Sustainability at Lake Superior College

Meeting Minutes 6/21/2010

2:00 Student Life Conference Room

Faculty/Staff Members present:  Kevin Futhey, Wade Gordon, Kristi Heintz, Theresa Hornstein, Cliff Koski, Deanne Roquet, Jeri Schwerin

Announcements

The MnSCU Sustainability 2010 document is available on SharePoint.

The EC will have an information table for Welcome Week on Tuesday, August 24, 11-1:00 in the atrium.  It will feature information on our new  EC Student Green Leadership Groups.

Tom posted a sign at the disk golf course entrance with contact info to our sustainability email address.  Once we have student interest, we will organize a clean-up schedule.

Deanne mentioned a PKAL “Green Chemistry-Building-Green Campus” workshop at St. Olaf College July 30^th.  She would like to see someone from LSC attend.

Sub-Committee Report

Climate Action Plan: please review the documents below and add to/modify as you see appropriate.

    -Goals: Review and add to the list (SharePoint documents under Climate Action Plan)

    -CURRICULUM AND EDUCATION & COMMUNITY OUTREACH working docs (SharePoint)

Tom has compiled the results of the Commuting Survey and has posted a document to SharePoint.

Old Busines

LSC Sustainability Web Page: Kristi has been working with Mat to get the sustainability page put together.  If you have suggestions for sub-pages please email either of us.           

A new LSC Sustainability email address has been established: sustainability@lsc.edu

      -The messages are immediately forwarded to Kristi’s email

      -The email address will be posted on the Sustainability Web Page for Questions, Comments, etc

We’d like to recruit student(s) to work on completing and ongoing upkeep of website

-Tom has emailed Anup Parajuli about a finding a student/group to work on compiling information for the sub-pages.

New Business 

Deanne will work with Theresa to draft a letter for Dr. Nelson’s “Book of Appreciation”.  It is due June 23^rd.

Kristi has contacted Chris Rinsgred about incorporating a feasibility study related to powering LSC’s main entrance sign on Trinity Road with solar.  Christ is going to put work it into a class next semester.

Kristi contacted Dan Pioro about possibly getting GreenPrint software for LSC.  He is looking into cost.

We’d like to begin working on a Tree Campus USA application.  The Council agrees it would be a positive program to be involved in.  The deadline for application is December.  Kristi will work on it with information from Glenn.

Kristi has contacted Heather and Chandra about working with Student Life and Student Senate on Recycle Mania this year.  Heather thinks it’s a great idea and will work with Kristi to establish responsibilities of the Council and Student Life/Student Senate.

Kevin and Kristi talked with Connie about new ideas to reduce bag waste in the Bookstore.  Connie is very receptive to any ideas we have.  We will set up a recycle station for plastic bags (bookstore bags and plastic shopping bags) and Connie will use those bags in the bookstore.

Tom and Kristi put together a Student Recruit PowerPoint (it is available to view/revise on SharePoint).  This ppt will be used in select classrooms during the first weeks of classes to try to get students involved in the EC Green Student Leadership Groups.

Motions

No motions were made at this meeting.

Next meeting

TBD

Submitted by Kristi Heintz

Meeting Minutes 4/30/2010

8:00 Student Life Conference Room

Faculty/Staff Members present:  Wade Gordon, Kristi Heintz, Theresa Hornstein, Cliff Koski, Glenn Merrick, Deanne Roquet, Jeri Schwerin

Student Members Present: Tom Deschenes

Announcements

Old Business/New Business 

Budget

FY10 remaining budget: about $2,350

-Earth Day t-shirts were paid through Diversity and EC will reimburse that cost center.  Deanne requested we order more shirts to give to those volunteers who didn’t receive one.  Deanne will talk with Mat about this.

-Deanne brought up the idea of giving Dr. Nelson the gift of a tree in honor of her support of the EC’s initiatives in the past as discussed earlier, but in light of her plans to move Wade suggested we plant a tree on campus near the new Health and Science addition when it is completed.  A plaque would accompany the tree.  Wade will work on the plaque wording, and this plaque would be presented to her during groundbreaking in June.

-The remaining FY10 balance will be used to employ Kristi through June 30^th to work on the Climate Action Plan with Tom.

FY11 budget: the $5000 budget allocation was completed and Deanne posted the spreadsheet on the EC SharePoint.

Defining Work Groups

-A STARS organization workgroup was formed consisting of Wade, Glenn, Deanne, Cliff, and Kristi.  This group will meet Monday at 2:30 in W1834 to break down the STARS groups and align it with the MNSCU Annual Sustainability Report.

-A suggestion was made to implement the STARS recording system across MNSCU, Wade will follow up.  

