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- Environmental Education Advisory Board Meeting Minutes - 2006 - February
- EEAB Meeting Minutes
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
February 2, 2006
12:30p.m. - 3:30p.m.
Members Present:
Lee Ann Landstrom, Chair (District 5), Billeye Rabbe (District 1), Michelle Kelly (District 2), Christine Petersen (District 3), Brinkley Prescott (District 4), Mary Ellenbecker Johnson (District 6), Sue Hankner (District 8), Tracy Fredin (Citizen At-Large), Pete Cleary (Citizen At-Large), Patty Born Selly (Citizen At-Large), Peter Raeker (BWSR), Allen Hoffman (Board of Teaching), Mark LaBarbera (DNR), Dawn Flinn (DNR), Jeff Ledermann (MPCA), Mike Sullivan (EQB), Sara Bertelsen (Alternate - EQB), Quinn Cheney (Dept. of Agriculture).
Members Absent:
Rebecca Rennicke (District 7) and Nate Meyer (U of M Extension).
Staff:
Su Beran, Staff Liaison (MPCA), Denise Stromme (MPCA), Cathy Moeger (MPCA),
Welcome & Lunch
Handouts available - general board info, Bylaws
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) Introduction - Cathy Moeger
MPCA has new strategic plan encompassing the four charges for EEAB (see below). Cathy proposes an objective by 2011 to increase Minnesota's environmental literacy score by 5%. is how the Board can become more successful, and a way to move forward. If the Board can show progress/results, we should be able to get more funding.
Board Overview - Su Beran
Su provided an overview of the Board, including the State Statute for EEAB, list of current members, and review of bylaws regarding elections of Executive Board. The Board still needs to fill vacancies for the Dept. of Health and the Dept. of Education. This board represents the entire State of Minnesota. It advises the PCA Director (Cathy Moeger) and ultimately the Governor. MPCA sees four areas of concentration for the board during this term:
1.GreenPrint Revision
2.E.L.M. Fund Initiative
3.How to measure progress in EE ~ Literacy/Behavior changes
4. Promote state resources ~ SEEK, ELSS, Report Card etc.
General Information about Minnesota Environmental Education (EE)
Denise Stromme lead a visual exercise of how EE is like an umbrella. The EEAB Legislation is the handle, the support.
Underneath are:
Advising the PCA Commissioner
SEEK
GreenPrint for MN (EEAB holds the copyright)
Environmental Literacy Scope Sequence
E.L.M. Fund ~ (Environmental Learning in MN) Fund
Environmental Education Legislation
MN Report Card on Environmental Literacy
Su Beran went over past board strategies and the associated products/projects and packet information.
Other:
OEA has set aside money for four EEAB members to go to USFWS workshop of EE evaluation being held in St. Paul in May.
Introduction of all Board members and staff
Su Beran, Staff Liaison (MPCA) ~ Staff liaison this term-representing EE unit from MPCA. Background: Education, elementary teacher, left teaching & substituting, opportunity as a watershed coordinator that led into this position.
Quinn Cheney, Dept of Agriculture ~ Works with Legislator's and the Governor's office, worked as a liaison for Canadian Consul.
Tracy Fredin, Citizen At-Large ~ 25 years of EE experience, Director of Center for Global Environmental Education at Hamline University. Founding member of WaterShed Partners.
Michelle Kelly, District 2 ~ Works for Dept. of Natural Resources, is a licensed secondary teacher, Environmental Educator, Program Coordinator, and very interested in the environment.
Brinkley Prescott, District 4 ~ Started in Environmental Education Learning centers, on Minnesota Association of Environmental Education Board, works for Eco-Education and is the current chair for the NAAEE conference being held in St. Paul, fall 2006.
Allen Hoffman, Director Board of Teaching ~ High School Spanish Teacher.
Christine Petersen, District 3 ~ 8th grade Science Teacher, Field Biologist, in Graduate Program at Hamline University.
Pete Cleary, Citizen At-Large ~ Former High School Physics teacher, current Naturalist at Dodge Nature Center, Naturalist for 12 years.
Mark LaBarbera, Dept. of Natural Resources ~ Information and Education section. Commissioners Commitment, founded Outdoor Education Heritage Center.
