The Master Naturalists are scheduled to hold a class at Ringtail Ridge on Tuesday, April 14 from 6:00 PM to dusk. The class will be challenged to address the health and management of the meadows and enhance the wetland possibilities, while at the same time minimizing visitor impacts.

Kiosk and Wildlife Viewing Stands at Spring Lake Preserve
If you get to Spring Lake Preserve, take note of a kiosk going up at the beginning of the trail just past the university’s storage areas. Eagle Scout candidate Omar Rashad is working with crews to build something similar to the Prospect kiosk with guidance from SMGA. We recently walked with Melani Howard, the city’s watershed protection manager, to identify locations for wildlife viewing stands. Any bird watchers, hunters or nature watchers with viewing stand design tips should contact Melani or alliance@smgreenbelt.org with tips.

Bobcat Build
Preliminary reports show a great deal of work accomplished at Upper Purgatory Greenspace. A full report and photos to follow in our May newsletter.

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Volunteer Profile: Sheila Torres-Blank

We asked outgoing board member Sheila Torres-Blank to tell us a little bit about the many years she has spent in service to SMGA. As you’ll read, Sheila’s contributions have been invaluable and helped make our organization what it is today. Thank you Sheila!

When did you first get involved in SMGA and why? My initial involvement was motivated primarily by a selfish desire to have trails in town. I was tired of always driving an hour to go mountain biking. I already knew Todd so I started tagging along for the morning trail work. At first the Thursday morning trail group was just the two of us but eventually word got out and we had picked up a group of a half dozen or so regulars. I continue to be involved because it turns out that designing trail and building trail are almost as much fun as using it. And I'm not sure you can ever have too much trail.

What are some benefits you have derived by volunteering for SMGA? I think what I have enjoyed most is making new friends with like-minded folks. People who dig the outdoors are so cool and it has been a pleasure working with and getting to know all of them. The day-to-day stuff may not always be big and exciting but the work is vitally important. I feel proud to be a part of an organization that is working towards a future where San Marcos is NOT just one more stretch of pavement in a completely urbanized Austin-San Antonio corridor. I would much rather imagine us as a green oasis in the middle of that concrete wasteland. But that vision won't be realized without a great deal of work and commitment on all of our parts.

Sheila (on the right) and friends at SMGA’s annual meeting.

Tell us a little more about you. I grew up in Lincoln, Nebraska (Go Big Red!) and spent time in Michigan and Kansas before moving to Texas in 1994. I came for the librarian job at Texas State University and stayed because I love living in San Marcos. I've been a cyclist and/or runner for years. After coming to Texas I got hooked on adventure racing, a team sport that includes trekking, mountain biking, kayaking, map & compass navigation throughout and an assortment of other physical challenges. So if I'm not at my day job, building trail, or helping out at my husband's bakery, then I'm probably out training for my next race. I'm also a foodie and this year decided to try gardening for the first time. We'll see how that goes!

Naturescapes Photo Contest Is Ramping Up
The Hill Country Photography Club and SMGA are ramping up the Naturescapes Photo contest and are seeking sponsors for the contest to help cover its cost. Please contact Chris North at chrisnorth@grandecom.net if you know of a business or sponsor who would like to be associated with a contest that helps photographers as well as two great nonprofit organizations. Read more about the contest at http://www.smgreenbelt.org/PhotoContest.htm.The Hill Country Photography Club and SMGA are ramping up the Naturescapes Photo contest and are seeking sponsors for the contest to help cover its cost. Please contact Chris North at chrisnorth@grandecom.net if you know of a business or sponsor who would like to be associated with a contest that helps photographers as well as two great nonprofit organizations. Read more about the contest at http://www.smgreenbelt.org/PhotoContest.htm.

Greenprinting Update
Don’t miss this update on greenprinting at http://www.newstreamz.com/2009/04/08/county-works-up-greenprint-map/.

