Meeting Minutes 03/20/09
Members present: Cathy Carlson, Cathy Tonkin, Celeste Zuniga, Cliff Koski, Deanne Roquet, Dick Haney, Julius Salinas, Kevin Futhey, Frank Niffenegger, Diane Morin, Jim Drake, Ben Smith, Britt Johnson.
Committee Reports
Recycling: Kevin will be installing new acrylic signage on the old recycling bins. Kevin and Britt reported good interest in the shredded styrofoam. The EC voted to allot $100 to pay student groups to shred the styrofoam the rest of this year. Recycling sub-committee members will look into how to fund the shredding and sell the shredded sytrofoam in the future. Jim suggested asking for payment of the shredded styrofoam in estimated value.
Earth Day: Earth Day events will take place on Wednesday, April 22, 2009. Celeste reported that 15 people are participating in booths. John Stetson will be added as a vendor and paid $300 to speak at LSC Earth Day. John Stetson’s PowerPoint program is titled “Polar Meltdown” and will highlight his travels with Will Steger. Ken Gilbertson will present a PowerPoint program titled “Sustainability of Green Space”. Earth Day sub-committee members are working to find a room for these two programs. It was recommended that weatherman Dave Anderson be notified of LSC’s Earth Day events.
Signage: Celeste reported she is waiting for PO approval for the purchase of 10 more pamphlet bins. These will be mounted on the old recycling bins.
President’s Climate Commitment: Cliff reported that the greenhouse gas inventory for the PCC is done for the most part. Connie will be entering the data into the calculator. After the greenhouse gas inventory is complete and reported, the next step for the PCC is the LSC duty day. Deanne reported that a student is interested in doing a website for LSC’s efforts in the PCC. The PCC requires that schools publicly post data and progress. Celeste passed on a recommendation from Kaelene Arvidson-Hicks that we include “Cutting Carbon” in a website. This will improve chances of being chosen for the $20,000 grant of the Schools Cutting Carbon Program. Celeste also informed the committee that Steve Fudally would like to be aware of all websites created for LSC functions.
Old Business
Deanne reported that the Society for College and University Planning (SCUP) breakfast seminar she attended on Friday, March 13, 2009, was good. Jacqueline Johnson, Chancellor of UMN Morris, and Judith A. Ramaley, President and Professor of Biology at Winona State University, spoke at the seminar. UMN Morris is working to achieve carbon neutrality by 2012. Both women spoke about the sustainability efforts, achievements and goals of their respective schools. LSC needs to establish this also, something the Schools Cutting Carbon team will work on.
Deanne reminded the council of the UMACS conference to take place on May 31, 2009 at UMN Morris. The Schools Cutting Carbon program will provide $500 in grant money for a project that must involve students. Deanne suggested the EC consider using the $500 to send LSC students to the UMACS conference.
Celeste distributed a draft agenda for the EC retreat to take place Thursday, April 2, 2009 from noon to 4pm. A location for the retreat has not been determined. Diane will look into the possibility of holding the retreat in the workforce development conference room.
Deanne reported that the Schools Cutting Carbon (SCC) team has submitted the greenhouse gas inventory data. Tim Blodgett of the SCC Program and ERM consultants will be on campus Wednesday, March 25, 2009 and will meet in the student services conference room at 8:30am. They will tour the LSC main campus. At 11am the group will tour the ERTC. The group will then make recommendations on reducing the LSC carbon footprint and make suggestions for a student-led project that, if awarded, could be funded by a $20,000 grant through the SCC program. Frank suggested the styrofoam shredding as a potential project.
Ben reported on Earth Hour progress. Grandma’s restaurant has agreed to participate. Ben is meeting with Mayor Don Ness to discuss shutting down the lift bridge lights during Earth Hour. He will be contacting Beaners to set up a press release. Diane and Cathy T. recommended getting the LSC PR department involved. Jim Drake recommended contacting the Weather Channel. Celeste will be contacting the Duluth Chamber of Commerce. It was also recommended that Ben contact radio stations. Ben will be creating a poster for local businesses to post to indicate involvement in the Earth Hour event.
Frank reported that the deadline for posting on the Husky Tabloids is Wednesday, March 25, 2009. Celeste will arrange the posting of Earth Day events.
Deanne reported that a set of mugs will be placed in the administration conference room, as a trial run of the Bring-Your-Own-Mug (BYOM) effort. Emily is in charge of washing and replacing the coffee/water mugs after use.
New Business
Deanne reported that Wade Gordon is now the official administrative representative for the Environmental Council, and also associated programs such as the Presidents Climate Commitment and the Schools Cutting Carbon program.
Cathy C. reported that something needs to be done about the disposable coffee cups in the cafeteria. Prices are going up for the cup supplies. (Sleeves now cost $0.09.) Jim Drake suggested offering a discount for reuse of the cup sleeve. Cathy will try this.
Diane reported a new spring lecture series offered by the Workforce and Community Development Department. The lecture series follows the theme “Living and Learning Green” and will take place in room S1981. Three lectures are scheduled: April 21, May 5, and May 19. LSC will also offer training and certification for assembly and installation of photovoltaic systems to earn North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioner (NABCEP) certification. The goal is to eventually implement this training into LSC program curricula.
Motions
The EC voted in favor of allotting $100 for the shredding of styrofoam.
Next Meeting
The next Environmental Council meeting will take place on Friday, April 10, 2009 in Gary’s office.
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