More than three dozen U of M, Crookston Natural Resources Students took part in "Fire on the Prairie" as part of Prairie Days 2010 sponsored by the Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge on Saturday, August 28.

Former UMC Instructor Rhett Johnson conducted prairie wildflower tours and Tamara Saxton, UMC NatR alumnus, demonstrated fire-fighting equipment used on the refuge to manage one of the largest prairie and wetland restoration projects in North America. 

Rhett is now a restoration ecologist with The Nature Conservancy and Tamara is a fire tech with the US Fish and Wildlife Service on Rydell and Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuges, located about 20 miles east of Crookston.

Bill LeBlanc blends his comedy insights with his career in energy efficiency and technology. He travels around the U.S. talking with people about their energy use habits, but there's always a twist because humans don't behave well. They screw things up and generally don't know much about energy, which is true, sad, and funny. Bill is also a standup comedian, performing primarily at the big clubs in Denver and Colorado. He recently won the Boulder Comedy Contest, and has been a two-time finalist in Colorado's big New Faces Contest. His 'Watts' on Wednesday performance is geared toward college students and features adult humor. 

LeBlanc's stand-up comedy will highlight 'Watts' on Wednesday, September 1, at 7 p.m. in Kiehle Auditorium, as a free fun event co-sponsored by UMC Student Activities and Otter Tail Power Company. 

On Thursday, September 2, from 12:30 to 2 p.m., LeBlanc will address the campus community on a slightly more serious note dealing with energy conservation. In addition to being a stand-up comedian he is also a recognized leader in energy efficiency programs, with particular expertise in program design, marketing, market research, branding, and strategy.  As president of the Boulder Energy Group, LeBlanc has more than 20 years of experience in assisting utility and public clients in understanding their customer markets, providing tools and messages to sway customer demand, and creating overall market strategies. He has also done extensive work on social marketing. Attendees of the the Thursday Commons event also will receive more in-depth information about energy savings and the plans and timelines for Campus Energy Challenge activities set for fall semester working with Otter Tail Power Company. There are no classes scheduled on Thursdays from 12 noon to 2 p.m., so plan to attend this event. 

The UMC Early Childhood Development Center preschoolers attached migration tags to the wings of nine monarch butterflies on Thursday afternoon. The monarchs were brought in by preschooler Mckinley Isakson, who raised them from caterpillars at her home. Monarch butterflies migrate over 3,000 miles to central Mexico to overwinter.  Tagging these insects gives researchers a better understanding of the Monarchs' migration patterns and populations. The migration tags contain a specific number that identifies that individual monarch and tag.  Once the data is recorded, the adhesive tag is placed on the monarch's wing and released.

Photos series: Laura Bell and Mckinley Isakson tag and release a monarch butterfly.

If you are interested in helping tag Monarchs this Saturday, be sure to stop by the Monarch Tagging Open House at the Red River Valley Natural History Area on Saturday, August 28 from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. 

For more information, please contact Laura Bell, UMC Natural Resources, lbell@umn.edu or 218-281-8131.

The University of Minnesota, Crookston was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Beautification Award by the Crookston Area Chamber of Commerce during Ox Cart Days on Sunday, August 22. The award was given in recognition of the work done by the campus to beautify the community through maintaining the  flowers, gardens, and landscaping over the years.  

From the initial work to develop the Curtis Rude Memorial Gardens to the work done by Jerry Rude for many years in designing and expanding campus gardens to the continued work by staff in the Facilities and Operations Department, citizens of Crookston and visitors from all over have been able to enjoy the beauty of the campus.   Accepting the award on behalf of the campus was Brian Christensen, maintenance supervisor, who credited the work of staff members Neil Vraa, Greg Benoit, Theresa Helgeson, and Sue Jacobsen as well as summer interns Kenny Mendez, Mark Michalski, and Tammy Wroblewski. 

The award will be placed in the display case between Dowell Hall and Sahlstrom Conference Center.

As part of new student orientation, 227 U of M, Crookston students participated in Meet Crookston Through Service.  Students assisted in preparing classrooms at Washington and Highland schools, helped prepare the Cathedral Library, cleared ski trails at Mt. St. Benedict, set up children's activities in Central Park for Ox Cart Days, packed boxes at North Country Food Bank, cleaned kennels and walked dogs at the Humane Society, cleaned and painted at local museums, assisted at the Care and Share, performed maintenance at the cemetery, and several other projects across town.

Above photos (l to r): Kids Corner at Ox Cart Days; Students at the Humane Society; and preparing classrooms at Washington School

Learn more about Service Learning at the U of M Crookston

The SOS Orientations Leaders, Faculty and Staff welcome you to the University of Minnesota, Crookston.

We have an informative and exciting schedule of events for Orientation 2010. This year's theme is U Mark the Spot!

Attached is the Orientation Schedule 2010.pdf

Announcing the first place winners of the Fall Faculty & Staff Golf Scramble.

Photo on the left is the first place team members on the 9th green at Minakwa GC: Tom Baldwin, Peter Phaiah, Eric Castle, and Don Cavalier. The photo on the right is of the traveling trophy.

Special thanks to  all the faculty and staff who participated in the event, Phil Baird, Laura Bell, Kristie Walker and the opening week planning committee for organizing the event, Sherry Just for creating the "traveling" trophy, UMC Bookstore for the hole prizes, and  Minakwa GC for hosting the event.

Welcome Back UMC Students!

Just a couple of reminders before school starts back in full swing next week:
 1. Returning students can pick up their computers starting this Wednesday, August 18 thru Friday, August 20. Monday, August 23 is reserved for New Student Computer Checkout. Issuing resumes Tuesday, August 24, for all students.
 2. Please remember that if you had a computer over the summer, it needs to be returned before you will be able to pick up your new one. Plus any files that you would like to keep need to be backed up before you come to the UMC Computer Help Desk.
 3. Also, remember to have your UMC Student ID, or a picture ID, ready when you come in. We will not be able to issue you a computer without one.
 
Please e-mail or call me with any questions, or if you are on campus, you can stop by and see me.
 
See you all soon!

Thea Holen
UMC Help Desk Manager
University of Minnesota, Crookston
tholen@umn.edu
218-281-8376

The 2010-2011 U of M, Crookston Parking Permits are in the UMC Business Office and are ready for you to pick up.  Please stop by anytime between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

PLEASE NOTE: Your license plate number is needed to obtain your UMC parking permit.

Thank you,

Joan Reitmeier
UMC Bursars Office
121 Selvig Hall