Our Organization,
Our Work and
Our Leaders
We Are Your Friends and Neighbors
What we do
We are concerned citizens who support advocacy, outreach and educational efforts in Hays County, Texas, to promote and encourage smarter lighting designed to improve visibility and safety at night, protect the natural night sky, and support individuals and communities in their efforts to receive recognition for their “dark sky” efforts. The heritage of star-filled nights has been taken away from us in many parts of our county.
Our organization works to engage the public and government officials to keep our night skies naturally dark and full of stars, to help fellow citizens reduce light pollution in our cities and towns. With our work, we aim to make lasting changes in the way we all think about outdoor lighting.
Our Members Make a Difference
Our Membership
We are all volunteers who care about our community and the quality of life here. We are committed to expanding the knowledge and awareness of good night sky practices. Our membership is composed of a diverse group of people who enjoy learning from one another as well as the knowledgeable experts who work with us. Many members focus on special projects while others spread the word to help friends, family and the community make smarter decisions. And, then there are those who get satisfaction simply by supporting our work through ongoing financial contributions. There is a place for everyone to play an important role.
Join us
Meet Our Board of Directors
Merry Bateman
Board member
Merry Bateman has always been fascinated with the power of words. Her early passion for headlines, jingles, taglines and stories inspired her to create her living in advertising, marketing and communications.
Merry has worked as a writer, creative director and marketing director with multinational ad agencies and corporations in the U.S., Europe and Asia. She spent over 10 years living and working in Bangkok, Singapore and Paris. Currently, she runs her own branding, marketing and content development consultancy.
Away from the job, Merry indulges in her favorite three T’s: travel, tennis and tea. She enjoys packing her bag for out-of-way places and hits the road as often as possible. She also can be found on the tennis court as a league player and USTA Official. And, she likes a good cuppa so much that she became a certified tea specialist.
Last but not least, she devotes a great deal of her time to conservation and environmental education as a Texas Master Naturalist, Climate Reality Project Leader, City of Buda, Texas Sustainability Commissioner and a dark sky advocate.
Cindy Luongo Cassidy
Board Member
Cindy Luongo Cassidy is a leader within the IDA Texas Chapter, a founding member of the Hill Country Alliance Night Sky Team, and President of the Board for the Hays County Friends of the Night Sky. She was the key player in positioning the City of Dripping Springs to receive the prestigious International Dark Sky Community designation, the first in Texas, and has assisted with other International Dark Sky Place applications.
In 2019, Cindy was awarded the Crawford-Hunter Award, the highest honor that the International Dark-Sky Association bestows to individuals who, in the course of their lifetime, have contributed an extraordinary effort to light pollution abatement. Cassidy lives in Driftwood, Texas and was the creator of the hugely successful Texas Night Sky Festival®.
Janet Holland
Board Member
Janet Holland has lived in North Hays County for over 25 years. Although she spent her career at a desk job, she always felt more at home in nature and gazing up at the night skies from many locations throughout the USA and abroad. Retiring in 2016 has given Janet much more time to spend connecting with the Texas Hill Country through family, friends and numerous volunteer opportunities. As a founding member of the Hays County Friends of the Night Sky group, Janet is currently serving as the Treasurer in addition to spreading the word about the benefits of dark skies and responsible lighting for animals, birds, insects, plants and humans!
Soll Sussman
Board member
Soll Sussman is Managing Director of S Cubed Studio, a consulting firm that specializes in developing cross-border ties and partnerships related to energy and the environment in the United States and Mexico.
Prior to that he spent 21 years at the Texas General Land Office working with a variety of energy marketing, renewable energy, alternative fuels and border energy programs.
Soll spent nearly a decade working outside the United States as an international correspondent for The Associated Press. His last post was as A.P. bureau chief for Canada, based in Toronto. He was based in Mexico City for seven years, first as a regional correspondent and then for five years as A.P. news editor for Mexico and Central America. His domestic assignments for The Associated Press included Dallas, Austin, Washington and New York.
He has a Master’s Degree in Latin American Studies from the University of Texas at Austin and lives in Driftwood.