Sustainability at Lake Superior College

Meeting Minutes 3/1/2013

8:30-10:30

Location: Student Life Conference Room

Attendance

Governing Council Members present: Aaron McIntire, Deanne Roquet, Kristi Heintz, Mike Francisco, Theresa Hornstein,

General Members present:  Bruce Wallis, Dick Haney, Glenn Merrick, Jeri Schwerin, Sarah Newport, Stephen Erickson, Neldon Herron

Guest Present:

Announcements

Nelson Institute Earth Day Conference @UW Madison: Apr 15, 2013.

Kristi reported that we received last year’s plastic bag recycling data from Airpark Disabilities Services.  Last year, LSC recycled almost 275 pounds of plastic through their program.  Kristi has sent this information to Mat for next week’s Newsplash.

Student Employee & Work Group Reports

Student Senate Update: Sarah reported she was unable to attend the last senate meeting where the Legacy Project was discussed.  Kristi emailed Zak and Kyle asking them for updates.

Student Success Day re-cap/Garden Club update: Neldon reported on his Container Gardening session. It went well and he was able to pull in a few more individuals with an interest in the Garden Club.  He also shared a new idea for mobile burlap container gardening.  The Gardening Club may peruse this technique.

Miser project update: Stephen has been working on updating our current vending miser data.  He has taken a full inventory and will put numbers together for various vending machines.  He is also collecting data on energy usage in computer labs and also all of our television monitors.

New Business

The Good Food Summit is at UMD, March 8-9.  Jenni Swenson has paid for Bruce, Deanne, and Kristi to attend.  Deanne reported that scholarships are available for students. Interested students should contact Deanne for more information.

Dick is serving on the Dean of Allied Health and Nursing search committee. He voiced the importance of the Environmental Council’s input in searches past, and suggests we put forth a couple of questions to be used in the search to fill this position.  Much discussion came from this.  Deanne commented that Lorrie Fox may also have some insight here, she will contact Lorrie.  Anyone with ideas should email Dick directly, preferably before March 25^th.

Bonnie Hundrieser, from Duluth LEAP has requested a short narrative outlining LSC’s progress in energy conservation over the past few years.  Kristi put a paragraph together, and brought it to the EC for comment today:

Lake Superior College was a Minnesota State Colleges and Univeristies (MnSCU) pacesetter in building design, and in 2007 constructed the first LEED Certified building in the MnSCU system and has recently completed its second LEED designed buildling.  LSC was also an early signatory to the American College and Univeristy Presidents’ Climate Commitment, and in 2011, completed a Sustainability Plan of Action (SPA) which set a goal to reduce carbon emissions 50% by 2030.  The Committment also makes LSC responsible for bi-annual progress reporting to the ACUPCC.  LSC’s latest Strategic Plan supports the campus SPA and sets a goal to decrease energy consumption by eight percent on a per square foot basis over four years.  LSC tracks and reports greenhouse gas emissions bi-annually to ACUPCC and submits all energy use data to the State of Minnesota B3 Benchmarking energy management system database on a monthly basis. Since baseline data was collected in 2007, LSC has reduced total energy consumption by over 5% through an ongoing Guaranteed Energy Service Projects and various facilities upgrades including indoor lighting retrofits, automatic controls, and parking lot lighting upgrades.  Most recently, LSC completed a large scale boiler and hot water heating upgrade, increasing heating efficiency by almost 25% for a majority of the campus.

Over the past 15 years, LSC has sustained a campus committee, the Environmental Council, including roughly 12 members from various campus divisions and departments.  This group has been the driving force behind many sustainability related projects.  The group has recently drafted an Environmentally Responsible Purchasing Policy and Efficient Use of Resources Policy aimed at reducing natural resource and energy consumption on campus.  LSC has also been a member of Minnesota Waste Wise and the Association for Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) for over five years.

Council members made suggestions to include alternative transportation initiatives.  Kristi will make changes and forward to Wade/Gary K before sending to Bonnie.

Glenn has been working on an articulation agreement with UMD and the Sustainability and the Environment.  As part of that, he’d like to encourage the EC to pick a day to tour the Eco-Industrial Park in Silver Bay sometime in April.  The EC will provide transportation for this.

