MGAP House Corporation Meeting Notes

MGAP sponsored its first program for house corporation members on Tuesday, June 28.  The meeting was held at Coffman Union.  Nine Greeks attended including representatives from 4 fraternities  - Delta Tau Delta, Alpha Delta Phi, Sigma Nu and Alpha Tau Omega and 3 sororities -Delta Gamma(2), Alpha Chi Omega(2), and Kappa Kappa Gamma.

Sue Weinberg from the University of Minnesota Real Estate Department shared the plans for the renovated streetscape along University Avenue from 35W to Oak Street.  She showed numerous revised drawings and explained the goals.  Sue also talked about the U's plans to seek funding from Hennepin County, the City of Minneapolis, and foundations for the $1.6 million project.  The U considers University Avenue to be the gateway to the University and is excited about updating the street. There will be a meeting later this year sponsored by the University for all property owners on University.  The Greek Community will be kept updated.

Brett Hildreth, MGAP VP of Housing, gave a presentation on "Creating an Educational Foundation for Tax Deductible Contributions, a 501(c) 3 Case Study". He provided a 12-page handout, which detailed the steps involved in utilizing tax-deductible contributions to fund building projects and to provide scholarships to students.  Numerous questions were asked and attendees who already have a foundation shared their experiences.

Lynn Swon, MGAP VP of University Relations, solicited suggestions of topics for future meetings of house corporation members.  Ideas included: sprinklers, inspections, hiring house directors/cooks, maintenance such as heating or plumbing, renovations, rent, or the role of house corporations.  Attendees were particularly interested in two topics - fund raising/capital campaigns and kitchen renovations.  The next meeting will be set up this fall.

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Since becoming a gardener, I have learned to appreciate the winter silhouettes that trees provide in the landscape. I can’ t help myself from visually examining every tree I pass when I walk my dog. (My dog, by the way, has his own rituals with these trees). I marvel at the well balanced skeletons that gracefully reach for the sky. But this time of year, every branching flaw, every stub cut, every water sprout and every crossing branch is exposed. So for me, now is the time to clean them up and prepare those...