A busy Fall season is underway around the state, but I wanted to take a moment to share a few important reminders with you.
First up, our online monthly continuing education series, Thoughtful Thursday, is this Thursday, October 9, at 2 PM with UGA Extension Specialist Clint Waltz sharing a seasonal turfgrass update with us. Check your email for the Zoom link or catch the recording through your MGLOG home page. Be sure to scroll down until you see the video thumbnail.
Next, while you’re in MGLOG catching the TT archive or logging your continuing education time from TT, check your records and make sure you’re on track for meeting program requirements as we near the end of this calendar year. MGEVs are required to complete at least 10 hours of continuing education each year and report it within MGLOG. This is an annual program requirement AFTER you have transitioned from trainee to MGEV status. You spend so much time learning in your first year as you become an Extension volunteer! Continuing education keeps you informed an knowledgeable as you continue your Master Gardener journey. Instructions for recording continuing education are included on the MGLOG Resources page.
As you’re checking your records in MGLOG, make sure you are also up to date on adding your volunteer service for the year, 25 hour minimum within the calendar year for MGEVs and 50 hour minimum within a year of training program completion for trainees. Support resources for entering volunteer service records are also on the MGLOG help page. Did you give yourself credit for time spent completing the online UGA Risk Management Training (RMT) module, Georgia 4-H: Working with Youth, Managing Risk? This is the only case where you get to choose if you want to record this time under volunteer service or continuing education. Note that completion of this training by October 31 is required to maintain active status. Check in with your program coordinator if you have questions about your status or completing the training.
Perhaps you noticed you need some more continuing education hours, or you are looking for a big event to end the year with. Good news! Each year, the state association, Georgia Master Gardener Association (GMGA) hosts a conference in October. This year’s theme is Gardening in Georgia: Trick or Treat? This event brings together MGEVs and gardeners from all over the state and is just days away on October 17-18 in Macon, GA. Register and read about the speaker line up and all the fun to come on the GMGA website. Many of you are already planning to attend, and Sheri and I look forward to seeing you there!
