Agenda

Agenda
Saint John’s Arboretum Advisory Council Meeting
Monday, February 6, 2006
Room 150 New Science Building, Saint John’s University

9:00 – 10:30    Ski the trails on your own

10:30 – 11:30  Participate in a winter class activity with Sarah. See a ‘sneak peak’ at some of the winter activities we are doing with classes the following week. (optional, dress to be outside, meet in New Science Center Room 150)  

12:00 – 1:00    Lunch (optional, meet at office in New Science Building)

1:00 – 1:30      Gather for refreshments and conversation (Meet in New Science Center, Room 150)

1:30 – 4:30      Full Council Meeting

AGENDA

1:30     Full Council Meeting  (Tom) 

Welcome & Introductions

1:40     Sesquicentennial Update and Arboretum Involvement

1:45     Revisit and reaffirm goals and existing accomplishments for FY 06 (Sarah)

2:00     Confirm FY 07 budget  (Tom)

2:45     Generate work plan for FY 07 from budget and strategic plan (Sarah)

3:30     Committee Reports-Lands (Tom Haeg and Tom Kroll)

                        Update on Walz property 

3:45     Admin/Volunteers Committee:

                        Progress on new board members (Tom)

                        Postings for next 2 fellowship positions (Sarah)

4:00     Natural History Museum projects (Father Bruce)

4:15     Time for other business

4:30     Meeting closes

Next Arboretum Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 22, 2006

Committee Updates – for February 6, 2006

K-12 Education 

• Nine elementary school classes are participating in our winter classes during the week of February 13^th. Classes are offered free of charge this year and schools have the option to take animal signs/tracking or winter survival.
• Schools are also already booking for maple syrup classes in mid-March to mid-April.

CSB/SJU Education

• Over 40 students participated in an evening snowshoe on the second day of classes of spring semester. Many had never snowshoed before and we signed up 4 student members!
• Twelve sections of Biology 221 Lab are coming out to the sugar shack to get a hands-on experience with the maple syrup operation. First Year Symposium classes are also participating with tours and service learning.
• We are going to explore the possibility of establishing an Arboretum student club as a way to involve more students and more student members.

Community Education

• Our Member Appreciation Open House was a giant success! About 180 members, guests, and staff enjoyed the evening and we generated almost $4000 in income, $2700 which came from the silent auction. Another big thanks goes out to Scott May and Linda Mock for all their help with the event.
• With all the great snow we’ve been getting, the ski trails have been great for skiing and we are helping put on two night ski events, February 3^rd and 20^th.
• See website for listing of other upcoming events.    http://www.csbsju.edu/arboretum

Public Relations and Membership Benefits

• A student membership drive was scheduled for the fall semester, but was not held. Kevin Kostka (student naturalist) is working to organize a membership drive for the early part of spring semester. We have gained over 40 new student members since the beginning of the academic year and hope to gain many new student members through the membership drive.
• A letter will be sent to CSB/SJU Faculty teaching Environmental Studies courses and the Biology department describing/reminding them about services Arboretum staff can provide, opportunities for students, and the benefits of membership. The letter will be signed by both Tom and Sarah and include one of our new color brochures.
• Two new color brochures are now available for the public. One is a general brochure explaining the Arboretum and membership and the other highlights our environmental education program. Thanks to student worker Chris Brenny for his work on the project.

Fundraising

There are several grant deadlines approaching in the next few months. Proposals will be submitted to the following state agencies and corporate giving programs:

• Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
• Minnesota Pollution Control Agency/Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance
• Xcel Energy Foundation
• Gannett Foundation

Sarah and Emily closed the FY’03 grant with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and submitted a full grant report in early January. Guide to Minnesota Grantmakers ’04-’05 was recently purchased for our office. Emily will be conducting additional foundation searches for other grants during February and March.

Lands

• Regarding the Walz land, both Abbeys and both Colleges have appointed staff to discuss the opportunity as per the Arboretum resolution.  The first meeting is Jan 30^th.    
• Ski Trails have been well-groomed by Dave Johnson, coach of the Nordic Ski Team. 

Program Administration and Volunteer Management

• The two fellowship positions beginning in June are now open and posted. Applications are due March 1^st and interviews will take place mid-March.
• Many thanks for Father Bruce for the cleaning job he undertook in the Natural History Museum. He vacuumed all the cases, fixed identification signs, readjusted the crow’s fallen wing, and came up with a few ideas for other projects…