Lindheimer Chapter Board Minutes March 2026 (Preliminary)

9:30 AM 3/10/26.   Called to order at 9:38 AM

Tye Preston Library Boardroom

Attendance: Dick _x_ Sara T. _x_ Debbie _x_ Bev _x_ Sarah M. _x_ Craig _x_ Marian S. _x_ Nancy _x_ Christina _x_ Mike Laffey ___ Jan Walker _x_ (Quorum met, 6 of 6 required).

Old Business:

• Mike Laffey – review proposed changes to the By-Laws, are we ready to send them to the membership?  Marian will send out an updated version.
• 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?  Sara talked to Leon about it (he is a docent there), we are looking for a leader to do it.

State Society:

• Spring NLCP Classes– Registration is now open for NLCP classes!  Be sure to promote the classes in your area.  Debbie is checking to see if plants will be available for the NLCP I class due to the changes being made by TPML’s expansion.
• Academic Scholarships Available – Encourage undergraduates to apply for our scholarships now through March 15 by sharing this graphic.
• Monthly Membership Tip – Allow plenty of time for chapter members to visit before the formal meeting starts. That’s a great time to mingle and get to know new people.
• State has hired a chapter coordinator/helper.

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.  June to August the Chapter meetings will be held at Mamman, board meetings will continue at TPML.
• Please turn in your Event Liability Forms.
• Determine sales price and when to sell the State NPSOT signs. We will sell signs for the same price as State, $29 at our plant sale.
• Workday to replace storage shed flooring? Sara will send out 3 days to choose from.

Secretary’s Report:

• Dick Bigelow, VOTE to approve minutes.  Dick made a motion to approve, Debbie seconded, unanimous approval.

Treasurer’s Report: Sarah Mato

• Chase Checking $3,916.62 as of 2/28/26.
• Update from Craig about NLCP Reimbursement for 4 classes in 2025.  No update yet, he will make it a priority to get done in the coming week.
• Sarah reimbursed $20 Mycology debit mistake.
• Sarah sent her stuff to State this morning.

Director of Formal Education: Craig Bruska

• Native Seed Library Program, upcoming workdays

• March 12^th (second Thursday) Mammen seed cleaning 2-4 PM.
  • March 13^th (second Friday) TPML seed cleaning 2-4 PM.
  • March 19^th (third Thursday) Garden Ridge seed cleaning 1-3 PM.
• NLCP-1 April 25th TPML (Spring Plant Sale).  Sarah will do early opening check for TPML.
• 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

• WORD of Comal County is exploring potential partner interest and getting some early feedback on an event idea we’re developing for this spring. We’re considering hosting a family-friendly Earth Day & Arbor Day celebration called Roots & Rivers on April 25 at Canyon Park in Canyon Lake. The focus would be on how native plants, trees, and land stewardship directly support clean and healthy watershed.  They would like to know whether this type of event seems doable, is our organization interested, any concerns or suggestions we might have.  Sara will respond after checking with TPML, this is the day of our plant sale.  Since it is the day of our plants sale we will not participate, Sara will notify them.
• Pollinator Fiesta March 14th 10-2, Guadalupe State Park.
• Debbie will be giving a presentation at Mammen Library on March 16 at 12:00.  The topic will be on designing a water-wise pollinator-friendly garden.
• Dino Days March 21st 12-4, will give away Bluebonnets.
• Agrifest May 2nd 9-1.
• Debbie will be speaking to a garden club in June (contact was made in her talk to the retired teachers).
• Demonstration Gardens: 
  • Texas Museum of Handmade Furniture – Bev Willmann said Justin is no longer available.  We decided we will just take our plants.  Plans for the transition to Mammen were discussed, Debbie has volunteered to be the team leader.  Debbie will talk to Pam.  March 24 and 26 are possible work days.
  • Heritage Museum of the Texas Hill Country: Mickey Riviere, 1st Thursdays at 9:30-11:00.  We need a new sign.  Craig will get the signs from the Handmade Furniture garden to Sara (after Craig sent a picture of the signs it appears that they are not ours, Marian is looking to get signs made).
  • Chamber of Commerce demonstration garden.  Our next workday is on Wednesday, March 18th at 9:00 (day after chapter meeting).

Director of Communications: Marian Stasney

• Facebook – Nancy, as of March 5th -133 members.  We’ve had 1,196 views in the last month Feb 5-March 5.
• Please send articles or suggestions for them to Marian for the newsletter!
• Send upcoming events to Dick to be updated on the website.
• Marian said this was her last meeting as a board member, she will continue to help and will be transitioning what she is doing to other people.  Discussions we held about how to change the newsletter.

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.
• Linda Chang may not have much to contribute this year.  She will be contacted again later in Feb.
• An email was sent to Bob to see if he would like some help with his property.  He has not responded yet.
• An announcement will be made at the next chapter meeting inviting members to donate plants.  An offer will also be made to come get plants from member’s yards if they need help and/or to supply pots if needed.  All plants need to have tags with both common and scientific name.
• There is a plant dig April 2nd at Sarah’s at 3:30.
• Debbie is checking with The Headwaters about getting plants from them.
• She will probably buy some plants for the plant sale.

Past President – Sara Torres

Program Committee Chair:  Mike Laffey

• March 17th Central Texas Mycological Society (via Zoom).
• April 21st Cyrus Harp, Author of Native Food Plants of Texas: An Austin Forager’s Guide Based on Indigenous Knowledge, Christina will order his book for a door prize.
• May 19th Chapter Picnic.
• June 17^th
• July 21^st
• September 15th Looking at 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

• Canyon Lake Gorge-
  • 16029 S Access Rd, Canyon Lake, TX 78133
  • Saturday, March 21st 9:15 to 11:30 (In the morning, before Dino Days)
  • The tour bus holds 15 people (including guide and docent), though the bus can make two runs if our group exceeds 13, no cost to our chapter (we will do a $100 donation).
• Proposing “UV Night Walk” April 24th in Dripping Springs. Event requires registration and donation of $7/pp. This same event would cost $200 for a private tour.  This won’t be a field trip, anyone interested will sign up directly.
• April Program, Paleo Foraging- Has not released the 2026 calendar. Most recent foraging walk was $30+/pp in San Antonio. Walks primarily offered in the surrounding Austin areas. Website offers $100 for 1-2 people private tour.
• Looking at a Tribal Buffalo walk for a field trip.

Membership:

• As of 3-4-26 99 members + 35 affiliates = 134 total. 

Hospitality: Jan Walker

• Discussion-vote on having the chapter picnic at the Dino Heritage Museum of the Texas Hill Country or the Headwaters in May.  Jan emailed the board about the fees and areas available for each of them.  Sara made a motion to have the picnic at the Garden Room at The Headwaters of Comal ($80 an hour, close to what we would donate otherwise) from 5:30 to 8:30 (setup 5:30 to 6, 6 to 8 is picnic, 8 to 8:30 cleanup).  Dick seconded, unanimous approval.
• Jan said there is $100 left on the old HEB card still.

New Business:

• Chloe Masiakowski, new NPSOT Speakers Bureau Outreach Coordinator, proposal adding a chapter wide Speakers Bureau contact option for each chapter discussion.  We will not participate.

Adjourned at 11:18 AM.