Today we’d like to introduce you to Mandy Morgan.
Hi Mandy, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My story with the Florida Native Plant Society (FNPS) started back in 2017 when I was working on my graduate degree in Environmental Horticulture at the University of Florida. My thesis focused on medicinal plant production, specializing in native plants. I was slated to give a presentation at the FNPS State Conference, and wanted to go and check out an FNPS meeting beforehand to become familiar with the crowd and the vibe of the organization, and was immediately pulled in from that one meeting. The speaker that month was an artist talking about plants growing in odd places, and the artistic humor of nature. The meeting had a plant drawing with plant descriptions, and a hodgepodge of plant nerds- old and young, overall, an eclectic and fun atmosphere. I decided to go to another meeting the following month, which happened to be the month the FNPS chapter was voting on their slate of officers. I rose my hand, apparently one of the only times in the chapter’s history to have someone raise their hand and volunteer to serve on the board, and volunteered to serve as Vice President of Programs. I served as VP of Programs from May 2017 to May 2021, when I became President of the Tarflower Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As I started to become more involved with the organization, I became more passionate about the mission and the urgency in the environmental work which FNPS does. But this is non-profit and volunteer-based work, and there is A LOT of work to be done. As a young professional who is still somewhat new to the workforce, time management is an important skill to have. That being said, I would not trade my time with FNPS for anything else. I have learned that you can really make what you want to out of it. If I have an idea for a program, field trip, or partnership with a like-minded organization or business, I can take lead on that idea and make it happen. There are other periods of time when I can hold off on new programs and ideas, and do the basic work of making sure the chapter is functioning and our members are all happy and satisfied. Serving on the Board of Directors for the Tarflower Chapter of FNPS has been a very gratifying life-changing experience. I found my current job as an Environmental Consultant through networking with members of the chapter. I have helped with plant rescues, habitat restoration, planned educational programs with other awesome environmental organizations, and have helped organize spectacular events and festivals. It is such a fun and impactful experience to serve on a non-profit board (not to mention the resume builder aspect!) FNPS has gained a lifelong member and volunteer in me.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
The mission of the Florida Native Plant Society is to promote the preservation, conservation, and restoration of native plants and native plant communities. FNPS focuses on habitat conservation and restoration, buying and preserving land, educating the public, and promoting planting native landscapes to support native pollinators, birds, and wildlife. Out of 67 counties in the state of Florida, FNPS has 34 chapters. Tarflower Chapter serves Orange County, Florida. We are one of the five largest chapters in the state with over 350 members. Tarflower is also the founding chapter of FNPS, which was founded in 1984. We are a very active chapter with monthly meetings, field trips, and workdays. Our big focus is on The Gopher Tortoise and Sandhill Habitat restoration project at Mead Gardens in Winter Park, Florida. The project has been ongoing since 2013 and supports the endangered gopher tortoise which resides at Mead Gardens. Since we began, 4 tortoises have moved into the Sandhill. Every October, we host a festival at the garden called Backyard Biodiversity Day, to raise money for the restoration project. The festival features guided hikes, talks, vendors, food trucks, and live music all centered around a huge native plant sale. All proceeds from the plant sale go directly to the restoration project. This year, Backyard Biodiversity Day will be on October 16. Tarflower is also working on launching a grant program to help residents of orange county convert their yard into a native plant landscape. This is set to be in our budget starting in 2022.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk-taking?
I say go for the risk! It’s often timing the risky out-of-the-box program ideas that are the most successful and impactful. I have come to realize all the scarier decisions I have made in life seem to be the ones I have become most proud of.
Pricing:
- $35 annual individual membership
- $15 annual student membership
- $50 annual household membership
Contact Info:
- Email: tarflower@fnps.org
- Website: www.tarflower.org
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Tarflower.FNPS
- Other: www.fnps.org
Image Credits:
Mandy Morgan
Mary Keim
