Help AMPLIFY Friends of Barton Springs Pool on Feb. 28, 2019

Please join us as we Amplify Austin by donating to Friends of Barton Springs Pool through the Amplify Austin campaign on Feb. 28-Mar. 1, 2019.  Your donation supports our work to protect, restore, improve and maintain Barton Springs Pool – Austin’s Crown Jewel and natural treasure. Now, you can Amplify Friends of Barton Springs Pool anytime by donating at https://austinparks.org/support-friends-of-barton-springs. Ignore the popup, and show your love for Friends of Barton Springs Pool.

Thanks!

Our volunteers are happy to help clean the springs, and are even happier to have you help us Amplify Barton Springs Pool. Your donation will support Friends of Barton Springs Pool in our work to help restore and renovate the Barton Springs Pool Bathhouse, and to help organize monthly cleaning events that bring in scores of swimmers and friends of Barton Springs to work beside the staff to clean the Pool.  Such funds are used in our monthly volunteer pool cleanings to to purchase cleaning equipment and tools, food, and refreshments. Friends of Barton Springs Pool also raises funds to purchase new trees in the pool area.

Give 5% to Mother Earth Day

It’s time, Friends! TODAY, April 20, is Give 5% to Mother Earth Day, and once again FBSP is proud to participate in this Earth Day campaign that raises funds and awareness for nine nonprofits working to protect and preserve our Central Texas environment.  Now in its 9th year, our generous local business sponsors for Give 5 Day will pledge to donate 5% of gross sales on April 20 to the Give 5 fund, which is split equally between all nine of our nonprofit beneficiaries, including FBSP.  So click the link above to find out where to eat, drink and shop to support the environment today (April 20)!  You will be supporting some great local businesses, as well as helping keep our environment clean, our parks tidy, our springs pristine, our trees aplenty, our open spaces preserved, and so much more!  #austingive5 #eatshopplay
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Help AMPLIFY FRIENDS OF BARTON SPRINGS POOL!

Please join us as we Amplify Austin by donating to Friends of Barton Springs Pool through the Amplify Austin campaign on March 1-2, 2018.  Your donation supports our work to protect, restore, improve and maintain Barton Springs Pool – Austin’s Crown Jewel and natural treasure. You can schedule a donation NOW by visiting our Amplify Austin page at this link, https://amplifyatx.ilivehereigivehere.org/friendsofbartonspringspool2018 to make a donation!  Thanks!

Our volunteers are happy to help clean the springs, and are even happier to have your Amplify Austin donation. Your donation will support Friends of Barton Springs Pool in our work to help restore and renovate the Barton Springs Pool Bathhouse, and to help organize monthly cleaning events that bring in scores of swimmers and friends of Barton Springs to work beside the staff to clean the Pool.  Such funds are used in our monthly volunteer pool cleanings to to purchase cleaning equipment and tools, food, and refreshments. Friends of Barton Springs Pool also raises funds to purchase new trees in the pool area.

President’s Report — March, 2018

PRESIDENT’S REPORT (MARCH, 2018)

Friends,

We kicked off the new year with a board retreat in February where we discussed some very ambitious goals for 2018.  But first I would like to welcome our new Vice President, Ryan Cox.  Ryan expressed interest in getting involved with FBSP and we are all excited about having him on the board.  We are still seeking a membership chair so if anyone would like to get on board please get a hold of me and we will talk.

Fundraising is FUN

Fundraising is the main vehicle for us to supply tools and equipment used during our volunteer pool cleaning efforts. There are three very important fundraising events happening that we are proud to be a part of.

  • Amplify Austin is our city’s annual community wide day of online giving that’s  happening on March 1-2.  To make a donation for Friends of Barton Springs Pool, click this link https://amplifyatx.ilivehereigivehere.org/friendsofbartonspringspool2018 and make donation!  Thanks!
  • Give5 Austin to Mother Earth is an event specifically dedicated to benefit 9 local nonprofit organization FBSP being one of them. A first part of the campaign involves finding business sponsors that will pledge to donate to 5% of their revenue on Fri(4/20) Mother Earth day.  If you business would like to participate as a sponsor, please click this link, https://austingive5.org/signup, and sign up!
  • FBSP Booth is our chance meet folks, and spread our message at the south side pool entrance.  We offer an assortment of products for a donation and plan on sponsoring the booth on the Sunday before each of our first Thursday of the month pool cleaning events.  We are working on a new design for our t-shirts and other products so please come by and listen, learn and contribute to our cause.

