Welcome to the Friends of the MISA website.

November 2000

This site is being updated to make it more relevant to current events with MISA and the University of Minnesota. This site will soon include a Current Events section which will provide key news developments when they become available. Note that this site is maintained through a loose network of volunteers, so please be patient as updates are prepared.

AN UPDATE AND A THANK YOU
Your earlier efforts in supporting MISA have had an amazing impact. Thank you for your commitment and your action. It is heartwarming to see how our community works together even though hundreds of miles apart. Your letters and calls earlier this year directly influenced the University's actions.

In May, 2000, President Yudof directed members of his cabinet to meet with MISA representatives and to find a solution to the recently emerged problems with MISA and its Partnership with the University. As a result, negotiations are now mid-stream in a process with representatives of the College (COAFES) and the Office of the President and a team of MISA representatives. The goal of these sessions is to reinforce the Partnership concept that is core to MISA, to review and update the Bylaws of MISA and to build ways to assure long-term commitment of COAFES through MISA to sustainable agriculture. The formal team working on these negotiations includes 4 Sustainers, 2 MISA Board Members, and 4 University Representatives, and is scheduled to meet 5 to 6 times.

The Sustianers have been meeting two or three times per month since Spring as have representative of the MISA Board to hammer out how to approach these negotiations. The work with University is very slow, but we remain committed to engaging the University for as long as it takes to constructively address our mutual concerns. We are hopeful that we are now finally approaching possible resolution of the key issues. Stay tuned. Updates will be provided on this site when compelling news breaks or significant progress is made.