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- Environmental Education Advisory Task Force Minutes - 2009 - March
- Environmental Education Advisory Task Force
Meeting Minutes
March 5, 2009
Members Present:
Tom Moffatt, Lee Ann Landstrom, Nalani McCutcheon, Lisa Koch, Amy Markle, Nathan Meyer, Peter Cleary, Dawn Flinn, Tracy Fredin, David Weinand, Patty Born Selly, Anthony Bormann (via conference call)
Members Absent:
Jeff Ledermann, Deborah Durkin
Staff Present:
Mike Kennedy, Rick Patraw, Denise Stromme, John Ikeda, Colleen Schoenecker
Others Present:
Carl Lindor (Wood Lake Nature Center)
Chairman, Peter Cleary, called the meeting to order at 12:37 p.m.
Approval of the March Agenda
Rick Patraw will give the Director's Report in place of David Benke.
Motion: Anthony Bormann moved to approve the agenda; Nalani McCutcheon seconded the motion; motion passed.
Approval of the February Meeting Minutes
No changes to the February meeting minutes.
Motion: Tom Moffatt moved to approve the February meeting minutes; Nathan Meyer seconded the motion; motion passed.
Director's Report - Rick Patraw
Rick reported that the GreenPrint recommendation is to the Commissioner's Office now.
It is important to ensure that everyone is in agreement as a recommendation goes through the routing process. It is also important that when the Commissioner receives the recommendation that everyone is in agreement. You cannot sacrifice support for expediency.
Status of Legislative Language Changes for EEATF - Rick Patraw
Rick reported that there is time to put the language together for the task force to possibly become the Environmental Education Advisory Board. If the task force had a discussion expressing an interest and desire of becoming a board again it would be beneficial. This interest needs to come from the task force and should be discussed with David Benke, Prevention and Assistance Division Director.
The task force held a discussion on the topic of becoming a board instead of a task force.
Mike Kennedy explained that a Form A would be needed and is the internal process for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) to process internally getting a request to the legislature. Mike could prepare a sample for discussion, but then do the final when it comes time. The Form A is where the membership of the task force/board is spelled out.
Mike will prepare different circumstances, and list historically what has been done with the board in the past for the task force to review.
Motion: Lee Ann Landstrom moved that the process for re-establishing the Environmental Education Advisory Board be undertaken by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency staff in conjunction with the Environmental Education Advisory Task Force for the next legislative session in 2010; David Weinand seconded the motion; motion passed 11-0-0.
Housekeeping - Mike Kennedy
Joel Silverman has regretfully resigned from the EEATF. Membership for the EEATF needs to be approved by the MPCA Commissioner. Mike asked the task force if they would like to pursue filling the vacancy. Also, Deborah Durkin has found a replacement from the Minnesota Department of Health for her position. This would also need to be approved by the Commissioner.
The amended grant for ELM is done (adding $15,000). There is still approximately $4,000 to $5,000 left.
The WE3 subcommittee is working on piloting and testing the bridging documents.
The Climate Change subcommittee is meeting with a facilitator at the committee break-out discussion today. They are forming a structural framework for all citizens regarding climate change. The projected due date for the document to review by the task force is late summer.
The GreenPrint3 subcommittee project is complete and the members are dispersing to other subcommittees.
Mike asked for direction on how to proceed with the membership vacancy. The process is to send a memo stating the person's name to the Commissioner for approval. It was decided that the EEATF Chairman, Peter Cleary, would send an e-mail to all task force members asking for people they would recommend. A memo will be written and sent to the Commissioner before the meeting in April.
BREAK
Committee Break-out Sessions
WE3 - Dawn Flinn
Dawn made a request of each task force member to speak with a teacher in the next month, show them the bridging documents, and then ask them some prepared questions. After they have collected feedback from teachers, and it seems to be on track, they will go ahead with getting it designed, then made available on the Web.
Climate Change - Nathan Meyer
Nathan reported that they have started the process of deciding who needs to be involved in defining the plan. They met with a facilitator today and at this point have a good framework and will start talking to MPCA staff about resources. It is projected to have preliminary results before the end of June 2009. If anyone thinks there are key people who should be involved, please share this input.
