Here are the current little details as of June 17, 2024 for
“It’s the Little Things” - 2024 Convention August 26-28
Maumee Bay State Park Lodge, 1750 State Park Road #2, Oregon, Ohio
state park map
Sign up now for the 2024 convention! Do so at https://www.oagc.org/event-5426504 so your registration is secured immediately and by the August 1, 2024 deadline. No late registration accepted after August 1, 2024. If you choose to be invoiced, your payment by check may be sent to Charlene Margetiak after registering online and must be received by August 10. It is summer and lodging may no longer be available. Call Maumee State Park Lodge to find out.
Are you excited about the many educational break-out sessions we are offering over the 3 days? I am sure you will find a session of interest for each hour. The schedule is subject to change if needed. Keep in mind that sessions not in the lodge may require more transition time to get to the site (still on the park grounds though). You may want to leave that hour before those sessions open for vendor shopping or show viewing so that you are not late for the session.
The session tickets that you paid a fee for will be in your name tag holder. Note that the Pressed flower plaque and succulent terrarium are sold out. Each morning of the convention at 8AM until gone, coupon session tickets for the free sessions that day will be available at the registration desk. These are first come first serve basis.You must have a ticket to attend the sessions except ones in the Ballroom, other session rooms have limited seating; Mainsail 25-30, Navigator 50, Trautman Center 20-25.
We have many vendors to visit as an option to sessions. Vendors will be stationed near the Ballroom. Carol Lemle, vendor chair has contracted many businesses to give you a diverse choice to shop! Be aware, some vendors may only be attending for one day. Vendors to visit for any of the 3 days are Naomi Ormes (plants, designing materials including mechanics), Nora Steele (Wildlife pictures, stickers, buttons, magnets are based on Wahkeena wildlife/nature), Jayne Smith (Weaving baskets, potholders, items made from vintage silverware), Sarah Reardon - Countrycreek Microgreens (Microgreen products,Houseplants, farmstead & cut flowers, Herbs), Michele Bishop - Urban Organics (Organic mulch and soil amendment), North Branch Nursery and OAGC Sales table. The following vendors will only be attending these days - Monday: Michael Hoepf (plants and design items), Tuesday: Christine Greer, Bended Knee Acres (Goat Milk soap, lotions, salves and lip balm), Shannon Ditz, Zen Acres (Wildflower jellies, feed bag totes, handmade earrings, nest box herbs), Thomas Lodge, MidAm Mushrooms (Mushroom grow kits).
Daily Raffles can be entered by purchasing tickets. Monday and Tuesday have many items/baskets worth $25+ and Wednesday a 50/50 raffle gives you a chance to split the pot! These winners will be announced at the end of each day.
Voting for State Executive Officers and Bylaw change. Voting times for the slate of State Officer (see home page) and the Bylaw change will be announced daily. Please send club delegates to represent your club for voting. Each club has a vote(s) per # of members in your club according to the OAGC Bylaws:
Article IX, Representation
Section 1:
There shall be one voting delegate to the annual meeting for each club of twenty (20) or less active members. Each club with 21 to 40 members shall have two (2) voting delegates. Each club with 41 or more members shall have three (3) voting delegates. No club, regardless of size, may have more than three (3) voting delegates.
Section 2: The voting body for the transaction of business at the annual meetings shall consist of (a) the delegates from the member clubs and (b) the members of the board of directors of The Association.
Many great members have volunteered to make this a convention that keeps you engaged and looking for the little things that make you happy! Don’t miss out on the fun and camaraderie! Register today!
Below is an outline for each day.
Monday
8:00 AM - Registration opens
9:00-1:00 PM - Flower show entry. Artistic in Ballroom, Horticulture on second floor lobby area.
9:00-noon and 2:00-6:30 PM - Vendors open (others times possible per vendor)
10:30 AM
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“Welcome to the World of Easy Care Roses” by Audrey Palumbo, a rose grower/judge sharing the many varieties now available. Location- Navigator Room
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“Wild Ohio–up close and personal”, ODNR Naturalist at Maumee Bay State Park, answering questions from fish to birds, flora to fauna at the newly remodeled Trautman Nature Center
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“Start with the Basics in Design”, $5 pre register, Peggy Case, OAGC judge and retired teacher, guides you through a simple small design. Materials provided with fee. Location Mainsail Room
11:30-12:30 - Brunch, $25 pre register, Assorted Breakfast items with chicken & waffles, pot roast, ham, & blueberry French Toast
1:00 PM - Opening and welcome. Recognize execs, convention chairs, First timers. Approve Secretary minutes and Treasurer report.
