Tag: volunteer appreciation

Posted on

From Randy: Thank you, NPSOT-Wilco Chapter

** ARCHIVED POST – LINKS AND IMAGES MAY NOT WORK**

— by Randy Pensabene

I want to express my gratitude to everyone for your support throughout my two years as your NPSOT-Williamson County chapter president. I had a strong board, a solid membership base, and a great NPSOT state office that helps all the chapters function more efficiently and cohesively.

Over these past two years, we implemented significant changes in our operations. We found new avenues to reach more people and increase our membership. Our board met many new “opportunities” with enthusiasm and innovation.

The NPSOT-Williamson County chapter is blessed with so many who generously contribute their time and talents. Our elected and appointed board members and our chapter members do so much, often behind the scenes, to ensure our chapter runs smoothly and remains vibrant.

I am enthusiastic about our chapter’s future with our new president Beth Erwin and the new board. I know the team will bring many exciting and fresh ideas to promoting native plant use and conservation.

Serving as your president has been challenging, interesting, a whole lot of fun, and very rewarding.

Thank you all, you’re the best!
Randy Pensabene
Past-President, NPSOT-Williamson County

** ARCHIVED POST – LINKS AND IMAGES MAY NOT WORK**

Posted on

Thank You to Pollinator 2021 Volunteers

** ARCHIVED POST – LINKS AND IMAGES MAY NOT WORK**

— by Marilyn Perz

The Landfill Pollinator Garden says thank you to all the volunteers who came out on a drizzly, cold Saturday to weed and do winter maintenance.

image of people working on planting bed
Photo by Marilyn Perz.

On Saturday April 3, 2021, over 20 members of our Williamson County NPSOT Chapter and the Goodwater Master Naturalists came to work on the Landfill Pollinator Garden. For over 3 hours, these hardy and dedicated folks worked in the drizzle and wind to create a giant mound of recyclable plant material but also to ready the garden for spring. Waste Management has been a partner in this Pollinator Garden since 2012 and they will take our pile of debris for recycling.

image of bluebonnets
Photo by Marilyn Perz.

The Landfill Pollinator Garden is at the corner of FM 1660 and Landfill Road, in Hutto just across the street from the Recycle Center at 101 Landfill Road.  The garden is always open to the public.  If you visit during the Recycle Center hours of 7:30am-5pm, excluding their lunch from 12:30pm-1pm, you can ask to park in their lot and not on the busy road.  They are also there 7:30am-Noon on Saturday and closed on Sunday.

This year the Bluebonnets on the berm are making quite a show and might even be a good background for your family Bluebonnet picture.  Please step carefully and preserve them for the next family.

image of large native plant garden

** ARCHIVED POST – LINKS AND IMAGES MAY NOT WORK**

Posted on

The Best Volunteers and Customers Imaginable! THANK YOU!

** ARCHIVED POST – LINKS AND IMAGES MAY NOT WORK**

— by Randy Pensabene

Going into the Spring 2021 NPSOT-Wilco Native Plant Sale, we were a bit nervous. It was a new venue for us and so we were not sure how many people would show up. We were confident that we had a wonderful location at the beautiful Berry Springs Park and Preserve (BSPP) Tonkawa Pavilion and that people truly wanted Texas native plants. We were also confident that we had the best group of knowledgeable and hardworking volunteers that money couldn’t buy!

On Friday morning, it soon became apparent that the Tonkawa Pavilion was indeed the perfect location and we had nothing to worry about…, except whether we would have enough plants for Saturday. Such remarkable response and support from the plant community!

With much regret, we had to cancel the sale for Saturday because we sold out of virtually every native plant we brought. I deeply apologize to those who came late on Friday or had planned on coming Saturday. We acquired every native plant we could for the sale and we simply could not meet the demand. I thank all the customers for showing up.

I also thank each and every volunteer. It takes a sizable team of people, working together, to put on this worthwhile event. We get to have an amazing amount of fun, enjoy the camaraderie of fellow native plant supporters, and expand our knowledge and appreciation of native plants. Just as fun is interacting with and educating the public. We even had volunteers lead plant walks for small groups of people visiting our sale or visiting the park, something new this time.

It is important for everyone to know that our plant sale proceeds help fund nonprofit programs promoting the use of Texas native plants. Our primary focus is Williamson County where we spend sale proceeds on community-enriching native plant-related projects at places like BSPP, River Ranch Park, Champion Park, Brushy Creek Regional Trail, Spirit Reins, NEST-The Georgetown Project, and the Georgetown Public Library.

We are so pleased with the spring plant sale response that we are already planning our fall 2021 plant sale and I am pleased to say that we will return to the Berry Springs Park and Preserve Tonkawa Pavilion that overlooks this beautiful Williamson County asset and its trails. Our fall plant sale will be one day, Saturday, September 25, 2021, at the same location.  We’ll announce the sale hours closer to the date.

Thank you, everyone, for your generous support.
Randy

plant sale
image of plants for sale

** ARCHIVED POST – LINKS AND IMAGES MAY NOT WORK**