Author: NPSOT-Wilco

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Chapter Members, your 2023-2024 ballot is “in the mail”

As previously announced in chapter meetings and blog posts, we’re holding an online election for Williamson County Chapter officers for the term September 1, 2023 through August 30, 2024. Only Williamson County chapter members are eligible to vote. 

Separately from this blog post, online voting instructions were emailed directly to chapter members today, June 25, using the email addresses on file with the Society’s state office.  If you do not see the ballot email in your inbox, please check your spam folder.  If you still do not see your ballot email, please contact webmaster Pat Donica using this form.

Election results will be announced at our chapter meeting on July 13 (meeting announcement).

Officers are elected by chapter members. Other positions are appointed, not elected.  All positions for the incoming board are shown below for both elected and non-elected positions.

NPSOT-Wilco Nominees for September 1, 2023 – August 31, 2024

Elected Board Positions (Officers)

Position9/1/2023 to 8/31/2024
PresidentNancy Copperman
Vice PresidentGary Bowers
SecretaryAnne Adams
TreasurerMark Stoetzer
DirectorTyson Bartlett
DirectorChristie Gardner
Not Subject to Election:
Past PresidentBeth Erwin

Non-Elected (Appointed) Board Positions

Position9/1/2023 to 8/31/2024
Education** OPEN **
Field TripsKathy Galloway
Membership** OPEN **
Plant RescuesAshley Landry
Plant SalesBeth Erwin, Randy Pensabene
ProgramsSusie Hickman
ProjectsNancy Pumphrey
Social MediaDiana Wilson
WebmasterPat Donica

If you would like to learn more about an open position, let us know at wilco-chapter@npsot.org.

Schedule Recap:
June 1 – Nominations open announced in blog post
June 8 – Nominations period announced at chapter meeting
June 18 – Nominations close
by June 26 June 25 – Ballot emailed to chapter members
July 10 – Last day to vote
July 13 – Election results announced at chapter meeting

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Progressive Field Trip, July 15 (Murphy Park & more)

[Updated July 1, 2023. Papilionem Natives address and parking detail. Overall route map.]

— by Kathy Galloway

Come along on our July field trip exploring Williamson County. Because of the heat, we will be making three short stops with air-conditioned rides in-between.

  • What:  Progressive Field Trip — starts in Round Rock; ends in Taylor
  • When: Saturday, July 15, 2023, 9:00am-12:00pm
  • Where:  Papilionem Natives nursery (Round Rock), Peterson Community Garden (Hutto), Murphy Park (Taylor). See location details below.
  • Optional Lunch: Plowman’s Kitchen (Taylor)

Our field trips are free and open to the public. Reservations are not required.

Dress for the weather.  We will be on paths or grass so there is no need for protection except from the sun and heat, and maybe the chiggers. We recommend a hat, and sunscreen, and bring water.   

Stop #1 Meet Here @ 9 AM – Papilionem Natives nursery- 1709 Windy Park Drive, Round Rock.  The grower specializes exclusively in native milkweeds to Texas and will give us a short tour.

image of parking area

After Stop #1, continue 8.9 miles to …

Stop #2 – Peterson Community Garden – 205 Hutto St, Hutto.  We will be met by members of Keep Hutto Beautiful, who have valiantly worked in this garden. 

Continue 9.6 miles to …

Stop #3 – Murphy Park – 1600 Veterans Dr, Taylor.  We will look at a Monarch Way Station and notice the Sabal palms in the park.

Continue 2 miles to …

Stop #4 – Optional Lunch – Join several of us for lunch at Plowman’s Kitchen – 305 West 9th Street, Taylor. Good food is in what was the band hall of a defunct Taylor school.

Hope to see you there! If you have questions, contact the Field Trip Committee here. 

image of field trip route

————–
See photos from some past field trips.

Field Trip Photo Album
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July 13 Chapter Meeting: “Hot Stuff” and Annual Chapter Meeting 

(Updated July 13) Free native plants at tonight’s meeting include Flame Acanthus, Illinois Bundleflower, Skeletonleaf Goldeneye, Chili Pequin, Autumn Sage, and Scarlet Pea.  

Join NPSOT-Williamson County on Thursday, July 13, 2023, when our featured topic will be Hot Stuff.  Free and open to the public. The meeting begins at 7:00 PM.  Our speaker presentation begins after a short business meeting, which for this month is also our annual meeting where we’ll announce chapter board election results.

==> If you attend in person, we’re at the Georgetown Public Library, 2nd floor.  If you attend in person, you are giving consent to be videoed for Zoom and YouTube (if the meeting is to be posted on YouTube). Come early (6:30 PM) to check out the seed swap board, get expert advice or visit.

==> To attend via Zoom instead of in person, register at https://npsot-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcsduitqjksGtJBWCUo-vtjag1wLUKDGh9F#/registration

About our topic: Beat the heat! Learn about natives for the hottest part of the year.

image of the sun

At every meeting, we give away a book — about native plants or the meeting topic — to one randomly chosen attendee!

Have an idea for a speaker?  Let Program Leader Susie Hickman know via  email to wilco-chapter@npsot.org.

NPSOT-Williamson County meetings are free and open to the public. We hope you attend!  Meetings may be in person, virtual, or both, so be sure to check details in the meeting announcement. Meetings are announced on our website, our calendar and Facebook. See info about upcoming topics on our page Wilco Home.