Sustainability at Lake Superior College

Meeting Minutes 2/18/2011

February 18th, 2011
9:00 Student Life Conference Room

Faculty/Staff members present: Cliff Koski, Deanne Roquet, Glenn Merrick, Kevin Futhey, Kristi Heintz, Mat Gilderman, Theresa Hornstein, Wade Gordon, Dave Olson, Heather Grillo
Students present: Amy Alves, Kent Olson, Jesse Larson
Guests present: Patty Dorn

Sub-Committee Reports
Earth Day
-The EC approved a maximum $500 promo budget for posters and flyers.  Student Life will cover some promo materials for daytime campus events, those which are directly related to students.  At least three separate posters will be developed: student day activities, convert evening activities, and Michael Moore workshops.  Mat will work with Patty on details and will send out a press release.

-Kristi announced the Professional Development Committee’s idea for in-service Duty Day on April 21st.  The day will entail campus clean-up and clean-out activities.  Two events are similar to those we planned for Earth Day:

1. The Council agreed 5R would be most useful for the Duty Day clean-up but possibly allow students to bring in e-waste during Earth Day and store until pick-up a week later.  Kristi will talk with Gary about that possibility.  The public will be invited to bring items to campus April 22nd.
2. Rain garden, rock swale clean-up could also be a duty day workshop.  Kristi suggested a workshop/clean-up of the West Lot rain garden on Earth Day and Main Lot rain garden/rock swale clean-up on duty-day.
Kristi will follow up on logistics with the Prof Development Committee, Mark Winson and Minor Miller about 5R.

-Theresa has acquired free art materials and wanted EC input on the idea of using the materials to do an Earth Day themed mural activity for anyone on campus.  It would be an open project and anyone could participate and add to the mural.  All agreed it’s a great idea, Theresa will organize.

Announcements
–Midwest Regional Collaborative for Sustainability Education 2011 Un-Conference, at Northland College is in the very beginning stages of discussion.  Information was passed to faculty to give Clare Hintz at Northland input on ideas for this project.
-Kristi passed information for this year’s Faculty Leadership in Sustainability: A Midwest Regional Workshop-March 23-24 @ UW River Falls to interested faculty.  She will forward more information next week.
-Kent Olson voiced interest in working on campus native/vegetable gardens and also on the importance of revamping our current cafeteria food options.  Deanne suggested he make connections with the Student Senate.  Kristi will follow up with him on options for working on these types of projects.

New Business
-Deanne gave highlights of the first Living Green Partners meeting held at LSC on 2/17/2011.  Many ideas were discussed for funding and planning, all present at the meeting agreed it was an important event and needs to be continued although time constraints on many groups would warrant a position be created specifically for planning.  Deanne plans to organize a follow-up meeting within a month with the same individuals and others that may have been contacted as a result of the initial meeting.  More information to follow.
–Kate from MN Waste Wise will be visiting LSC on Wednesday March 2nd at 10:00.  Wade will have Shannon find a suitable room for the meeting as the SL Conference Room is unavailable.  Kristi will email a copy of the MN Waste Wise Recommendation Report from the 2009 visit for brainstorming on topics for discussion in this meeting.  Kristi will also set up a PO and follow up with Kate about her bringing a plastic bag recycler for the EC to purchase.

Old Business
-Theresa and Kevin shared that the worm bins are too full.  The EC agreed we should purchase two more bins.  Kristi got the purchasing information, the first bins cost $122.85 each from Widde’s in Saginaw.  Kristi will contact them and work with maintenance to have them picked up.  Theresa will also make signs instructing individuals to make sure they are burying materials they are placing in the bins.  A couple of trowels would also be a good idea in the worm bins.
-Theresa shared the Sustainability Outcome revision that she and Dick worked on.  The Council reviewed and approved changes.  Kristi will send the latest version to Theresa to forward to Kent.  The document can be found on the EC SharePoint Portal.
-The Sustainability Plan of Action is due to be presented to the campus for final approval by April 15th and is due to ACUPCC May 15th.  Wade volunteered to work with Kristi on the overall SPA proofing committee, Carol will proofread the document once complete, and faculty will take on the curriculum portion in the next couple of months.

Budget Report
7/1/2010    Beginning FY11 Balance        $ 5000
7/9/10    MN Waste Wise Membership dues    $ 150    $ 4850
8/24/10    Print/Laminate 2 compost posters    $ 7.50    $ 4842.50
8/25/10    Print/Laminate 2 energy miser posters    $ 7.50    $ 4835
9/17/10    Waste Wise Annual Meeting Registration-Kevin & Kristi    $ 70    $ 4765
9/24/10    MN Waste Wise Meeting Mileage-Kevin & Kristi    $ 296.18    $ 4468.82
11/24/10    AASHE Annual Dues    $250    $ 4218.82
2/7/11    Online Cert. in Sustainability Leadership, Ithaca-Kristi    $550    $ 3668.83
2/8/11    Northland College Sustainability Meeting mileage-Kristi    $72.42    $ 3596.40

Motions
Earth Day Promo Materials: Deanne motioned the Council will pay for promo materials with a budget not to exceed $500, Cliff seconded the motion with no opposition.
Worm Bins: Theresa motioned the EC purchase two more 150 gallon stock tanks for worm bins.  Kevin seconded the motion without opposition.
Northland College Sustainability Folks meeting: Cliff motioned to retroactively reimburse Kristi for $72.42 for travel to Ashland and Theresa seconded the motion without opposition.  No opposition was voiced via email prior to travel.

