Committees

Members of this committee learn about key issues related to conservation, preservation, and restoration of native plants and plant communities/habitat. Advocacy subcommittee: advocates learn how to review and write comments on development plans and Environmental Impact Reports (EIRs) under the California Environmental Quality Act, and engage in effective written and spoken advocacy including at Board of Supervisor, Planning Committee, and other official meetings.  Conservation subcommittee focuses on conservation and science, include mapping important plant areas (IPAs), conducting biological surveys, and developing full plant list for Nevada and Placer Counties. The committee also works to preserve IPAs, as well as to restore native plant communities and reduce/eradicate invasive plants. (All volunteers welcomed to join the committee to help with this work – contact nativeplanthelp@redbud-cnps.org for more information.)

Members of this committee develop and maintain a list of speakers and recommend programs to the Program Chair; contact and schedule speakers and obtain information about presentations, including title, description, speaker’s bio, and photos for publicity. Provide schedule and program descriptions to Newsletter Editor, Publicity Chair, and Web Editor for publicity and advertising. Reserve meeting rooms and work with Treasurer to secure rental contracts, payment of fees, and insurance as necessary. Set up room, provide hospitality/refreshments, sign in guests, arrange decorations, displays and handouts. After meeting, clean up and put room in original configuration. (Recruiting Chair and 3-4 committee members)

Particularly while we are doing virtual programs during COVID physical distancing, we would welcome anyone with experience recording (and perhaps editing) online sessions such as Zoom.

Over the past two years,  the Nursery Team has helped create the CNPS Redbud Chapter Nursery, where we propagate and grow mostly locally native species for our online Spring and Fall Plant Sales. Our strong team of nursery monitors take care of the plants. In our first two years, our monitors and home propagators have propagated thousands of native plants for sale. We also have a core of workday volunteers to help with special projects.

Under the leadership and guidance of the Nursery Chair and the Nursery Manager, members of this group meet to exchange seeds and plants; learn techniques, best practices, and resources for propagating native plants by seed and cuttings; share supplies and equipment; hold workshops; and grow plants for chapter sales and/or their home gardens.

At home, our several ‘home propagators’ start seedlings and cuttings to grow into native plants for our plant sales; when ready, they bring these to the nursery for potting up on workdays. If you’re interested in becoming one of our home propagators, our experienced propagators can you help get set up properly.

The Publicity Committee shares news and information about our Redbud Chapter and about native plants, with members and with the general public. We publish our chapter newsletter; maintain and expand our chapter website; and publicize Redbud events such as plant sales, programs, and field trips. If you like to write, edit, do photography, create simple layouts, or post on social media, please join us.

The Membership Committee corresponds with individuals about their membership status, encourages them to connect with their area of interest, and responds to inquiries from potential new members. The committee also helps create displays and educational materials. The Membership Chair maintains our membership roster, and the committee assists with membership meetings.

With the Plant Sale Co-Chairs, members of this committee plan and carry out all aspects of the annual Redbud native plant sale, which is our one major fund-raising event. Includes ordering plants; developing theme; getting out publicity; designing site layout; set-up and take-down; logistics (e.g., delivery and display of plants; placement and management of cashier and tallier stations; overseeing/directing  pedestrian/vehicle traffic flows and parking); signage; finance; and purchase and allocation of supplies/equipment as needed. The Co-chairs and committee members coordinate with Volunteer, Publicity, Horticulture, Publications, Education, Conservation, and Plant Science Chairs and with Treasurer in planning and holding plant sales.

For our 2020 Virtual Plant Sale, we would particularly welcome people with experience setting up and managing data online, handling online ordering, etc. (Recruiting at least 4 committee members.)

The Education Committee focuses on supporting Placer and Nevada Counties with educational outreach, funding, supplies, and a space where we share our love for both education and California native plants. Our projects include funding local restoration projects and offering grants to local schools and nonprofits. Members of this committee also develop educational activities for children and adults for chapter events and other venues, to attract and engage members and the public. Committee members also work with other organizations to coordinate and develop activities related to native plants and habitat, such as Know Your Watershed. With the chair, the committee recommends, and/or develops, educational handouts; maintains handout supply for meetings, plant sales, and other activities. The Committee assists Education Chair in developing and overseeing California native plant-related grant programs for local schools and non-profits, and scholarships for botanical research or participation in education, training, and student/professional development related to California native plants, particularly to native flora of Nevada and Placer Counties. (Recruiting 3-4 committee members)

Members of this committee will work with local government agencies to create policies and rules supporting the use of native plants in public and commercial landscapes to preserve habitat for pollinators, birds, and other wildlife. This committee will collaborate with the Sacramento Valley CNPS Chapter on its “Homegrown Habitat” project, which promotes the use of native plants in home gardens as well as commercial and public landscaping. (Recruiting 3-4 committee members)

Our committee promotes the CNPS mission of educating the public about native plants by tabling at community events. Whenever we set up a table at a large public event, we answer questions and offer knowledge about a wide range of topics related to native plants, especially residential landscaping with native plants. We sell plants, wildflower posters, our Redbud books, local floras, and we offer a wide variety of Redbud and CNPS handouts. We also encourage people to become CNPS members.

Members of this committee learn and share information about how California native tribes shaped California’s native plant communities, including the use of fire, and how they used native plants for food, medicine, tools, basketry, and more.  The committee also sponsors field trips and speakers. (Recruiting 4-5 committee members.)

The Chair and members of this committee work closely with the Conservation and Advocacy committee on biological surveys, important plant areas, and developing full plant species lists for our local counties, focusing on rare, endangered, or threatened plants, as well as plant communities of special concern. Research rare plants of our region, securing DNA analysis if need be, and work to have discoveries published in order to inform decisions of California Dept. of Fish and Wildlife and other agencies. (Recruiting 3-4 committee members)