Pam Meier, Board of Directors.

Born and raised in Connecticut, Pam Meier inherited a deep love of wild places from generations of naturalists. Having spent many years advocating to protect open space around her own home in Madison, Connecticut, Pam sees joining the Board of Directors of Great Old Broads as a natural extension of her local advocacy work. “Although the trappings of the issues in my locale may differ in scale and name from those that form the cornerstone of Broads endeavors, the fundamental mission, method and morals of the Broads are completely akin to my own and relevant out here,” said Pam.

Living in a town that in Pam’s words, “breeds Nature Deficit Disorder,” and that is rampant with development, completely changing the character of the small summer community she moved into fifteen years ago, Pam is actively involved in trying to protect the open land around her. Early on, she served on the board of the local Land Trust.

Then in 2002, recognizing the increasing alienation between the public and the land, and the need for education and awareness to combat it, Pam founded a co-ed environmental club for kids and last year initiated a Schoolyard Habitat/Classroom project at the local middle school. Inspired by the words of Senegalese conservationist Baba Dioum, “In the end, we will conserve only what we love, we will love only what we understand, we will understand only what we are taught,” Pam continues to teach numerous children to protect and appreciate the natural world around them.

Pam first heard about Great Old Broads a few years ago, when she and her family—including her three naturalist daughters—traveled to Montana and met Steve Gilbert, who serves on the Board of Directors of Broads. They started talking and it was clear that they held a lot in common, including the mission of Broads.

As Pam began learning more about Broads, she knew it was the organization for her. “Broads is a unique combination of small, grassroots-style, hands-on-organization and coast-to-coast inclusion,” said Pam. “The roll-up your sleeves and get in there m.o., no matter where you come from or what age or gender you are appeals to me.”

Public land issues on the East Coast may differ somewhat from battles in the West, but as the newest member of the Board of Directors, Pam’s familiarity with many wild places in the north- (and south-) east, from the Green Mountain National Forest to the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee, will help Broads reach further afield and reach out to our East Coast members.

“I have found that there are underlying commonalities between myself and Broads that are fertile ground for some real results both locally and nationally,” said Pam. “The alliances Broads has forged and the good will that it has managed to sustain throughout its wilderness work are testament to a strong, effective and happy organization. I am humbled and honored to work alongside such a wonderful and dedicated group of older women still going so strong!” —Becky Lawlor