Call to Order

President Ken Simons called the meeting to order at 9:15 A.M. Those present were Board Members:

· Kirk Brown

· Valerie Cervenka (replacing Kimberly Thielen-Cremers)

· Jim Hermann

· Fletcher Johnson

· Gary Johnson

· Michael Max

· Bob Slater

Those absent were:

· Ken Holman

Guests present were:

· Rebekah VanWieren, Tree Trust

· Barb Spears, Tree Trust

Approval of Minutes

Member Brown moved and Hermann seconded the motion to approve the minutes of the November 8, 2004 regular Board meeting. Motion carried. Member Cervenka abstained.

Partner Announcements and Reports

Excel Energy

Member F. Johnson distributed an e-mail message from a member of the Alaska Urban Forest Council seeking information. It was suggested that member F. Johnson provide the Alaska Urban Forest Council with Ken Holman’s and Don Mueller’s phone numbers and e-mail addresses as they would be the best sources of the requested information.

Old Business

Unified Display for Conferences

President Simons resumed the discussion relative to the development of a unified partner display. After a brief discussion, the Board agreed that President Simons should form an “action group” consisting of a representative from DNR, MDA, MnDoT, UofM, and Tree Trust to develop an information and presentation format.

MnSTAC Regular Meeting Agenda

President Simons presented the revised regular meeting format that was initiated for the November 18 meeting in response to the Board’s discussion and recommendations at the November Board meeting. The Board expressed its support of the changes and further recommended that the agenda items “Featured Program” and related “Topic Discussion” be reduced to 45 minutes and 15 minutes respectively, and that “Field Reports” and “Ask the Experts” be added as a 20-minute agenda item to follow the “Featured Program and Topic Discussion” prior to “Adjournment.” The recommended changes will be incorporated into the January 2005 MnSTAC monthly meeting agenda.

Guests VanWieren and Spears, contracted administrative support staff with Tree Trust, presented a proposed formula or mix of generic topics or themes that would be used to organize an annual schedule of presentations and activities that will be the respective featured programs at each monthly meeting. After a thorough discussion of each designated topic or theme and the scheduling timeline, member Brown moved and Hermann seconded the motion to approve the proposed program and schedule formula subject to the development of a definitive description for each categorical theme. Motion carried.

New Business

Historical Account of MnSTAC

President Simons opened discussion on the desirability of having the 30 year history of MnSTAC recorded so that there will be continuity between past and future leadership and membership, and an ongoing appreciation for prior efforts. President Simons suggested that the historical record might qualify as a “Plan B Paper” toward a graduate degree, an “outside” grant could be sought to fund the project and the document could be periodically updated. After a brief discussion the Board expressed its general support of the idea and encouraged President Simons to investigate the issue further.

Adjournment

Member G. Johnson moved and Max seconded the motion to adjourn at 11:15 a.m. Motion carried.

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