April 9, 2009 Meeting Minutes of the Williamson County Chapter of NPSOT by Marilyn Perz

Janet Church started the meeting at 7:10 pm by greeting members and welcoming all the guests. She also reassured the speaker, Kerry Blackmon that our members would be fair and polite in listening to his presentation. There were 32 people present.

Kathy Galloway reported that there is $7785.28 in the treasury. She will pay Native Texas Nursery $1020 for very good plants for the plant sale. We will pay $0.95 for each plant and sell them for $2.25-2.50. We will also pay $ 185.00 for Mexican Feather Grass.

Agnes Plutino asked for more volunteers for the Earth Day Celebration at the Georgetown Library on April 18, 2009. She is looking for help from 9:45 am-noon at the Information and Kid’s table. Christy Barber and Kay Sanders volunteered to help.

Christine Powell thanked everyone for their Newsletter articles. She has conquered the state web site and can now keep it up to date with the help of Dale Rye. They will keep the old web site but do more of the entry of information themselves. Janet explained that our chapter needed more control of the web site and more timely addition of time sensitive information. Now Christine and Dale will do it.

Kathy McCormack reminded members of the field trip to Enchanted Rock on April18, 2009; The Balcones Song Bird Festival on April 25; the Spring Plant Survey at the Gault Site on May 2 at 8:30 am; possible Berry Springs visit in June with Birds and Frogs; and the Botany Class at REI in July. Details about all of the trips and programs are on the web site and in the Grapevine.

Sue Wiseman read a letter thanking the Chapter for the donation of $1000 to The Margaret Bamberger Educational Fund.

Billye Adams asked everyone to consider donating to the Austin American Statesmen to buy seeds to scatter to keep Lady Bird Johnson’s Memory Alive Fund. Dennis Perz made a motion that we donate $500 to buy seeds that will be scattered in Williamson County. Ed Somes seconded the motion and the members voted to donate the funds.

Sue Wiseman told the group of a shelter in Travis County that has a garden in need of plants. Sue made the motion that we donate $50 worth of plants to this shelter garden project. Diane Goodwin provided the second and the members voted to donate the funds.

Billye Adams made a request that members take spare plastic pots to the Wildflower Center. She then introduced Kerry Blackmon a landscape architect with TXDOT as our speaker for the evening.