BSMGA Year-End Celebration

Jeanne Driese, Randi Nott & Michele Bradley (not pictures, Emily Grubbs), recipients of “5 year continuous service” awards.

The Big Spring Master Gardener Association held their annual year-end Celebration on December 18, 2014 at the Clyde Austin 4-H Center in Greeneville.  Master Gardeners were recognized for their individual and group achievements in 2014, as well as participated in an “ugly attire” contest, in which Darlene Moore was the grand-prize winner. 

Sandee Cook was recognized for her 10 year commitment to the Master Gardener program, earning her 10-year pin and lifetime member status at the state level.

As 2014 was the culmination of 5 years of service for the Big Spring Master Gardener Association in Greene County, the following members were recognized for their dedication to the program for five consecutive years of service:  Michele Bradley, Emily Grubbs, Randi Nott and Jeanne Driese. 

Those receiving recognition as VIP’s, which are those that have been active members for three years included:  Danny Crum, Diane Crum, Beth Hembree, Jerry Kische, Pat Moore, Bev Walker, and Darlene Moore.

Many members received recognition in service awards for their annual commitment in volunteering.

Bronze (50-100 Hours)
Aliceson Bales
Martha Fluharty
Beth Hembree
Lamar Neas
Teresa Uhls

Silver (100-200 Hours)
Michele Bradley
Phyllis Conner
Bob Fleegle
Jeff Gilliland
Patricia Hayes
Penny Humphreys
Pat Moore
Wolf Spendel
Virginia Williams
Heather Youngblood


Gold (200-300 Hours)

Jeanne Driese
Mary Goldman
Jeanie Jackson
Randi Nott

Platinum (300+ Hours)
Sandee Cook
Bev Walker

BSMGA members that gave over 100 hours of volunteer service in 2014 were recognized for their dedication and commitment with a certificate and oak leaf pins to commemorate their accomplishments.  These recipients were: 

2014 Gold Leaf Club Members - Members with over 100 hours of service
17 MG’s contributed 3273.58 hours in 2014 totaling $73,819.22
Michele Bradley
Phyllis Conner
Sandee Cook(3)
Jeanne Driese (2)
Bob Fleegle
Jeff Gilliland
Mary Goldman (2)
Patricia Hayes
Penny Humphreys
Jeanie Jackson
Jerry Kische
Pat Moore
Randi Nott (2)
Wolf Spendel
Bev Walker (6)
Virginia Williams
Heather Youngblood

The following members were recognized for outstanding service to BSMGA:
2014 Bud Sprout Winner – Jeanie Jackson
2014 Community Service Award Winner – Mary Goldman
2014 Greene Thumb Award Winner – Heather Youngblood
2014 Club Service Award Winner – Jerry Kische
2014 Excellence in Service Award Winner (for most hours) – Bev Walker
Honorary Big Spring Master Gardener - Rob Ellis

The following individuals were elected to serve on the 2015 Leadership Team:
President:  Michele Bradley
Vice President: Jerry Kische
Secretary: Sandee Cook
Treasurer:  Sandee Cook
Parliamentarian:  Lamar Neas
Bud Sprout:  Jeanie Jackson

Last but not least, the BSMGA certified several interns into the BSMGA program during 2014.  These members participated in 40 hours of classroom training, as well as devoted 40 hours of volunteering to community service projects within Greene County’s BSMGA program.  The newest additions to the BSMGA in 2014: Martha Fluharty, Jeff Gilliland, Jeanie Jackson, Wolfe Spendel and Teresa Uhls. 

Upon completion of volunteer hours, the following four will also become certified BSMGA members in 2015: Neil Burgner, Sharon Barger, Mickey Sizemore and Carol Jernigan. 

As the value of a volunteer hour was worth $22.55 in 2014, according to the Department of Labor statistics, BSMGA contributed $91,402.59 in economic in Greene County through their annual cumulative total of 4053.33 hours.

The BSMGA is looking forward to yet another year of exciting and worthwhile community gardening projects throughout Greene County.  Project include:  maintaining the Nathanael Greene Museum landscape; participating in weekly gardening seminars at the Boys & Girls Club; maintaining the New Hope Cemetery landscape; contributing to build the Soup Kitchen gardens; facilitating educational seminars for the Food Bank; designing and implementing historic, period-era gardens at the Dickson Williams Mansion; growing the landscape beds at the Greene County Fairgrounds; hosting a Plant Sale on May 9th at the Greene County Fairgrounds; and a Farm2Fork dinner in the early summer, as well as participating in Greene County Fair events; participating in community events such as Kid’s Day on the Farm; the Greene County Christmas Parade; and being available to answer questions in the Master Gardener lab at the Greene County UT Extension Office every Monday and Thursday from 10 AM – 3PM.

For additional information on the BSMGA, please feel free to contact the Greene County UT Extension Office at 423-798-1710 or e-mail Melody Rose, Extension Agent and Master Gardener Coordinator at mtrose@utk.edu.  Also check out the BSMGA website at bsmga.com

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Sandee Cook recognized for 10-years of service to the Master Garden Association

Darlene Moore, winner of the “Ugliest Attire” Contest