January 04th, 2016

The Big Spring Master Gardener Association held their annual year-end Celebration on December 15, 2015 at the Clyde Austin 4-H Center in Greeneville.  Master Gardeners were recognized for their individual and group achievements in 2015, as well as participated in their favorite “Christmas Movie Character” contest, in which Kyler Johnson was awarded the most creative; Jane Karuschkat was the recipient of the most traditional; and most confusing costume was given to Mary Goldman.   

2015 was the culmination of 6 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:  Bob Fleegle, Patricia Hayes, Lamar Neas, Virginia Williams, and Heather Youngblood. 

Those receiving recognition as VIP’s, which are those that have been active members for three years included:  Aliceson Bales, George Blanks, Lois Blanks, Phyllis Conner, Mary Goldman, Ken Harrison, Penny Humphreys, and Laura Rosenberg.
Many members received recognition in service awards for their annual commitment in volunteering.

Bronze
50-100 Hours
Lois Blanks
Bob Fleegle
Kyler Johnson
Carol Mallory
Darlene Moore
Lamar Neas
Mary Anna Pirozzoli
Donna Rogers
Zaria Simoni​
Silver
100-200 Hours
Aliceson Bales
Michele Bradley
Phyllis Conner
Martha Fluharty
Ken harrison
Patricia Hayes
Beth Hembree
Penny Humphreys
Julie Ibanez
Glenn Karuschkat
Jerry Kische
Pat Moore
Amy Reid
Lydia Sweatt
Virginia Williams
Heather Youngblood
Gold
200-300 Hours
Jeanne Driese
Jeff Gilliland
Platinum
300+ Hours
Mary Goldman
Jeanie Jackson

BSMGA members that gave over 100 hours of volunteer service in 2015 were recognized for their dedication and commitment with a certificate and oak leaf pins to commemorate their accomplishments.  These recipients were: 
 
2015 Gold Leaf Club Members - Members with over 100 hours of service
21 MG’s contributed 3820.15 hours in 2015 totaling $88,130.86

Aliceson Bales
Michele Bradley
Phyllis Conner
Jeanne Driese (2)
Martha Fluharty
Jeff Gilliland (2)
Mary Goldman (3)
Ken Harrison
Patricia Hayes
Beth Hembree
Penny Humphreys
Julie Ibanez
Jeanie Jackson (4)
Glenn Karuschkat
Jerry Kische
Pat Moore
Amy Reid
Lydia Sweatt
Virginia Williams
Heather Youngblood

 
The following members were recognized for outstanding service to BSMGA:

2015 Bud Sprout Winner – Glenn Karuschkat

2015 Community Service Award Winner – Aliceson Bales

2015 Greene Thumb Award Winner – Mary Goldman

2015 Club Service Award Winner – Michele Bradley

2015 Excellence in Service Award Winner (for most hours) – Jeanie Jackson

Honorary Big Spring Master Gardener – Justin Aiken, Peter Ibanez, Jane Karuschkat

The following individuals were elected to serve on the 2016 Leadership Team:

President:  Michele Bradley
Vice President: Jerry Kische
Secretary: Julie Ibanez
Treasurer:  Glenn Karuschkat
Parliamentarian:  Lamar Neas & Virginia Williams
Reporter: Mary Goldman & Jeanie Jackson
2015 Class Rep:  Amy Reid
 
Last but not least, the BSMGA certified ten interns into the BSMGA program during 2015.  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 2015: Julie Ibanez, Kyler Johnson, Glenn Karuschkat, Carol Mallory, Mary Anna Pirozzoli, Amy Reid, Donna Rogers, Zaria Simoni, Lydia Sweatt, and Cheryl Van Dyck. 
 
As the value of a volunteer hour was worth $23.07 in 2015, according to the Department of Labor statistics, BSMGA contributed $111,040.52 in economic in Greene County through their annual cumulative total of 4813.20 hours.

The BSMGA is looking forward to yet another year of exciting and worthwhile community gardening projects throughout Greene County.  Projects include:  maintaining the Greene County Museum landscape; participating in weekly gardening seminars at the Boys & Girls Club; maintaining the New Hope Cemetery landscape; maintaining and facilitating educational seminars for the Soup Kitchen gardens; 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 7thh 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 through 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
 
 

Costume particiaptnts

Platinum award winners giving over 300 over during 2015.

Gold Leaf Club Memebrs giving over 100 hours of service during 2015.
 

BSMGA members receiving their 5 year pin for 5 consecutive years of continued service to BSMGA.