1:30 PM
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Listen to the artistic design judging until about 3:00 in the Ballroom. Horticulture judging will be closed.
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“Agriculture and Algae Blooms” with Nick Eckel, Wood County Extension educator, Agriculture and Natural Resources with the latest info. Location Navigator Room
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“Gardening and Landscaping with Prairie Plants”, John Blakeman, enlightens how to use prairie plants for your landscape for good ecology. As proprietor of Meadow Environments LLC, he professionally designs, installs, and maintains prairie restorations and landscapes at park, educational, and private sites. He is a prairie biologist in the University of Akron Research Foundation's Vegetation-based HABs Solutions Research Project. Location Mainsail Room
2:30 PM 
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“Going Native in Your Landscape” with Charlie Schneider, retired Environmental & Agricultural Technologies Instructor. Charlie would rather have a wildflower landscape than mow the yard! Location Mainsail Room
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“Houseplants, Bugs and What’s New”, Carol Mathis, Houseplant Extraordinaire at Wolfe’s Greenhouse, provides education on what to grow and how to care for it. Location Navigator Room
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“Birds of NWO & Migration” presented by Tom Kemp, retired Biology teacher/avid birder/traveler/naturalist presents and weather permitting, a bird tour. Location Trautman Nature Center
3:30 PM
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Q&A with OAGC Artistic Show judges in the Ballroom
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“Life on the Lake–Yesterday and Today” by Sandy Bihn, Lake Erie Waterkeeper member and President of The Toledo Harbor Lighthouse Preservation Society will speak about Lake Erie and the Romanesque Toledo Lighthouse. Location Navigator Room
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Repeat 2:30 session with Tom Kemp
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Repeat 2:30 session with Charlie Schneider
4:30 PM
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Q&A with OAGC Horticulture Show Judges
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“A HANDFUL OF HERBS!” by Barb Myers, OAGC Judge/Master Gardener/past member Madison Herb Society, how to use them in the landscape and your kitchen. Location Ballroom
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“Tree ID- How to ID” including a grounds tour with Charlene Margetiak, OAGC Judge, naturalist, previous E&J school chair. Location Trautman Nature Center
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Repeat 10:30 session with ODNR naturalist. Location Trautman Nature Center
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Repeat 3:30 session with Sandy Bihn
5:30 PM - Free time
6:30 PM - Dinner Banquet $30, pre register. Pork Tenderloin, mashed potato, vegetable, salad, rolls
7:15 PM - Awards presented for Faye Collins, Gladys Thomas (recognition of all OAGC judges) and BOS artistic, announce raffle winners
8:00 PM “Small succulent Terrarium”, $5 pre register,Materials provided with fee. Location Mainsail Room
Tuesday
Throughout the day, we are very fortunate to have experienced and knowledgeable Lake Erie charter boat captains take us around the Toledo Harbor lighthouse, see Turtle and West Sister Islands, and the Michigan shoreline. Limited to 6 people ($40 each) per charter boat. Times TBD, about 1 hour each tour. Load at State Park Marina.
8:00 AM - Registration opens
9:00-noon and 2:00-5:30 PM - Vendors open (others times possible per vendor)
9:00 AM - Horticulture Show results and awards
9:30 AM
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“Outdoor Plant Diseases” with Amy Stone, Agriculture and Natural Resources (AgNR) Educator with Ohio State University Extension, Lucas County, Specializing in Invasive species, particularly insects. Location Trautman Nature Center
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"Toledo Zoological horticulture- Operations, Special Events and growing food for the animals" with Mandy Hansen, horticulturist at The Toledo Zoo, maintenance manager of over three acres of various landscapes, as well as a production greenhouse and tropical conservatory. Location Ballroom
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“Understanding OAGC Scorecards and Forms” with Lea Ewing, OAGC Judge/Exhibitors and Judges School Chair, leads a Q&A. Location Navigator Room
10:30 AM
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“Gardening for Wellness” with Shannon Ditz, program coordinator at Huron County Master Gardeners and homesteader, shows us how to avoid injury and best practices. Location Navigator
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Repeat 9:30 session with Amy Stone
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Repeat 9:30 session with Mandy Hansen
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“Tension Tray” weaving with Jayne Smith, $5 pre register,Materials provided with fee. Create a tray using only reeds. Location Mainsail
12:00 PM - Brunch, $25 pre register. Assorted Breakfast items, glazed ham, lemon chicken, blueberry French Toast
1:00 PM - OAGC liaisons will give us updates on our coordination.
