NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY OF TEXAS
KERRVILLE CHAPTER

NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY OF TEXAS

Kerrville Chapter
Website:  www.npsot.org/kerrville

March 2008

 NATIVES ON THE GROW

Dedicated to the understanding, preservation and enjoyment of the native flora of the Hill Country

The Kerrville Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas holds monthly meetings on the first Tuesday of the month (September through June) at Riverside Nature Center, 150 Francisco Lemos St. in Kerrville.  These meetings are free and open to the public

PROGRAM FOR MARCH

"How to Collect

Your Rainwater - One Drop at a Time."

The Kerrville Native Plant Society program, 2:00 PM, March 4th at

Riverside Nature Center, 150 Francisco Lemos, will be "How to Collect

Your Rainwater - One Drop at a Time." The speaker will be Barry Wall of

Texas Rainwater Systems, a family-owned-and-operated business that is

passionate about giving back to our ecology with rainwater collection

systems. No two systems are built the same, and he is dedicated to

creating innovative systems that make a difference.

 CHAPTER NEWS

 Nominating Committee for 2008-09 Officers

Nominating committee members are Otis Fox, Melinda Wasson, Howard Platte, and Sandra Magee. The nominations will be presented to the chapter at the April meeting with the election at the May meeting.  If you are interested in serving on the board, please contact any one of the committee.

CHAPTER MEETING TIME PREFERENCE – SURVEY RESULTS ANNOUNCED

 The results of the recent survey for chapter meeting day/time preferences are as follows.  While most prefer to keep the current schedule, more than 25% of responses preferred the evening meeting time. 

Current Schedule – 1st Tuesday at 2 pm   Weekday Evening Meeting Time   Weekend Daytime Meeting Time   

Voting at December Chapter Meeting     16     4     2   

Voting via email   2   4   0  

Total   18   8   2 

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR POSITION AT RIVERSIDE NATURE CENTER

 As most of you know, Cass Keen will be leaving her position as Riverside’s Executive Director.  If you know of anyone who might be interested in the position and would like a copy of the job description, please send a note to kerrville@npsot.org.

UPCOMING EVENTS

EARTH DAY CELEBRATION AND NATIVE PLANT SALE

The annual Earth Day celebration will be held at Riverside Nature Center on April 18 and April 19. Riverside Nature Center and Native Plant Society of Texas, Kerrville Chapter sponsor the event. Earth Day’s Native Plant Sale is the major source of funds for our Native Plant Society.

Native Plant Society members and Riverside Nature Center members can purchase plants early Friday evening April 18 from 5:00 to 6:30. The plant sale continues Saturday morning April 19 from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm.  In addition, Earth Day features three outstanding guest speakers, activities for kids, canoe rides and other opportunities to participate in activities relating to the Earth.

We need NPSOT volunteers for

〈             Cashiers

〈             Plant experts to answer questions

〈             People to assist in arranging plants on tables

〈             Making signs for plants

〈             Carrying plants

〈             Helping park cars

〈             Telling people about NPSOT

〈             Clean up after 3:00 on Saturday

〈             And other jobs

To volunteer for any job at Earth Day, contact Priscilla Stanley at jbpstan@ktc.com or 257-2094.

NPSOT members and others are encouraged to donate plants for the plant sale.  Native Hill Country Plants are, of course, preferred, but non- invasive plants that thrive in the Hill Country are also appreciated.  Bring donations to Riverside Nature Center Pavilion on Thursday April 17 or Friday April 18.

Most importantly we hope that you attend the Earth Day Celebration and buy plants. This is a fun activity so let us all plan to participate and have a great Earth Day together.

 For further information contact:

 Edna Platte, NPSOT’s plant sale chairman, platte@ktc.com; 257-2185

Additional Opportunities

 The following schedule of club programs for the remainder of the year has been announced:

April 1:

 Tony Gallucci from the Texas Youth Ranch discussing the Big Springs Ranch

May 6 : 

Field Trip to Hunt School and Ingram Middle School to view projects partially funded by Kervville NPSOT.

June 3:

Wildflower Presentation and guided nature walk lead by Marshall Johnston, botanist and author.

 LIBRARY GARDEN

Five NPSOT members worked on the library garden in February and in just two hours made great headway in getting the garden ready for spring.  In addition, two City of Kerrville people met with us.  City of Kerrville workers will provide assistance in cutting down some overgrown prickly cactuses.

Hope you can join us on Tuesday, March 11 at 9:00am so the library garden will look beautiful this

spring.

Helpful hints about membership dues 

Membership dues cannot be accepted locally.  They must be sent to the State Office which is now in Fredericksburg at the following address.

Native Plant Society of Texas

P.O. Box 3017

Fredericksburg, TX 78624

The membership form is available at chapter meetings and the NPSOT website www.npsot.org.

When completing the form please indicate the Kerrville chapter name because our chapter gets refunded a portion of the dues for our chapter expenses.

If you are renewing your membership, please send your renewal to the address above and include your membership ID to ensure we credit the correct account.
Also include any address, phone or email changes.
(You will find your membership ID printed on the mailing label of the state newsletter.)

Membership Categories and Annual Dues:

 Benefits of Joining the Native Plant Society of Texas

Goals:

    To educate both its members and the general public and to foster a greater awareness and understanding of our native flora;
    To preserve rare and endangered species and their habitats;
    To encourage landscaping with appropriate native plants, for their beauty, ease of maintenance, and water-conserving qualities;
    To protect, conserve and restore native plants threatened by development;
    To encourage the responsible propagation of native plants;
    To promote an appreciation and understanding of current, historical and potential uses of native plants.

A number of folks renewed their memberships this month. Many thanks to all.

See membership information above.

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