Ongoing Business

Earth Day planning:

FROM LAST MEETING—Earth Day Planning:  Heather joined us today to begin discussions for Earth Day at LSC.  It will be April 23^rd and possibly some activities on the 24^th.  Ideas generated include:

• Creating a theme for the day focused on local/regional food
• Community and student tables, as usual
• Lunch, possibly a bar-b-que.  Bruce will talk with Cara at Upper Lakes Foods about their potential involvement.  Food would have to be prepared for up to 250 people.
• Presentations:
  • Sarah would like to present on the importance of utilizing local water sources instead of bottled water
  • The Garden Club could present or demonstrate gardening techniques, inviting students to help with early fall planting or fencing on the LSC edible garden
  • The Student Senate could be involved in showcasing their Legacy Project (Sarah will meet with them to see if they’re interested in pursuing this)
• Campus Clean-Up, including adopt-a-parking lot groups
• Entertainment: student open mic, possibly outside
• Possible Interpretive Trail re-opening, if new trailhead sign is finished (could be incorporated with clean-up)
• Give-aways (for volunteers only): water bottles

There weren’t many updates thus far.  Bruce has confirmed with Upper Lakes Foods that they can provide their corporate chef, but he hasn’t been able to find out what they would be able to offer for food.  Kristi will check with Wade to see if the EC can offer to help pay for food.

Further planning should continue at the next meeting.  Kristi will invite Heather and possibly a representative from the Legacy Committee to join.  We will meet Wednesday, March 13^th,  at 10:00 in the Student Life Conference Room.

Old Business

Budget 

FY14 Budget Planning

FY13 Budget: $9,000

Expenses since last meeting:

-travel for MnSCU Sustainability Across the Curriculum Workshop at NHCC: $170.14

-UW Madison Earth Day Registration for 2 faculty: $110

-UW Madison Earth Day Registration for 2 student: $50

-UW Madison hotel accommodations, 2 rooms: faculty- $135, 2 student- [$270]

-UW Madison travel and meal reimbursement 2 faculty: $372.90+($39×2)=$450.90

Balance as of 2/28/2013: $6,381.60

Ideas generated for remaining purchases (additional items added from last meeting’s list):

• Concourse lighting signage
• Semi-permanent recycling signage
• Bottle filling station for ERTC
• Additional bike rack for main entrance
• Outdoor recycling cans
• Interpretive Trailhead sign
• Interpretive Trail bench, trash/recycling cans
• Food/promo materials for Earth Day
• Silver Bay “field trip” for EC
• Parking lot info signs

Kristi will send a facilities related list to Gary A and find out if any of these items may be on his priority list.

Motions

Next meeting

Wednesday, March 13^th, Student life Conference Room at 10:00

Notes submitted by Kristi Heintz

Meeting Minutes 2/1/2013

8:30-10:30

Location: Student Life Conference Room

Attendance

Governing Council Members present: Deanne Roquet, Kristi Heintz, Theresa Hornstein, Sarah Newport

General Members present:  Glenn Merrick, Aaron McIntire, Stephen Erickson

Guest Present:

Announcements

–Nelson Institute Earth Day Conference @UW Madison: Apr 15, 2013.  Last chance to contact Kristi and Deanne, registration will be done next week.

The updated EC Calendar is on SharePoint.  You can click the link or get to it through the employee portal>click on committees (left hand panel)>Environmental Council.  Kristi will keep this updated with meetings, workshops, and conferences.

Stephen Erickson has been hired as an Environmental Council Student Employee.  Welcome, Stephen!

Student Employee & Work Group Reports

Student Senate Legacy Project:  Lengthy conversation was had about opportunities for the EC to support the mission of the Legacy Project.  The EC would like to donate a bench or fruit trees.  Sarah will communicate this with their Student Senate at their next meeting.

New Business

A regional Sustainability “Folks” meeting will be held next at LSC in the H-building.  The meeting will be February 26^th (Student Success Day). After reviewing participant’s availability, 2:00-3:30 seems to be the best time.  Kristi will send an update to participants.

Chad Johnson (Physics tutor) has been working on an exciting project in his personal life!  He’s working with Sepp Holzer (http://www.holzeragroecology.org/) and his Permiculture/Agroecology technology.  He’d like to make some connections with local educational institutions, possibly bringing Sepp in for a speaking engagement.  The Sustainability Folks meeting may be a good place to make that connection.

