New Braunfels Chapter

New Braunfels

The New Braunfels NPSOT Chapter meets on 4th Mondays of each month, except May & December – when we meet for a party.  Meetings are free and open to the public. Each meeting has a speaker and topics are announced ahead of time in the New Braunfels Chapter NPSOT Newsletter – sign up here to receive the NB Newsletter.

Meetings are held at the New Braunfels Public Library, 700 E Common St, New Braunfels, TX 78130 across from the Fair Grounds.

  • 5:45-6:15 PM – Socialize
  • 6:15-6:30 PM – Business Meeting
  • 6:30 PM – Program
 
If you prefer, you can join via Zoom https://npsot-org.zoom.us/j/5035794714, passcode NPSOT123!

Meetings & Events

Contact Us

Officers

New Braunfels NPSOT Officers are elected to serve for one calendar year:

  • President – Jenelle VanMatre
  • Vice President – Mary Moses
  • Immediate Past President – Sarah Doan
  • Treasurer – Jean Wilson
  • Secretary – Ismael Gonzalez
  • Membership – Pat Kent
  • Programs – Kathleen Scott
  • Newsletter – Gail Groves
  • Publicity – Leanne Courtney
  • Webmaster – Ruthanne Schulte
  • Plant Sale Chair – Janet McKinney
 
Our chapter has Bylaws and Standing Rules
 
 

Board Elections!!

Help shape the future of this impactful chapter as we advocate for native plants, biodiversity in our quaint and rapidly developing favorite hill country town – and get to know the members.  Lend your skills, talent and abilities to the chapter by volunteering for a board position.

Below is a summary of the positions.  See the  for a full list of responsibilities.  For more information, fill out the Contact Us form above.

President

  • Presides at the general meetings and at the Board meetings and prepares the agenda for both meetings.
  •  They represent the chapter in the community.
  • Collaborates with the Board on decisions.
  • They are an ex-officio member of all committees except the Nominating Committee.
  • When necessary or desirable, the Chapter may exercise the option of having Co-Presidents, who divide the duties.
  • Represents chapter as a voting member at quarterly State board meetings.
  • Submits annual report of chapter activities to the State.

President-elect

  • The President-elect exercises the function of the President during any absences of the President.
  • It is assumed that the President-elect will ascend to the Presidency the following year or serve if the President is unable to complete his/her term for any reason.
  • May be assigned other duties by the President.

Immediate Past President – this is not an elected position  

  • The Immediate Past President will assist the new President in any way necessary. This may include presiding at meetings if the President and President-elect is vacant or unavailable to preside.

Secretary

  • The Secretary records the proceedings of board meetings as well as chapter membership business meetings and creates the meeting minutes.
  • The minutes are submitted to the President for review in a timely manner.
  • The Secretary records any changes made to the by-laws.

Treasurer

  • The Treasurer uses Quickbooks to keep account of receipts and disbursements, render a financial statement to the State Society quarterly, and to the Board when it meets.  
  • Deposit any receipts into the bank account and are responsible for disbursements from the account via check or debit card.
  • Prepare a draft budget each year, based on the previous year’s budget. Final approval by the Board.
  • Present the annual financial records to the Financial Review Committee for inspection after filing the state report for the end of the year.

Newsletter Chair

  • The Newsletter Chair uses Mail Chimp to publish a monthly update containing news of the activities of the Chapter and emails it to those who signed up for the newsletter.
  • Maintains the email lists of members and friends of the chapter.
  • Send other communications to chapter members and friends as needed, with adherence to standing rules policies.

Program Chair

The Program Chair engages a speaker for each regular meeting. This includes confirming the speaker several months in advance, ensuring the speaker has all information required on program length, etc., and introducing the speaker at the meeting.

Webmaster

  • The Webmaster designs and keeps the Chapter’s website up-to-date with the Chapter’s activities and calendar.
  • The Webmaster furnishes all logon information to the President for use in the event the Webmaster cannot continue these duties.

Publicity Chair

The Publicity Chair shall be responsible for social media, advertising activities in the local newspaper, and on radio as needed to encourage community involvement in Chapter activities.

Membership Chair

  • The Membership Chair is responsible for maintaining a list of current chapter members and encouraging visitors to join the chapter.
  • They set up the membership table and merchandise table at each meeting, and community events.
  • Responsible for ordering name tags for members and shirts and/or caps, etc. for sale

Plant Sale Chair

  • Work with Plant Procurement Leads to determine wholesale providers for the plant sale, and present proposed budget for the following year.
  • Ensure plants are procured several months in advance of each sale (refer to Plant Sale policies in Standing Rules, section XIII)
  • Coordinate with the sale venue manager to obtain information about where the plant sale will be located within the venue.
  • Ensure workers are recruited, sale is advertised, and all tasks are assigned.
  • Secure the required TDA license and/or permit prior to the spring and fall Sales.
 
While we have returning candidates for Webmaster, Publicity Chair, Membership Chair and Plant Sale Chair, any primary chapter member can be considered for those positions. The position of chapter president for 2025 will be filled by the person who was elected to serve as president-elect in 2024 (Jenelle VanMatre is currently completing the term left vacant by our former president’s relocation out of state and will serve the 2025 president’s term for which she was elected).
  

The Standing Rules contain a full list of all duties for each position as well as other useful information on how the chapter functions. 

Receive the latest native plant news

Subscribe To Our News

Subscribe to emails from the Native Plant Society of Texas.

Receive emails when new posts are added 4-6 times per month, or receive an email once a month.

Or join us on social media

About the Region

New Braunfels, the location of our Fall 2024 Symposium, straddles both the Edwards Plateau Ecoregion and the Blackland Prairie ecoregion. Interstate 35 divides the city of New Braunfels; its path through the city closely parallels the boundary of these two ecoregions, with the Edwards Plateau on the west side and the Blackland Prairies region to the east. The Edwards Plateau area is also called the Hill Country; however, this general term covers a much larger area extending farther north. Spring-fed creeks are found throughout the region; deep limestone canyons, rivers, and lakes (reservoirs) are common. Ashe juniper is perhaps the most common woody species found throughout the region. Additional woody species include various species of oak, with live oak (Quercus fusiformis) being the most common. Sycamores (Platanus occidentalis) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) border waterways. This area is well known for its spring wildflower displays, though they may be viewed in spring, late summer, and fall, as well. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, average annual rainfall in the Edwards Plateau ranges from 15 to 34 inches.

The Blackland Prairie extends from the Red River south to San Antonio, bordered on the west by the Edwards Plateau and the Cross Timbers, and on the east by the Post Oak Savannah. Annual rainfall averages 30 to 40 inches, with higher averages to the east. This region is dominated by prairie species. The most common grass species include little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) in the uplands and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) in the riparian areas and drainages. Common herbaceous flowering plants include salvias, penstemons, and silphiums. This area has suffered greatly from overgrazing and agricultural use. Few intact areas remain, though many of the plants can be found along county roadsides throughout the region.

Our four host chapters (New Braunfels, Lindheimer, Guadalupe, and the Hill Country chapters) are located in one or both of the ecoregions above. However, the eastern portion of Guadalupe County also falls within the Post Oak Savanna ecoregion. Annual rainfall averages 35 to 45 inches, with higher averages to the east. A wide variety of hardwood trees are found, including several species of oaks, elms, and in the Bastrop area, loblolly pine (Pinus taeda). Grasses and forbs dominate in the open savannas, with most common grass being little bluestem. Ranching, agriculture, and fire suppression have allowed woody species to encroach on the once-open savannas.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason