<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=us-ascii">
<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)">
<!--[if !mso]><style>v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style><![endif]--><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Lucida Handwriting";
panose-1:3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#0563C1;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#954F72;
text-decoration:underline;}
span.EmailStyle17
{mso-style-type:personal-compose;
color:black;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
</head>
<body bgcolor="white" background="file:///C:/Program%20Files%20(x86)/Common%20Files/Microsoft%20Shared/Stationery/garden.jpg" lang="EN-US" link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72">
<div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black">Happy Thanksgiving to all. It’s the perfect time to thank all of you for what you do in your volunteer roles. More and more research pinpoints the significance of the greenspaces
MGs create. I think even more so with today’s world events. I also want to let you know I have accepted the position as State Master Gardener program coordinator and now will be easing out of my local educator role. The horticulture educator position is a
unit priority and will be filled as soon as possible. With holidays and setting interview dates I suspect it will be spring at the earliest before someone is on board. However I know you are in good hands. We have a great horticulture team with MG coordinators
Ava Heap <a href="mailto:carmien2@illinois.edu">carmien2@illinois.edu</a> (217-333-7672); Jenney Hanrahan
<a href="mailto:jhanraha@illinois.edu">jhanraha@illinois.edu</a> (217-442-8615), and Trent Hawker
<a href="mailto:tkhawke2@illinois.edu">tkhawke2@illinois.edu</a> (217-333-7672; 815-268-4051) and Maddy Kangas
<a href="mailto:mkangas2@illinois.edu">mkangas2@illinois.edu</a> (217-333-7672) with our Master Naturalist program. Ginger Boas
<a href="mailto:gboas@illinois.edu">gboas@illinois.edu</a> (217-333-7672) is County Director and will be overseeing the horticulture program (which includes both MG and MN programs) until the position is filled. You have a fabulous MG advisory committee as
well. Your day-to-day volunteer activities will not change. However my goal is to revitalize the MG program throughout the state and that will ultimately energize the local MG programs. I am very thankful to have spent time with so many great people. I have
learned so much from the numerous years I have spent working one-on-one with volunteers. That experience will be crucial in guiding the MG program forward. I will teach some of the 2017 MG trainings as well as webinars, a couple VCMG monthly programs and hope
to see you all at State MG conferences. Please feel free to contact me if you have ideas about the state MG program. Enjoy your family and friends during the holly days and dream of next year’s garden.
</span><span style="font-family:"Lucida Handwriting";color:black">Sandy </span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black">Sandra L. Mason<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black">State Master Gardener Coordinator<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black">University of Illinois Extension<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black">801 North Country Fair Drive Ste. D<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black">Champaign, IL 61821<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black">217.333.7672<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black"><a href="mailto:slmason@illinois.edu">slmason@illinois.edu</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black"><img border="0" width="173" height="121" style="width:1.8in;height:1.2583in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image002.png@01D24579.F6C990D0"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
</body>
</html>