Earth Day Planning:  Heather joined us today to begin discussions for Earth Day at LSC.  It will be April 23^rd and possibly some activities on the 24^th.  Ideas generated include:

• Creating a theme for the day focused on local/regional food
• Community and student tables, as usual
• Lunch, possibly a bar-b-que.  Bruce will talk with Cara at Upper Lakes Foods about their potential involvement.  Food would have to be prepared for up to 250 people.
• Presentations:
  • Sarah would like to present on the importance of utilizing local water sources instead of bottled water (i-net cafe)
  • The Garden Club could present or demonstrate gardening techniques, inviting students to help with early fall planting or fencing on the LSC edible garden (atrium or outside)
  • The Student Senate could be involved in showcasing their Legacy Project (Sarah will meet with them to see if they’re interested in pursuing this)
  • Campus Clean-Up, including adopt-a-parking lot groups
  • Entertainment: student open mic, possibly outside
  • Possible Interpretive Trail re-opening, if new trailhead sign is finished (could be incorporated with clean-up)
  • Give-aways (for volunteers only): water bottles

Ongoing Business

Old Business

Budget 

FY13 Budget: $9,000

Expenses since last meeting:

-2 night hotel for MnSCU Sustainability Across the Curriculum Workshop at NHCC: $199.98

-2 energy efficient heated foot rests: $105.28

Balance as of 1/17/2012: $7,271.26

Ideas for remaining purchases (from last meeting):

• Concourse lighting signage
• 2 additional heated foot rests to replace space heaters
• Semi-permanent recycling signage
• Bottle filling station for ERTC
• Additional bike rack for main entrance
• Interpretive Trailhead sign
• Food/promo materials for Earth Day

Ideas were also generated for ways to ask the campus community on funding opportunities for projects or equipment with energy efficiency in mind.  MSUMoorhead’s environmental group has a proposal for funding form available to the campus community for funding request.  Kristi will talk with Al about the EC doing something similar.

Motions

none

Next meeting

February 15^st, 2013, Student life Conference Room at 8:30

Notes submitted by Kristi Heintz

Meeting Minutes 1/18/2013

8:30-10:30

Location: Student Life Conference Room

Attendance

Governing Council Members present: Deanne Roquet, Kristi Heintz, Mike Francisco, Theresa Hornstein, Wade Gordon, Sarah Newport

General Members present:  Dick Haney, Aaron McIntire, Neldon Herron

Guest Present:

Announcements

–Regional STEM Workshop: Community-Engaged Learning and Food Sustainability Regional Workshops May 16^th at St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN. The schedule hasn’t been posted yet.

–Nelson Institute Earth Day Conference @UW Madison: Apr 15, 2013.  Anyone interested in going should contact Deanne and Kristi by next week.  The EC budget will fund 8 attendees. Deanne, Neldon, and Sarah all showed interest in attending.  Kristi will forward the invitation to the Student Senate as well.

-Dick reported that the next LEAP (Local Energy Action Plan) meeting will be January 29th at the DTA.  Check the link for more information.

Student Employee & Work Group Reports

Student employees Neldon and Sarah will meet next week to discuss the semester’s planning.  Kristi is still planning to hire one more student employee.  Sarah and Neldon have agreed to tag-team the effort to represent the EC at Student Senate meetings and report back on relevant items.

Neldon and Aaron hope to do an indoor/small space gardening workshop in early spring.  Deanne suggested they contact Paula to do a Student Success Day session.

New Business

The EC discussed remaining budget planning.  Expenses forthcoming for the remaining year include:

• Earth Day speaker/promo supplies
• MnSCU Sustainability Across the Curriculum Workshop lodging and travel for Glenn, Deanne, and Kristi (~$300)
• Earth Day Conference at UW Madison lodging, registration, and travel for up to 8 people

Ideas generated for remaining purchases:

• Concourse lighting signage
• 2 additional heated foot rests to replace space heaters
• Semi-permanent recycling signage
• Bottle filling station for ERTC
• Additional bike rack for main entrance
• Interpretive Trailhead sign

Kristi and Wade will begin a study to quantify energy money spent on space heaters.  To begin, Kill-O-Watt meters will be placed on a selected heater and tracked for a week and a Kill-O-Watt meter will be placed on a heated foot rest for the same time to demonstrate energy savings.

STP Early Adopters cohort update:  Wade announced that the President’s budget will pay for the Early Adopters training and Al has agreed to be a part of the training team.  The remaining 2 members are yet to be decided.

LSC’s ACUPCC bi-annual Report was due January 13^th.  Kristi is working on it, but it isn’t complete yet.

A regional Sustainability “Folks” meeting will be held next at LSC in the H-building.  The Council suggested February 26^th (Student Success Day).  Kristi will email Mindy at UMD and ask if that works for her.  If so, Kristi will send a doodle meeting request to contacts.