Next meeting
Next EC meeting will be on March 2nd at 10:00 in the Dean’s Conference Room Workforce Development Conference Room (E2028). Lunch with Kate following meeting at Duluth Grill.  We will then have a regular meeting Friday March 4thin the Student Life Conference Room.

Submitted by Kristi Heintz

Meeting Minutes 2/4/2011

February 4th, 2011
9:00 Student Life Conference Room

Faculty/Staff members present: Cliff Koski, Deanne Roquet, Dave Olson, Dick Haney, Glenn Merrick, Kevin Futhey, Kristi Heintz, Theresa Hornstein
Students present: Tom Deschenes, Amy Aldes, Jesse Larson
Guests present: Heather Grillo, Patty Dorn, Brandon Leno

Announcements
Earth Day Patty supplied an updated agenda for the 3-day workshop with Michael Monroe including Earth Day activities.
Agenda:
11:00-1:00-information tables in hallway from Student Life leading to the Atrium
12:00-Michael Monroe performance in Atrium
Lunch served, Heather has contacted Whole-Foods Co-Op about providing food
Heather will arrange sidewalk chalk, volleyball, campus & disc-golf course clean-up
Kristi will organize a rain garden/rock garden clean-up workshop and promotion of the clean-ups
1:00-7:00-5R Recycling contacted Heather about doing an electronic collection for the public.  Kristi will work to organize that.
7:00-Public performance by Michael Monroe with LSC Choir and North Shore Community School Choir
Patty mentioned a $2 requested donation be part of the performance as per the original grant.  Suggestions were made about whom the donation should go to, Theresa suggested Duluth Community Gardens.

Publicity: Brandon Leno discussed possibilities for the slideshow which will run during the evening performance.  Kristi will send to him the photos Tom took last summer along with other sustainability related photos.  Brandon will also incorporate candid photos from the workshops and will ask the Digital Photo Club to help with this.
It was also suggested we work with CSS, UMD, and UWS to get broader publicity in community media.

Kate Worley from MN Waste Wise would like to visit Wednesday, March 2nd at 10:00.  Kristi will follow-up with her about bringing the plastic bag recycler with her.  Kristi will also invite her to join anyone available for lunch following the meeting.

“New Food Regionalism” public lecture series @ UMD.  Kristi will post the sessions on the SharePoint Calendar.

Deanne has arranged an initial Living Green Community Partners Meeting for February 17th at 2:00 and has invited the individuals discussed at earlier meetings.  Kristi will arrange for us to use the Student Life Conference Room that day.

Sub-Committee Reports
None.

New Business
Kristi would like to work toward a Professional Certificate in Sustainability Leadership online through Ithaca College.  This Certificate requires six total sessions held between January and December 2011.  Payment for this Program needs to be done over two fiscal years and will include 3 sessions at $450 apiece per year.  Kristi has been approved to use $800 in Professional Development Funds and is asking the Environmental Council to cover the remaining $550 for the FY’s sessions.
Dick requested we discuss the importance of this Program with Pat Johns and make it apparent that since LSC made a commitment to sustainability by signing the PCC, the school should think about possibly funding opportunities like this one.  Kristi agreed, but added that because the timeline for getting started is tight, she’d like to use the first half of the Certification as a basis for justifying that request for funds for the 2nd half of the Certificate.  All agreed this is an acceptable approach.

Spring Sustainability Newsletter Kristi sent out the almost final draft of the Newsletter for everyone to review before the meeting.  All info was approved by Gary Adams before the draft was sent.  Cliff and Mat sent suggestions and Kristi presented the final draft at today’s meeting. Some discussion about the “legality” of having space heaters in offices was discussed.  Kristi was unable to find a specific state rule regarding this issue so didn’t include it.  Kristi will ask Paula Castleman if she is aware of any Fire Code issues that may be involved.  Besides this, all agreed it was good enough to send.  Kristi will email the Newsletter to all staff on Monday and get permission to email to all students as well.  She will also post it on the EC Blog and Mat may print articles in the Wave.

Old Business
Kent and the Assessment Committee have asked that we “shorten” our Definition of Sustainability as it is longer than most other definitions.  Dick and Theresa will work on the wording.

Kevin reported that the worm bins are very full.  Kevin and Theresa will look at them and discuss the need for purchasing one or two more bins.

