Agenda

Saint John’s Arboretum Advisory Council Meeting

Friday, September 27, 2002

Room 150 New Science Building, Saint John’s University

11:00 PR/Membership Committee meets

Plan December Recognition Reception

Saint John’s Magazine Environmental Issue – Feb 2003

12:00  Lunch (optional, meet at Arboretum office or Refectory)

1:15 – 2:30 Walk the Boardwalk Trail with Albany High School 9th graders & observe

Arboretum staff teaching (optional, meet at Arboretum office for ride to Kiosk)

2:15 - 2:45 Refreshments & Socializing (150 New Science, Natural History Museum)

2:45 Meeting Intro   

Prayer – Fr. Kulas

Welcome - Tom Kroll

Introduction of Christian Breczinski, OSB

 

3:00 Committee Reports

1) K-12 Education (see attached)

4 & 5th grade Trunks – John & Al Barth

2) CSB/SJU Education (see attached)

Service Learning Projects - John

Floor Flora Tours - Br. Christian

3) Community Education (see attached)

4) Volunteer Management/Administration (see attached)

5) PR/Membership (see attached)

A handout for elementary school students (aimed at parents) is being sent home with all student tour groups - Elizabeth

Homecoming Plans - John & Elizabeth

6) Fundraising

Br. Christian’s salary – Tom

7) Lands

Roll out new trail maps - Scott May

 

3:30 Business/Decisions

1) Projects for next 12-18 months (see action list from May minutes)

2) December Volunteer/Member Recognition Reception

3) Membership target / Follow up on Saint John’s Magazine

4) Fundraising $20,000/year for Br. Christian’s salary

 

5:00 - 5:10: Closing

 

 

Committee Reports

K-12 Education

Summer staff worked in conjunction with teachers from District 742 to put together 10 traveling teaching kits for 4th and 5th grade respectively. The kits contain a range of activities and artifacts geared to inspire interest and meet graduation standards.

The teaching kits, increased teacher awareness, and improved onsite activities have been well received with over 1500 students already signed up for tours this fall.

 

CSB/SJU Education

Newly hired Christian Breczinski, OSB is excited to create more awareness among residence floors and campus groups about the valuable natural resources available to them.

20 volunteer education majors will be assisting with tours this fall as part of their service learning class.

15 volunteer environmental science minors will be collecting native seed and clearing woodland firebreaks as part of their service learning.

 

Community Education

Dorothy Johnson led well-received wildflower tours in July and August.

MSA hosted tree climbing championships in the oak savanna. This event was well attended and was a hit with many of the campus folks who took the time to visit as well. We provided 2 tours.

1st annual Homecoming Nature Adventure for kids organized.

The new trail maps are completed.

 

Volunteer Administration

Volunteers were very helpful in assembling the 14 traveling kits. Room 150 was piled high with materials.

Ron Wienhold dug and helped replant hundreds of native plants again this fall.

 

PR/Membership report

· A large renewal was sent out at the end of July, consisting of 386 names and going back 2 years. From 8/1/02 - 9/17/02 we have received approx. 45 memberships (11-12% of renewal list) totaling about $3000. 2nd renewal notices for Jan.-June ’01 will be sent this month. Return envelopes will be included from now on. We are asking members of the Council to look over this list and make personal calls to any they feel are likely to renew. Many of the un-renewed names can be linked to memorials that came in connection with the Fr. Paul and the dedication of the Boardwalk.

· Staff has set goal of 200 members by the end of Homecoming weekend, or approximately 20-25 new members.

· The advancement services office says that payroll deduction is possible, but is really only feasible for larger donation amounts that could be broken into monthly deductions. It is possible that those who already donate to the annual fund via payroll deduction could ask to have an additional amount withheld, which could then be directed to the Arboretum through advancement services.

· Staff will send thank you cards along with standard letter to anyone who donates $100 or more. A special "long" card is being ordered to enable the standard donation letters to be included. Christmas cards will also be sent to anyone who donates $500 or more.

· The Arboretum will be t-shirt sponsors for the SJU Outdoor Learning Center’s Eco-Challenge race rather than doing our own T-dash. The goals of the Timberdash were to get folks on to the land and to get recognition for the Arboretum. Cooperating with OLC achieves both and reached more folks at less work to our staff.

· A handout for elementary school students (aimed at parents) has been developed and is being sent home with all student tour groups.

· Pocket nature guides are a possible appropriate thank you gift.

· We are asking Council members to offer ideas (perhaps 1 idea at each meeting) for future newsletters.

 

Fundraising

The addition of staff member Br. Christian comes with a financial responsibility. His salary will be covered by the Abbey until September of 2003. After that time, the Arboretum will need to pay his salary for 30 hours per week. The cost will be determined by Human Resources and is estimated to be about $20,000 per year. These funds will need to be raised annually and are not part of the University allotment.

John McGuire, an alum who owns a tool company in CA, has offered to donate $2000+ of tools for working the land.

Signed a contract with ISD 742 (Saint Cloud) for $ 8,000 to provide educational services to 4,000 students by September 2003.

The logo issue remains undecided as it is part of an overall SJU/CSB/Abbey design issue.  Late note: On September 24, we received word that the SJU/CSB portion of the design issue will not affect us. We still need to follow the guidance of the Abbey design group. Tom will contact Bob Thomsen to proceed.

 

Land

We will be burning about 20 acres of prairie and 20+ acres of oak regeneration this fall.

We will attempt to mechanically harvest the grass seed prior to burning on shares.

We are adding a new loop on the ski trail.

The Lake Wobegon Trail issue will be voted on by County this fall. Saint John’s supports non-motorized year-round to provide safe running for students. The community meetings have generated support and several memberships for the Arboretum.

A controlled deer hunt to reduce the population will again be held November 9-10. Only antlerless animals may be harvested. 34 hunters will be allowed in.

Work continues with Collegeville Development Group and the 100 acres of the Philippi farm adjacent to Saint Johns on the entrance road.

David Hartwell spent a morning with Br. Benedict and Tom Kroll looking at opportunities to preserve the rural landscape surrounding Saint John’s.