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Minnesota Shade Tree Advisory Committee
Board Meeting Minutes
September 10, 2001, 3:00 – 5:05 p.m.
Minnesota Department of Agriculture, 90
W. Plato Blvd, St. Paul, MN
Attendees: Kirk Brown, Rich Hauer, Gary Johnson, Janet Larson, Bob Slater, Mark Stennes, Lorrie Stromme
Excused: Ken Holman, Michael Max
The meeting was called to order at 3:00 p.m. by Lorrie Stromme, President.
The Board reviewed the Minutes of the 7/9/01 Board Meeting.
Motion/Second: Stennes/Brown Carried:to approve the 7/9/01 Minutes.
Announcements:
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Kirk Brown distributed flyers about the Tour de Sprawl event on 9/23/01. |
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Mark Stennes gave an update about the Stem Girdling Root video being produced by the Minnesota Society of Aboriculture (MSA). The $32,500 budget will enable MSA to produce a first-class video, as well as market it in publications and magazines serving the tree care industry. |
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Rich Hauer said that the conference room at the Minnesota Department of Agriculture would not be available for the September 20th MnSTAC membership meeting if there is a strike of state union employees. Janet Larson said that she would check on alternate meeting locations. |
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Janet Larson distributed brochures about the Buckthorn Conference on October 3, 2001, at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. |
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Gary Johnson updated the Board on U of MN’s urban forestry research projects. |
Old Business:
MnSTAC
Membership Policy.
The Board discussed MnSTAC’s policy for continued membership.
Motion/Second/Carried: Hauer/Johnson:
to adopt the following membership policy:
A member of MnSTAC shall remain in good standing unless:
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He/she resigns, in accordance with Article III, Section 5 of the MnSTAC Constitution; |
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His or her membership is suspended or terminated, in accordance with Article III, Section 4 of the MnSTAC Constitution; |
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He/she notifies MnSTAC that he/she does not wish to continue to be a member, either by electronic communication via the MnSTAC website or by opting-out by returning a post card mailed out annually to members in good standing. |
Members in good standing will be encouraged to self-report their volunteer activities that help to fulfill or advance MnSTAC’s mission and purpose. The form and directions for returning the form will be available on the MnSTAC website. The MnSTAC Board of Directors and/or the MnSTAC Awards Committee may recognize outstanding members for their contributions and efforts on behalf of MnSTAC.
This policy and a ballot for voting on the proposed Constitutional amendment on membership requirements will be circulated to the membership. If passed, the amendment will go into effect in January 2002.
MnSTAC Priorities.The Board discussed the 3 priorities that were identified by MnSTAC Board members who participated in the recent federal review of the state urban & community forestry (U&CF) program. The priorities are (in no particular order):
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Center for Urban & Community Forestry; |
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Outreach to U&CF programs in communities in rural and greater MN; |
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Coordinated legislative effort (MnSTAC, agencies, non-profits) |
The Board discussed the pros and cons of collaborating with the U.S. Forest Service on a Center for Urban and Community Forestry: basically, the benefit of a larger audience vs. excluding states that are not in the Forest Service’s Midwest District (namely, North Dakota and South Dakota). At this point, the U of MN will continue to work with the Forest Service on developing a Center, but will also continue to pursue state funding for it (a dual-track approach).
Strategic Plan. The Board reviewed the Strategic Plan developed by the MnSTAC Planning Committee. Motion/Second/Carried: Slater/Stennes: to submit the Strategic Plan to the membership for approval. Since the Agenda for the September membership meeting had already been mailed out, the Strategic Plan will be an agenda item at a later meeting in 2001.
New Business:
MnSTAC’s
Outreach to the Governor. Board
members brainstormed methods of effectively communicating MnSTAC’s mission and
message to the Governor.
Adjournment:Motion/Second/Carried: Hauer/Johnson: to adjourn.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:05 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Lorrie Stromme
Acting Recorder