Joel Bartsch, president and chief executive officer of the Houston Museum of Natural Science, will dig into his luminous career and the importance of conservation projects during the third annual Picnic for the Park benefitting Cullinan Park 11:30 am to 1 pm Friday, October 18th, at River Pointe Church.
Bartsch will delve into his experiences as a world-traveling rock hound during the Cullinan Park Conservancy event that will be held in the auditorium of River Pointe Church, located at 5000 Ransom Road. Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital is the presenting sponsor and gold sponsors are absolutely! focus media and Westin Homes.
A long-time Houstonian, Bartsch was appointed president and chief executive officer of the museum in 2004 and has since seen membership and annual attendance double. He is also curator of the Cullen Hall of Gems and Minerals. His travels have led him around the world as he has pursued his passions of gems and collecting.
“Joel is an engaging personality and will regale the audience with stories of how antiquities and natural wonders are being dealt with these days, as well as tell us about the international gem collecting business,” said Mike Dobert, president of the Cullinan Park Conservancy. “It promises to be a fun afternoon, all while raising money for a worthy cause.”
Also during Picnic for the Park, winners of the annual Cullinan Park Conservancy Photo Contest will be announced, and former Sugar Land Mayor James Thompson will be presented the Lucie Cullinan Award for his work in support of the park.
Tickets are $50-$75 and can be purchased at cullinanparkconservancy.org/Picnic. Sponsorships starting at $1,000 also are available.
Proceeds will go toward improvements for the 754-acre Joseph S. and Lucie H. Cullinan Park in Sugar Land. Late last year, the conservancy was able to break ground on Phase 1 improvements, including a permanent restroom, a new trail, two new trailheads, a boardwalk, lake overlook, interpretive signage, landscape improvements, understory clearing and additional benches.
The Conservancy was created in 2010 to advocate for, enhance and protect the natural beauty of Cullinan Park for all. Cullinan Park consists of 754 acres, just north of Sugar Land Regional Airport on Highway 6. The one of a kind, blue-green oasis in the middle of rapidly growing suburbs provides habitat for all manner of wildlife, while delivering a respite for human visitors, too.
Visit cullinanparkconservancy.org to learn more about the Cullinan Park Conservancy.