Minnesota Shade Tree Advisory Committee

Board Meeting Minutes

May 5, 2003 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 p.m.

Twin City Tree Trust, St. Paul MN

 

Attendees:        President Lorrie Stromme, Jim Hermann, Ken Holman, Robert Slater, Fletcher Johnson, Kathy Widin

 

Call to Order.  The meetings was called to order at 9:08 a.m. by President Lorrie Stromme, on May 5, 2003

 

Approval of Minutes. No Minutes of the previous board meeting were available.

 

Discussions:

 

Mr. Holman:

-ReLeaf.  The legislative session ends soon.  The Legislative Report should go out soon.  The proposed grant has been reduced in committee (House $512,000 and Senate $613,000).  Pre Applications for the ReLeaf grant is up in both number and value.  Approximately 90 pre-applications worth $600,000 have been received, there is also good statewide distribution in the proposals.

 

Pres. Stromme:

            -The Advocate will go out soon along with the STAC Facts.

-The location of the future MN/STAC Board meetings will be at the St. Paul office of the Tree Trust.

-Annual Report.  Mr. Max has sent out a request to the Committee Chairs on their recent activities.  There is not much activity due to the lack of a budget for the committees.  Ms. Lara Newberger wishes to speak to the Board concerning the difficulties facing the committees.  Possibly next meeting.

-Contract Renewals.  General discussion of the need to get started on the renewal of contracts for the Advocate, etc.

            -The next Board meeting will focus on the budget.

            -STAC Fact sheets have been a good idea and we should keep doing.

 

Mr. Hermann:

May 17 is the Arbor Day Ceremony for the Minneapolis Park Board.  The location will be the Pioneers and Soldiers Cemetery in honor of its 150th anniversary.

 

President Stromme left at 9:55 am

 

General discussion of the need to look at ability to relieve the work load of volunteers to reduce the threat of burnout.  No action taken.  Some ideas discussed:

            - Training for Committee and Board Members

            - Hire a paid position to relieve routine work (executive director/secretary)

 

Adjournment.  Motion/Second/Carried:  Mr. Holman, Mr. Hermann, Approved.  The meeting was adjourned at 10:24 a.m.

 

Respectfully submitted:  Robert Slater