Minutes for Board of Directors Meeting Lindheimer Chapter NPSOT May 13, 2025
Meeting start time: Called to order by President Sara Torres at 9:40 AM, at TPML.
In attendance: President Sara Torres, Secretary Dick Bigelow, Director of Plant Sales Debbie Kyrouac, Director of Communications Marian Stasney, Past President Mickey Riviere, Facebook Coordinator Nancy DeMarco, Membership Coordinator Bev Willmann, Hospitality Coordinator Charlotte Wright, Field Trip Coordinator Christina Campbell. Quorum requirement was met (6 of 6 required directors present).
Not attending: Treasurer Sarah Mato, Director of Formal Education Craig Bruska, Plant of the Month Coordinator Leon Dominick, Director of Community Outreach (Open).
Old Business:
None.
State Society: Sara Torres:
Fall 2025 Symposium will be in Salado, hosted by the Tonkawa Chapter.
Fellows Honor Awards – Voting Open (Members Only)
NPSOT Annual Awards – Nominations Open through May 31
Doug Tallamy Presentation Recording.
Share Your Native Plant Stories in the State magazine.
President’s Report: Sara Torres:
Celebrating 25 Years! See “Wildscapes Workshop” Plan. Tentative date September 27th, penciled in, but can officially reserve in July.
Continue Board meetings at TPML at 9:30, on the second Tuesday, May through August 2025.
Please turn in your Event Liability Forms.
Craig represented the chapter at the State Board Meeting on May 5th. Report? He sent an email to the board.
Native Plant Rescue Event on Monday, May 19th near River Chase Way and FM306, see email for signup.
Charlotte is looking at whether a plant rescue can be done near her.
Secretary’s Report: Dick Bigelow
Dick moved that the April minutes be approved, Debbie seconded, unanimous approval.
Treasurer’s report: Sarah Mato:
Chase Checking $5,456.76 as of 5/12/25.
Time to renew Library Friends Membership and Chamber of Commerce Membership?
Results of 2024 Financial Review? Does anyone need reimbursement?
Sara T. said that the 2024 financial review looked good and was complete, the committee will send emails to Sarah M.
Director of Formal Education – Craig Bruska:
April 26th NLCP Level 1, report? What went well? What improvements could be made?
NLCP Level 4 will be taught at the Headwaters of the Comal in the Fall, once construction is complete.
Native Seed Library Program, Upcoming Seed Cleaning Workdays include:
May 15th Garden Ridge seed cleaning 1-3PM
Mammen – 2nd Thursdays 2-4 PM through August
TPML – 2nd Fridays 2-4 PM.
Director of Community Outreach: Sarah Torres, acting:
NICE Committee
Posters have been delivered to all 5 NICE Nurseries, we have 1 extra for chapter display or additional new nursery.
We are planning to have information tables at each of our NICE Nurseries in the Fall, Spring was just a little too busy.
Members receive a 5% discount at Ecosystem Regeneration Artisans, our new NICE partner. Located in San Marcos, they are open to the public the first Saturday of each month.
Outreach Events
Leon represented the chapter at the monthly Friends of TPML meeting.
Chamber of Commerce CLACC – attended April Mixer at Allen’s B’s and D’s in Sattler. Here is the list of upcoming Chamber events. Would anyone like to attend with me?
MAY – 5/27/25 CASA at the Chamber Visitors Center
JULY – 7/22/25 SERVE & PROTECT MIXER Benefiting Comal Country Constables Pct 1 & 4 Goofy’s Event Center
AUGUST – DATE TBD GVTC to host joint event for CLACC, Bulverde SB and Blanco Chambers
SEPTEMBER – 9/23/25 CRRC and Hope Hospice
OCTOBER – 10/11/25 WORD/COE to host Canyon Lake Area Chamber 26th annual BBQ Cook Off at Canyon Park.
Debbie said that the Winding Branch Ranch is putting in a small native plant garden May 17th 9-11 AM and she will be giving a talk on native plants.
Debbie is doing a series of presentations at Mammen library, June 24th she is doing one on toxic native plants.
