Lindheimer Chapter Board Minutes April 2026 (Preliminary)
9:30 AM 4/13/26. Called to order at 9:36 AM
Tye Preston Library Boardroom
Attendance: Dick _x_ Sara T. _x_ Debbie __ Bev __ Sarah M. _x_ Craig __
Nancy _x_ Christina _x_ Mike Laffey _x_ Jan Walker _x_ (Quorum not met, 3 of 6 required).
Old Business:
Mike Laffey – review proposed changes to the By-Laws. We weren’t sure everybody had seen the latest version, Dick will send it out for review so we can notify the membership in time to vote on it at the May meeting.
John LaBonte, Canyon Lake Gorge. The Canyon Lake Gorge is interested in reconnecting as a local partner. The Canyon Lake Gorge is interested in reconnecting as a local partner. We are in the process of developing an area to showcase native plants for new homeowners moving to our area and need your help. Our goal is to educate the community about the resiliency of native plants and highlight their beauty. How can the Canyon Lake Gorge Education Center and Park become a location worthy of NPSOT support? We are looking for a leader to do it. One of our members is considering this and will do a trial evaluation this coming Saturday at the Gorge.
State Society:
1. NPSOT Webinar with Emmy Award-winning producer Lee Smith – April 17, Noon.
• Lee is one the original creators of the Texas Parks and Wildlife PBS series! He is offering a free webinar on how to capture, edit, and share compelling conservation videos on your smartphone.
• This is a GREAT opportunity to learn how to better feature your chapter’s projects and successes via video. We encourage you to sign up and share this post with your followers.
2. Texas Wildflower Day at TWU – April 24 and 25.
• Encourage your audiences to register for the Texas Wildflower Day Symposium at Texas Woman’s University in Denton. They can attend in-person or via Zoom. More info here. Feel free to share this post. There are several NPSOT members presenting at this great event!
Annual Member Awards.
Monthly Membership Tip.
• Sending an individual email to each new member is a nice way to make a personal connection and learn something about why the new member joined your chapter.
• This activity can be complimented with an automated email series that shares information about your chapter with new members.
• For more information about the automated email process, check the New Member Email Welcome Series document in the February 2026 Chapter Leader Forum folder.
President’s Report: Sara Torres, Acting
•Continue Board meetings at TPML at 9:30, on the second Tuesday, reserved for January to April at TPML. During construction our Board can meet in the Chamber of Commerce meeting room. We will hold our chapter meetings at Mammen Family Public Library during construction. Debbie is working reserving a room at Mammen Library for June, July, and August for the chapter meetings (no confirmation yet).
•Please turn in your Event Liability Forms.
•I had to clean up the Lindheimer Chapter Accounting folder on the State’s Dropbox account, where we have been storing a lot of chapter files. They are now in my personal Dropbox account, which is okay with me for now. I inquired about getting a Chapter folder on the State’s Dropbox account, as I would like to avoid the chapter paying for a subscription, if possible. Existing folders will need to be re-shared with whoever needs access. Who all needs access and to which folders? Nobody currently has a need.
•Scoops and Roots as a NICE Nursery? They have a new Native Plant Retail Nursery and want to participate in the NICE program. I gave them the extra sign. Do we want to table or do an event there? Will be added to our NICE list, we are looking for an event.
•Nancy has offered to update the Chapter pages on the State website.
•Workday to replace storage shed flooring? Sara is painting the flooring and will look at setting a date when she is finished.
Secretary’s Report:
Dick Bigelow, VOTE to approve minutes. We do not have enough directors to make a quorum, votes on the minutes delayed until By-Law changes can be made.
Treasurer’s Report: Sarah Mato
The bank balance as of 03/31/26 is $3,133.06.
I have the invoice for the picnic room charge, but the link to pay does not work. I have contacted Kim at the Headwater and she has not gotten back to me yet. She will mail it in, the link does not work.
Have a $100 donation for The Gorge with me. Hoping Christina (or someone else that participated) can write the “Thank You” to make it more related to our specific tour.
No deposit from state for 2025 NLCP classes – update needed from Craig.
Director of Formal Education: Craig Bruska
Native Seed Library Program, upcoming workdays
May 8th (second Friday) TPML seed cleaning 2-4 PM.
May 14th (second Thursday) Mammen seed cleaning 2-4 PM.
May 21st (third Thursday) Garden Ridge seed cleaning 1-3 PM.
NLCP-1 April 25th TPML (Spring Plant Sale).
