MINNESOTA SHADE TREE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Membership Meeting Minutes
February 21, 2002 – 6:00 to 8:15 p.m.
Harriet Alexander Nature Center, Roseville, MN
www.mnstac.org

Attendance:

MnSTAC Meeting Minutes for February 21, 2002:

1. Potluck dinner preceded the meeting, from 6 to 7:15 p.m.
2. Called to order at 7:15 p.m. by Pres. Lorrie Stromme
3. Motion: Michael Max; Second: Kirk Brown: to welcome the following people as new MnSTAC members; 
        Emily Barbeau, Tim Belselr, Nancy Bjerke, Alaina Berger, Paula Denman, 
        Mark  Ebbers, Claire Kari, Craig Pinkalla, Mary Maguire Lerman, and Lynn Vernon.
4. Announcements: 
    a. Next meeting is 3/28/02 at the Commodore Hotel, St. Paul, MN; annual MnSTAC/Tree City USA awards 
    b. Contact Lara Newberger ASAP with nominations for MnSTAC awards 
    c. Marie Jones is moving to Michigan on 2/28/02. Rousing round of applause for her contributions to MnSTAC. 
    d. The MSA-sponsored workshop for Electrical Hazards Awareness takes place on March 12; a CPR/First Aid         workshop takes place on March 11.
    e. ISA has a new certification program called “Tree Worker/Climber Specialist.”  Details are on the ISA webpage.
     f. There will be a conference at the Arboretum this fall, as a follow-up to the 2001 buckthorn conference. 
    g. MNLA and MTGF will have a joint Green Expo in January 2003.
5. Agency and Committee Reports:
    a. DNR: Ken Holman reported that the NE Minnesota workshop in Cloquet on February 21 was well-attended.       Practical forest health information was presented. 
    b. Research & Education: The Advocate has a new editor, Judy Slater. Also, the “Planting for Long-term Health” publication was recently completed. Looks great. 
    c. Legislative Committee: Mark Schnobrich passed out copies of draft of legislative report. Discussion about revising it for 2002-03 legislative session.
6. Presentation: “Managing Natural Resources: A Series of Checklists for Communities,” Peggy Booth, DNR. 
Peggy Booth described the Wild and Urban Project (WUI). She reviewed and distributed checklists for communities and planners to use for development strategies that are sensitive to natural resources. 
7. Featured Presentation: “How Your Community Can Organize a Buckthorn Eradication Program,” Mary Maguire Lerman, horticulturist, Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board (MPRB). 
    a. Janet Larson introduced Mary Maguire Lerman and described Mary’s dedication to buckthorn-busting since 1976. 
    b. Mary gave an overview of successful buckthorn eradication programs in her St. Paul neighborhood. 
    c. The MPRB received a grant in 2001 to organize community-based buckthorn eradication programs. Trained Master Gardeners teamed up with neighborhood residents to conduct a house-to-house survey to identify buckthorn growing on residential property. Homeowners were given information about buckthorn and how to get rid of it, as well as alternative landscaping ideas after buckthorn hedges are removed. 
    d. Public awareness re: buckthorn is high. 
    e. Mary distributed sample handouts for organizing a neighborhood-based buckthorn-busting project. 
8. Thank you, city foresters. Gary Johnson thanked the 7 city foresters who attended this after-hours meeting.
9. Adjournment: Motion/Second: Mark Schnobrich / Michael Max: to adjourn. 

The meeting was adjourned at 8:25 p.m.