Saint Paul -- Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced the appointment of David Hartwell and Catherine Thayer Nicholson to the Citizen's Advisory Committee for the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund.

Catherine Thayer Nicholson, of Dellwood, was previously employed at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, the Minnesota Waste Management Board, and as an Environmental Planner at the Minnesota Department of Transportation. She is currently a member of the St. Paul Garden Club. Nicholson previously served as a director on the White Bear Lake Conservation District. She also served on boards of the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, the Dodge Nature Center, and the Minnesota Zoo Foundation. She received a B.S. in Biology and Geography from Macalester College in St. Paul. Nicholson is appointed to a four-year term ending January 1, 2007. She will serve as the Committee member from the sixth congressional district. She replaces Lars Erdahl on the Committee.

David Hartwell, of Minneapolis, is founder and president of Bellcomb Technologies, in Minneapolis. He serves as board chair of Minnesota Audubon, and as president of Belwin, which operates the Belwin Outdoor Educational Laboratory. He also currently serves on the boards of the Land Trust Alliance, Parks and Trails Council of Minnesota, the Minnesota League of Conservation Voters, and on the advisory board of the St. John's Arboretum. Hartwell previously served on the boards of numerous organizations, including the Minnesota Nature Conservancy, the Delta Waterfowl Foundation, the Bell Museum of Natural History, and the Conservation Endowment Fund. Hartwell is appointed to a four-year term ending January 1, 2007. He will serve as an at-large member. He replaces Marvin Tinklenberg on the Committee.

The Citizens Advisory Committee is made up of eleven members appointed by the Governor. The Committee advises the Legislative Commission on Minnesota's Resources (LCMR) as to the distribution of the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund. The Trust Fund consists of 40% of the net profits of the Minnesota Lottery.