What an exciting year 2008 was for Hill Country Conservancy! Under the leadership of Past-President Steve Drenner, in 2008 we preserved more than 2,000 additional acres of Hill Country land, forever! Also in 2008, new programs were launched to engage more students and young professionals in our mission. In addition, the creation of the Walk For A Day regional trail system has progressed from visioning and planning to early-stage implementation in just twelve short months. With all of this momentum, we look forward to making 2009 an even better year for conservation in the Barton Springs Aquifer region and Texas Hill Country!

I am honored to step into the role of President of Hill Country Conservancy during such an amazing time. With your help, we expect to conserve an additional 4,000 acres in the next twelve months. We are also pleased to announce that five additional community leaders have been elected to serve on the board of directors, and they are already bringing renewed excitement and extraordinary dedication to the“Vast Open Spaces” mission. Hill Country Conservancy has always been blessed with fabulous talent in our leadership positions, and this year‘s directors are no exception.

My personal goals for Hill Country Conservancy in 2009 include increasing outreach to land owners in our region; completing the Phase 1 segment of“Walk-For-A-Day”; strengthening our relationships with current HCC members; and, recruiting many new members to the conservation mission. I ask all Hill Country Conservancy members and supporters to help us achieve these goals and make 2009 a great year! Consider sharing your skills with us as a volunteer, attending some of our guided hikes to experience first-hand the beauty of nature on an HCC land project, or simply sharing your excitement about our mission with a friend. As it is said,“it takes a village” and Hill Country Conservancy is blessed with the support of a very talented and generous community!

The HCC directors and staff are committed to working with all of our stakeholders to take Hill Country Conservancy into the New Year with enthusiasm and inspiration. I look forward to meeting many of you as the year progresses, and wish you all a strong start to 2009, wherever it may lead us.

Sincerely,

Nikelle Meade

We are in the midst of exciting times at Hill Country Conservancy. Thanks to a federal matching grant we have the opportunity to turn every $1 donated into $5 until JANUARY 31st at Midnight! One hundred per cent of all donations made during this time will be allocated directly to help HCC purchase conservation easements and conserve additional land.

To make a donation online, visit the Hill Country Conservancy website!

MIKE BLIZZARD is the owner of Blizco Productions, an Austin-based company that provides strategic consulting, public and media relations services, advertising design and placement, and collaboration on creative projects such as screenplays, books and documentary films. Mike has led numerous bond campaigns that have provided over $250 million for the preservation of parks and open space in Central Texas. Mike also serves on the Board of Directors of the Austin Independent Business Alliance and on the Advisory Board of APES, a Texas primate sanctuary. Whenever possible, Mike and his wife Karen enjoy hiking and swimming with their two dogs, Willie and Ham.

DAVID HONEYCUTTis the Founder and principal shareholder of Texas American Resources Company , as well as other affiliate companies. Mr. Honeycutt brings a broad understanding of the energy industry and specializes in the areas of project finance and property acquisitions. Mr. Honeycutt is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Government. He is a member of IPAMS, the Houston Producers‘ Forum and is a Roustabout member of the IPAA. Mr. Honeycutt currently serves on the Development Board at the University of Texas- Austin and is an executive council member of the Chancellor‘s Council for the University of Texas System.

JIM KNIGHT is the Managing Principal of Bury + Partners. Mr. Knight is a recognized leader in both the public and private sectors for his ability to manage diverse teams of design consultants on complex, large-scale projects. He has extensive experience with project development, due diligence planning, project management, hydraulics, hydrology, utility design and regulatory compliance. He also has a broad range of experience working in restrictive areas and with environmentally sensitive projects that involve water quality issues as well as endangered species and aquifer recharge. Mr. Knight has worked widely with environmental groups, concerned citizens, municipal staff, environmental boards, state commissions and city councils.

