About Us
Who We Are
Wild Ones: Native Plants, Natural Landscapes is a national nonprofit organization that informs and teaches people how to use native plants in their landscapes.
Big River Big Woods is a chapter of Wild Ones. Our membership primarily comes from St. Paul and surrounding communities in Minnesota.
Wild Ones distinguishes itself from other garden organizations by encouraging gardening with native plants and moving away from the use of chemicals, watering, excessive mowing and other practices commonly used by traditional gardeners.
What We Do
Our chapter holds free monthly meetings during winter, spring, and autumn, and free garden tours in the warmer months.
We sponsor three volunteer service projects and have many volunteer opportunities throughout the year. The Volunteer Questionaire has a complete list of current opportunities.
Board of Directors
The Board of Directors meets eight times a year on Zoom.
President — Kendra Sommerfeld
The President is in charge of the business, provides leadership, and facilitates chapter affairs. This includes leading chapter meetings, leading board meetings, working with the board to identify topics and speakers for chapter meetings, representing the chapter in interactions with the national Wild Ones organization, promoting the mission and influence of Wild Ones within the community, and completing the annual State of the Chapter Report.
Vice-President — Position open
The Vice-President assists the President as necessary and assumes the President’s duties when necessary. This includes having familiarity with all aspects of chapter functions, coordinating the implementation of Chapter goals, assisting in completion of the State of the Chapter Report, and supporting chapter activities.
Secretary — Robin Manthei
The Secretary maintains records of chapter business. This includes recording minutes of business meetings and distributing them to officers and attendees, preparing correspondence as needed, and maintaining a file of all minutes and chapter correspondence.
Treasurer — Steve Fester
The Treasurer is the principal financial officer of the chapter. This includes maintaining depository accounts of the chapter and making disbursements as required, preparing and maintaining accounting of all income and expenses, including the required annual year-end Chapter Financial Report, providing a treasurer’s report at all board and business meetings and working with the membership chair to collect membership dues and fees.
Director (Membership Chair) — Cyndi Vehe
The Membership Chair maintains the membership records, provides a membership report regularly to the board, and encourages chapter growth with the assistance of all board members. This includes coordinating with the Treasurer on dues receipts, maintaining a current membership roster as well as a contact list for mailings sent to non-members, maintaining a member interest survey and report to board for planning purposes.
Director (Service Projects Chair) — Erica TenBroek
The Service Projects chair coordinates volunteers, project leads, and partner organization staff to help establish or maintain native plantings in parks, public rights of way, and nature preserves. This includes working with the board to initiate projects, getting feedback from partner organizations, recruiting volunteers, and reporting to the board on project status.
Director (Webmaster and Facebook Coordinator) — Joe Crowe
The Webmaster maintains the chapter website and maintains the chapter Facebook page. We also have a Social media coordinator, Crystal Colby, who maintains the chapter Instagram page and other social media, and seeksout events of interest for publication in social media.
Directors (Members-at-Large) — John Kramer, Liz Wendland, Troy Thielen
A member at large does not hold a specific officer position (like president, vice president, secretary, or treasurer) but still has a role in representing the interests of the membership.
Role and Responsibilities: Members at large often participate in board meetings, contribute to discussions, and help make decisions regarding issues important to the chapter. They may also take on specific projects or committees as needed.
Representation: Their role is to represent the general membership of the chapter, providing a voice for members who may not be directly involved in the board’s activities.
Flexibility: The position is often seen as flexible, allowing members at large to engage in various tasks without the constraints of a defined officer role.
Election: Members at large are usually elected by the Big River Big Woods membership, similar to other board members, and their terms are for one year.
Contribution: They can contribute unique perspectives and ideas, helping to enhance the board’s decision-making process.
Overall, a member at large plays a vital role in ensuring that the board remains connected to the needs and concerns of the members it serves.
Plant Sale Chair
The Plant Sale Chair coordinates and implements the annual plant sale, the chapter’s only fundraising activity. This includes working with the board to identify a native plant vendor and to select specific native plants to sell, placing orders with the vendor, organizing volunteers to transport plants, working with the board to develop print and online order forms, working with Treasurer to reimburse the vendor and to collect money at the sale.
Connect with Us
Sign up for our Events Reminder.
Follow our Facebook page for updates on our events, plus news about plants and pollinators.
Join Big River Big Woods
Wild Ones membership is only $40 per year and is 100% tax deductible. Join us!