By MG Linda
Barrett
The MCMG Board thanks
everyone who goes above and beyond the call of duty for MCMG. The volunteer work
that we all do is so amazing … like working with seniors in assisted living,
answering questions at a plant clinic, or working with wiggly fourth graders at
Close Encounters With Agriculture (CEWA). It’s important to recognize this work
and the positive impact it has on our community.
Lifetime
Achievement Award
These MGs have at least 15 years of exceptional commitment to the mission
of the MG program:
 |
Lifetime Achievement Awardees, MGs Diyan Rahaman, Vivienne Baturke, and Cat Khan
Photo: MG Len Friedman |
MG Vivienne
Burke
Vivienne has
worked with the Speaker's Bureau tech team running the computer and projector
at many of our monthly MG meetings. She volunteers with Harvest Festival,
coordinating the Tussie Mussies station. Vivienne has also volunteered with the
Therapeutic Horticultural group at Brooke Grove for many years. Vivienne was a
librarian, and is able to use her research skills and creativity in developing
lessons and beautiful flower displays to share with the residents. Vivienne,
thank you for your many years of service to Montgomery County Master Gardeners.
MG Catherine
(“Cat”) Khan
Cat has been a
consistent force with the Youth Gardening program, Grow It Eat It, and
CEWA. She was the Chair of Growing Gardeners – the program donated
vegetable plants with information in Spanish and English) to Manna clients so
they could grow their own vegetables. Seeing the massive food insecurity
that had been exacerbated by the pandemic, she set out to find a way to get
“Growing Gardener plants” to people willing to grow and donate fresh food to small
food banks. In 2022 she created the nonprofit HarvestShare, which collected
24,608 lbs. of food for donation to 13 food banks in 2023. Cat also leads a gleaning
group at Pope Farm. Her work continues with teaching methods of growing food in
small spaces; distributing seedlings at White Oak Day; and educating people in
our community to develop more gardeners. Cat, thank you for all that you
do to educate future gardeners and alleviate food insecurity.
MG Diyan
Rahaman
Diyan spent about
10 years writing a column called “Stumped”
for The Seed. Diyan selected
and researched topics, and collected information from Steve Dubik or other
sources, such as UMD Extension or the Home and Garden Information Center . He
also served on the MCMG Board as Program Director for Information Tables and
Plant Clinics. Diyan chaired the Brookside Gardens Plant Clinic and Information
Tables. He provides expert advice and feedback to the voicemail messages
left on the MCMG phone line, and to numerous emails. Diyan, thank you for
your many years of dedication to MCMG.
MG Michael
Parizer
 |
| Photo: MG Len Friedman |
Our final award
is given posthumously to Michael Parizer. Michael served in many leadership
roles during his 15 years as a Master Gardener, and is remembered as a leader,
mentor, worker, handyman, and all-around good guy for many years at the
Fairgrounds Garden. At fair time, Michael would hitch a trailer to his car and
cart the fair tent, Dirty Gertie (mascot of the fairgrounds), and all the
paraphernalia needed for the Fairgrounds Garden setup. Handyman Michael
constructed the vertical garden display, installed and maintained the
irrigation system, and dealt with water runoff problems. To honor Michael
Parizer, the honorarium given to speakers at our monthly meetings is named in
his honor. MGs and the fairground staff will be planting a shade tree near the Fairgrounds
Garden in his memory.
Outstanding
Service Award
These
individuals are recognized for their outstanding service during 2024:
 |
Front: MGs Pam Bates, Johleen Cannon, Ann Claxton, Jeanette D'Amour, LeeAnne Gelletly, Sue Kuklewicz
Middle: MGs Carolyn Morrissey, Sherri Marshall, Holly Larisch, Dave Stopak, Joe Ginther, Mike Welsh
Back: MGs Desiree Yang, Betsy Wooster, Amy Prywes, Allen Perper, Dorothy Nicholson, Terri Valenti, Pat Mucci
Photo: MG Len Friedman |
MG
Pamela Bates – chair of
the Fairgrounds Demo Garden
MG
Johleen Cannon –
Therapeutic Horticulture at Grace House in Silver Spring
MG
Ann Claxton – co-chair
of Plant Clinics, Urban Gardening, and Bay-Wise programs
MG Jeanette
D'Amour – Gaithersburg Plant Clinic coordinator
MG
Charles ("Chuck")
Dulaney – Tech Team committee chair
MG LeeAnne Gelletly – Communications committee chair
MGs
Joseph
("Joe") Ginther and Mike Welsh – Derwood Demo Garden irrigation
MGs
Gayle Greene and David ("Dave") Stopak – lead
of the Derwood Demo Garden vegetable garden
MG Susan
Kirby – co-lead of the
Derwood Demo Garden
MG Mary Lou
Johnson – White Oak Youth Garden
MG Sue
Kuklewicz – White Oak
Youth Garden co-chair
MG Holly
Larisch – Therapeutic
Horticulture at Layhill Center and Marian House
MG Sherry
Marshall – Fairgrounds
Garden lead
MG Carolyn
Morrissey – co-coordinator of the Kensington Farm
Market Plant Clinic
MGs Pat
Mucci and Terri Valenti –
co-chairs of Garden Discovery Day
MG Dorothy
Nicholson – Year of the Heirloom Tomatoes statewide
research
MG
Allen Perper – Speakers
Bureau, Garden Discovery Day, CEWA, and White Oak Youth Garden
MG
Amy Prywes – Derwood
Demo Garden
MG Kara
Singh – White Oak Youth
Garden
MG Betsy
Wooster – The Seed copy editor, and editor of The
Seed style manual
MG Desiree
Yang – editor of The
Seed