ELM - Lee Ann Landstrom
Lee Ann reported that they will be holding a conference call with MAEE. They will be announcing how the $12,500 will be awarded (in $1,000 pieces). All of the money will be awarded by next March. They are also looking for a new coordinator. They hope to have the process finalized so the request for proposals can be out by the end of this school year. They are continuing to look for funding resources.
GreenPrint - Tom Moffatt
Tom reported that there has been a very positive response to the discussion sessions that Denise Stromme has been holding regarding the GreenPrint. They are exploring the possibilities of doing more Web-based promotional pieces, short videos, or testimonials on the GreenPrint. This will help people understand how it applies to them. They are also checking into venues where continued discussion could be held after attending one of these sessions.
Denise added that the MPCA communications contact is working on getting this produced internally so no external money would be spent.
Check-in with EEATF - All
Peter Cleary shared that the Wisconsin Environmental Education Board has asked to use the GreenPrint when preparing environmental education documents. He approved this request and in turn asked that the EEATF could use their publications as well.
David Weinand reported that the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and the MPCA conducted a pilot project last year collecting agricultural plastic. They collected more than he had previously reported - at 220 tons. They are working with the USDA grant to expand this state-wide and collect additional agricultural plastics. The plastic goes to a company that re-processes it into pellets which are made into plastic lumber, funnels, and so on.
Mike Kennedy reported that the National Association for Interpretation (NAI) Regional Conference is April 1 in Rapid City, South Dakota.
Tom Moffatt reported that the park district is launching a cell phone interpretive tool this spring. There will be stops around the park where you can call in and get pre-recorded information about the area.
Rick Patraw handed out information regarding the Supplemental Environmental Project (SEP). The project is the Environmental Learning in Minnesota Fund. This project offers a violator an option of paying the enforcement penalty outright, or they can add funding to the ELM grants. Rick will ask the administrator to make sure staff knows this option is available for all media and will make sure staff is well informed of any changes. He believes it needs to be something that registers quickly with people, so the description is directed towards this. The fund is flexible and any amount of money will be used. Mike Kennedy is the contact for the fund.
Lee Ann Landstrom shared that the park district is working on setting a carbon footprint goal.
Dawn Flinn shared new publications from the DNR. Outdoor education will be one of the main focuses at the DNR. LCCMR proposed that one of the top funding sources will be environmental education.
Mike Kennedy shared that there has been outreach between the MPCA and the DNR on outdoor education. Jeff Ledermann is the MPCA staff assigned to this topic.
Denise Stromme shared that the MPCA is looking at requirements for education. Next month's EEATF meeting will include Dr. Tony Murphy and will start at 11:30 on April 2, 2009, until 12:30 with 15 minutes for questions (open to the public). The EEATF meeting portion will start at 1:00 and go to 3:30. Anyone coming from the public needs to be registered due to space constraints. There will be an e-mail coming out regarding registration. The report card will not be printed. You need to download it from the SEEK Web site.
John Ikeda shared that the water program recommendations for the GreenPrint are in progress.
Amy Markle shared that MAEE will hold their next board meeting next week. The upcoming conference will be June 17-18. It will be held at the Jeffers Pond School in Prior Lake. Next Tuesday night at Wood Lake Nature Center there will be a documentary on "Being Caribou" shown to promote adult environmental education.
Nathan Meyer shared that the results of the needs assessment on Minnesota Leadership are on SEEK. Mike Kennedy and Barb Radtke have been asked to deliver "The Human Dimensions of Leadership Workshop" at the Midwest Environmental Education Conference and at NAAEE this year. Nathan also shared that he is the Chairman of the National Leadership Development Committee, which is working on pathways into leadership in NAAEE and developing national leadership mechanisms.
Motion: Nathan Meyer motioned to adjourn at 3:33 p.m.; David Weinand seconded the motion; motion passed.- For more information, contact:
Mike Kennedy
Staff Liaison
Environmental Education Advisory Task Force
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
Phone: 218-302-6629
mike.kennedy@state.mn.us- Posted: 5/12/09
- Revised:
- Environmental Education Advisory Task Force
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