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Conservation Insider - September 2024
Hello {{Constituent First Name}},
They say the first day of Fall is technically September 21st but I'll tell you what I sure have enjoyed my morning coffee on the front porch the last few days. Even with cooler weather in sight Comal Conservation is firing on all cylinders. Just last week our newly revised website was launched and I have say, I Iove the way it looks. Check it out for yourself at www.comalconservation.org. We would love to hear your feedback. We also produced a short promotional video that speaks to the urgency of our work. I am so grateful for everyone who participated in the development of these two wonderful tools. I want to give special recognition to the many Friends of Comal Conservation that generously shared their photographs. Credits for the photographs are at the bottom of each page.
Over the next few months we won't be slowing down. First we will be participating in the Big Give (September 18th -19th), then we will participate in this year's County Fair, during which we will have an outreach booth and a parade float, and then we will round out October with our Keep it Country Music Jam on October 26, 2024.
Comal Conservation is at an inflection point. Support for our work is growing all over the county. Our organization and our cause is being taken seriously. We have a chance to use the momentum that we have built over the last six years and take Comal Conservation to the next level. I am here to simply ask, "Are you in?"
We need your support now more than ever. You can make a difference by volunteering your time, donating to the cause, speaking up in support of conservation efforts, and exploring the incredible natural areas that make living in Comal County so wonderful. Thank you for everything you do. I appreciate it.
Sincerely,
Ryan Spencer Executive Director
Looking for a way to help protect Comal County's rivers and springs?
Preserving Comal County's natural beauty and rural character is a job for the whole community. Want to join the effort? Comal Conservation is looking for volunteers to help advance the conservation work in Comal County in some of the following areas:
Photography
Website Management in WordPress
Volunteering for the Keep it Country Music Jam, Oct. 26th
Comal Conservation will be participating in the Big Give 2024, from September 18th at 6PM CST until September 19th 6PM CST!
What is the Big Give?
The Big Give is 24 hour online giving day that benefits non-profits in South Central Texas. During certain time periods throughout the 24 hours, organizations have agreed to match donations that are made to us. This means that if you make a gift to Comal Conservation under certain conditions it can be matched up to 100%. Check out the time table below that shows at what times during September 18th the contributions will be matched.
What makes Comal Conservation's approach to BIG GIVE different?
At Comal Conservation, we use all funds raised from the Big Give to go directly into our Comal Land Conservation Fund. This means that every dollar you give will go directly to support on the ground conservation easements in Comal County. Over the last year our board of directors have made two disbursements from this fund. The first was to Hill Country Conservancy in support of a conservation easement at John Knox Ranch a 300 acre faith camp in North Comal County. The second disbursement was to Green Spaces Alliance in support of a 3.5 acre easement adjacent to Landa Park.
Your support of the Comal Land Conservation Fund directly contributes to the preservation of the natural systems that make Comal County such a unique and wonderful place to live.
Favorite our Big Give Profile on your browser so when the day comes you know where to go! We will be sending out more information on how to make the most of your contribution over the next several weeks.
Do you want to make the most of your gift during Big Give? Make a donation during one of these times and your gift will double!!!!
Comal County Fair 2024
Hi Friends,
This year Comal Conservation will have an outreach booth and a parade float in the County Fair. Our volunteer crew will be out at the fairgrounds during the Comal County Fair School Days on September 25th, 26th, and 27th
Our parade crew will begin decorating our float at 6:30am on September 27th 2024.
Come out to visit our hardworking volunteers during the Fair School Days, and if your interested in participating in the parade please reach out to Ryan Spencer at ryan@comalconservation.org
Help us celebrate during our first annual fundraiser, The Keep It Country Music Jam! Join us as we celebrate conservation heroes in our community, listen to some incredible local music, and raise money to preserve land, water, and wildlife in Comal County. This event at Old Tavern in the Gruene will take place on October 26th, 2024, and you won't want to miss it. Registration is live so get your tickets while you can!
Frank Dietz contemplates nature and the balance of life in his Herald Zeitung September column
"Living in our precious Texas Hill Country piece of remarkable terrain gives pause for us to appreciate just what we enjoy in Comal County. As so much of the natural space around us is subject to rapid development for housing and commercial purposes, time and space for exploration and discovery diminishes daily. While acreage remains across our countryside, it is time to wonder and consider what might"...Access the rest of the article here.
Applications Underway for City Boards and Commissions with Fall Appointments
Applications are now being accepted for City of New Braunfels boards and commissions that have Fall appointments. Applications are due by September 30th, 2024, and appointments reaching expiration under the Fall term will end November 30th each year, with the new appointment beginning on December 1st.
Here are the committees pertaining to natural resources that are currently accepting applications:
River Advisory Committee
Parks and Recreation Advisory Board
See more details on the New Braunfels City website.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
More information and registration can be found on their website.
Are you seeking permanent protection of your land?
The Hill Country Headwaters Conservation Initiative has $20.8 million in new funding for conservation easements!
Conservation easements are an especially effective tool for landowners seeking to permanently protect their land and its sensitive natural resources. The Hill Country Headwaters Conservation Initiative has $20.8 million available for the purchase of conservation easements to forever preserve water resources and wildlife in the Texas Hill Country, if your land meets the requirements and is within one of the designated watersheds on the map below:
LAND OWNER WORKSHOP
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 (2:00 - 4:30 PM)
NEW BRAUNFELS
The third workshop will be in-person and will feature David Bezanson from The Nature Conservancy and Ben Eldredge from Cibolo Conservancy. The presentation will be followed by landowner testimonials and an opportunity to have your questions answered. The event will conclude with a social hour, with light snacks and beverages provided.
Thank you for being a FRIEND OF COMAL CONSERVATION!
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Comal Conservation PO Box 2804 Canyon Lake, TX 78133