NIOSA News - San Antonio Conservation Society

SAN ANTONIO CONSERVATION SOCIETY
®
NIOSA News
A Night in Old
San Antonio®
Fall 2013
Open letter to San Antonio Conservation Society members and NIOSA volunteers
As the recently elected 4th Vice President - “A Night in Old San Antonio”®, this is my first opportunity to share with you how I see my role
as the chair of the Society’s primary fund raising activity. It is huge responsibility but it is one that I have eagerly acc epted. During my
time as chairman, I have set a number of goals. These are uppermost on my list:
To increase the overall profit margin of events orchestrated by the NIOSA committee to better assist our organization’s conti nued
mission to preserve and protect the uniqueness of our city.
To communicate to our members and the general public the enormous value of our investment in the public and private sectors of
our business community in staging our four-day event.
To use the fund raising activities of the NIOSA® committee to engage our members – especially the newer ones - in other worthwhile projects that fulfill the purpose of the Society.
To actively encourage SACS membership among our many non-member NIOSA® volunteers
NIOSA’s Success is measured in its People
The very best part of working on the NIOSA project is the incredible people who give so much of their time and talents to mak e it successful year end and year out. It would be next to impossible to make this event work without their involvement and dedicati on. In this
and future issues, we want to recognize as many of these individuals as possible. And, I want to start with the little blond e who served as
your NIOSA® Chair for the past two years:
Kathy de Waal is one in a million. She served the Society for many years as an employee before she changed over to a full -time
volunteer. She literally “grew up” before our very eyes! From NIOSA® secretary in the early 90’s to a volunteer Vice Chairm an, Assistant Treasurer and then to NIOSA® Chairman, she has spent over 22 years of her life in service to the Society. She is a deli ght to know
and it’s even better to work beside her. There was - and is - no task she will not take on – no chore too dirty to tackle. Her creative
talents have been more than evident in the many NIOSA® award winning pins she designed over the years. I am thrilled to report that
she remains in an advisory role for the new team to continue to share her wealth of knowledge, experience and enthusiasm with us.
Glenda Duffin has a history with the Society that goes back even farther than Kathy’s. She started as a volunteer back in the 80’s –
we have pictures of her as the girl on the swing in the “Gilded Cage! She moved her way up to the Area Chairman of Frontier Town and
was later hired as NIOSA®’s bookkeeper. After a short time away from the organization, she returned to ultimately be selecte d as the
first Business Manager for the NIOSA® office – a position she holds today. It would be next to impossible to find another pers on who
works harder than Glenda! In fact, when she was recently asked how much time she spent at her desk, we had to laugh – it would have
been more appropriate to ask “how much time do you spend in the NIOSA kitchen or moving boxes or creating decorations!” Mention a
project, utter a word about improving something, and WHAM – it’s done! Her knowledge of NIOSA® is incredible and her dedication to
its success is beyond measure. (And, to add icing on the cake she, too, is extremely creative - just ask her sometime about what she
can do with “boot tops”!)
The Terrific Trio:
Lisa Schneider, Bookkeeper
Yvonne Gonzales, Secretary
Nanette Coleman, Office Assistant
It is a joy to come to work each day at this office (known to us as the Gresser)! We are blessed with a fantastic group of t alented, energetic and good natured individuals who can take on just about any task and rarely complain about it. These ladies work 11 ½ months of
the year to help stage and then wrap up a four-day event by making signs, badges, taking pictures, driving golf carts, assembling packets, stuffing envelopes, doing dishes, emptying the trash – you name it, they can do it. It takes a special group of people to do such a
variety of “chores” that certainly are not included in their formal job descriptions….oops I believe a lot of this could fall under the heading
of “duties as assigned” . The great part is they do everything from the simple and hum drum to the detailed and complex and still find
time to laugh and interact with those around them. There is no way possible to properly thank them for all that they do for us and the
Society! (There will be more to come in later issues on each one of these dynamos.)
NIOSA® ‘s Office Volunteers
We have the “cream of the crop” when it comes to office volunteers. These darling ladies come from our team of “Flower Fluff ers” to
NIOSA booth chairs and workers. I have tried since my very first day on the job to tie them down to learn little “tid bits” about how long
they have been here and why they are willing to jump in and do so many of our hum drum chores like hours of shredding old rep orts,
laminating signs and curling ribbon for our NIOSITA® souvenirs. Three of our volunteers will be found in this issue — there will be more
to follow as they return after a summer off!
Important data to share
Also in this issue, we want to provide some facts and figures about NIOSA® that will make your head spin!
economy of our community and you need to know about it!
We play a big par t in the
I look forward to working with and for you and keeping you informed and enlightened about our event and the people who make N IOSA®
such an incredible experience!
Viva NIOSA!
Barb – NIOSA® Chair
227 S. Presa St. SATX 78205
(210) 226-5188
www.niosa@niosa.org
SAN ANTONIO CONSERVATION SOCIETY
®
NIOSA News
Fall
2013
A Night in Old San
Antonio®
NIOSA Facts
DID YOU KNOW??
Here are some of the quantities that the Conservation Society purchases
each year for NIOSA. Over 10,000 volunteers help cook and serve over 150
different food items in 5 hours each of the 4 nights.
5,495 lbs cooking oil
14,400 lbs chicken
972 lbs avocado pulp
11,040 lbs jalapenos
1,185 lbs beef brisket
16,600 oz salsa
2,520 lbs beef fajitas
400 lbs fresh pico de gallo
12,000 lbs beef for Anticuchos
9,800 lbs sausage
1,450 lbs beef for Bongo K Bobs
13,500 chalupa shells
13,700 bolillos/rolls
36,200 tortillas
6,900 hamburger buns
7,300 tamales
2,400 lbs cheese (shredded & sliced)
3,200 turkey legs
3,500 lbs flour, batter mix and sopapilla mix
24,000 escargot
6,000 eggrolls
2,150 lbs mushrooms
14,000 lbs fresh fruits and vegetables
LORRAINE BABCOCK
Lorraine joined SACS in 2006, and hit the
ground running. Within months, she was a
veteran NIOSA booth-worker and office
volunteer. Since 2010 she has served as our
Coupon Verification chairman, while continuing to help out in the NIOSA office.
