Letter from new Board Chair - Roger Semler

Greetings from Roger Semler, new Society for Wilderness Stewardship Board Chair
April 7, 2011

I am honored to serve as the Society for Wilderness Stewardship as Board Chair. I accept this role knowing that I am stepping into some very large “hiking boots” worn since the inception of SWS by Don Hunger, our outgoing Chair. The mission of SWS has been strongly influenced by Don’s vision and passion for Wilderness; and it has been a great privilege to work with Don since I joined the Society. Fortunately for SWS, Don will continue to support our mission as a Board Chair Emeritus!

My passion for Wilderness stewardship flourished during my 26-year career with the National Park Service. Highlights of that career included serving as the first Wilderness Manager for Glacier National Park and the Chief of Operations at Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, where I retired in 2003.

Retirement from the interagency wilderness management community left a huge void in both my personal and professional interests and identity. SWS has helped fill that gap. I believe our mission represents a noble cause, which can energize wilderness professionals and foster improved stewardship of America’s wilderness resource. I am committed to fulfilling that mission.

SWS is a growing organization that requires the help of wilderness professionals around the country in order to succeed. That help can come in a variety of forms: future service as a Board or committee member; support through a personal or organizational membership; and through generous financial or in-kind contributions. All of those types of support will help SWS build capacity and provide value and service to our members.

In the near future the Society’s Biennial Business Plan that will guide our activities and initiatives through 2012 will be posted on our website. Highlights of this plan include but are not limited to an initiative to establish a wilderness ranger skills academy, a concept which I have personally envisioned for many years; the development of a senior wilderness mentor program; an initiative to address wilderness management job classifications; and our support of a Wilderness character-monitoring project on the White River National Forest in Colorado.

I invite all current and prospective members to review our committee descriptions and business plan and provide valuable feedback and suggestions to me or any Board member. Your input is vital to our understanding and better serving the needs of our members and the community of wilderness professionals.

Sincerely,
Roger Semler
Helena, MT