Author: Jinny Alexander
Our 2023 Arrowhead Native Plant Explorers member night and potluck provided an opportunity for folks to get together, chat, eat delicious food, and reflect back on all of our native plant escapades and presentations over the previous year. We discussed ideas for upcoming native plant walks, workshops, and presentations, and explored possibilities for future collaborations.
This year we celebrated several important milestones, including finalizing the Arrowhead Native Plant Explorers status as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and updating our group bylaws (available online here). We hosted 12 events and collaborated with folks from organizations including the University of Minnesota – Duluth, the Friends of Sax-Zim Bog, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the UMD Olga Lakela Herbarium, Americorps, Farm Lande, and the Hartley Nature Center. For a complete summary of our group’s accomplishments in 2023, check out our year-in-review presentation.
We also announced the new Arrowhead Native Plant Explorer officers for 2024. They are:
- Kelly Beaster, President
- Sarah Beaster, Vice President
- Ethan Perry, Secretary
- Rubin Stenseng, Treasurer
- Sierra Kryzer, Social Media Coordinator
- Tim Larson, Board Member
I am excited to see what the Arrowhead Native Plant Explorers will accomplish during 2024. We already have a terrific lineup planned for the upcoming year, and we hope to continue several popular annual event traditions as well as feature events on new topics with new collaborators in new locations.
This was my last event as ANPE President before I will be taking some time to be with family in the new year. Kelly Beaster will be taking over as group president in 2024 and I am confident in leaving the group in her capable hands. It has been an amazing experience watching this group grow and flourish over the past three years, and I am looking forward to seeing what the future holds for the Arrowhead Native Plant Explorers. In particular, I want to thank my fellow group officers for molding the group into what it is today. I want to thank the field trip, workshop, and presentation leaders for donating their time and expertise to teach our community group about native plants in the Arrowhead region. I want to thank our community members for showing up and offering their contagious enthusiasm and insightful questions, as well as their continued financial support. It has been a pleasure getting to interact with all of you.
Happy holidays and best wishes to you and your family in the new year.
Jinny Alexander
Arrowhead Native Plant Explorers 