Dawn Flinn, Dept. of Natural Resources ~ Education Coordinator for the DNR, and Naturalist.
Sara Bertelsen, Alternate Environmental Quality Board (EQB) ~ Works on geology and water policy.
Mike Sullivan, Environmental Quality Board ~ 20 years involved with EEAB, Chairman of Metropolitan Area School Board.
Jeff Ledermann, MPCA ~Former high school teacher, with MPCA for 15 years, past MAEE board member.
Sue Hankner, District 8 ~ Professional Educator, Director of Laurentian Environmental Center, associated with Mounds View School District, has worked as energy utility lobbyist, strong interest in Environmental Energy Education.
Pete Raeker, Board of Water and Soil Resources ~ Director of BWSR communications, State Envirothon Coordinator.
Mary Ellenbecker Johnson, District 6 ~ Graduate of U of M, degree in Special Ed and Biology, taught/worked in Alaska and became interested in EE. Teaching at St. John?s Prep School, special interest in wetlands.
Lee Ann Landstrom, District 5 ~ Professional Naturalist, former Board member Minnesota Naturalist Association, past MAEE board member and president, interested in E.L.M. Fund.
Patty Born Selly, Citizen At-Large ~ Naturalist and Environmental Educator with Dakota County.
Billeye Rabbe, District 1 ~ Secondary teacher, regional extension educator, waste consultant. Works with solid waste education for Prairieland (Faribault and Martin Counties)
Cathy Moeger, MPCA Prevention and Assistance Division Director ~ Many years with MPCA such as SCORE recycling, working with legislators.
Denise Stromme, MPCA ~ Brainerd Region, support EEAB work.
Break
Appointment of Chair/Election of Vice Chair and At-Large Member
Lee Ann Landstrom was appointed as Chair and continued to run the election of a vice chair and a member at large to complete the executive committee.
Lee Ann called for nominations for Vice Chair and At-Large Executive Committee Member.
-Billeye Rabbe nominated Mike Sullivan, Mike Sullivan accepted. Mike Sullivan was nominated and elected to be Vice Chair.
-Jeff Ledermann nominated Sue Hankner, Sue Hankner accepted. Sue Hankner was nominated and elected for the at large executive committee position.
Motion: Mark LaBarbera motioned to accept nominations. Pete Raeker seconded the motion. Motion passed. Mike Sullivan is the Vice Chair and Sue Hankner is the At-large Executive Committee member.
Vision of EE Discussion
The Board broke into pairs to discuss these questions:
a) In a perfect world, what is your Idea/Vision of EE?
b) What is feasible? What could EE look like?
Thoughts and Ideas:
* Resources readily available, question recycling, make it easier for people.
* Incorporate EE into what we do everyday, make environmental decisions second nature for people.
* EE truly integrated in K-12 curriculum, develop models.
* Perfect world it would just get done, defined and shared goals, practice GreenPrint.
* EE oriented - not just schools ~ fully integrated curriculum ~ teacher education.
* Good funding level, defined goals.
* Focus on a few issues first.
* Urban vs. Rural ~ not what it should be about is rather where you live. Citizenship, moral citizens components.
* Focus on a few issues first.
* Perfect World ~ immersed, embedded in our life ~ without running it, doing it because it?s the right thing.
* School vs. College vs. General Public
* Cloud of Stealth~~ Environment is where you are ~ learning connections of the world around you, infused in one?s whole life.
* Service learning, for example recycle bins in school.
* Immersion of EE ~ all students, all citizens, all people.
* Relationships facilitate on that happening in communities, who is credible, who has funding~
The following EE resources were distributed and reviewed - GreenPrint, SEEK, Report Cards, ELSS.
Questions:
Any effort to monitor success, goals, resources?
What extent will data be used?
How will we know success?
GreenPrint Assessment evaluation was one done. Who is supposed to address various needs?
Meeting adjourned.- For more information, contact:
Su Beran
Staff Liaison
Environmental Education Advisory Board
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
Phone: 507-692-2020
su.beran@state.mn.us- Posted: 3/8/06
- Revised: 3/23/07
- EEAB Meeting Minutes
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