Budget Report
EC balance YTD:
$ 4218.82

Motions
Cliff motioned to allocate $550 to cover the remaining portion of the Professional Certificate in Sustainability Leadership Program through Ithaca College.  Theresa seconded the motion.

Next meeting
Next EC meeting will be on February 18th at 9:00 in the Student Life Conference Room.

Submitted by Kristi Heintz

Meeting Minutes 1/21/2011

Environmental Council
Meeting Minutes
January 21st, 2011
9:00 Student Life Conference Room

Faculty/Staff members present: Cliff Koski, Deanne Roquet, Dave Olson, Dick Haney, Kevin Futhey, Kristi Heintz, Theresa Hornstein
Students present: Janelle Ide, Tom Deschenes
Guests present: Heather Grillo, Patty Dorn, Sandy Peterson

Announcements
Patty Dorn has received a grant to bring musician Michael Monroe to LSC April 12th-14th.  He will perform on the 12th in the Commons area, host a series of workshops for students and the public all days and his stay will culminate in a concert on the 14th in the Commons.  Patty would like to see collaborations with area schools, LSC students/faculty, and a collection of media materials highlighting Michael’s commitment to sustainability through ecology and technology in music.  LSC will schedule its Earth Day events for the 14th and utilize Michael’s evening public performance as the focus for the day’s events.  Patty will also inquire with Michael about the possibility of him doing an afternoon performance, on the 14th,  powered by his solar powered trailer for students/staff.
Sandy Peterson will work on graphic design components, Mat Gilderman will be contacted about public information, and Brandon Leno will be contacted to put together a video to be played during the final performance.  The Environmental Council will also help with costs for advertising.  This will take the place of bringing in a key note speaker for the day.
Patty will attend the next EC meeting to continue talks for Earth Day planning.
The EC may also use the Earth Day opportunity to unveil the Sustainability Plan of Action as it is due to be submitted April 15th.

Please visit the Strategic Planning Portal (on the employee portal) and comment on materials Hanna posted related to our SPA presentation.

This year’s WLSSD sponsored Rain Barrel Sale will be paired with the Annual Watershed Festival and will take place on June 4th in the LSC parking lot.

Sub-Committee Reports
None.

Old Business
SPA Student Senate meeting update:  Kristi met with the Student Senate last week to discuss their concerns related to the SPA.  In their December meeting, they went through the Plan and sent Kristi 18 questions and topics they wanted to discuss further.  Kristi discussed these concerns with the Council and will make necessary changes to the SPA.
From this list of concerns, came ideas for things the Council feels strongly about following up on.  Many of the concerns are facilities related and may be applicable to the new building.  All agreed that a “wish list” be put together at the next meeting and forwarded to Gary A. and Mark W.  We will also ask for Student Senate support in putting together this list.

“Northland Sustainability Folks” meeting recap:  Kristi met with sustainability representatives from UMD, CSS, and Northland College at the new UMD Bagley Nature Classroom.  Mindy would like to extend and invitation to any student groups that would like to tour the 2,000 square foot super eco-conscious LEED Platinum building.  Mindy is also interested in pooling resources for future events open to the community for example, the Living Green Conference.

New Business
LSC Earth Day will be April 14th.  More discussion at the next meeting.

Sustainability e-newsletter:  Kristi brought the idea of putting together an informational sustainability newsletter in some format to inform and engage employees and students in projects that are going on around campus which are sustainability related.  Deanne suggested some of the topics also be posted on the “Husky Tabloids”.  The EC agreed a newsletter would be beneficial and it may need to be distributed in many formats.  The Wave will be a good place to start and we’ll also send an email link to check out the article there.  Since many of the projects are facilities related, Kristi will discuss the idea with Gary A. and work with him to get the information.  Kristi has already spoken with Mat G. about possibly helping with format and layout.

Campus Food Committee:  The Student Senate has a food committee which is currently looking into healthier and cheaper options for the cafeteria.  They are meeting with Mark Winson soon and Kristi has asked to be included in this conversation.  Kristi has also contacted Jamie Harvie, Executive Director of Institute for a Sustainable Future and has asked some preliminary questions on where to start to solicit change.  Deanne suggested we ask him to meet with the Food Committee as well.  The group also showed interest in a campus garden; Theresa will stay in contact with Kristi and the committee to develop his idea.  It was also noted that Duluth’s Community Garden Program has shown interest in the past of using our lawn space for gardens.  Past Administration was not inclined to look into this idea, but it will be brought up again.

Parking Task Force:  Cliff reported that the Parking Task Force met again last week and has asked for trail maps to include in the upcoming process to update the Facilities Master Plan.  Kristi will forward maps from Matt W. to Cliff to pass on to the Task Force.

Budget Report

EC Budget YTD: $4218.82

Motions
No motions made at this meeting.

Next meeting
Next EC meeting will be on February 4th at 9:00 in the Student Life Conference Room.

Submitted by Kristi Heintz