NLCP-4 May 23rd Headwaters of the Comal. Craig and Holly Wilson from Hays County will be instructors.
Director of Community Outreach: Sara Torres, Acting
Agrifest May 2nd 9-1.
Demonstration Gardens:
Texas Museum of Handmade Furniture – Bev Willmann
Do we have any remaining actions there? Bev said that all that is left if Pam’s bench and she does not want it back unless we don’t have a place for it. Jan will check with Mickey to see if the Heritage Museum wants it.
Heritage Museum of the Texas Hill Country – Mickey Riviere, 1st Thursdays at 9:30-11:00.
Any update? No.
Chamber of Commerce demonstration garden.
Our next workday is on Wednesday, April 22nd at 9:00 (day after chapter meeting).
Mamman Demo Garden – 2nd Wednesdays 9:00-11:00.
Status? Transition is in process.
Director of Communications: Open
Facebook – Nancy, as of April 6th -135 followers. The biggest viewing was after our March chapter meeting – 225 views. There is no consistency in viewers – it could be 28 all the way to 130 for a post. People like picture postings.
New permanent Lindheimer sign for the Heritage Museum. Nancy’s husband is working on it.
Send upcoming events to Dick to be updated on the website.
Director of Plant Sales: Debbie Kyrouac
Plant sale is Saturday, April 25th, with setup on the 24th. The library has confirmed use of the patio for that date.
Sara T and I dug up a few plants at Linda Chang’s house. Several of us went to Sarah Mato’s house and dug up some plants and repotted others. I also picked up some trees from Marian’s house. We have a pretty good inventory at this point. I did order a few plants from STG to round out our NLCP inventory.
Susan Bogle is working on a new plant walk map as things have changed at the library. I will ask her if she is available to be a plant walk leader as Craig will not be at the class.
Sent out a signup genius link to the board for the NLCP class and sale, Bev sent the link to the membership. A couple things will be different this time. With Craig’s absence, we will need someone to kick off the class and keep us on the agenda. I also have to leave at 12:00, so Leon and I have worked out an agenda that allows me to help with some of the sale and do a portion of the lecture. Who is taking any leftover plants?
Will generate a plant list for the sale a week prior.
Past President: Sara Torres
Program Committee Chair: Mike Laffey
April 21st Cyrus Harp, Author of Native Food Plants of Texas: An Austin Forager’s Guide Based on Indigenous Knowledge, will speak on Paleo Foraging, Christina has ordered his book for a door prize.
May 19th Chapter Picnic
June 17th TBD.
July 21st Elizabeth McGreevy, author of Mountain Cedars Wanted Alive or Dead. Will order her book for a door prize.
August 20th TBD.
September 15th Jeff Pavalat – the Curator of Cacti & Succulents of the Zilker Botanical Garden in Austin, speaking on “Cacti & Succulents of South Texas”.
Field Trip Chair: Christina Campbell
Paleo Foraging- Cyrus Harp released his Foraging Walk schedule for 2026. Will forward a slide with the schedule to Sara to include in the chapter meeting presentation. The majority are in Austin/San Antonio, with a couple in San Marcos, and are $40/pp. If we want to arrange for a private group walk, Cyrus gave us a quote for $400 for 5-15 members for a two-hour foraging walk and would choose a location nearby on the Guadalupe River. Available dates: April 14-16, 22-24, 28, 30. Christina will send out an email to get feedback on the dates from our membership.
Tribal Buffalo Project Ranch Tour- 1.5 hour tour of bison ranch in Waelder, Texas. Owned and led by Indigenous women “dedicated to rematriating the Southern Plains”. Observe a herd of American Bison and agricultural/cultural practices. Group of 10-30 attendees, including members from Guadalupe chapter and Texas Master Naturalists. Must reserve within 2 weeks of the tour date. Typically $35/pp, potentially free for members. Carpooling is encouraged as parking is limited to 15 vehicles. Confirm with Craig.
Membership:
As of 4-8-26 100 members + 35 affiliates = 135 total.
Hospitality: Jan Walker
May 19th from 6:00 to 8:00 is our chapter picnic. It will be at the Headwaters at the Comal in the garden room. I am currently looking at different restaurant and sandwich shop offerings. I could use help getting a flyer for the event ready before our chapter meeting. This was discussed.
HEB gift card balance is $69.83.
New Business:
When to do an event at Scoops & Roots was discussed. April 24th after plant sale setup maybe?
Adjourned at 11:22 AM.