Director of Communications: Marian Stasney:
Heritage Association of San Marcos PA system $100 sale update? Sale is complete, an inventory of the other items picked up from Bob is done and was given to Sara.
New email group for Chapter Communications Team, Lindheimer-comm@npsot.org. FB, Web post, and Newsletter content can now be sent to one email address and all the relevant parties will get it. It is also useful for Committee members to communicate with each other and as a place for our speakers to email their info for promotional purposes.
Facebook – Nancy, any new updates? We continue to have additional likes and followers.
Website –Big thanks to Bob and Marian for continuing to make updates to our chapter website. Recent updates include…upcoming goals include… Upcoming goals – work with Bev to automate the welcome letter generation in Mailchimp, work with Christina on a field trip survey, work on a t-shirt design and pricing for our Wildscape Workshop this fall, and work on a logo for our 25th anniversary celebration.
Send upcoming events to Dick to be updated on the website.
Send newsletter ideas and feedback to Marian@stasney.org.
Director of Plant Sales – Debbie Kyrouac:
April 26th Spring Plant Sale was a success; we grossed right around $2,500 and had very few expenses. There was a discussion of what went well and what improvements could be made.
Fall plant sale will be held at our Wildscapes Workshop event in September.
Demonstration Gardens:
Chamber of Commerce demonstration garden.
We have approximately $300 left to spend on plants and of the $200 Ace donated for supplies, we have about $85.
Zizotes Milkweed and Lindheimer’s Senna were purchased from Pollinatives at a discount and planted right away.
Leftover Little Bluestem from the Plant Sale was incorporated into the design and planted.
Next workday we will be planting the milkweed, transplanting small Twistleaf Yuccas and Zexmenia.
When is our next meeting and/or workday? Wednesday, May 21st?
Texas Museum of Handmade Furniture – Craig Bruska
Upcoming workdays: any updates to the time?
Tomorrow, May 14th (2nd Wednesday) 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
May 22nd (4th Thursday) 10 AM – 11:30 AM
June 11th (2nd Wednesday) 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
June 26th (4th Thursday) 10 AM – 11:30 AM
Heritage Museum of the Texas Hill Country: Mickey Riviere, 1st Thursdays at 9:30-11:00, unless otherwise noted. Garden is looking good.
Membership: Bev Willmann:
Bev Willmann, 135 total members, 92 home chapter members and 43 affiliates.
Hospitality: Charlotte Wright:
May 20th at 5:30 Annual Chapter Picnic at the Heritage Museum of the Texas Hill Country. Chapter will provide sandwiches, with members asked to bring side dishes to share. Setup will be at 4:30, for those who wish to help.
Do we want to spend chapter money to buy some things for September chapter anniversary silent auction? There was a discussion on the plan Sara put together, fees, and costs.
Where do we stand for sign-ups for picnic? 16 currently.
I haven’t heard from most board members about buying sandwiches for picnic from Sunday. I need a vote to approve spending chapter money. A vote is not needed, the money is in the approved budget.
Looking into a number of things for our September anniversary celebration and starting preparations.
Program Committee Chair: Sara Torres, acting.
May 20th is annual chapter picnic and volunteer appreciation event.
June 17th is Monica Maeckle, Plants with Purpose, her new book being released May 15th
July 15th tentative need to follow up again, Casey Williams, Riparian presentation, has been recommended by several folks
August 19th is Haeley Giambalvo, Chair of the Society State Committee Native Plants in Schools
September 16th is Ashley Landry of the Native Plant Rescue Project
October 21st tentative Cheryl Hamilton, Invasive species
November 18th is our annual seed exchange
December is our annual holiday party
Field Trip Coordinator: Christina Campbell:
Craig Bruska’s Garden Tours on May 25th from 1:00-5:00
Anyone else want to host a garden tour?
Previewed Leon’s arboretum for a field trip which will probably be in October.
A number of possible field trips were discussed.
A survey of the members to get more specifics on field trips was discussed.
New Business.
None.
Adjournment:
President Sara Torres adjourned the meeting at 11:35 PM.
By Dick Bigelow, Secretary.