One Year Goals & Projects

Define ourselves as a “Recommending Council” by developing a “Recommending Process” for:

          -example: investigate energy usage of 24/7 tv monitors and make recommendation for fix

      -Disk Golf Course: Adopt-A-Park utilizing skills of other departments + student volunteers

     -educating the campus on steps to follow when “green” ideas come up within departments or areas-i.e. first point of contact then follow through

And also by doing the following:

     -working with Gary Adams, President-Elect Johns, and Mark Winson on recommending process

     -developing a consistent pattern of communication with Facilities Management employees

     -facilitate training for maintenance crew through RSPT’s “Stormwater U”

     -making recommendations to IE and technology on the development of the sustainability webpage

-Climate Action Plan

-Collaborate with other organizations for Living Green

-Purchase Policy, Use Policy, Vender Policy, Waste Policy…

                -address ways to utilize our WasteWise membership and the reports they generate

Motions

Theresa motioned to use the remaining FY10 budget to employ Kristi through June 30^th.  Glenn seconded the motion without opposition.

Next meeting

TBD.

Submitted by Kristi Heintz

Meeting Minutes 4/30/2010

8:00 Student Life Conference Room

Faculty/Staff Members present:  Wade Gordon, Kristi Heintz, Theresa Hornstein, Cliff Koski, Glenn Merrick, Deanne Roquet, Jeri Schwerin

Student Members Present: Tom Deschenes

Announcements

Old Business/New Business 

Budget

FY10 remaining budget: about $2,350

-Earth Day t-shirts were paid through Diversity and EC will reimburse that cost center.  Deanne requested we order more shirts to give to those volunteers who didn’t receive one.  Deanne will talk with Mat about this.

-Deanne brought up the idea of giving Dr. Nelson the gift of a tree in honor of her support of the EC’s initiatives in the past as discussed earlier, but in light of her plans to move Wade suggested we plant a tree on campus near the new Health and Science addition when it is completed.  A plaque would accompany the tree.  Wade will work on the plaque wording, and this plaque would be presented to her during groundbreaking in June.

-The remaining FY10 balance will be used to employ Kristi through June 30^th to work on the Climate Action Plan with Tom.

FY11 budget: the $5000 budget allocation was completed and Deanne posted the spreadsheet on the EC SharePoint.

Defining Work Groups

-A STARS organization workgroup was formed consisting of Wade, Glenn, Deanne, Cliff, and Kristi.  This group will meet Monday at 2:30 in W1834 to break down the STARS groups and align it with the MNSCU Annual Sustainability Report.

-A suggestion was made to implement the STARS recording system across MNSCU, Wade will follow up.  

One Year Goals & Projects

Define ourselves as a “Recommending Council” by developing a “Recommending Process” for:

          -example: investigate energy usage of 24/7 tv monitors and make recommendation for fix

      -Disk Golf Course: Adopt-A-Park utilizing skills of other departments + student volunteers

     -educating the campus on steps to follow when “green” ideas come up within departments or areas-i.e. first point of contact then follow through

And also by doing the following:

     -working with Gary Adams, President-Elect Johns, and Mark Winson on recommending process

     -developing a consistent pattern of communication with Facilities Management employees

     -facilitate training for maintenance crew through RSPT’s “Stormwater U”

     -making recommendations to IE and technology on the development of the sustainability webpage

-Climate Action Plan

-Collaborate with other organizations for Living Green

-Purchase Policy, Use Policy, Vender Policy, Waste Policy…

                -address ways to utilize our WasteWise membership and the reports they generate

Motions

Theresa motioned to use the remaining FY10 budget to employ Kristi through June 30^th.  Glenn seconded the motion without opposition.

Next meeting

TBD.

Submitted by Kristi Heintz

Agenda 4/30/2010

 April 30^th, 2010

8:00 – 10:00 am

Location:  Student Life Conference Room

Reminder: Paper copies of this agenda will not be provided.

Announcements

Sub-Committee Reports

Old Business/New Business

Let’s finish what we’ve started!  In no particular order:

Budget

FY10 budget-what is remaining and how will we spend it? (Kristi)

FY11 budget-how will we spend our $5000

Defining Work Groups

Using STARS and the MNSCU Annual Sustainability Report

1-Year and Long Term Goals

Again, using STARS and the MNSCU Annual Sustainability Report

Annual Report

Using the MNSCU Annual Report and the SharePoint Portal document started last week

Agenda 4/30/2010

 April 30^th, 2010

8:00 – 10:00 am

Location:  Student Life Conference Room

Reminder: Paper copies of this agenda will not be provided.

