Great Old Broads for Wilderness began in 1989 on the 25th anniversary of the Wilderness Act by a feisty bunch of lady hikers who wanted to refute Utah Senator Orrin Hatch’s notion that wilderness is inaccessible to elders. About that time, wilderness designation had been proposed for Escalante, and Senator Hatch opposed it, saying, “if for no other reason, we need roads for the aged and infirm.”
Founder Susan Tixier and her fellow activists were outraged, and saw that an important voice was missing from the environmental movement: the older woman—impassioned, experienced, not afraid to speak out, and definitely not needing roads. The group committed themselves to grassroots advocacy to preserve Wilderness and wild places for future generations.
Today on the program we speak with Lauren Berutich, Grassroots Leadership and Advocacy Coordinator and Shelley Silbert, Executive Director of Old Broads for Wilderness throughout the hour. Later we’ll be joined by Kelly Phanco of the Greater Wasatch Broadband, Chris Gorzalski and Ronni Egan with the St. George/Southwest Utah Broadband and Rynda Clark with the Oregon Broadband and Grannies Against Bullies.
Learn more at GreatOldBroads.org or Facebook.com/GreatOldBroads and join the team of WILD Broadband Leaders across the country.
Join Great Old Broads for Wilderness at this year’s Wilderness Advocacy Leadership Training Sessions, April 4-8 in Newberg, Oregon.
