Austin Chapter

State of the Union: Nominating Season

Dear NPSOT Austin Members,


It’s that time of the year again.  Our Bylaws require that we form a nominations committee in August to recruit officers for the coming year. I am pleased, and grateful, to announce that Kathy Trizna, Jackie OKeefe and Susan Brotman have offered to serve on the committee.  This year the following positions are open to be filled: President, President-elect, Treasurer.

In order to make these positions easier to carry out we are trying a new system. We will pair experienced members who will mentor each of these positions.  That way the learning curve is not as steep, and each new officer will have the support they need. For job descriptions please click here.

Nominations begin this month, elections will be held in November. New officers will begin training in December and begin their term January 1.  Treasurer term commitment is one year.  President-elect will serve one year in this position and will automatically become president the following year. President term commitment is for one year.

We ask for the following skills:

  • You do not need to be a plant expert, but some experience gardening with native plants would be helpful.  In this day and age, it would also be helpful to have access to a computer and be comfortable managing email communications and contacts, create and share Excel spreadsheets, and create and share Word documents.
  • For President and President-elect we would ask that you have even a small amount of experience managing groups and organizing several projects at a time.  We have several committees that carry out the activities of our chapter.  You do not have to be involved in all of them, just keep in touch and provide support where needed, and make sure they get on the calendar.
  • For the Treasurer we would request that you have experience managing budgets, tracking income and expenses, tracking a bank account and using computer programs to do so.
  • If you have the basic skills outlined above, mentors assigned to your position will help you learn the details of how NPSOT Austin runs. You are also free to recruit volunteers to help you with any of the duties outlined in your job description.


It has been a pleasure serving as President-elect and President these last two years.  I will be happy to continue to support our new officers in any way I can after my term ends December 31.
 
Cheers,
Claire Sorenson
President, NPSOT Austin

About the Region

2026 Fall Symposium Logo

This low-elevations region of Texas extends inland from the barrier islands, about 60 or so miles, and stretches from Brownsville to Louisiana. In total, it covers about 9.5 million acres, with a high point of 150 feet in elevation. More than 1000 species of plants can be found in this region. On the southern end, species more common in Mexico (such as Sabal mexicana) and Central America occur.

The barrier islands provide us with dune systems, and clay flats to the inland side, which have species found in these areas alone. Many plants here, such as Ipomoea pes-caprae (beach morning glory), can be found throughout tropical regions of the globe. I’ve encountered the same species on the beaches of Guam.

Once inland, vast marshes and wet prairies occur. Occasionally, oak (Quercus fusiformis) groves can be found. Common grasses include species of Bothriochloa, Paspalum, and Sporobolus; eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides); and switchgrass (Panicum species). Many rivers and creeks cut through the Gulf Prairies, and along these riparian areas various species of trees, Sabal minor, and other plants adapted to clay soils can be found. Due to overgrazing, farming, and fire suppression, woody species such as mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) and huisache (Acacia farnesiana), and invasive species such as chinaberry (Melia azedarach), Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius), and Chinese tallow (Sapium sebiferum) have increased and displaced our native flora.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason