The countdown continues to the
Dec. 15 rollout of the new DNR logo as part of the state’s rebranding efforts.
The DNR, along with eight other state agencies, is part of a pilot group launching the new logo on digital products, including
social media, email signatures and the website.The remaining state agencies will adopt the new logo in a coordinated effort early in 2017.
We will also be updating all of
our print materials and publications with the new logo. The plan is to
incorporate the new logo as materials are updated; there is no need to dispose of or stop using materials with the current logo.
This governor’s office action is
designed to unify the brands of state agencies under a single logo and lessen
confusion of 28 different agency brands.
"This is an exciting move
that creates a new brand across the entire state government enterprise,” said
Chris Niskanen, DNR communications director who is championing the move within
the DNR. “The governor’s initiative has already been adopted by MNIT and Explore
Minnesota Tourism. We’ll be among the lead agencies, which also includes
transportation, health and others, to adopt the new logo, with other agencies
to follow in 2017.”
As the new state logo is phased
in, the current DNR logo will no longer be used. The state agency branding initiative also means that the DNR will be adopting new fonts and new colors for its publications that will give all materials a cohesive look and feel. The new logo and templates will also be completely accessible in electronic and printed formats, which creates an efficiency for the agency and also better serves out customers' needs.
The agency’s strategy will be to
use up materials with the old logo that
are already printed such as business cards, brochures and letterhead and update
the logo on materials when reordering. Logo files and supporting materials will
be available on the DNR intranet starting Dec. 15. The Creative Services Unit
will be working with staff to test some of these new materials.
Starting with the nine pilot agencies, each agency’s logo will
contain the same design, customized with that agency’s name. Templates will
show that division names may be used in conjunction with the logo, but program
names will no longer be represented. A square version of the logo, using the
DNR acronym, is also in development.
"We're asking people to not
use the new logo until Dec. 15,” Niskanen said. “That way, we can update our
products in a deliberative manner, fix problems as they arise and ensure the
logo is adopting properly.”
Stay tuned to the weekly DNR
newsletter, Spotlight, and the agency intranet site or updates. A list of FAQs
can be found on our Intranet site. You can also submit questions and
suggestions to the DNR’s state logo project team at logo.dnr@state.mn.dnr.
 MCV staff (L-R) Sue Ryan, David Lent, Mike Kallok, Kathleen Weflen, Lynn Phelps and Keith Goetzman.
Minnesota
Conservation Volunteer magazine took home seven awards at the Minnesota Magazine &
Publishing Association Excellence Awards ceremony held last week in
Minneapolis.
“Ways of Knowing,” a column by editor
Kathleen Weflen, won a gold award for editor’s letter.
“A Burning Problem,” managing editor
Keith Goetzman’s feature story about illegal garbage burning, won a gold award
for feature article.
“The Woods,” a photo-rich essay
about a childhood play spot that is now Wolsfeld Woods Scientific and Natural Area,
won a gold award for art director Lynn Phelps’ feature design.
“Mapping Subterranean Waters,” online editor Mike
Kallok’s story about karst-country hydrology, won a silver award for feature
article.
“The Shy Bear,” a story about a
famously long-lived bear by DNR biologist Dave Garshelis, won a silver award
for profile article.
The magazine also won a silver award for overall excellence and a
bronze award for feature design for “Let Nature Be Your Teacher,” a story about
botanical art.
Given the governor's priority on water and its importance to our state, DNR Commissioner Tom Landwehr chose a water theme for the 2016 awards photo. Image of
Middle Falls, Gooseberry Falls State Park, along the North Shore.
It's time to start thinking about who you want
to nominate for excellent work completed in 2016.
The 2016 Annual Commissioner
Awards nominations will be open Nov. 28--Dec.16. Each year, the
Annual Commissioner Awards program provides an opportunity for peers to honor
the exceptional accomplishments of
fellow DNR staff at all levels and especially across all regions.
One of our goals is to
get more regional nominations this year, as about
80 percent of the DNR’s employees work outside the Central Office. We want to hear about and recognize
accomplishments statewide.
For this year's award categories, Commissioner Tom Landwehr chose categories emphasizing the DNR's
mission and strategic goals:
-
Natural Resources
Conservation: The work meaningfully
contributed to our efforts to conserve and enhance the state's waters, natural
lands, and diverse fish and wildlife habitats.
-
Natural Resources Economy: The work significantly contributed to
our efforts to develop and sustain strong job markets, economies, and
communities across the state.
-
Outdoor Recreation: The work greatly supported and promoted
Minnesota's outdoor recreation opportunities in order to meet the needs of new
and existing participants.
-
Operational Excellence: The work demonstrated operational
excellence and continuous improvement in service to internal and external
customers, with an emphasis on a culture of respect, safety and innovation.
Awards are intended to acknowledge work that occurred or
concluded in 2016, required extraordinary effort or produced extraordinary
results. Nominations should include supporting data and details to describe
work, and will be scored by the degree to which they fulfill the following:
-
Values: The work exemplified DNR Culture of Respect (honesty,
respect, working together, respecting department processes, and safety).
-
Progress: The work greatly contributed to strategic goals of the
department in one or more areas of our mission: resource conservation, outdoor
recreation, sustainable use of natural resources, and operational excellence.
-
Data: The work was grounded in using data, including ongoing
data collection/metrics with measurable, quantifiable improvements.
-
Effort: The work challenged the status quo, applied best
practices/benchmarking, or developed innovative solutions.
-
Involvement: The work affected stakeholders (internal or external) or
citizens, identifying problems and solutions throughout the project.
-
Scale: The work represents a major accomplishment.
See the Annual Commissioner Awards webpage for more information. The online nomination form will be
available soon.
With the holiday
season just around the corner, Gov. Mark Dayton’s home will soon become
festive. A large balsam fir was cut down Friday in the Nemadji State Forest that will become the Christmas tree on
the front grounds of the governor’s residence in St. Paul.
This tree is 30 feet tall and estimated to be 40-45 years old.
Each year, DNR
staff and the Conservation Corps of Minnesota cut the tree on the Friday before
Thanksgiving. But, the search for just the right tree begins months before. DNR
foresters keep an eye out for a tall tree that’s nicely shaped and well filled
out. The tree also needs to be in a location where it will not be damaged when
dropped and then easily pulled out and loaded onto a trailer.
The tree will be set up at the governor’s official
residence, 1006 Summit Ave., in St. Paul, and will be lit Dec. 1. Find more information and details
on viewing the tree.
You may be familiar with a
hatchling sea turtle’s dash to the safety of the sea. But a Minnesota baby
turtle has its own perilous journey once it hatches and digs its way out of its
underground nest!
Join a common snapping turtle and some spiny softshell
turtles in their first adventure as they race to the water.
Documenting and
monitoring the state’s turtles is just one of the tasks of the DNR’s Minnesota
Biological Survey. One of the biological survey's herpetologists shot this video.
If
you have a photo related to DNR field work, events or other subjects of
interest, send with a brief caption to newsletter.dnr@state.mn.us.
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