The EC discussed hosting a 5R recycling event again his year.  The consensus was that although it is a hugely beneficial event, we are too busy this year and that we should make it a bi-annual event.  Kristi will contact the City and WLSSD and ask if they’d like to organize the event this year.

Ongoing Business

 none

Old Business

 none

Budget         

FY13 Budget: $9,000

Expenses since last meeting: IOS-Business Office foot warmer -$45.13

Balance as of 1/17/2012: $7,576.52

Motions

Wade motioned to purchase two more space heaters, Mike seconded the motion.  Motion passed un-opposed.

Deanne motioned to limit the number of participants the EC budget funds to attend the UW Madison Earth Day Conference to 8 people.   The EC will cover travel, food, lodging, and registration. Mike seconded the motion.  Motion passed un-opposed.

Next meeting

February 1^st, 2013, Student life Conference Room at 8:30

Next meeting’s discussion will focus on Earth Day planning, Heather will attend this next meeting.

Notes submitted by Kristi Heintz

Meeting Minutes 12/14/2012

8:30-9:45

Location: Student Life Conference Room

Attendance

Governing Council Members present: Deanne Roquet, Kristi Heintz, Theresa Hornstein, Wade Gordon, Mike Francisco

General Members present:  Dick Haney

Guest Present:

Announcements

CERTS 2013 Conference: Community Driven Clean Energy, is February 20-21 in St. Cloud, MN.  If anyone is interested in attending, please email Kristi.

Student Employee & Work Group Reports

Purchasing Policy update: Kristi met with Kathy to go over the last draft of  Purchasing Policy and Efficient Use Policy.  Kathy had some very specific concerns and wanted a few things clarified.  Kristi made some changes and also created a procedure to accompany each policy.  The Council did a final review of the four documents and made some small changes.  Kristi will email the final documents to Wade next week for the President’s Cabinet to review.

New Business

Jerry Hempt from Sustainable Twin Ports met with the Administrative Council and helped the Council “pitch” the Early Adopters Project as a campus supported initiative.  Deanne, Theresa, and Kristi also attended along with Wade.  Overall, we think the meeting went very well and we had some very positive feedback from Admin.  The EC has been tasked with suggesting 5 team members for the training and forwarding those suggestions to the President’s Cabinet next week.  Part of the STP-EAP application includes noting these team members.  Kristi started the application and the Council took some time to make changes.  Kristi will finish it up next week and forward it to Wade next week along with the Council’s suggestions for team members.  After some discussion, the Council thought it would be most beneficial to have Kristi (Sustainability Coordinator), Bruce Wallis (Director Food Service), Hanna Erpestad or Jenni Swanson (Dean Liberal Arts and Science or Business and Industry), Al Finlayson (VP Finance and Admin), and Steve Fudally (Director IT and Web Services).

Kristi met with the AQIP team last Friday about our proposal to make the STP-EAP an AQIP Action project.  The team was very excited about the opportunity and informed Kristi on Monday that it was approved as an Action Project.  The next step is to complete the “AQIP Action Project Commitment Form”.  Kristi has started the form.  Kristi and Deanne will work on this wrapping it up next week then take it Kent over break for feedback.

LSC’s ACUPCC bi-annual Report is due January 13^th.  Kristi hasn’t started it yet but hopes to begin pulling the data and information during break.  We may need to ask for an extension.

Ongoing Business

Deanne would like to invite Heather and any Student Senate/Student Life members to our January meeting to begin discussions for Earth Day, which is on Monday, April 22^nd.  We’ll also work on budget planning at January’s meeting.

Old Business

Budget                                                                                                                                                                     

FY13 Budget: $10,000

Expenses since last meeting: none

System Hold ($1000)

Balance as of 11/9/2012: $7,628

Next meeting

January 18^th, 2012, Student life Conference Room at 8:30

Notes submitted by Kristi Heintz

Meeting Minutes 11/30/2012

8:30-9:45

Location: Student Life Conference Room

Attendance

Governing Council Members present: Deanne Roquet, Kristi Heintz, Theresa Hornstein, Wade Gordon, Mike Francisco

General Members present:  Glenn Merrick, Dick Haney

Guest Present:

Announcements

Student Employee & Work Group Reports

Purchasing Policy update: Wade, Mike and Kristi met again to review the 2^nd draft of Environmental Responsible Purchasing Policy and Efficient Use Policy.  At today’s meeting, members present reviewed the documents and made final suggestions.  Kristi, Wade, and Mike will meet with Kathy Dugdale on Friday, then the Policies will be submitted for campus review.

