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| I. St.
Louis Master Gardener Program and Participants
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- The
designation, “St. Louis Master Gardener,” (hereafter referred to as
“Master Gardener”) is to be used exclusively by trained and
certified Master Gardeners in educational programs and approved
projects that provide information and answer gardening questions
under the auspices of University Outreach and Extension and the
Missouri Botanical Garden (hereafter referred to as the
“Partnership”). Identification as a Master Gardener is valid only
when an individual is a participant in programs sponsored by the
Partnership. Only those individuals currently certified in the
Partnership program may call themselves Master Gardeners.
- Master Gardeners are advised not to advertise as Master
Gardeners in their names or places of business, nor be listed as
such in business advertising. Association with commercial activity
or products, or the giving of implied Partnership endorsement to any
product or place of business, is a violation of Master Gardener
program policies. Master Gardener training and experience may be
given as qualifications when seeking employment. However, once
employed, Master Gardener credentials may not be displayed.
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| II. Master
Gardener Program Structure and Definitions
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| A. Master
Gardener Trainee
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- A Master
Gardener Trainee is an individual who is in the process of
completing the required Master Gardener Core Course (Level I) and
the first year’s volunteer hours requirement.
- Acceptance as
a Master Gardener Trainee is contingent upon signing the Missouri
Master Gardener Exchange of Services Agreement (Appendix A) stating
that the individual will fulfill the complete training program,
consisting of classroom instruction and intern volunteer service,
and the Master Gardener Volunteer Agreement (Appendix B), which
specifies the terms under which the Trainee will serve as a
volunteer.
- Individuals must receive orientation to the program, including
a review of Partnership policies and volunteer opportunities,
before completing and signing the agreement. St. Louis Master
Gardener Program Coordinators (hereafter referred to as “Program
Coordinators”) and the Trainee will keep copies of
signed agreements.
- If trainee volunteer payback is not completed, the individual
agrees to pay the same fee as for the Non-Volunteer Horticultural
Training Option (Section III C 2).
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B. Active
or Certified Master Gardener
- An active or certified Master Gardener is an individual who
has completed both the core course and intern volunteer
requirements and who remains current with volunteer and continuing
education requirements.
- To maintain certification as a Master Gardener the individual
must report annually at least fifty (50) hours of
volunteer service in Partnership approved programs each year
(January 1 through December 31) and comply with the
conditions set forth in Appendices A and B. Ten (10) hours of
continuing education each year are strongly
recommended.
- The Program Coordinators and the St. Louis Master Gardener
Advisory Committee (hereafter referred to as the “Advisory
Committee”) may grant exceptions to these requirements for
extenuating circumstances.
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| C.
Semi-active Master Gardener
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- A
Semi-active Master Gardener is one who in a given year has not
fulfilled the annual hour requirement necessary to continue in
Active Master Gardener status. Master Gardeners may remain in
Semi-active status for no more than two consecutive years, after
which time they will be placed on Inactive status. A Semi-active
Master Gardener may return to Active status by fulfilling the
current year volunteer requirement.
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| D.
Decertified Master Gardener
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- A
Decertified Master Gardener is one who may no longer use the Master
Gardener title or participate in Master Gardener programs and
activities. A certified Master Gardener may be decertified by the
Program Coordinators with the concurrence of the Advisory Committee
if the conditions under which certification was granted are not
fulfilled.
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| E. Master
Gardener Emeritus
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- A Master
Gardener who has been an active Master Gardener for a total of ten
(10) years will be granted Emeritus status upon request to the
Program Coordinators and the Advisory Committee. There will be no
volunteer requirements for Emeritus status; however, Emeritus Master
Gardeners will continue to receive Master Gardener mailings and may
attend any continuing education programs offered to Master
Gardeners.
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F. Leave of
Absence
- An active Master Gardener may submit to the Program
Coordinators and the Advisory Committee a written request for a
leave of absence from the Master Gardener program.
- A leave, when granted, shall not exceed two (2) consecutive
years.
- A Master Gardener who does not become active after two (2)
years leave of absence will be considered inactive.
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| G. Inactive
Master Gardener
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- Any Master
Gardener who does not meet the requirements for Active, Semi-Active
or Emeritus status and is not on Leave of Absence will be considered
Inactive. An Inactive Master Gardener will not be able to attend
continuing education programs for Master Gardeners or receive Master
Gardener mailings.
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H.
Reinstatement
- The Program Coordinators and the Advisory Committee shall
consider a written request for reinstatement of a Master Gardener
from Leave of Absence or Inactive status on an individual basis.
