Saint John’s Arboretum Advisory Council Meeting

Monday, May 10th, 2004

Room 150 New Science Building, Saint John’s University

 

12:00 – 12:45 Lunch (optional, meet at office by noon or at the Refectory)

12:45- 1:45      Walk in the woods: spring flowers, birds & beauty. (Optional)   

1:45- 2:00        Refreshments 150 New Science, Natural History Museum

2:00     Full Council Meeting    

Invocation – Fr. Kulas

Welcome & Introductions – Scott May

2:15     Strategic Plan Update - Janette Monear

(See www.csbsju.edu/arboretum/goalsandaccomplishments for a copy or call to have one sent.) 

2:45     Staffing - Tom K.

Filling John’s Position

Expanding Kyhl Lyndgaard’s position from 50% to 75% or 100% to focus on more contact with the CSB/SJU students (as Christian was going to do) and finding funding for that.

Decision needed:  Purpose, cost, and need for expanding Kyhl’s position.

3:15     Membership brochure – Kyhl L.

3:35     Creating a land fund – Tom K.   see attachment B & C

4:00     Plant sale May 15^th -  Scott May

4:15     Review of officer election schedule – see attachment D

4:30     Other business.  Assign committee tasks and set meeting dates.

            Next meeting date:

5:00     Recognition of John’s service

5:30     Closing

Committee Updates – for May 10th, 2004

K-12 Education 

·           Teacher committee has outlined work for summer.

·        Review and update current teaching kits

·        Develop 2^nd – 5^th grade pre- and post-tests to evaluate effectiveness of program.

·        Prepare teacher training sessions in August.

·           Maple syrup tours are completed and spring prairie/wetland tours are beginning.

 

CSB/SJU Education

·           Summer positions are filled

·        Marian Studer (CSB student) and Dan Dooher (SJU student) – Will work on enhancing K-12 program/field work.

·        Eli Becker (CSB student) – Will work on enhancing CSB/SJU and adult programming/field work.

·           Student Intern – John Kamman will work on the possibility of coordinating and marketing challenge course, climbing wall, and arboretum program together.

·           Challenge Course construction continues.

·           Free tree seedlings given to students and staff from Earth Day (4-23) to Arbor Day (4-30), pick up location is Arboretum office. Coordinated/cosponsored with Environmental Studies Department.

·           Completed working with service learning/marketing students (new brochure)

 

Community Education

·        Maple Syrup Festival

• March 27^th—16 Adult Members, 15 children (free); 43 non-member adults, 28 children. Total attendance: 102       Total admission fees: $346
• April 3^rd—27 adult members, 16 children; 114 non-member adults, 109 children.

Total attendance: 266       Total admission fees: $956

• Grand Total attendance: 368                      Grand Total Admission: $1302

 

·           8 upcoming events from now until August; listed on website, Johnnie Update, newspaper, bulk mailing, etc.

·        Weekly Wild Bird Walks
Thursday: April 8 & 22, May 13 & 27, and June 10 & 24     Saturday: May 22 & June 5

·        Woodland Wildflower Hike with Dutch Oven Dinner      Tuesday, May 11

·        Plant Sale    Saturday, May 15

·        Wild Bird Walk           Sunday, May 16

·        River Glen Gardens Tour    Wednesday, May 19

·        Summer Poetry Workshop     Every Monday in June

·        Watercolor Exploration: Lacewings to Landscapes On Tuesdays,  July 27 and August 3, 10

·        Hardwood Lumber Grading Short Course    August 3, 4, & 5

 

Public Relations and Membership Benefits

·           Membership – 352 members as of March 23, up from 339 members as of January 9^th , up from 250 April 1^st

·           Newsletter sent April 8

·           Quarterly Renewals sent March 28

·           Christmas cards sent to all donors of $500 or more

·           Hand written thank-you cards to all donors over $100

·           10 new $10 student members—t-shirt promotion

·           Article published in CSB/SJU magazine, sent to all alumni

 

Fundraising

·           New donation levels still need to be confirmed

·           Received 20+ $100 renewals and a $2,000 renewal gift.

·           Plant Sale set for May 15th

 

Lands

·           Prairie burn completed April 27^th, 2004.

·           Working on new trail development with neighbor

·           Logging is finished for the year

·           Had a visit from the national office of the Forest Stewardship Council in connection with a story they plan to do. 

·           7,100 Seedlings to be planted the first week in May.

·           Neighborhood goodwill visits being conducted with members of St. John’s Abbey

·           Avon Hills Initiative proceeding well.   Next meeting is May 15^th.  The group has decided to continue on as a community organization and asked Saint John’s to play a prominent role. 

 

Program Administration and Volunteer Management

·           Processing dozens of renewals – Well coordinated with Institutional Advancement

·           Have completed revision of John’s job description and finalized paperwork to post the job. 

·           Gave field tour to Provost Henry Smorynski, Academic Dean Rita Knuesel, and Director of Academic Budget Dave Lyndgaard on April 28^th. 

 

Attachment B

Father Bruno Riss, OSB - Land Legacy Fund

 

Background:

Since moving to Collegeville in 1858, Saint John’s has always been known for its connection to the land and its setting – surrounded by pristine lakes, beautiful forests, and quaint farm sites scattered across the rolling hills.  This scene is etched in the minds of most monks, students, alumni, and visitors.  This rural sense of place is a big part of what defines and distinguishes Saint John’s. 

