We all know Shirley Waggoner-Eisenman – she’s one of the more active members of the MG program, and has been a major force behind the very successful Gardening by the Month. In recognition of all her contributions, Shirley has been granted the North Carolina Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service. Here’s a brief overview of her contributions.
She completed the Master Gardener course in May 1993, the first in Brunswick County. Since then she has logged more than 3,000 volunteer hours. She and MG Brenda Holmes established the filing system for all the MG publications. She chaired the first fund raiser, a 1996 calendar, which put the MGs in the black for the first time. She co-chaired the 2nd calendar printing in 2004, and served on the cookbook committee. She chaired a number of committees and projects, including the Gardening by the Month fund raiser, the first holiday social, the first budget committee, the landscaping of a house for Habitat for Humanity (with assistance from the Hort. Agent), and two Southeast District all-day seminars. She also has worked as editor of the newsletter, worked the Hotline, was President of BCMGVA for 2 years, helped coordinate landscaping of Hope Harbor – with Union Elem. School, which won for them 1st place in a statewide competition – taught MG classes at the extension building and on Bald Head Island, gardening courses at the community college, conducted seminars on various gardening subjects, and wrote articles that appear in 5 local papers. This is all just what she does here at Brunswick County! Let’s look elsewhere in the state.
She also has been involved with the North Carolina MGVA, as our Liaison/Delegate since 1994, and thus as a member of the Board of Directors. She has attended training sessions in Raleigh, all State Conferences since 1994, chaired the State Conference in Brunswick County in 2000 and has acted as liaison for the Board to host counties since 2001. She was President of NCMGVA for 2 years and is currently President-Elect. She has chaired the bylaws and nominating committees and served on a committee that developed guidelines and a timetable for the state conference.
Shirley served the maximum of 6 years with the Extension State Advisory Council (SAC), attending meetings in various part of the state 3 to 4 times a year. She represented the Southeast District at various District meeting and planning sessions, and met with state legislators. She attends State Extension Conferences in Raleigh, represented SAC at a conference to give SAC’s happy birthday to Extension. She chaired the Nominating Committee, attended a Leadership Forum, met regularly with the Dean and Executive Director for Agricultural Programs, Associate Dean and Director of Cooperative Extension, Associate Director and Director of County Operations, District Director, etc. and met with NC Senators and Representatives in Washington re the Federal budget and on “back home visits: re state budgets.
Gosh – does anyone wonder why Shirley won this award? Well done!
