Reports To: Linda Seals, Master Gardener Coordinator

General Description: The purpose of the Palm Beach County Master Gardener Advisory Committee is to assist the Extension Agent, Master Gardener Education and Development Coordinator in a study and analysis of county situations that result in making decisions about important needs, problems, or opportunities. As a committee member you will assist and advise in the decision making process concerning effective educational programs that will alleviate the problems associated with identified priority needs.

The committee is advisory in nature and is part of a larger system that includes legal guidelines form the county, state and federal government, and recommendations for a total Extension program from an overall Extension Advisory Committee. The primary function of the Master Gardener Advisory Committee is to identify and prioritize problems that are within the scope of Extension and for which trained Master Gardeners have the expertise to deal.

A primary role of the Advisory Committee is that of facilitating the identification of clients and providing guidance in program decision making based on information from a variety of sources. However, the responsibility for design and implementation of the county Extension program rests with the County Extension faculty.

Principle Duties: In addition to general program planning, Palm Beach County Master Gardener Advisory Committee members assume the following specific duties and responsibilities:

• Assist the collection of current situation information to be used in the program development
• Communicate capabilities of Palm Beach County Master Gardener Volunteer Program to community leaders at all levels
• Explore methods of expanding educational services to home gardeners and others in Palm Beach County
• Serve as hosts for educational horticulture programs conducted in the county
• Set audience priorities and geographic areas for program emphasis on an annual basis
• Review and evaluate educational programs to determine effectiveness and improve implementation
• In the event there is a vacancy in the professional staff, the Advisory Committee may be asked to provide program continuity while the change occurs by giving support and advice to the new staff member

Limitations: Advisory Committee members should not contact the Horticulture Program Leader, County Extension Director, District Extension Director, state Master Gardener Coordinator or agents in other counties without first discussing their problems or concerns with the County Agent responsible for the Master Gardener Volunteer program. If the agent is unwilling to solve the problem, then contact the horticulture program leader for assistance.

The Master Gardener Advisory Committee will not be responsible for:

• Setting Extension policy
• Setting Master Gardener policy
• Hiring or firing personnel

Membership: The Palm Beach County Master Gardener Advisory Committee is composed of ten to twelve individuals representing a range of community interest and experience. The Master Gardener Education and Development Coordinator also serves on the committee.

Members serve three-year terms. The terms are staggered. Members are eligible to serve two consecutive three-year terms on the committee. Inactive committee members will be replaced. A committee member with more then three unexcused absences will be considered inactive.

Knowledge of extension programs is not necessary for service on the committee. Committee members should have some knowledge of horticulture in the county.

Meetings: The Master Gardener Advisory Committee will meet as a group at least four times a year. For the meetings to work most effectively, representation at the meetings is necessary.

Subcommittee meetings may be held as deemed necessary by committee chairpersons.

Officers: In accordance with Extension policy the Advisory Committee will have the following officers: Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and Secretary. The departmental secretary may serve as the Advisory Committee Secretary if the committee desires. Chairs will be selected at the last meeting of the year and will serve a one-year term beginning the first meeting of the next year. Chairs may not be reappointed, the vice chair may be elevated to chairperson. If there are subcommittees, they will have an appointed chair. Subcommittee chairs may serve two years.