ADMIN: TEAMS AND THEMES
Orange County Chapter
Native plants are the foundation of local biodiversity and healthy habitats
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
PLANT SCIENCE
know where plants were, are, could be – and why
Chairperson: RON VANDERHOFF
Field Trips: MEL LETTERMAN (team lead), JONATHAN FRANK, RON VANDERHOFF, RACHEL WHITT, SANDY LEATHERMAN, JOHN COWLES
Rare Plants: FRED ROBERTS (team lead), BOB ALLEN, RON VANDERHOFF, MIKE SIMPSON, SANDY LEATHERMAN
O’Neill Grant 2025: SUNNY SAROA (team lead), REBECCA CROWE, JOSHUA DERR, ELIZA HERNANDEZ, ALEJANDRA SOTO, MICHAEL VIRAMONTES
Joan Hampton Grants: RICH SCHILK, RON VANDERHOFF, MEL LETTERMAN, SUNNY SAROA, LAURA CAMP, LORI REZNICK
OC Parks Vascular Plant Checklists: In collaboration with the UC Irvine Herbarium
Traveler’s Grant: RON VANDERHOFF, SUNNY SAROA, DAN SONGSTER, MEL LETTERMAN, DAPHNE CHRISTLE
CONSERVATION
protect our wildlands
At Large Member: ELIZABETH WALLACE, CHRISTOPHER GORT, ELIZABETH TAYLOR, RON VANDERHOFF, DANELLE GADIA, RACHEL WHITT
Emergent Invasive Plants: RON VANDERHOFF (lead), MEL LETTERMAN (Irvine Ranch Conservancy), JOAN MILLER (OC Parks), CRISTOPHER GORT (Laguna Canyon Foundation), ISAAC OSTMANN (Irvine Ranch Conservancy), CALEB MARTINEZ (Irvine Ranch Water District)
CNPS State Conservation Liaison:
CNPS State Conservation Liaison:
GARDENING
build nature gardens in every neighborhood
Chairperson: OPEN
Garden Tour 2026: IRINA ENSMINGER (team lead), LORI WHALEN, PAMELA HEISS, DORI ITO, VANESSA NGUYễN, KATHRYN NEWMAN, JENNIFER BEATTY, KATHRYN McCLELLAND
School Gardens & Acorn Grant: DAN SONGSTER, RON VANDERHOFF, DAPHNE CHRISTLE, REBECCA CROWE
PUBLIC EVENTS
participate, learn, improve, and have fun
Programs: MEL LETTERMAN (lead)
Presenter Procurement: RON VANDERHOFF, SUNNY SAROA, MEL LETTERMAN, DAPHNE CHRISTLE, RACHEL WHITT
Greeters: DORI ITO, JENNIFER BEATTY
Tech – Audio/Visual/Zoom/YouTube: SUNNY SAROA, MEL LETTERMAN, DAPHNE CHRISTLE, KATIE NEWMAN, PAMELA HEISS
Duck Club Liaison: ELIZABETH WALLACE
Outreach Events: DAPHNE CHRISTLE (team lead), JENNIFER MABLEY, LESLEY BINDLOSS, PAMELA HEISS, KATIE NEWMAN
Presenter Procurement: RON VANDERHOFF, SUNNY SAROA, MEL LETTERMAN, DAPHNE CHRISTLE, RACHEL WHITT
Greeters: DORI ITO, JENNIFER BEATTY
Tech – Audio/Visual/Zoom/YouTube: SUNNY SAROA, MEL LETTERMAN, DAPHNE CHRISTLE, KATIE NEWMAN, PAMELA HEISS
Duck Club Liaison: ELIZABETH WALLACE
Outreach Events: DAPHNE CHRISTLE (team lead), JENNIFER MABLEY, LESLEY BINDLOSS, PAMELA HEISS, KATIE NEWMAN
Online Book Sales: JENNIFER MABLEY
Online Shop Tech: PAMELA HEISS
In Person Sales: JENNIFER MABLEY
Inventory, Equipment, Supplies: DAPHNE CHRISTLE
Awards: DAN SONSTER, RON VANDERHOFF, LAURA CAMP, RACHEL WHITT, MEL LETTERMAN, DAPHNE CHRISTLE, LORI REZNICK
COMMUNICATION
present intriguing, curated, useful information
Communication Coordinator: ELIZABETH WALLACE
E-Newsletter (via Luminate): KRISTY GUMP (lead), DAN SONGSTER
Website: ADRIANNA ALFIDI, RICH SCHILK, PAMELA HEISS (lead)
Instagram/Facebook: KATIE NEWMAN (lead), MEL LETTERMAN, IRINA ENSMINGER, KRISTY GUMP
Website: ADRIANNA ALFIDI, RICH SCHILK, PAMELA HEISS (lead)
Instagram/Facebook: KATIE NEWMAN (lead), MEL LETTERMAN, IRINA ENSMINGER, KRISTY GUMP
Buckwheat Brings Butterflies Blog: ELIZABETH WALLACE
orangecounty@cnps.org Monitor: ELIZABETH WALLACE
EDUCATION
Improving the understanding of native plants through education and connection
Education Committee: DAPHNE CHRISTLE, KAREN GRAHAM, REBECCA CROWE (chair), PAMELA HEISS, KATIE NEWMAN, RACHEL DAVIDSON, JULIE SCHROCK, EMYLE ROGERS
Coloring Book Committee: ELIZABETH WALLACE, DAPHNE CHRISTLE, MEL LETTERMAN, TONY TUBBS, EMYLE ROGERS
ADMINISTRATION
Membership Administrator: ELIZABETH WALLACE (lead) TRACEY DASCHBACH
Includes Luminate membership system
Includes Luminate membership system
Finance Team: LAURA CAMP, ELIZABETH WALLACE, LAURENZ DODGE
Chapter Council Representatives: SUNNY SAROA (primary), MEL LETTERMAN (alternate)
Elections: TRACEY DASCHBACH
Bylaws, Handbook, Org Chart Guardians: OPEN
PO Box Key Holders: ELIZABETH WALLACE, MEL LETTERMAN
PO Box Key Holders: ELIZABETH WALLACE, MEL LETTERMAN
OCCNPS Email Addresses Tech: RICH SCHILK