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MINNESOTA SHADE TREE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Board Meeting Minutes
October 7, 2002 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Twin City Tree Trust, St. Paul MN
Attendees:
President Lorrie Stromme, Kirk Brown, Jim Hermann, Ken Holman, Michael Max, Rich Hauer, Robert Slater, Kathy Widin
Call to Order. The meeting was called to order at 9:12 a.m. by President Lorrie
Stromme, on October 7, 2002.
Approval of Minutes. The Minutes of the 9-9-2002 board meeting were reviewed. Motion/Second/Carried: Mr. Brown, Mr. Hermann, Approved as
amended (mostly misspellings)
Announcements:
Reminder - Next meeting will be on Tuesday the 12th of November due to the Veteran’s Day Holiday on November 11th.
Ken Holman discussed the U of MN planting-depth study of containerized trees conducted at Bailey’s Nursery over the summer. The trees were recently
unpotted and examined for evidence of stem-girdling-root syndrome.
Ken will be meeting with DNR management to discuss Tree Trust’s administering the LCMR grant (i.e. Releaf). A general discussion of funding for agencies and
cities for urban forestry programs in face of tight budgets followed. Crisis vs.
everyday operations etc.
Lorrie Stromme provided information about two upcoming International Conferences: one in South Africa and one in Paris. Insect and Diseases of
Ornamentals workshop will be held at the Arboretum on November 14 and December 10, 2002. The brochure for Green Expo (January 2003) is out.
Mr. Hauer: Research is showing that Sudden Oak Death (SOD) infects a large range of species. Minnesota is cooperating in a monitoring program to confirm
the presence or lack thereof in Minnesota. SOD is not here . . . yet.
Mr. Hauer - MSA Fall Workshop at St. John’s College exceeded all expectations.
Will be done again next year.
Pres. Stromme - The new Shade Tree Advocate editor, Ms Judy Slater, is now on board (contract takes effect October 1, 2002).
Old Business:
There have been many requests to use MnSTAC’s e-mail list. General discussion followed concerning restriction on use, use of blind copying, and one-time use. Concerns with maintenance of multiple, nearly identical lists by various
people was discussed. Mr. Max will draw up a policy for discussion at the next meeting.
Review of the draft meeting locations and subjects for next year's membership meetings was taken up. This triggered many informal discussions of the
following subjects mixed in with the schedule review:
Mr. Holman - Need time at an upcoming membership meeting to discuss legislative initiatives and a "day on the hill" activities. STAC Facts, where
is it and what to do with the one (on Gypsy Moth and Forest Tent Caterpillar) that was not sent out.
Tree Risk Manual is ready for Publication
Outreach for northern MN: No report for this month. Ken Holman is attending a meeting in western Minnesota in late October, and will report back later about the
status of the western Minnesota STAC.
New Business:
There was a brief discussion about clerical support at DNR for MN/STAC. In the past, Peggy Gabriel (DNR, Forestry) has provided staff support for MnSTAC by
mailing out agenda packets and meeting notices. All acknowledged how lucky MnSTAC has been to have Peggy’s assistance. Thank you Peggy!! MnSTAC
has been successful in reducing its dependence on DNR staff by communicating via email with about 2/3 of MnSTAC’s members. Also, MnSTAC’s E-news is the
on-line version of the “Urban & Community Forestry Update” previously prepared
by Don Mueller at the DNR. The E-news is produced by Terri Stark, a volunteer. Jean Gustafson (DNR, St. Paul office) will provide as-needed support in the
future.
Mr. Max discussed the need for space on MnSTAC’s web site for members to be able to update email addresses and contact information. Mr. Max to follow-up.
Voluntary donations to support the Advocate will be deposited in a "CUFS"
account at the U of MN.
Mr. Hauer - The Gypsy moth survey in the quarantine areas has found no Gypsy moths after the recent control efforts.
Adjournment. Motion/Second/Carried: Mr. Hauer/Mr. Brown. The meeting was
adjourned at 10:37 a.m.
Respectfully submitted: Robert Slater