- The circumstances under which the individual left the program
shall be considered.
- The Program Coordinators and the Advisory Committee shall
determine what retraining, volunteer activity or continuing
education is necessary for reinstatement and will so inform the
individual requesting reinstatement.
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I. Master
Gardener Mentor
A Master Gardener Mentor is an Active or Emeritus Master
Gardener who is paired with a Master Gardener Trainee to guide
that person into a successful Master Gardener
Experience.
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| III. Master
Gardener Training
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A.
Recruitment, Application, Selection and Training
- Recruitment of Master Gardener Trainees is based on a
Partnership action plan and an established need for local Master
Gardener volunteer activities.
- Applicants to the Master Gardener Program must complete and
submit a standardized Master Gardener Application Form (Appendix
C).
- Program Coordinators and the Master Gardener Recruitment and
Selection Subcommittee will review completed applications.
- Screening techniques such as in-depth applications, in-person
interviews, and reference checks may be used to determine if
candidates are appropriate for the program.
- Final decisions for acceptance into the program will be made
without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion,
age, disability or status as a Vietnam-era veteran.
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B. Training
Fee
- All Master Gardener Trainees must pay a prescribed training
fee. The fee covers expenses associated with training, such as
Grounds for Gardening, mailings, etc.
- An assessment of $20.00, included in the fee mentioned in B1
above, is remitted to the State Master Gardener Office. For this
fee the State Master Gardener Office will provide a subscription
to the state Master Gardener newsletter, Heartland
Horticulture.
- A refund schedule will be maintained and executed by the
Program Coordinators and will be consistent with policy on
absenteeism as described in Section III E. The amount refunded
will vary with the amount of the prescribed training fee. In any
event, the refund will have as many as three components: (a) It
will be reduced by the amount of a non-refundable admission
assessment to be deducted from the total training fee. (b) After
the first class it will be reduced by a charge sufficient to cover
the cost of the Grounds for Gardening book issued to all
students.(c) It will be reduced on a scale varying by week for
requests received after the first three weeks of class as
necessary. There will be no refund granted for requests made after
the fourth week.
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C.
Nonvolunteer Horticultural Training
- Based upon space availability and program priorities
(volunteer needs) the Program Coordinators may authorize
non-volunteer horticultural training for individuals to take the
Master Gardener Core Course without the volunteer payback.
- In lieu of volunteer service, the Partnership
requires a fee of $250 per person ($20 of which is
returned to the State Master Gardener Office) for non-volunteer
horticulture training.
- Participants in this option receive a certificate of course
completion, but are not eligible for certification as Active
Master Gardeners.
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D. Core
Course (Level I) Topics
Core Course topics will conform to standards for training of
Master Gardeners throughout the nation as well as those contained
in the Core Course textbook published by University Outreach and
Extension. Additional topics may be included.
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E. Core
Course Absenteeism
Not more than three (3) classes may be missed.
All missed classes of the Core Course (Level I) training must be
made up within one month of the end of the training session. If
more than three (3) classes are missed, the individual must
reapply for the next available class.
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F. Advanced
Training
A certified Master Gardener is eligible to apply for Advanced
Master Gardener training (Level II). Specialized topics will be
offered. Program Coordinators and the Recruitment and Selection
Subcommittee will determine requirements for
participation. A prescribed fee will be assessed.
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| IV.
Volunteer Service
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| A. Approved
Activities
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- The
Advisory Committee and Program Coordinators will identify, review
and evaluate Master Gardener opportunities for volunteering within
state guidelines. The Partnership’s Standing Subcommittee on
Operations will be informed in writing of all approved activities.
Guidelines for volunteer service are that the activity should be
educational and performed or directed by Master Gardeners who are
volunteers representing the Partnership. A good rule-of-thumb for
determining which activities are appropriate is a positive response
to the question, “Does this activity contribute to the goals and
mission of the Partnership and the Master Gardeners?”
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| B. Public
Education Activities
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- Master
Gardener public education activities may include, but are not
limited to, training of community volunteers, preparation of
and presentations at demonstration sites and at fairs,
booths, etc.; plant clinics; preparation of leaflets, newspaper
columns and other items that are available to the general public;
and informational presentations to identified audiences such as
garden clubs, school groups, homeowner associations, church groups,
etc. Master Gardener service includes the training of volunteers
such as Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Masons, or other groups who assist
the Master Gardener with projects and programs. Also qualifying as
education are the construction or development of a site to be used
for educational programming, such as a water-wise landscape
demonstration garden; and the time spent in planning, implementing,
and reporting on educational efforts.