Over $465,000 was spent to purchase all the food, ice and beverages.
DID YOU KNOW??
Each year NIOSA pays the City of San Antonio $24,000 in food and drink
booth health permits; over $13,000 in fire and electrical permits; over
$8,500 for removal of trash; over $226,500 for SAPD security; over
$20,700 in City/MTA sales tax; and over $15,000 for rental of La Villita.
DID YOU KNOW??
Each year NIOSA pays another $50,000 for rental of the Assembly building,
patio and plaza and the parking lot on S. Presa. We also paid $12,700 for
barricades and $79,000 for electrical and generators. Removal of grey water (from melted ice) and port o’ lets cost NIOSA $22,700.
DID YOU KNOW??
CECELIA “CECE” HUSTON
A long time SACS member (since 1981),
Cece has worn many hats in the NIOSA
universe. She worked in Cup Supply for 11
years, chairing the last three. She’s been a
booth-worker, a flower fluffer, an office
volunteer, and since 2012 has served as our
Badge Chairman.
Over $29,000 was paid for ticket takers, coupon cashiers and first aid stations. $22,000 was paid to sweep the area just so the City could pick up
the trash (another $8,500). Additional paid temporary labor ran over
$123,000. We paid out $30,900 for the bands who play at NIOSA.
DID YOU KNOW??
Sales tax paid on merchandise and beverage sales totaled over $86,270.
Then you add in all the costs for lumber, charcoal, replacing appliances, the
cost to print tickets and food coupons, and the numerous other items.
DID YOU KNOW??
By continuing to use local suppliers, service companies and entertainers
we estimate that over $1,300,000 was put back into our local community
out of the $,1,954,064 that NIOSA 2012 cost. NIOSA contributed
$903,000 to the San Antonio Conservation Society’s mission.
GEORGIA HENLEY-GRUBB
Georgia was a natural for NIOSA - her parents were seasoned volunteers! A member
since 2007, she has made Quesadillas, Enchiladas, paper flowers and sold tamales!
Her term as SACS Membership Chair made
it a perfect to have her find volunteers to
work on NIOSA’s additional events.
Page 2
SAN ANTONIO CONSERVATION SOCIETY
®
NIOSA News
Fall
2013
A Night in Old San
Antonio®
NIOSA Overhead Expense Increases
(Only a portion of our expenses)
1990
%
CHANGE
100%
Trash Collection
0
2012
8,552
Health Dept
4,120
23,978
83%
Fire Dept
1,040
12,236
92%
Electrical Permits
1,016
1,256
19%
Port O'Lets
6,192
15,734
61%
CPS Rental
13,255
23,000
42%
Van Archer Rental
10,000
30,000
67%
SAPD
83,851
221,475
62%
City / MTA Sales Tax
8,687
20,770
58%
City - Rental Fees
55,495
151,417
63%
Parking
1,274
3,678
65%
70%
Cleaning Contract
6,887
22,795
Electrical Contract & Supplies
27,222
60,004
55%
Grey Water Removal
0
7,000
100%
Hosing Down La Villita
0
0
Ticket Printing
9,938
17,983
45%
Acctg Fees- Finance Room
1,450
3,500
59%
Warehouse Labor
33,368
80,492
59%
RR Monitors
1,977
3,596
45%
Staging Labor
2,644
7,894
67%
Truck Drivers
2,405
6,532
63%
Cashier Labor
6,310
15,560
59%
Armored Car
1,180
4,423
73%
Finance Room Guards
3,017
9,908
70%
Money Runners
2,500
22,574
89%
Ticket Takers
3,728
7,622
51%
Bank Staff
2,150
3,833
44%
Other Labor
2,005
2,316
13%
Insurance
7,896
12,779
38%
TABC Training
0
11,325
100%
P/R Contract
8,875
8,500
-4%
First Aid Contract
0
5,871
100%
Non-Event Hours Security
8,879
35,210
75%
HEB Consignment Fees
0
16,313
100%
Chairman's Dinner
1,538
5,857
74%
Food Handler
0
500
100%
Storage Rental
0
1,536
100%
Barricades
6,500
12,936
50%
Generators
0
33,780
100%
Truck & Equipment Rentals
4,950
12,132
59%
Recycling Expense
0
0
Replace Trash Cans
0
0
Other Expense
108,950
140,587
23%
439,299
1,085,451
60%
South of the Border — Craft Beer Booth
Villa Espana
Cascarone Chicken Clown Alley
NIOSA Angel
Decorations committee all decked out as they
begin their annual work for NIOSA 2014 with a
“High Tea” at the River House
Page 3
SAN ANTONIO CONSERVATION SOCIETY
®
NIOSA News
A Night in Old San
Antonio®
Fall
2013
Nic & Manny
Glenda, Yvonne, Lisa & Nanette
Bios on each of these staff members will be shared in coming issues.
A NIOSITA® was held on a very warm day in August. The NIOSA® committee spent several weeks before the event making new skirts and flower sticks for the booths and creating new decorations to make
the event more festive.
The art of making a Flower
Stick: Glenda learns from
CeCe, a real “fluffer”!
Mickey Hillsman and Cindy
Smith sew bright colored
strips together to make
special NIOSITA® booth
skirts.
Page 4