New Business

North Shore Community School glossy paper partnership update:  After discussion with Roger and Heather, it was decided that this will not be an option for LSC, as Student Life would like to reserve that fundraiser for groups on campus.  The fundraiser is currently well utilized.  Kristi contacted Dan at NSCS.

Sustainable Twin Ports Deanne contacted Larry Hempd, and he’s agreed to attend the Administrative Council’s meeting next Wednesday at 8:00 am where we will formally propose the Early Adopter’s Plan.  Wade will be there, and Kristi, Theresa and Deanne will also be there to represent the EC.

Ongoing Business

Deanne would like to invite Heather and any Student Senate/Student Life members to our January meeting to begin discussions for Earth Day, which is on Monday, April 22^nd.

Old Business

Budget                                                                                                                                                                     

FY13 Budget: $10,000

Expenses since last meeting: none

System Hold ($1000)

Balance as of 11/9/2012: $7,628

Next meeting

December 14^th, 2012, Student life Conference Room at 8:30

Meeting Minutes 11/9/2012

8:30-9:45

Location: Student Life Conference Room

Attendance

Governing Council Members present: Deanne Roquet, Kristi Heintz, Theresa Hornstein, Wade Gordon

General Members present:  Jeri Schwerin

Guest Present:

Announcements

ERTC’s Adopt-A-Lot: The Fire Tech Club requested to adopt their parking lot at the ERTC campus.  A sign has been made and sent to them to put at the parking lot entrance.

Adopt-A-Parking Lot lower lot clean-up will be next Thursday, November 15^th, at 10:00.   Kristi has requested that Mat post the announcement to facebook, asking for any student volunteers.  Anyone that would like to help can meet at the East entrance.

Student Employee & Work Group Reports

Purchasing Policy update: Wade, Mike and Kristi met last week to discuss initial change to the first draft of the Environmental Responsible Purchasing Policy and Efficient Use Policy.  After one more small-group meeting, the Council decided a hard copy of the Policies should be proofed and initialed by each Environmental Council member, especially voting members.  Kristi will send an email next week with more information.

Plastic water bottle alternative proposal  Kristi sent an email request to Wade to forward to Administration about the opportunity to replace single use plastic water bottles with compostable cups.  Two alternative products were outlined, and the cost comparison and disposal options were highlighted in the email. Kristi spoke with Suzie at WLSSD about the potential to drop compostable cups at their composing facility.  This option depends on the type of product used (material) and quantity.  These cups could be handed out at events such as Open House, Student Success Day and Earth Day.

New Business

North Shore Community School contacted Kristi about the possibility of using our campus as a collection point for glossy paper.  NSCS has been recycling glossy paper at New Page for years, and would like to expand their collection sites.  All funds rasied from collection would go to North Shore Community School.  Although the community partnership opportunity is positive, the Council advised we first check with Student Life to find out how consistently the collections are happening here by our own campus groups.  Currently, PTA is collecting for a trip.  Kristi will follow-up with Heather.

Sustainable Twin Ports Cara Lindberg, STP Board President, met with Bruce, Deanne and Kristi on Thursday about our potential participation in this year’s training cycle.  All members agreed it would be a great opportunity if we got the right campus stakeholders involved.  Representation from the Deans, Public Information, faculty, Wade again suggested we propose it as an AQIP project.  Kristi was mistaken and under the impression that we missed that opportunity, but the AQIP team will meet again in December and will review suggestions.  Wade will follow-up with Kent.  In the meantime, Deanne will contact Jerry Hembd about meeting with the President’s Cabinet soon to propose the project.  The Council would like to move forward with the project, regardless of its affiliation with AQIP.  Another notable attribute of STP is the metric they’re creating, based on the STARS system, which would be free to us with participation.  The City of Duluth has agreed to go through the metric on a beta version basis and Cara noted there may be an opportunity for LSC to go through the beta test as well.  She also noted the tuition rate for us would be substantially less if we agreed to host the 5 meetings through the 6 month cycle.

Ongoing Business

Old Business

Budget                                                                                                                                                                      

FY13 Budget: $10,000

Expenses since last meeting: none

System Hold ($1000)

Balance as of 11/9/2012: $7,628

Next meeting

November 30^th, 2012, Student life Conference Room at 8:30