 

Currently, the development pressure for small tract housing is becoming very strong in this area.  This suburbanization of the hills surrounding Saint John’s negatively affects the sense of place and the aesthetic charm.  It also affects the ecological balance and changes the cultural history.   This development pressure will certainly affect Saint John’s more in the near future. 

 

Purpose of the fund:

The Order of Saint Benedict in cooperation with Saint John’s University and Saint John’s Abbey and any willing partners will seek to retain the rural nature and beauty of the place we all know as Saint John’s. 

 

Activities to be encouraged by the fund:

• Purchase of land adjacent to or near Saint John’s which enhances the educational, aesthetic, recreational, scientific, or ecological goals of Saint John’s. 
• Purchase of easements or other deed restrictions on land adjacent to or near Saint John’s which enhances the educational, aesthetic, recreational, scientific, or ecological goals of Saint John’s. 
• Development of partnerships with neighbors, conservation groups, units of government, and interested parties to promote conservation and land use polices and practices which enhance the educational, aesthetic, recreational, scientific, or ecological goals of Saint John’s.
• Stewardship of Saint John’s Arboretum lands and adjacent or nearby lands which serves to enhance the educational, aesthetic, recreational, scientific, or ecological goals of Saint John’s.
• Other activities recommended by the Arboretum Advisory Council and/or Abbey Forest and Lands Committee.

 

 

 

Revised April 23, 2004  

 

 

 

 

Attachment C  From University Regents Executive Committee.  Dec 12, 2003

 

 

 

Br. Benedict Leuthner, OSB, described a land situation on the south border of the Saint John’s property – a 240-acre farm that has been split for development, with current zoning of one house per forty acres.  This has prompted a dialogue about how we think about adjoining land and the responsibility for preservation.  Arboretum Director, Tom Kroll, is urging Saint John’s to explore purchasing conservation easements on the lots that would restrict development on the bordering acres.

 

Looking at the wider issue of land stewardship, Leuthner believes it makes sense to create a land legacy fund to support these types of non-purchase conservation efforts.  Reinhart noted that this seemed a prudent use of resources that would put in place a mechanism to provide decision-making for select opportunities.  He added that he is open to seeing some mechanism that has all parts of Saint John’s putting funds into endowment to support this goal.  He expects benefactors will want to give to this fund because of the focus on conservation.  Lastly Reinhart noted there needs to be a plan to build the fund, such as modest assessments from divisions and the designation of some unrestricted gifts to this fund -- with the possibility of repaying the power house capital fund.

 

Greg Palen responded that this sounded like a good stewardship goal and plan.  Lois Rogers noted that when property was being purchased in the past Regents asked about the larger plan – this starts to answer the questions.  After general discussion, the following motion was made, seconded and passed unanimously.

 

Be it resolved that the Saint John’s University Regents’ Executive Committee support the establishment of the Father Bruno Riss, OSB Land Legacy Fund for the purposes of purchasing property, conservation easements, and land stewardship.  Initial funding will be provided from the Saint John’s Arboretum in the amount of $25,000 (accumulated membership fees), and $75,000 from the Saint John’s power house capital fund.  Long term funding will be provided from donors of Saint John’s, abbey resources, and university resources.

 

 

 

 

Attachment D.  

Officers of Council:

 

From Arboretum Council By-Laws adopted Nov 8, 2000

 

… Terms of office for Council Members No terms of office are currently in place.  The following policy is proposed.  Council members would list their preferred term of service, beginning January 2001:

3 year terms - limit to 3 consecutive terms (9 years consecutive service)

            - Consider future addition of 1 or more long-term leaders with unlimited term

 

Maximum number of council seats: 15 (currently 12) (Adding more council members would increase diversity within the group).

 

Current Status: Eight Council members began serving in 1997, so are completing 3 years of service.  In 1998, 1 member began service.  In 1999, 2 members began service.  In 2000, 2 members began service.  These numbers do not count staff persons.

 

Plan for 1/3 rotation each year, after a period of adjustment, beginning in January 2001.

Note: some persons may wish to retire from Council in December 2000, and remain as consultants in the future.

1 –year terms - 4 persons     (in January 2002 these persons begin 3 year terms,

                           Or are replaced by new council members with 3 year terms)

2-year terms – 4 persons   (in January 2003 these persons begin 3 year terms, or are                                                            replaced by new council members with 3 year terms)

3-year terms – 4 persons   (in January 2004 these persons begin 3 year terms, or                                                       are replaced by new council members with 3 year terms)

 

Arboretum Advisory Council Leadership Committee The leadership team has only been partially activated.   The following committee is proposed, to begin January 2001.  In addition to Arboretum Director or Acting Director, composition would include:

Chairperson – appointed for 2 years after serving as vice chairperson for at least 1 year

Vice Chairperson – Appointed for renewable 1 year term

Secretary – Appointed for renewable 1 year term

Committee Representatives – selected by committee from Council members for   renewable 1 year term, with substitution by another committee member to attend meetings when the appointee is not able to attend.

 

Duties:   -primary council contacts with staff and SJU/Abbey leaders (chairperson)

            -coordinate meetings of the advisory council,     (More on page 2)

 

 

Arboretum Advisory Council Leadership Committee, continued                        page 2

    Duties, continued

            -lead development of and interim changes in strategic plan,

           -monitor yearly action plans and action plans by committees to implement the strategic plan

           -keep council members informed of Arboretum activities and needs

            -provide orientation to new council members

            -recommend prospective council members to fill vacancies

 

Meetings – Regular quarterly meetings to expedite plans for council meetings and coordinate committee actions …