Announcements

Sub-Committee Reports

Old Business/New Business

Let’s finish what we’ve started!  In no particular order:

Budget

FY10 budget-what is remaining and how will we spend it? (Kristi)

FY11 budget-how will we spend our $5000

Defining Work Groups

Using STARS and the MNSCU Annual Sustainability Report

1-Year and Long Term Goals

Again, using STARS and the MNSCU Annual Sustainability Report

Annual Report

Using the MNSCU Annual Report and the SharePoint Portal document started last week

Retreat Minutes 4/23/10

Faculty/Staff Members present:  Megan Bugge, Kevin Futhey, Mat Gilderman, Wade Gordon, Dick Haney, Kristi Heintz, Theresa Hornstein, Carol Johnson, Cliff Koski, Glenn Merrick, Deanne Roquet, Jeri Schwerin, Julius Salinas

Student Members Present: Tom Deschenes

Announcements

-Deanne showed the beginning stage of LSC’s Sustainability webpage http://www.lsc.edu/sustainability/ initiated by IE.  The Council agreed it needed to be better distinguished from LSC’s main hompage by adding a “banner” related to sustainability.  The Council also agreed it would be nice to have a link to this page from somewhere on the LSC homepage, as of now there is no link to it. Steve is willing to make changes. Deanne will bring our comments to IE at next week’s meeting.

-Mark Winson joined us to discuss our FY10 and FY11 budget.  For FY11, the Environmental Council will have $5000 to work with.  In the future, Mark suggested we develop our own budget plan in January and submit it to Wade.  From now on, only Kristi will originate POs and Wade will authorize them.  Kristi will also give a monthly budget report.  Kristi and Mark will meet next week to discuss the remainder of the FY10 budget.

-The Council also discussed with Mark the responsibility of the council in paying for items or projects we initiate or suggest.  Mark suggested we establish our role as a “Recommending Council” and make recommendations to defer the cost to the responsible cost center.  These recommendations will be evaluated by Mark and that cost center.

-A suggestion was also made to approach President-Elect Johns to set up regular meetings with him in order to keep him posted on work we are doing.

-Mark requested our help in completing the Annual MNSCU Sustainability Report.  The “Annual Report” workgroup will work on this during their session and Kristi will pass it on to Mark next week.

-Mark will attend the Annual MS4 Annual Stormwater Public meeting on Wednesday.

-Mark also discussed the Parking Task Force’s intentions for LSC’s Campus Access Plan.  He also mentioned they are looking at ways to subsidize the mounting cost of student bus ridership.

Sub-Committee (Today’s Work Group) Reports

Annual Report-Deanne, Theresa, Jeri, Dick, Mat, Carol, Megan, Cliff, and Glenn spent much of the time working on the MNSCU Sustainability Report where a lot of great ideas for the future were generated, and a list was compiled and added to the EC Share Point.  Everyone is encouraged to add to that list.  We will work on this at the next meeting.

Vending Misers-Kevin, Tom, Megan, and Kristi wrote a story, but we’d like to gather more data showing energy savings to put with the story.  Cliff and his work study will put the meters on a machine without a miser and a machine with a miser and we’ll collect the data after 1 week of use.  The workgroup also thought of ways to explain the purpose of the misers, and a sign will be created in a couple of the high traffic areas.  Megan will contact Creation Station to help with the “artwork”.

Worms-The worm building work group (Theresa, Tom, Mat, Julius, Carol, Kevin, Kristi) talked with Gary Adams about the timeline for the demise of the worm building and materials that can be salvaged.  Chris Ringsrud is already beginning to remove solar/wind equipment.  The doors and some other equipment inside may be the only parts salvageable.  Theresa owns the shelving inside and will donate it and scrap wood to the art department.  Anyone who is able is encouraged to help move the worms to their new home in the Atrium, May 7^th at noon.  Gary will pick up the new stock tanks that will go under the stairs in the Atrium for the worms.  The work group decided it would be a great idea to create an educational sign to be mounted on the stairway above the bins, Gary agreed.  The group agreed it would be nice to reclaim some wood from the existing worm building to frame the signs.  Mat, Kristi and Theresa will work on signage.

Sustainable Curriculum-Deanne, Jeri, Dick, Carol, Cliff, and Glenn utilized STARS to work on defining sustainability in curriculum and addressed the three levels which instructors could report they are incorporating sustainability into their curriculum.  Instructors will be surveyed to find out who is doing this on our campus and at what level.  Cliff and Deanne will report back to IE with this information. Deanne also posted a document from today’s work on the EC SharePoint for anyone to add/edit.

Old Business

Earth Day– the Council agreed that Earth Day was a great success.  The PCC banner was signed by many students, Wade was the marker master, and the banner is now hung on the science catwalk and looks fantastic.  Mat posted pictures on LSC’s Facebook page and Kristi posted some photos on the EC blog.  The commuting survey was done at the EC table, was emailed to everyone, is still running and will run until next Thursday.  Kristi will get the results from Peter.  Thank you to everyone that volunteered at our table and the entire event!

Some items that will need attention and better organization next year are Johns Recycling (he chose to collect in the lower lot and wasn’t visible), Goodwill (came early and left early), and compostable cups (ended up in the trash).

New Business 

Motions

No motions were made at this meeting

Next meeting

Next meeting we will wrap up some items from this meeting: STARS and defining work groups, one year and long-term goals of the EC, FY10 and FY11 budgets, and the EC annual report.  The next meeting will be next Friday, time TBD.

Submitted by Kristi Heintz