Thanks to You All for Help With the Annual Meeting Many different details, attended to by many of you, made our annual meeting a success. The food and drink were plentiful and the guests enthusiastic about visiting with others who contribute to and appreciate natural areas. Greenspace bingo and door prizes made for a fun, interactive event. Attendees also approved bylaws revisions, voted in new and returning board members Vicki Giere, Charlie O’Neil, Vaughn Thayer, Ann Jensen, and Julie Hulbert-King, and said thanks to departing board members John Thomaides, Murray Holley, and Sheila Torres-Blank. John Griffis received recognition for bringing Hays County Juvenile Justice Center youths into our natural areas to complete trail work and Todd Derkacz was honored for his many years of service to SMGA and our community.   SMGA Accomplished Much in 2008 Also highlighted at our annual meeting were SMGA’s numerous accomplishments during 2008, including:

John Griffis receives walking stick as a token of SMGA’s appreciation

Conservation

• Helped usher through $3.2 million county funding of San Marcos parks and natural areas.
• Ramped up conservation committee activities and helped connect landowners with agencies and organizations for ultimate conservation of lands.
• Received the feasibility research from intern Abby Gillifan on the Purgatory Creek Trail Project to eventually connect Purgatory Creek with the San Marcos River Parks.
• Participated in Trust for Public Lands greenprint process to combine detailed maps and data with Hays County citizen values to determine best locations for conservation.
• Alerted City of San Marcos to conservation land acquisition opportunities that would help create the greenbelt loop around the city.

Stewardship

• Consulted with City of San Marcos to improve and enable appropriate recreation in local natural areas, including Spring Lake Preserve, Ringtail, and Purgatory.
• Consulted with and established contract for improvements to Ringtail Ridge with Environmental Survey Consultants under 2007 National Trails Grant from Texas Parks & Wildlife.
• Recruited trail crew and coordinated about 750 hours of trail work, which included creating trail connections between upper and lower Purgatory Greenspaces and between Ringtail Ridge and Wonderland School.
• Provided a clearinghouse service for reports from the many “eyes on the parks” to the appropriate agency.
• Supported a variety of courses at Texas State University-San Marcos.

Outreach / Education

• Completed development of promotional brochure including map of San Marcos parks and greenspaces.
• Developed new imagery and color scheme for logo and other outreach materials.
• Developed and published trail maps for Prospect Park and Purgatory Greenspace.
• Redesigned web site to make it more navigable and visually appealing.
• Transitioned email list to an online system (Constant Contact); increased SMGA newsletters recipients to over 500.
• Assisted Texas State students with the development of a San Marcos nature tourism marketing plan.
• Held Full Moon party at Ringtail Ridge to encourage residents to interact with this newly renovated natural area.
• Conducted online membership survey to gather input on mission and outreach activities.

Organization

• Updated bylaws to address various gaps and weaknesses.
• Created job descriptions, revised board member agreement, and created an annual budget.
• Completed 18-month strategic plan (June 2008 to December 2009).
• Selected board members attended Texas Land Trust Conference and received training from Greenlights for Non-Profit Success.

Collaboration With TX State

GPS/GIS/Biology/Wildlife Management

Dr Giordano and Dr Simpson are combining classes again to do some detail data collection in Purgatory Creek Greenspace. Their data will be used to add details to maps of local natural areas and to provide a baseline of flora and fauna.

Common Experience

Next year’s Common Experience theme for lectures, readings, films, and presentations across the curriculum will be “The Sustainability Revolution”. We hope to participate by leading interpretive hikes and assisting with panel discussions.

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Single-Stream Recycling Has Arrived
We hope you are starting to take advantage of the city's new single stream recycling program (http://ci.san-marcos.tx.us/departments/publicworks/Trash_Service.htm). We heartily endorse any and all efforts to preserve our environment and thank our city leaders for making it easier than ever to reduce waste. Share your enthusiasm for recycling with your neighbors and friends so that everyone realizes what a benefit the small extra cost and effort on their part will bring to future generations.

SMGA Board & Committees Board Of Directors Todd Derkacz, President Sherwood Bishop Vicki Giere Julie Hulbert-King Maggie Hutchins-Wagner Ann Jensen Charlie O’Neil Vaughn Thayer Mary Waters Conservation Committee Sherwood Bishop, Chair Abby Gillifillan Stewardship Committee Julie Hulbert-King, Chair Sheila Torres-Blank Communications Committee Ann Jensen, Chair & Newsletter Editor Lance Jones Vicki Giere Maggie Hutchins-Wagner

Guess Where on the Trail Answer The fossil pictured at the top of this month’s newsletter is in the rock pictured above right near the trailhead at Prospect Park.

Click a date below to view past News & Events:

March 25, 2008	July 16, 2008	November 18 , 2008
April 16, 2008	August 19, 2008	December 22, 2008
May 21, 2008	September 17, 2008	January 26, 2009
June 16, 2008	October 20, 2008	March 5, 2009

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