Announcements & Calendar Events:

	Mike Zins announced a Buckthorn Conference in October. The specifics are still being worked out. Buckthorn is a hot topic. The plans are to have workshops and demos on the use of chemicals and cutting. The Arboretum and MSA are working together on this conference. More details will be in the future Urban& Community Forestry Update.
	Ken Holman announced that the Million Acres Celebration will be in Duluth at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center on March 2nd & 3rd. This is a celebration of 1 million acres of private woodland enrolled in Forest Stewardship Plans. The featured keynote speaker will be Aldo Leopold's daughter Friday night. There will be workshops on Saturday on a variety of topics including Community Forests. Contact Mimi Barzen at 218-327-4119 for more information.
	Ken Holman noted that Tree Trust and DNR with a supported MNReleaf Grant will be holding five workshops on Best Management Practices. The workshops will be with city planners, commissioners, council members, community technical staff and city foresters. USFS Focus Funding has been approved for the next 2 years for continuing workshops.
	Don Mueller noted that the Urban & Community Forestry Update has a few new events listed. In conjunction with the Shade Tree Short Course, Tree Trust is working with a group of high schools students with a diverse background interested in careers in community forests. They will be in attendance at the short course on March 20th.
	Bekky Hargrave announced that she has posted the times and places of the Certified Arborist 2001 exam on the web page of the MSA. The address is http://www.cnr.umn.edu/FR/extension.
	Ken Simon moved that since there are only two candidates, the non-designated members present at this meeting cast a confirming unanimous vote for Kirk Brown and Mike Max to serve as members of the MNSTAC Board of Directors for the 2001-2002 two-year term of office, seconded by Mark Stennes.
	Ken Simon moved, that since there is only one candidate, the MNSTAC members present at this meeting cast a unanimous verbal ballot electing Mike Max to serve as Vice President for the 2001 one-year term of office seconded by Tom Schuster.
	As this is Glen Shirley's last MNSTAC meeting as president, STAC is seeking recommendations for the next president. If you are interested there is still time for self-nomination. Glen was the first president that was a member of STAC.

Featured Program: 
Ed Hayes gave a slide presentation on the destruction of the Granite Falls storm in the summer of 2000. Five two-person DNR crews inspected l,001 trees in approxirnately 7 hours (approximately 2 minutes/trees on average). Thirty nine trees were marked for removal, forty seven trees were marked for pruning. In addition to the standing tree inspection the DNR crews were instructed to tally the missing trees. A total of 146 stump holes and 361 stumps were recorded in the storm damaged blocks. It needed to be done in timely manner and with the staff all working together got the job done. 

Agency Updates:

DNR - There is $72,000 left in MNReleaf money for Forest Health projects. Contact your Regional DNR staff for details.

	Don Mueller noted the committee is hard at work looking for sponsors for the Trails of Trees bike tour this summer. If anyone has any suggestions contact Don.
	Susan Burks is preparing a factsheet on the Gypsy Moth in the state of Minnesota.
	Brian Loeffelholz, an intern at DNR Metro Forestry put together a draft on planting specifications. It is currently being reviewed by a number of STAC members. If anyone would like a copy for comment contact Peggy Gabriel at 651-772-7926.

U of M - Bekky would like feedback on a instructional web page on planting stock. You can go to the MNSTAC or Forest Resource site, under Urban Forestry. 

MDA - No Report 

MN DOT - MN DOT is continuing to be a leader on the Snow Fence Program. Working on getting land bought and have some of the planting done by June.