1:30 PM - Junior Awards.
2:00 PM - Danae Wolfe- Backyard Stewardship for Beginners: Protecting Our Littlest Neighbors. Location Ballroom
3:00 PM
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“Evergreens Everyone will Envy” with Tom DeHaas, Agriculture and Natural Resources (AgNR) Educator with Ohio State University Extension, Erie County, focusing on horticulture. Best selection, care and pruning of evergreen. Location Ballroom
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“Growing Edible Mushrooms at Home” with Thomas Lodge, owner of MidAm Mushrooms, Woodville, Ohio, passionate botanist and mycologist and discoverer of new mushroom species. Location Mainsail Room
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”Kayaking with ODNR”, Kayaks, paddles and life jackets provided, wear appropriate clothing. Meet at the Park admin office, south end of inland lake, Parking lot 1.
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Repeat 10:30 session with Shannon Ditz. Location Navigator Room
3:30 PM - “High Magnification, Low Cost: Macro Garden Photography on a Budget” with Danae Wolfe, $5 pre register,bring your cell phone. How to take excellent photos with your phone. Location Trautman Nature Center
3:45 PM - Repeat Kayaking session
4:00 PM - Repeat 3:30 sessions with Tom DeHaas and Thomas Lodge
4:30 PM - Repeat Kayaking session
5:00 PM - Have you met the leaders of OAGC? OAGC Department Chairs currently serving and those to serve 2024-2026 along with the Region Directors and Executive Board will be available for an informal chat. They will answer any questions you may have concerning your club’s involvement in meeting OAGC missions and visions. Chat about your club programs and needs! Location Ballroom
6:00 PM - A special banquet to honor our veterans and soldiers, $40 Pre register. An honor guard will present the colors at the start of the evening. To add to the atmosphere of the evening, come dressed in your favorite military service uniform or as one of the characters of the series TV show Mash. Our meal this evening is a buffet from “Tony Packo’s”, the Mash character Clinger’s (played by Jamie Farr) hometown restaurant featuring Hungarian dishes, 8+ of their specialty items
7:00 PM - Awards presented for Beautification, Daisy Sticksel, Citation, Service, Membership
7:30 PM
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Scavenger hunt with Annette LeForce, Happy Hobby GC president and Convention Session Coordinator. Have fun finding items within the lodge. Meet Location Lobby
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“Wine and Design” with Joy Strine-Sprang, $5 pre register, OAGC Judge and Design Study Chair, create a traditional design while enjoying your favorite beverage (not included). Location Ballroom
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Pressed Flower frame, $5 pre register. Materials included. Location Mainsail
Wednesday
8:00 AM -Honor Breakfast, $19 charge for non honorees Quiche (ham/swiss or spinach/mushroom), potatoes, fruit. Honor Past Presidents, counselors, board members, department chairs, liaisons
9:00 - Noon and 1:30-3:00 PM - Vendors open (others times possible per vendor)
9:30 AM
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“Commercial Cover Crops and Composting” with Brigette Burgess, Hirzel Farms, high quality organic compost from Dei Fratelli tomato and cabbage scrapes, tea bag sized sample. Location Ballroom
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“Conservation and Restoration with Natives” with Kerri Whiteman, Toledo Metroparks, Blue Creek Native Nursery celebrates 20 years. Ohio's largest publicity-owned nursery and leader in restoration and conservation. Location Navigator Room
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“Microgreens and How to Grow Them”, with Sarah Reardon, owner of Countrycreek Greenhouse and Farmstead. Take home a kit to grow your own. Location Mainsail
10:30 PM Repeat all three 9:30 sessions
12:00 PM - Lunch, $21 pre register. Soup/Salad/Potato Bar
1:00 PM - Recognize Foundation scholarship winners and Foundation Patrons, announce Foundation quilt raffle winner, People’s Choice Design
1:30 PM - Rob Swindell, Keynote, “Wonder of Warblers”, NorthWest Ohio is the Warbler Capital of the World. Learn about these amazing birds that migrate through each spring and why birders come from all over the world to see them.
2:30 PM Results of voting and Installation of the 2024-2026 officers
3:00 PM Adjourn