— People of SOS —

Director

Gloria Flora - In her 22-year career with the U.S. Forest Service, Gloria Flora became nationally known for her leadership in ecosystem management and for her courageous principled stands. As supervisor of the Lewis and Clark National Forest in north-central Montana, she made a landmark decision to prohibit natural gas leasing along the spectacular 356,000-acre Rocky Mountain Front near the Bob Marshall Wilderness, a place often described as an American Serengeti for its abundant populations of wildlife, birds and fish.

In 2000, she made national headlines again when she resigned as Forest Supervisor of the largest national forest in the lower 48 states - the Humboldt-Toiyabe - to call attention to antigovernment zealots engaged in the harassment and intimidation of Forest Service employees and destruction of natural resources on public lands.

In 2001, she founded and now directs Sustainable Obtainable Solutions, an organization dedicated to the sustainability of public lands and of the plants, animals and communities that depend on them. Flora's continuing work to protect the Rocky Mountain Front has resulted in significant successes such as a permanent ban on future leasing, retirement of many existing leases and a reduction of motorized travel.

A popular and inspirational speaker, Gloria encourages people from all walks of life to recognize and celebrate our deep relationship with landscapes and the wealth of natural capital we enjoy from them; not just for us, but for future generations of all species.

Gloria recently co-authored a report on how Montana can become energy self-reliant through renewable energy, energy efficiency and conservation. She serves on the Montana Climate Change Advisory Committee and works throughout the U.S. with the Center for Climate Strategies in assisting states develop climate change action plans.

For her courageous stewardship of public lands and environmental leadership, she has received many awards, including the Wilderness Society's Murie Award, the Environmental Quality Award for exemplary decision-making from the Natural Resources Council of America, a ‘Behind the Headlines' award from the Project on Government Oversight, the 2003 Environmental Hero Award from Sunset Magazine and being selected as one of the nation's top environmentalists in 2004 by Vanity Fair Magazine . The African Rainforest Conservancy honored her lifelong work in conservations by naming a new species of toad after her in 2008. Her work has been featured in national magazines, books, radio, television and documentaries, including NOW with Bill Moyers and in Leonardo DiCaprio's feature film, The 11 th Hour.

Board of Directors

• A. Gayle Hudgens, Ph.D. is a futurist and Cultural Creative coach. She's also the author of Collaborative Spunk: The Feisty Guide for Reviving People and Our Planet, among scores of other works asserting daring, relevance and insight in sustainability and self-determination. Gayle holds significant certifications in coaching, organic farming and sustainability. Her work spans several continents and her business, Sustainability Coaching flourishes outside of Austin, Texas.
• Tom Kovalicky retired from the Forest Service after an illustrious career punctuated by courageous and innovative leadership. His many conservation and community awards are impressive and diverse. Tom's in-depth knowledge of natural resources and wilderness makes him a highly sought-after consultant and speaker. He is an avid outdoorsman living and enjoying life near Grangeville, Idaho.
• Jim Hunt is a fourth generation Montanan. He has a BA in history and a JD in law. He served 23 years in the Montana Army National Guard- retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. He is a lifetime member of the NRA as well as an avid sportsman and conservationist.
• Ralph Yaegar was born in Lewistown, Montana, and spent his early years on the ranch his Great Grandfather homesteaded in 1880. He is a graduate of Carroll College with a degree in Business Administration, and currently serves as asenior development officer for Intermountain Children's Home. Ralph is a former member of the board of directors of the Montana Community Foundation, the Foundation for Animals, and the Governor's Task Force on Endowed Philanthropy. He currently serves as a trustee of the Greater Montana Foundation. In his spare time, he enjoys waterfowl hunting and wood carving.
• Richard Freeman, Ph.D., holds advanced degrees in Environmental Studies and Forest Policy & Planning. He researches and writes on public lands and rural sustainable development and directs a sustainable forest management consulting business. Dr. Rick has taught forest planning, ethics, and technical writing at the university level.

Note that every member of the Board is a parent or grandparent, giving them a unique perspective and a personal stake in seeing that the beauty and integrity of our natural environment is sustained for the little ones... and those to come.

Ann E. Fleischli, J.D., a transplanted Wisconsin lawyer and lifelong activist, writes in Missoula, in pursuit of a master’s degree in print journalism from the University of Montana. She has signed on as an extern volunteer with SOS.