Spring Cleaning is Fun, Too!!!!

In 2018, we are kicking off our year of volunteer cleaning at the pool by participating in the biggest city-wide volunteer event known as It’s My Park Day on March 3, 2018.  Sponsored by Austin Parks Foundation, participants can sign up for a shift at the Austin Parks Foundation site link, https://austinparks.givepulse.com/event/69299-Barton-Springs-FBSP-Barton-Springs-Volunteer-Pool-Cleaning. Just click the “Register” button, create an account (with name, zip, email, and password), provide the requested information (t-shirt size, allergies, emergency contact, DOB, address), click the waiver agreements, and you’re in!  Please share information with others using this link, https://givepul.se/u8hm3

This is a chance for our members to participate on a Saturday while the pool is closed for spring cleaning.  Our regular volunteer pool cleaning events on the first Thursday of the month will run from April to October.

Ongoing Challenges for Friends

We have a multitude of challenges both inside and outside the fence at Barton Springs Pool. As an nonprofit organization our true calling is inside the fence sponsoring volunteer pool cleanings. We take the knowledge and experience gained from these events to raise awareness of issues, advocate for change and work with the BSP Staff to find solutions. This year we have challenges that include planting trees, repopulating plants in the pool, removal of sediment at the bypass tunnel inlet, keeping algae in the shallow end under control, eliminating non-native plants, and of course putting a shine on the pool railings and the diving well ducks. We are also giving support to many outside the fence activities that in part are integral to the goals of the Barton Springs Pool Master Plan. This involves the renovation of the bathhouse, a Zilker Park visitors center, and feasibility studies on how to improve pool water flow.  We are also in support of the HOT funding for historic preservation, the city bond initiative for purchasing aquifer land, and stopping our neighboring communities from dumping treated sewage into the aquifer. If you have a chance please add your name in support of these very important challenges to Barton Springs Pool.

We are all about finding ways to put big smiles and foster good feelings at the pool. The celebration of the completions of Eliza Springs Day Lighting project , the annual FBSP member picnic, and organizing Council Cleans the pool will hopefully keep everyone smiling and wanting to make the pool the best it can be this season.

See you at the pool,
Steve Barnick, FBSP President

Barton Springs Volunteer Cleaning — August 3, 2017 (9am – 3pm)!!!!

In keeping with our recent tradition of sorts, here is the latest (and lamest) poetic invitation from Friends of Barton Springs Pool to join us at next Thursday’s volunteer pool cleaning:

There was once a place called Barton Springs Pool,
with water so clear and so deep and so cool,
but to give back we must…
show up on the third of August.
to brush broom the city’s crown jewel!

OK, it ain’t high quality poetry, but you get what you pay for, and if this helps grab your attention, please help us organize our upcoming activity by clicking the link below to learn more and sign up to help. Thanks for making a difference!

http://signup.com/go/ohgCgTz

We’re expecting big turnout from the good folks at Benchmark Recovery and our stalwart supporters at Austin Beer Garden Brewing Company, so we look forward to seeing you at the Springs!

Give 5% This Earth Day!

Earth Day 2017 will take place on Friday, April 21st, and Friends of Barton Springs Pool (FBSP) is joining with other local environmental non-profits to harness the day for giving back to Mother Earth.Give5Graphic-1024x592

Together with local non-profits, Shoal Creek Conservancy, Hill Country Conservancy, Austin Parks Foundation, Sustainable Food Center, Waller Creek Conservancy, Pease Park Conservancy, TreeFolks, and Texas Campaign for the Environment Fund, FBSP is looking for local area businesses to take part in a campaign that will see 5% of their revenue from that day donated back to the non-profits.

These non-profits work tirelessly to ensure that the environment, which is a huge part of why Austin is Austin, and remains green, clean, and healthy!  So for the eighth Give 5% year in a row, get ready to eat, shop, play and more on Friday, April 21st at participating businesses and make a personal and significant contribution towards a great cause.

If you would like to sign up your business to participate in the Give 5% campaign or find out more information, click here!