Spruce Up Austin, Inc. isn't changing what it does best, but it is refining how it does that.

Last Thursday morning, SUA, Inc.'s board members met and approved an expanded committee concept.

It is disbanding the tree advisory committee and creating four new committees. They will focus on projects, maintenance, public relations/education/correspondence and resource development.

The changes were the result of a three-session visioning process earlier this year.

They were part of an extensive prioritized list of objectives and goals.

The visioning proceeds was recommended by a Blandin Community Leadership Program advisor, Mary Jo Weimer, and carried to the organization by its project coordinator, Mike Ruzek.

The new committees will include both SUA, Inc. board members and volunteers from the community, who will advise the organization from their specific areas of expertise.

SUA, Inc. president Jerry Adwell emphasized the mission of the organization will not change and that it will remain tree plantings.

That pleased Dennis Maschka, a board member and the director of the Austin Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department.

Maschka said the city has 18,000 trees to maintain on public properties and with budget cuts, the department will be seriously challenged to continue to provide all the services citizens have come to expect, according to Maschka.

SUA, Inc., with a $75,000 3-year grant from Hormel Foods Corporation, was instrumental in assisting the city in recovering from the devastating loss of trees after the June 1998 windstorm.

Beginning with the 1991 100 Trees for Hormel project around the Mill Pond Pathway in Horace Austin Park and continuing in many other areas, the organization has become the foremost leader in community development projects through its environmental efforts.

The decision to adopt the goals and objectives' recommendations to form new committees and seek outside input was unanimous.

Also Thursday morning, the SUA, Inc. board members acknowledged a generous contributions from Austin Newspapers, Inc. for a community awareness project involving the 2003 Arbor Day supplement to the Austin Daily Herald.

Members were invited to participate in a project at HyVee Food Store, where used printer cartridges are being collected for recycling.

Members also approved a recommendation of project coordinator Mike Ruzek to participate with the Workforce Development Center on July 28-30.

A crew of 10 youths will assist SUA, Inc. in maintenance work along Interstate 90 north of East Side Lake.

Also Ruzek reminded board members of the proposed replanting and maintenance work needed at Honor Guards Park this summer.

Plans were tentatively made for a September project at Austin Community Bandshell Park, where trees will be planted to honor SUA, Inc. board members reaching a milestone of community service and retired Austin city administrator Patrick M. McGarvey.

The next regular meeting of the organization will be August 14.

(Lee Bonorden can be contacted at 434-2232 or by e-mail at

lee.bonorden@austindailyherald.com)