You have reached the ballot we are using for members to vote for the 2025-2026 Native Plant Society of New Mexico officers, terms starting January 1, 2025. Please fill in all of the required information below and indicate your vote for each officer by clicking on the square beside the name to "fill in" the choice.
The candidate statements follow. Below them you will find the ballot.
To mark your ballot, simply click the square in order to fill it in. If you prefer to leave a square blank, you may do that.
If you submit the ballot more than once, the last submission will be the one that is counted.
Voting will begin on Wednesday, October 16 and will end at the end of the day on Saturday, November 30. The results will be announced in the First Quarter Newsletter, 2025.
Kathleen Hall
Documentarian
I'm a gardener, reader and writer with a keen interest in native flora and fauna communities. I'm pleased to have helped in the digitizing of all our historical NPS newsletters, now (or soon) available on our website. I look forward to more opportunities to preserve and share the wisdom of experts and the passion of advocates of native plants in the beautiful landscapes of New Mexico.
Betty Spence
Recording Secretary
I have been an NPSNM member since 2010, Gila Chapter board member and publicity coordinator since 2016, chapter secretary since 2021, and chapter representative to the NPSNM Board since 2022. Through all these roles I have learned so much about the native plants of our region. I am a linguist and I believe that I can contribute to the NPSNM in the role of recording secretary by utilizing the skills I developed in my profession. One of my responsibilities at the United Nations was to attend committee meetings, take notes and write summaries of the meetings, a skill that has been useful to me as secretary of the Gila Chapter and will be valuable if I am elected NPSNM recording secretary.
Sylvan Kaufman
Vice President
I have been a member of NPSNM since 2009 and have helped with organizing activities for the Santa Fe Chapter as the chapter's vice president. I am currently the Chair of the Conservation Committee for the NPSNM. I am a past co-president of a chapter of the Maryland Native Plant Society and served as a founding board member of the Chesapeake Conservation Landscaping Council. My background as an ecologist gives me a broad understanding of plants and their environments, and of human impacts on ecosystems. In working with people, I like to take a collaborative approach. I believe in involving the wonderful diversity of interests that the different NPSNM chapters foster to make a strong state organization.
Tom Stewart
Treasurer
I am volunteering to serve again as the treasurer of NPSNM. I have been the treasurer for the last two years, so I am familiar with the duties. A list of my favorite activities includes botanizing but not math; yet I find this role to be straightforward and uncomplicated. I have enjoyed in particular participating with the wonderful members of the NPSNM Board.
Margie Gibson
President
I am a nature enthusiast with experience as executive director of a conservation nonprofit in Alaska. I enjoy graphic design, which is how I first volunteered for the Gila Chapter, then joined the board, and served as president for two years. We have a very active chapter where my administrative skills proved valuable as president and should likewise be useful for NPSNM. It’s teamwork that has made what we have accomplished locally possible, and if elected, I look forward to similar opportunities statewide.