President Todd welcomed attendees & thanked volunteers: Greeter Dick Nicholson, Tech Team Ken Crabb, Dave Wolfgram, Matt Magers & Noble Orji. He led the group in the 4-way test. Dick introduced guests. Todd acknowledged May birthdays, which are celebrated each month with cupcakes from David Dominick (thank you!)
Ruth Petermann introduced our speaker: Erin Hanafin Berg, Deputy Director of Rethos. Rethos is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, formerly known as the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota. They work for the use of old buildings and sites and are holistic in their thought and flexible in approach. They activate space, invest in communities, and reimagine what can be. They celebrate the fundamental character and the qualities that define communities. Erin has been with the organization since 2008 and lives in St Paul.
Erin spoke about the update to the organization's name and mission statement: to lead and inspire people to connect to historic places, promoting community vitality. This is a new approach to preservation. They do not only focus on places listed on the National Historic Register or other historic registries. Those official registries only cover about 10% of the historic places in our community. They also look at how they address the other 90% of places that the community wants to see endure.
Their work focuses on three areas: Community Programs. Real Estate, & Policy.
- Their Minnesota Main Streets program was re-launched in 2010. It is an asset-based economic development program working with the national Main Street center in partnership with Minnesota Historical Society. They have 12 designated Main Street communities -- mostly Southeast & Central Minnesota, as well as Duluth. They are looking to grow these programs, focusing community energy back to historic downtowns.
- They run education classes including continuing education for Realtors on older homes and classes to the general public on older systems in their homes.
- Policy work mostly focuses on advocacy for renewal of the Minnesota State Historic Tax Credit. This has spurred $5B in economic activity & 28K jobs in past 12 years. 70 buildings have been rehabilitated in this timeframe. The tax credit is due to expire in 2022 and they are working on extension for another 8 years. Rethos also weighed in on the rent stabilization issue in St Paul.
She talked about how "old is green" and how re-using older construction saves energy and waste. She answered questions about the rent cap, and addressed the difference between honoring places vs getting landmark status.
Todd thanked Erin for her presentation. St Paul Rotary is making a donation in her honor to Cherish All Children.
Coming up Next:
- May 10 -- Lunch meeting at Intercontinental, speaker Jane Graupman, Executive Director of the International Institute of Minnesota
- May 17th -- 5:01pm at the University Club, a reception for prospective members
- May 24th -- noon Rotation Day event at Lilydale Picnic Pavilion on Pickerel Lake. Please register!
Dick Nicholson wrapped up the meeting by collecting happy dollars
Respectfully submitted,
Laura Nichols-Endres