The Consumer Horticulture National Committee (CHNC) was formed in July 2006 and is comprised of consumer horticulture specialists and Extension Master Gardener (EMG) state coordinators elected to represent the four geographical regions and the directors of nationwide projects. Identify the four geographical regions in the map below by clicking on the blue markers.

• The CHNC will facilitate national communications and collaborations to avoid redundancy in development of electronic materials and training.
• The CHNC will steer development of a National EMG Core Curriculum. The choice to use all or parts of this curriculum will reside with individual states.
• CHNC will provide a Web-based, locally proctored, and locally fee-charged Core Curriculum Certification program for optional use by states. Core Curriculum Certification will be a credential to be cited in funding applications for projects utilizing EMG volunteers. A certification will also serve as a transcript to be used by EMG volunteers when they transfer to other counties or states.
• CHNC will facilitate Web-based, national Specialized Courses to enhance volunteer continued education and retention.
• CHNC will provide a network to mobilize EMGs as front line information providers on critical or emergency national horticultural issues.
• CHNC will establish and maintain a national EMG Web site.
• CHNC will develop a national identifying logo.
• CHNC will develop a national impact white paper to enhance national recognition and support for the EMG program.
• The CHNC will collaborate with eXtension and will encourage applications for eXtension grants.
• The CHNC will coordinate the annual national conference for Consumer Horticulture Specialists and Extension Master Gardener State Coordinators.

Elected Regional Representatives

Northeast Region:

Dr. John Jett, Extension Master Gardener State Coordinator
2088 Agricultural Sciences Building
P.O. Box 6108
West Virginia University
Morgantown, WV 26506-6108

Phone: 304-293-6131, Ext.4224
Fax: 304-293-6954
E-mail:John.Jett@mail.wvu.edu

Southern Region:

Mr. David D. Close, VCE State Master Gardener Coordinator Virginia Tech
Department of Horticulture
407 Saunders (0327)
Blacksburg, VA 24061

Telephone: 540-231-2714
Fax: 540-231-3083
Email:dclose@vt.edu

• http://www.hort.vt.edu/mastergardener/

Western Region:

Mr. David Whiting, Extension Master Gardener State Coordinator
Department of Horticulture and LA
Colorado State University
Ft. Collins, CO 80523-1173

Phone: 970-491-7030
Email:dwhiting@coop.ext.colostate.edu

North Central Region:

Dr. Mary Meyer, Consumer Horticulture Specialist
Department of Horticultural Science
424 Alderman Hall
University of Minnesota
1970 Folwell Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55108

Phone: 952-443-1447
Email:meyer023@umn.edu

Nationally Funded Program Directors

Dr. Rick Durham
Chair of the CHNC and University of Kentucky Extension Master Gardener State Coordinator
Department of Horticulture
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY 40546-0091

Phone: 859-257-3249
Fax: 859-257-2859
Email:rdurham@uky.edu

Ms. Monica David, Illinois Master Gardener Coordinator
Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences
1007 Plant Sciences Lab, MC-634
1201 South Dorner Dr.
University of Illinois
Urbana, IL 61801

Phone: 217-265-5256
Email:modavid@uiuc.edu

Extension Master Gardeners and eXtension

The Consumer Horticulture Community of Practice (CH-CoP) was engaged in September 2005 as one of eight pioneer Communities of Practice funded by the eXtension Initiative. The CH-CoP currently has enrolled participation of Extension personnel from nearly 40 states and will begin enlisting EMGs as participants in May 2007 at the International Master Gardener Conference in Little Rock, Arkansas. As public users interface with the eXtension site, they will be able to search extensive frequently asked questions (FAQs) related to all aspects of horticulture. In the event a relevant FAQ is not found, the user may submit a question to the FAQ system. EMGs will serve as primary first responders in the CH-CoP FAQ system, with consulting help available from state Extension specialists. Such questions will be routed to EMGs in the state where the question originated, thus providing a locally specific answer. The CH-CoP will also develop a national Web page for EMGs that will serve to help unify the program on a national level. The CH-CoP may eventually seek to offer certain aspects of the EMG certification program or continuing education opportunities from the eXtension site.