COVID-19 Exemption Process

Please continue to complete all activities remotely, if possible. If not possible, use the following exemption process to request approval for in-person activities. Work with your local coordinator or the State Leadership Team to submit an Extension Work: Request for Exemption form. 

Before submitting the Extension Work: Request for Exemption form, carefully considering the following:

1. Are you the lead program person who will be responsible for the work to be conducted? If not, please ask the lead person to submit this request.

2. Can this program be conducted in another manner that would not require you or others to come into contact with one anoter? If so, please conduct the program in this manner.

You may proceed with the application process once you have determined that you are the correct person to submit the Extension Work: Request for Exemption form, your request meets the requirements for exemption, and there is no other way to conduct this work. 

Screening Tool to Evaluate Appropriate Activities for Exemption

Use the following screening tool to evaluate if your activity will meet the requirements to submit an Extension Work: Request for Exemption. 

Maintenance of an established public gardens

• • YES/NO: The person submitting the request (Project Lead) assumes full responsibility for accountability for each involved volunteer to follow protocol. 

  • YES/NO: The person submitting the request (Project Lead) will keep contact information for all attendees in case tracing is necessary due to an outbreak of Covid-19, and may be asked to assist with contacting them. 

  • YES/NO: You have a leader that will serve as project manager including scheduling, and adherence to project protocol. 

  • YES/NO: The site is maintained exclusively by Master Gardeners  

  • YES/NO: The site is highly visible to the public  

  • YES/NO: The site has been established for a number of years  

  • YES/NO:  There are Extension / Master Gardener Program signs at the site (Example from Kanabec County)

  • YES/NO: There are walk-by signs with educational messages at the site (Example from Anoka County)

  • YES/NO: This is a display garden

  • YES/NO: This is a seed trial garden 

  • YES/NO: This is a therapeutic/healing garden

  • YES/NO: Produce harvested from this site will be donated to a Food Shelf

  • YES/NO: The community highly benefits from this site (public value)

  • YES/NO: Hand washing stations are available at the site

  • YES/NO: Volunteers will be using their own tools 

  • YES/NO: Volunteers will be able to keep a 6’ distance from others at the site

  • YES/NO: Volunteers will comply with the safety guidelines and protocol

  • YES/NO: Site maintenance important for the work of community partners

  • YES/NO: You have a leader that will serve as project manager including scheduling, and adherence to project protocol. 

Other in-person Volunteer Activities: Meetings, Garden Tours, etc

•  YES/NO: The person submitting the request (Project Lead) assumes full responsibility for accountability for each involved volunteer to follow protocol

• YES/NO: The person submitting the request (Project Lead) will keep contact information for all attendees in case tracing is necessary due to an outbreak of Covid-19, and may be asked to assist with contacting them.

• YES/NO: You have a leader that will serve as activity manager including scheduling, and adherence to project protocol.  

• YES/NO: Is this volunteer activity one of great public value?  

Exemption Form Process

When a Master Gardener Volunteer, program coordinator, Extension Educator or staff person would like to apply for an exemption, please first contact Jackie Froemming (if a member of a volunteer-led group) or Diane Greiwe (if a program coordinator, Extension Educator, or staff). 

• Jackie and Diane will provide examples of successful projects, the screening criteria, and a Google Doc template for individuals to complete prior to submitting the form. 

• Jackie and Diane will review the completed project proposal, provide input, and approve the activity or program for submission. Documentation will be shared with the Program Leader. 

• For volunteer-led groups, Jackie will submit the Extension Work: Request for Exemption on behalf of the volunteers. Otherwise, staff should submit the request. 

• When the staff person receives the email confirming exemption approval or denial, please forward to Jackie for record keeping.