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| C. Dual
Capacity Service
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- Volunteer
service may be done in a dual capacity. For example, a Master
Gardener also may be a member of a garden club or other civic group.
Master Gardener volunteer hours accumulated in Partnership-approved
activities are reported by both the Missouri Botanical Garden and
University Outreach and Extension. If such volunteer activities are
performed for a third organization, that entity also may report the
hours.
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| D.
Administrative Activities
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- Examples of
Master Gardener administrative activities include general Master
Gardener business meetings; planning and conducting Master Gardener
training classes; working on the Master Gardener News; communication
efforts such as telephone trees; attending state association
meetings; and any other activities that maintain the Master Gardener
Program.
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| E.
Unapproved Activities
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- An example
of an activity that does not count as Master Gardener time is that
of a garden center employee being paid by an employer to conduct a
plant clinic. Even though the employee may be an Active Master
Gardener or an Intern, the paid time does not qualify as volunteer
service. Administrative volunteer service shall not result in
financial gain for any volunteer involved in the activity.
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| F. Using
Best Judgment
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- In deciding
whether a project should qualify for volunteer time and what is
valid volunteer service and what is not, Master Gardeners should use
their best judgment. If questions arise, consult the Program
Coordinators.
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| G. Fees and
Reimbursements
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- Master
Gardener programs may collect fees to cover program expenses and
operating costs, but individuals should not profit from Master
Gardener activities. For example, an individual Master Gardener
could collect mileage for approved programs, be reimbursed for
supplies used in a Master Gardener project, or be reimbursed for
telephone and postage related to Master Gardener programs. If
honoraria (minus approved expenses) are received for speaking
engagements, they should be turned over to the Master Gardener
program; otherwise, the activity does not qualify as Master Gardener
volunteer service.
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| V.
Continuing Education
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| Program
Coordinators and the Advisory Committee shall determine continuing
education programming and define acceptable educational activities.
The basic guideline is that the Master Gardener continuing education
should augment and reinforce the Master Gardener core course
training. In general, such activities are characterized by their
organized nature. Examples include St. Louis Master Gardener
educational and enrichment programs, Missouri Botanical Garden
educational and enrichment programs, state Master Gardener
Conferences, meetings and symposia of national and international
horticultural organizations and garden club and plant society
lectures. Reading gardening books and watching gardening shows on
television are not generally counted as continuing education. If
questions arise, consult the Program Coordinators. As referenced in
Section II C 2, ten (10) hours of continuing education per year are
encouraged.
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VI.
Reporting Master Gardener Volunteer Hours
- Volunteer hours for approved programs shall be recorded by the
individual and reported to the Coordinators on a quarterly basis,
in written form or via the web site designed for this purpose.
- Total volunteer hours for the previous year are to be received
by the Program Coordinators by the end of January to be counted
for the previous year.
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VII.
Master Gardener Relocation
- When moving to another part of the state, Missouri Master
Gardeners who have completed the Core Course training and initial
volunteer requirements, and who have received positive
recommendations from their Program Coordinators, are eligible to
become Master Gardener volunteers in the locale of their new
residency. They will be subject to the guidelines of the new
locale and may be required to take additional core course work as
required in their new locality.
- Master Gardeners who have not completed their internship prior
to moving may be required to pass the local examination (if any)
and to complete additional course work prior to becoming
volunteers in their new locale.
- Master Gardeners entering the St. Louis Master Gardener
program from another state program may be required to complete the
entire St. Louis Master Gardener training program prior to
volunteering. The determination of further training needs shall be
at the discretion of the Program Coordinators.
- St. Louis Master Gardener training may be waived in the case
of returning St. Louis-trained Master Gardeners.
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VIII.
Master Gardener Volunteer Review
- Non-compliance with the Missouri Master Gardener Volunteer
Exchange of Services Agreement and/or the Master Gardener Service
Agreement may lead to decertification. When appropriate, Conflict
Resolution Procedures will govern the process (Appendix
D).
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IX.
Volunteer Service Awards
- Annual volunteer service awards may include Master Gardener of
the Year, the Community Service Award and the Dedication Award
(attainment of the highest number of volunteer hours accrued
during the past volunteer year).
- Persons who have been Master Gardeners for ten (10) active
years (including the training year) or longer, in five-year
increments, will be recognized for their contributions to the
program.
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X.
Appendices
- Missouri Master Gardener Exchange of Services Agreement
- Master Gardener Volunteer Agreement
- Master Gardener Application Form
- Conflict Resolution Procedures
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