Policy
Guidelines and Definitions of Volunteer Log Categories
Payback
Hours Po1icy: New
trainees in the OSU Extension Service Master Gardeners
program in the Southern Oregon Area (Josephine County) owe a
combination of 70 hours of Educational
Outreach and Support
Activities during the first year. These
hours must be performed, recorded, and submitted by the end
of September. It is required that new MGs devote a
minimum of twenty-five
(25) hours total to the plant clinic, growers market and
JoCo Fair Booth. When this is not possible, special
arrangements will be made with program staff to involve
volunteers in an educational project that fits their time
schedule.
Educational
Outreach: Hours that
directly support our educational mission include time spent
working in the plant clinic, in clinics at Growers Markets,
County Fairs, garden centers and special gardening events,
speakers bureau presentations, including preparation time,
and in-school youth activities. Chapter activities, such as
demonstration workshops (pruning, mole control, etc.),
coordination of educational events and clinics and direct
support of the MG program office may be counted toward
payback. In addition, all MG officer positions, which are in
direct support of the Extension mission, may be included.
Support
Activities: Hours that enhance or support the MG
program, Chapter activities Such as meetings, committee
chairs for all program and chapter activities, time spent
working in the MG greenhouses, support of the annual Spring
Garden Fair, the yearly Home Gardening Seminar, mentoring,
telephone tree, and non-educational community service. Work
with outside organizations such as fair Boards, Park Bureau,
Community Gardens, and ODFW/4H Wildlife Stewards are also
considered an Extension support activity. It
is hoped that where possible, an educational component can
be part of these activities.
Remember, your
volunteer payback commitment to the Master Gardener Program
must be a combination of educational and support activities:
70 hours total (25
total hours working
in the plant clinic, growers market, and JoCo Fair Booth)
for new MGs. These hours must be performed,
recorded, and submitted by the end of September. Continuing
education hours are not counted as payback hours.
Continuing Education and Certification hours:
All Master Gardeners may attend classes offered as part of
the MG program as well as other gardening related events.
They are encouraged to attend at least ten (10) hours of
class each calendar year that are qualified for
certification. Most classes at MG mini-college, the yearly
Home Gardening Seminar, and classes offered during the MG
program qualify for certification. These class hours should
be recorded by
Senior Master Gardeners only
under continuing education.
Mileage:
Keep track of the miles you spend traveling to and from all
MG activities. These miles are for your information only and
may provide a tax benefit to you. Check with a tax
consultant to determine what you may be eligible to deduct
on your taxes.
Travel hours do not count toward payback time and are not
recorded on the hour log.
All
volunteer hours reported on the log sheets are submitted to
the Oregon Master Gardener Association at the end of
September. Volunteer hours worked after that date are
reported in the following year. Please make every effort to
report your hours so that JoCoMGA can submit them to
OMGA. These hours are used by OMGA and OSU to gauge the
level of support for the Master Gardener program, and the
impact the program has on the local community.
If you have any questions regarding activities not listed
above, call Tal Blankenship at 476-6613.
