Agenda

Agenda
Saint John’s Arboretum Advisory Council Meeting
Monday, May 22, 2006
Room 150 New Science Building, Saint John’s University

9:00 – 10:30       Administration/Volunteers Committee Meeting (Janette)

*Admin/Volunteers Committee Members: Terri Barreiro, Emily Franklin, Anne Kaluza, Dan Marin, Linda Marin, Linda Mock, Janette Monear, and Fr. Bruce Wollmering. All other AAC members are welcome to join the us for this meeting.

10:30 – 11:30      Meet with Mary Ellenbecker Johnson for a tour of the Gemini Lakes restoration and research project. Click the link below for more information on Mary’s research on the Gemini Lakes at Saint John’s Arboretum: http://www.csbsju.edu/arboretum/land_steward/Gemini%20Lake%20Research%20Project.htm

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 –New AAC members
           (Bruce Dickau, Bob Russell, and Scott Daninger)

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

2:00    Discuss and finalize 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 (Tom Kroll)
                        New bridge on Chapel Trail (Chris Schellinger)           

3:45      Admin/Volunteers Committee:
                        Hired two new staff for fellowships: Melissa Holm and Steve Devereaux
                        Update on Admin/Volunteers Committee meeting (Janette)

4:00     Education Committee:
                        Update on participation rates for preK-12 students (Sarah)

4:15     Time for other business

4:30     Meeting closes

Next Arboretum Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, October 2, 2006


 

Committee Updates – for May 22, 2006

preK-12 Education  


• When the spring classes are completed, we will have a participation rate of over 80% from the St Cloud school district grades K-5!
• Thirty-one school and scout groups came out for maple syruping classes, including 6 new classrooms ranging in age from preschool to seniors in high school.
• Thanks to a $2000 grant from Gannett, planning has begun for the replication of our pre and post curriculum trunks this summer. 12 trunks will be produced in 5 different content areas: animal habitats, insects, plants and trees, MN biomes, and seeds.

CSB/SJU Education


• Twelve sections of Biology 221 Lab came out to the sugar shack to get a hands-on experience with the maple syrup operation. The response from both professors and students was very positive and the experience may become a yearly component of the lab.
• The Arboretum is saying good-bye to 3 senior staff members graduating this spring: Dan Dooher, Nicole Luberda, and Kevin Kostka. They have definitely left a lasting impression on the Arboretum and will have success where ever they land next!

Community Education


• Our Maple Syrup Festivals held on April 1^st and April 8^th were a huge success. We had over 800 people participate over the two weekends and generated just over $3,000 in event income.
• In addition to the preK-12 maple syruping classes, we gave tours of the sugar shack to scouting groups, faculty and staff at CSB/SJU, and the ‘Magical Mystery Tour’ group in March and April.
• Tom, Sarah, and Emily each presented at variety groups since the last council meeting. Tom presented to the Sartell Rotary, Sarah to the St. Cloud Rotary, and Emily to ZONTA, an international women’s organization. Sarah also gave a presentation at the master gardener’s meeting which was held at Saint John’s.
• See website for listing of other upcoming events.    http://www.csbsju.edu/arboretum

Public Relations and Membership Benefits


• We currently have 381 members of Saint John’s Arboretum making our goal of at least 50 new members during FY 2006 (276 members in FY 2005). We gained several new student memberships during a membership drive held early in the semester. A team of our student staff worked at tables in Sexton Commons and the Refectory. We also gained several new members at our maple syrup festivals in April.
• As you may have noticed in the spring newsletter, the Arboretum distributed a survey to our members. In general, responses we positive reinforcing the work we do. The surveys indicated that members would like to see an increase in programming for families and more interpretive hikes/programs. A group of CSB/SJU marketing students is compiling the data and will complete a formal report much like the group from this past fall.
• Our staff has discussed the possibility of purchasing a formal display to be used at conferences and off campus presentations. We will continue exploring this project in the coming months.

Committee Updates continued

Fundraising


• The winter months were a busy time for writing grants. Proposals/Pre-application requests were submitted to the following state agencies and corporate giving programs:
• Central Minnesota Community Foundation (Land Heritage project)
• Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (prek-12 busing, support of orienteering course and curriculum implementation)
• Minnesota Forest Industries (prek-12 busing)
• Minnesota Initiative Foundation (Land Heritage project)
• Minnesota Pollution Control Agency/Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance (Nonformal Environmental Education Program)
• Xcel Energy Foundation (prek-12 busing, support of orienteering course and curriculum development)
• Minnesota Forest Industries (MFI) granted us $500 for prek-12 busing in April. We will be closing our current $250 grant with MFI in the coming weeks. We will also close our current grant with Xcel Energy Foundation this late spring/early summer.
• Emily is building a grant management database for the Arboretum office scheduled for completion before the end of her fellowship. This will help our office track grant deadlines, grant reporting requirements, and reporting deadlines.

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


• We hired Steve Devereaux and Melissa Holm to fulfill the office coordinator and environmental educator fellowship positions. Melissa will begin working in late May and Steve in early June.
• Tom and Emily have been working with The Nature Conservancy, local Healthy Community Partners and the Initiative Foundation to secure funding for a one year Land Heritage Coordinator to work on land issues in the Avon Hills. The Land Heritage Coordinator will research alternative planning and zoning strategies that protect open space and complete The Nature Conservancy’s conservation planning efforts for the landscape.