JACK MCDONALD is chairman and CEO of Perficient, a leading publicly-traded information technology consulting firm. Jack is a serial entrepreneur and a winner of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Jack serves as vice chairman of the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce, chairman of the AusTech Alliance, and serves on the boards of the Austin Technology Council and the World Congress on Information Technology Texas Leadership Council. He is chairman of the board of PeopleFund, past chairman of the advisory board of American Youthworks, and is a board member of the KIPP Austin Public Schools and the People‘s Community Clinic. Jack is a member of YPO, the premier global network for presidents under the age of 50.

DR. TORY MEYER is the Sub-specialty Chief of Pediatric Surgery of Austin Pediatric Surgery . Dr Meyer hails from Chappaqua, New York, attended Yale University and completed his medical school training at Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons. Dr. Meyer completed his General Surgery training followed by his pediatric surgery fellowship at the University and Children‘s Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio. At the Children‘s Hospital of Austin, he is the present Chairman of Surgery and a member of the Medical Executive Committee. He is board certified by the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Pediatric Surgery. He and his wife, Karen, have 3 children in elementary and middle school. In addition to environmentalism, his outside interests include running, playing guitar, and brewing beer.

Emerging Professionals in Conservation (EPIC) Anniversary Celebration
Charla Wood’s Photography Studio
Jan 28 (5:30 PM - 7 PM)

Please join HCC as we celebrate the 1 year anniversary of the EPIC Program. Join us for appetizers, beverages, live music, and the unveiling of the 2009 Event Calendar. Emerging Professionals who confirm their membership for 2009 will receive a free voucher for an upcoming lunch and learn. We would like to thank our 2009 Program Sponsors: The Salt Lick and The Still Water Foundation.

“Texas the State of Flowing Water” Documentary
Feb 12 (8 PM) on PBS

Texas the State of Flowing Water examines water issues facing Texas and explores what can be done to protect the state‘s most precious natural resource. The documentary features images of rivers, springs, bays and estuaries, and contains interviews with a wide array of experts, stakeholders and policy makers. It is the fourth in an award-winning series of documentaries produced by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

Derailers concert benefiting HCC at La Fuente‘s in South Austin:
FEB 14 (7 PM - 10 PM)

Join Hill Country Conservancy and Austin‘s own Derailers for a benefit concert at La Fuente‘s Austin (located off South Congress, in between Stassney & William Cannon). Tickets go on Sale February 1 for only $20!

Click Here to learn more about this event.

Help Support HCC: Volunteer During the AT&T Marathon
Feb 15

Hill Country Conservancy has been chosen to participate in ’s 26 Miles for 26 Charities, part of the AT&T Austin Marathon for our second year. We need at least 30 volunteers to help man the water stations, pass out water, and cheer on nearly 15,000 runners.

2009 Statewide Land Trust Conference:
February 19-21 at the Marriott-Austin Airport South
The Statewide Land Trust Conference provides opportunities for collaboration among private, nonprofit and government entities and access to complex conservation topics as Conservation Easements and Appraisals, Federal Tax Incentives for Conservation, Funding, Conservation Development, Land Trust Operations, Baseline Documentation, Emerging Energy and Power Issues, and more!

Email conference@texaslandtrustcouncil.org. for additional information.

EPIC Lunch & Learn: HCC- A Conservation Update
Feb 24th: Green Pastures (11:30 AM-1:00 PM)
Click here to purchase tickets to this event.

Hike and Picnic with Hill Country Outdoors:
Location TBD
FEB 28 (10:00 AM - 1 PM)

Join Hill Country Conservancy staff for a behind the scenes hike and tour of a Conservation Easement.

Click Here to RSVP for this event.

The American Society of Landscape Architects, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and the United States Botanic Garden recently created voluntary national guidelines and performance benchmarks for sustainable land design, construction and maintenance practices known as the Sustainable Sites Initiative. This report focuses on measuring how a site can protect, restore and regenerate ecosystem services and benefits provided by natural ecosystems such as cleaning air and water, climate regulation and human health benefits. Click Here to read the New York Times Article by Anne Raver.