hours per year required of Master Gardeners)

A.       Any free educational activity where you provide information on non-commercial horticulture and gardening to the public and you are represented as a University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Master Gardener. However, only 10% of your minimum volunteer requirement can be individual consultations with neighbors or friends.

B.        Answering home gardening and pest management phone calls and helping visitors at the Cooperative Extension Office or Satellite Offices. This activity can be used for volunteer activity or for continuing education (See Section IV.I).

C.        Unpaid horticulture talks, demonstrations, tours, plant clinics, staffing exhibits, helping with seminars, etc., when you are represented as a Master Gardener.

D.       Unpaid radio and TV appearances.

 E.        Writing unpaid articles for a newspaper or newsletter and preparing publications. The byline must include "University of Arizona Master Gardener."

F.        Time spent in organization, research, planning, and preparation for a talk, plant clinic, educational exhibit, seminar, or other Master Gardener projects or events.

G.       Preparation of art work, posters, fliers, or displays that benefit the Master Gardener Program or the Cooperative Extension.

H.       Time spent on committees or as a coordinator for any Master Gardener purpose. Work with other groups as an educator or organizer of a horticultural event.
See Section Ill. B.

J.         Organization of reference materials, clerical, or administrative work for the Master Gardener Program or Cooperative Extension.

K.       Picking up and delivering supplies for a talk, clinic, exhibit, seminar, or other Master Gardener functions.

L.        Work on research projects and reports for the purpose of developing and disseminating information on non-commercial horticulture or pest control topics under the supervision of a Cooperative Extension advisor.
M.       Travel time to and from a volunteer activity.

Hours beyond the minimum requirement may not be carried over to the next year.

II.        Activities that do not count toward volunteer hours of service:

A.        Physical labor for a community garden, home gardener, or community group cannot be counted unless it is being done to teach others how to do something.  However, installation, maintenance and support of sanctioned educational gardens may be counted as volunteer hours. Contact a Master Gardener Instructional Specialist to find out if a project is eligible. Keep in mind that we are educators, not a free source of labor for other agencies or community groups.

B.        Attendance at continuing education projects.

C.        Any activity for which you charge a fee.
When the Master Gardener Program began, Master Gardeners primarily answered telephone requests for horticultural information. They also staffed plant clinics and information booths. Those opportunities are still vital to Cooperative Extension. in recent years, however, creative Master Gardener and Cooperative Extension agents have recognized that talents which citizens bring to the Master Gardener Program can be utilized in a variety of horticultural activities.
The activities described above are by no means a complete list. Please consult the Master Gardener Instructional Specialists if you have any questions or are in doubt about a project being eligible to fulfill your volunteer requirement. Exceptions to the above rules for volunteer hours may be granted by the Extension Office.

III.   Activities which count toward approved continuing education:

No hours required of Associate Master Gardeners and 12 hours per year required of Master Gardeners

A.       Attendance of horticultural or related lectures, demonstrations, and field trips, including but not restricted to Cooperative Extension sponsored events.

B.        Study of horticultural or related publications, including but not restricted to Cooperative Extension publications.

C.        Horticultural or related radio & television programs, including but not restricted to Cooperative Extension productions.

D.       Other activities which increase horticultural knowledge and are applicable.

 F.        At least 9 hours of the requirement must be educational activities sponsored by the Master Gardener Program such as meetings, Master Gardener Updates, educational tours, the Master Gardener Conferences, watching Farm & Home, or other activities.

G.       A maximum of 3 hours per year spent doing research to answer telephone calls and assist visitors at the Cooperative Extension Office or Satellite Offices may be used for as credit for continuing education.

Hours beyond the minimum requirement may not be carried over to the next year.

IV.       Travel Time
Travel time to and from a volunteer activity may be submitted on the appropriate line on the official reporting form. Travel time will be counted towards overall totals of volunteer hours, but will not be counted towards satisfying the minimum volunteer requirements.
 
V.        Documentation

A.        Records of volunteer service and continuing education must be submitted on the official reporting form. Documentation must be legible and contain a sufficient description for each activity. Submit one copy to the Master Gardener Office and retain one copy for personal records. Update the Office file at least quarterly (preferably monthly) for volunteer hours and education requirements prior to December 31.

B.        Each Master Gardener must maintain an updated profile sheet in office files.  It is recommended that these forms be updated on a yearly basis.

C.        Each Master Gardener must have signed a Memorandum of Agreement, to be kept on file at the Extension Office.

D.       The final annual update of the Office database will be done no later than January 15 of the following year. The Master Gardener mailing list will then be purged of all inactive members.

  VI.   Exceptions
A.        Master Gardeners who have substantially, but not completely, fulfilled the requirement may submit a written request to the Extension Agent in charge to be allowed to donate the remaining service during the following year in addition to that year's requirement.

B.        Master Gardeners who do not meet these criteria due to illness, family emergency, or other reasons may submit a written request to the Extension Agent in charge in order to be classified as temporarily inactive. Temporarily inactive Master Gardeners will be required to complete only the current year's requirements during the next year.

C.        Any Master Gardener who resigns may request to rejoin the program by submitting to the Master Gardener Program Director a plan to donate 50 hours of volunteer service and participate in 20 hours of continuing education during the first year of reinstatement.

USE OF THE MASTER GARDENER TITLE
As a Master Gardener you are representing the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension.

1. Your Master Gardener name badge must be worn when you are engaged in Master Gardener activities.

II.       You may not charge for services you provide as a Master Gardener except to request reimbursement for personal expenses such as travel and duplication of handouts, etc. If you are charging for a service, you may not do so as an official representative of the University of Arizona Master Gardener Program.

• Master Gardener credentials may be proudly displayed except when the use of such implies endorsement by the University of Arizona or Maricopa County Cooperative Extension for monetary gains.