Thank you for the efforts on Dark Sky

As we approach the one year anniversary of Wimberley Valley being honored as an official International Dark Sky Community, we want to publicly acknowledge the dedication and extensive volunteer work of Pam Showalter, a blazing star in our firmament.

Pam, along with Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Cathy Moreman, started the Wimberley Valley Dark Sky Committee (WVDSC) in 2016. As our first chairperson, Pam set the optimistic and determined tone of our committee. She wrote the mission statement that defines our efforts.

Pam recently retired from the committee to take on other responsibilities, but stays in touch and keeps our eyes looking upward toward our goals (Especially at night).

When the WVDSC formed, there were only two communities in Texas with an International Dark Sky Association (IDA) designation. With every step of Texas growth, more loss of the night sky seemed an inevitability we must all suffer. Trapped in the light crescent of Austin, San Marcos and San Antonio, people of Wimberley and Woodcreek found that each year we could see fewer and fewer stars and we squinted from more and more lightglare in our eyes.

Pam did not agree with or accept that. With Cathy, she recruited a committee and went to work to get Wimberley Valley official recognition from the IDA.

To take a new idea from concept to reality requires enormous work and brilliant leadership. Pam supplied both with a calm, friendly, professional attitude. Without her enthusiasm, guidance, and mission statement, we wouldn’t have stood a chance. During Pam’s tenure as chair, we gave presentations to over twenty groups our first year, created our Facebook page and participated in many local events to spread the word of our mission.

To our delight, we found almost everyone personally receptive. Not all institutions were – at first – but when they saw the benefits to commerce, health, wildlife and people, most came aboard, including the cities of Woodcreek and Wimberley.

Getting Dark Sky designation is a long, complex process; many other Texas cities trying for IDA designation are still struggling to get there. We reached our goal in June, 2018. In July we celebrated as Grand Marshal of the 2018 Wimberley 4th of July Parade. The response from you, the people of Wimberley and Woodcreek, was overwhelming; we continue to enjoy and be thankful for your support today.

IDA designation is not permanent. It must be re-established each year. Toward that goal, we continue to reach out to the community. We partner with Blue Hole Regional Park to hold twice yearly star parties. We recognize businesses that have people-pleasing lighting with the Night Sky Friendly Business program, in cooperation with the Hill Country Alliance and the Wimberley Chamber.

Our popular Facebook page, www.facebook.com/WimberleyDarkSky/, allows us to continue to educate and entertain the community. We are a presence at many fun events throughout the year, including: the STEAM Fair at Wimberley High School; Boo! Hole Halloween at Blue Hole Park; Trick or Treat on the Wimberley Square; and the biennial Texas Night Sky Festival in Dripping Springs. We help other communities such as Blanco and Buda as they work to achieve the designation. And we alert folks to the information on the IDA website, www.darksky.org.

Without Pam, probably none of these things would have happened. At our March meeting, we thanked and honored Pam with a small Dark Sky artwork by Cindy Smith-Neun. Pam, we appreciate you for all you’ve done and we celebrate what you helped us accomplish toward a beautifully dark sky future for Wimberley Valley.

The Wimberley Valley Dark Sky Committee

Shannon du Plessis, Chair, Cathy Moreman, Martha Pinto, Jamie Kinscherff, Clay Ewing, Cindy Smith-Neun, Joe Smith, Greg & Susan Webb, Carroll Wilson, Louis Parks and Martha Knies.