Meeting Minutes 3/6/2015
10:00 – 11:00
Student Life Conference Room
Attendance
Governing Council Members present: Glenn Merrick, Kristi Heintz, Mike Francisco, Theresa Hornstein, Deanne Roquet, Mel Kelson
General Members present: Jane Marynik, Aaron Ekstrom, Nate Bronk, Al Finlayson
Guest Present:
Announcements
New Business
World Water Week is March 23rd – 28th. This will be a collaborative celebration across our campuses again this year and our event will be held on Monday. We’ll show “Blue Gold”, hold discussion after, and collect plastic bottles for the plastics chain during the movie. We’ll hang the chain in the concourse like last year.
Kristi reported on the WLSSD community drop site. Al confirmed there hasn’t been any concerns raised about being a WLSSD community compost drop site. Kristi has been working with Susie and we’ll do a kick-off event and Q&A on Earth Day for all employees.
Jane continues to work on our Tree Campus USA application. She pointed out that we need to perform a community serve oriented project. This could include the tree planting or buckthorn identification workday. The Council suggested a campus outdoor workday be included in the April 2nd duty day plan. Glenn will check with the deans to see if there would be time for this as an afternoon break-out session.
Kristi has had requests from the public and LSC community about conducting another free e-waste collection. Kristi will check with 5R and open the “bid” to all haulers in town for a collection this year, perhaps April 2 or 3.
Kristi introduced our newest student employee, Aaron Ekstrom. He has experience with Conservation Corp and with various outdoor organizations. His current project for the SC is in design of rain garden and stormwater signs for various places on campus. He’ll also be responsible for completing our “north loop” trail on the north side of campus, designing signs, and perhaps designating a seating area. Aaron is also working with the Garden Club and Student Senate on the Legacy Project.
Kristi and Aaron reported that they met with Student Senate president Joe Johns last week about the Legacy Project. Joe asked the Council and/or Garden Club for a list of trees, plants, or planting areas that he could include in his proposal to administration. He’ll be meeting with Wade next week, the Garden Club will work Senate him on plantings and the SC will support them in planting and plant protection supplies.
Kristi again brought up the idea of a Sustainability Council member recruiting meeting or open or informative setting. The Council suggested we ask for a bit of time to outline the Council’s current projects and solicit membership. Glenn will work with the deans to set this up. Kristi will call a separate meeting to brainstorm our “pitch”.
The Council decided to go with the theme “Scraps to Soil: Campus and Community Compost” for this year’s Earth Day celebration. In lieu of a speaker, the Council (Deanne, Theresa, Kristi and anyone else) will present some “how-to-compost” tips and show a short vimeo on home composting. We will also so a short composting movie from the PBS series Food Forward titled “SOS: Save our Soil”. Heather and Student Life will provide popcorn in compostable bags, trail mix in compostable cups and apples. All of these activities will be in the Student Lounge. We will have our usual tables near Student Life, Garden Club will do herb planting in the Atrium, and we’ll do a worm bin raffle.
Ongoing Business
Old Business
Work Group and Student Employee Reports
Policy and Procedure: employee reminders, education, and training needs (printing, recycling, supplies, computers, small appliance)
Carol, Kristi, Mel, Wade
Sustainability Reporting/Benchmarking: GGI, ACUPCC, MnSCU Sustainability Reporting, Superior Compact, B3, publicizing info
*Kristi, Aaron, Deanne, Bruce
Grants and Awards: Pre-grant drafts and collaboration with grant office on potential opportunities
*Deanne, Kristi, Wade
Landscape Planning: annual flower planting, rainwater harvesting, no-mow areas, rooftop gardening
*Kristi, Mike, Aaron, Theresa, maintenance rep, Wade
Sustainability in Curriculum
*Theresa, Aaron, Kristi, Deanne, Glenn, Dick
-updates from Mel and Jane
-Garden Club update (Neldon, Aaron)
Budget
FY15 Budget: $8,500
Encumbrances to date:
MN Waste Wise membership 2014-2015: -$150
Boreal Natives-Swale/Ditch project: -$5,735
Airpark Disability Services (plastic bag recycling): -$208
Dan’s Feedbin: -$200
Menards: -$200
AASHE: -$280
IOS (footrests): -$263.20
Amazon (footrests): -$123
Eden Brothers (S-bldg wildflower seed): -$300
SWCD for RSPT annual dues: -$300
Anticipated Travel for UW Madison Earth Day conference: -$400
BALANCE as of today: $298.93
FY14-15 potential budget items
- LSC Earth Day costs
- Concourse lighting signage
- Ditch/swale/raingarden info signs
- Additional bike rack for main entrance
- Interpretive Trail bench, trash/recycling cans, exclosures
- Parking lot/rain garden info signs
- Sustainability kiosk
- MnSCU Sustainability Across Curriculum workshop host costs
Next Meeting
Next regular meeting April 3rd 10:00 in Student Life Conference Room
Notes submitted to SC blog and LSC Employee Portal>Committees by Kristi Heintz
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