On Friday, dues‑paying members of the Conservation Society of San Antonio presented a petition to the society’s elected leadership, invoking the organization’s bylaws to force a special meeting within 30 days. The petition seeks transparency on the decision to pause NIOSA – one of Fiesta’s largest and longest‑running fundraising events – for the 2027 season.
Members demand records and answers
The petition asks for past meeting minutes, the La Villita lease agreement, email correspondence with the City of San Antonio, and a full list of task‑force and board members who voted on the pause. It also requests any feasibility studies, financial impact analyses, and plans for alternative fundraising ideas.
Long‑time member Abbi Power, who has been with the society for three decades, said the concern extends beyond the event itself. “I’ll be sadly disappointed if we don’t have NIOSA next year, but I’ll be even more hurt if the Conservation Society can’t find a way to survive and fund the vitally needed preservation work we do,” Power said.
Board vote and rationale
On Sept. 16, the board voted 17‑10 to suspend the four‑night NIOSA celebration, citing declining attendance and sales. The society announced the pause as a precaution while it evaluates the event’s financial viability.
During a quarterly meeting held at the San Antonio Botanical Garden, five sheriff’s deputies were present, and the agenda featured 13 committee reports. Notably, the fourth vice president – the officer who traditionally chairs NIOSA and oversees its contracts – was absent from the agenda, prompting questions from longtime board member Terry Shoenert.
When Shoenert asked to hear from the current fourth vice president, Julie Terrill, he was told she was not on the agenda. The meeting concluded without addressing the members’ concerns, and the petition was subsequently circulated to meet the signature threshold for a special meeting.
Potential relocation and conflict‑of‑interest concerns
Some members voiced worries about a proposal to move NIOSA to Hemisfair, where the UTSA Institute of Texan Cultures is located. The suggestion raised questions about a possible conflict of interest, as the newly created fundraising task‑force leader’s daughter works at Hemisfair.
Requests for comment from society president Betty Bueché and Hemisfair CEO Melissa Robinson went unanswered.
Volunteer perspective
Twenty‑year volunteer Chris Celis described the pause as “BS from day one,” noting that while finances have been strained since the pandemic, the society is slowly climbing out of the deficit. Celis also opposed moving NIOSA to Hemisfair, arguing that the event belongs in historic “Old San Antonio.”
Society officials have indicated they raised prices and continued to cover full security costs, but the new president, elected in June, reportedly expressed personal dislike for NIOSA, contradicting earlier statements that she wanted to preserve the tradition.
Historical significance
The Conservation Society celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2024 and is credited with preserving landmarks such as the Spanish Governor’s Palace, the Rand Building, the Steves Homestead, and the Hayes Street Bridge. Members argue that losing NIOSA would jeopardize the society’s ability to fund these preservation projects.
City spokeswoman Kelly Saunders reiterated the city’s commitment to supporting Fiesta organizations and keeping downtown vibrant, but did not address the specific lease‑back concerns raised by members.
Next steps
With the petition now meeting the required signature count, the board is obligated to convene a special meeting within the next 30 days. Members say they will use that forum to demand full disclosure of the financial implications of breaking the ten‑year leaseback agreement with the city and to push for alternative fundraising strategies that can sustain the society’s historic preservation mission.
Original reporting: San Antonio Report — read the source article.
