I do not live in Union County, where will I volunteer my service? 

If you are trained in Union County, you will volunteer your service to Union County. 

Once I fulfill my initial volunteer commitment of 50 hours of service, am I done or can I continue to volunteer? 

The initial 50-hour commitment is a minimum and volunteers are encouraged to continue in the program. 

After I have completed my first year commitment of 50 hours to Union County, can I transfer to my home county? 

It is possible if the other Extension Office agrees; however, your volunteer hours will not be transferred. 

After I complete my 50 hours of volunteer service the first year, what is expected of me? 

You will be required to volunteer a minimum of 10 hours and receive an additional 6 hours of horticultural education to remain active in the Master Gardener Program. 

Do I need to keep track of my hours? 

Yes, it benefits you as well as the Master Gardener program to keep an accurate record of the hours you serve as a Master Gardener. 

When do I report my volunteer hours? 

You are required to report your hours monthly on cards provided by the Master Gardener timekeeper or send them via the internet. You may drop them off or mail them to the Extension Office or bring them to the monthly meeting. Your hours will be placed in the timekeeper’s file box and your hours recorded on the Union County Master Gardener spreadsheet. The hours will be totaled at the beginning of the new time period, May 1.

What is the fiscal year for the Master Gardener Association? 

The fiscal year is May 1 through April 30. The fiscal year coincides with completion of the Master Gardener School. 

What if I have not completed my volunteer hours within the first year? 

If you have not completed your commitment of 50 hours volunteer service, you may continue to work toward completion the following year. However, you will not become a certified Master Gardener until your commitment is met. This policy is acceptable if you discuss your intentions to maintain your status with the Master Gardener Coordinator. 

I know there is a Master Gardener Association, am I a member? 

You will automatically become a member of the Union County Master Gardener Association and will continue as long as your volunteer and educational commitments are met. 

Do I have to pay dues? 

Not at this time; however it is up to the discretion of the Master Gardener Association to determine whether dues are necessary or not.

Do I have to attend meetings? 

You are strongly encouraged to attend the monthly meetings. The meetings are designed to keep you informed of volunteer opportunities and strengthen friendships. You will also receive one hour of volunteer credit for every meeting you attend. The Master Gardener Association could change this requirement as some counties have done.

What if the Master Gardener program is not what I had expected? 

It is very important that you call the Master Gardener Coordinator. It is of no benefit to the volunteer or to the Master Gardener program for a volunteer to remain if they are unhappy.