Board of Directors
Melissa A. Flories – President and Founding Member
Melissa A. Flories has been a member of the fundraising community in Fort Worth and Houston since 1993. While in Fort Worth, Melissa served as President and Vice President of Tarrant County Lesbian and Gay Pride Week Association as well as the first Lesbian Emperor to serve a full term of the Imperial Court de Fort Worth/Arlington as Emperor 16. She was honored for her community service in 1995 as Grand Marshal in the Pride Parade. She also served as a Board Member to the Tarrant County Gay and Lesbian Alliance and was one of the founding members of Samaritan House, a facility dedicated to caring for People with AIDS.
While in Houston, Melissa was the first Lesbian to serve as Mr. Gay Pride Houston. She served on the Board of Directors for the Lesbian Health Institutive and has been active in raising money for various charities dedicated to Lesbian and Gay health issues.
Professionally, Melissa has been in sales and marketing for over 30 years and is currently employed at JMFA, serving the marketing needs of financial institutions nationwide.
Melissa – President and Founding Member – Contact Email Address: mflories7@yahoo.com
Kenny Barclay – Vice President
Kenny – Vice President – Contact email address: cowboykeny44@gmail.com
Keith Woods – Secretary
Keith Woods has worked within the Gay and Lesbian community of Houston since the early 1990s. He is a founding member of the Cajun Bellefest Committee who raised money and donations for the Loving Arms Foundation which provides daycare and education of children who were HIV+.
Keith – Secretary – Contact email address: d.keith.woods@gmail.com
Sara B. Sjolander – Treasurer and Founding Member
Sara has been an active member of the Gay and Lesbian fundraising community for the past 15 years. Her vocal styling’s have helped to raise funds for organizations such as ERSICSS, The Montrose Center, HATCH, Legacy Community Health Services, The Lady Victoria Lust PWA Campout, AIDS Foundation Houston, Lazarus House, The Lesbian Health Initiative, Assist Hers, and many many more.
She has proudly served on the board of several charitable organizations and has held such titles as Ms. Michael’s Outpost 2006-2008, October 2005 Face of the Month Key’s West, and Ms. Gay Pride 2008 & 2009. Additionally, she was bestowed the honor of being named the B.J. Summors Memorial Entertainer of the Year in 2006 by the Colt 45’s.
In her professional life she is a graphic designer and has donated countless hours of service to various organizations producing posters, flyers, banners, and other advertising and print material. She is constantly searching for new avenues in which to serve in the community and is very excited to be on the Board of TUC. In March of 2012, Sara was one of the original six founding members of Texas United Charities.
Sara – Treasurer and Founding Member – Contact Email Address: sarasjolander@yahoo.com
Barry Larson, Director
Barry started helping raise money for the Houston Gay community during the thralls of the AIDS epidemic in the 1980's. While working at The Galleon, a local gay bar, Barry joined the Happy Hour Daddy's and started performing to help raise thousands of dollars for AIDS Foundation of Houston in 1985, 1986 and 1987 until he returned to Missouri to obtain a Bachelors of Science Degree in Public Relations.
Upon returning to Houston in 1992, Barry found himself involved with the Houston Gay community once again. While working at Gentry, the bar that was formerly known as The Galleon, he was introduced to the community fundraising organization, The Royal Sovereign and Imperial Court of the Single Star of Houston, Inc. Barry joined the organization in Reign 9 and worked with the organization for several years to help raise money for the Houston Gay Community. He holds the Perpetual Title of Her Serene Highness, The White Pearl, Black Onyx, Lone Star Holstein Heifer Imperial Princess Royale XII.
Barry was also a member of Soiree Aubergine, another Houston Gay community fundraising organization for AIDS. He was crowned Miss Soiree Aubergine in 2000.
Barry's other contributions and achievements in the Houston Gay community include, but not limited to: Miss Chances Emeritus 1996, Miss Honeybee 1999 and from November 15, 1996 - August 1997 he was the publisher of the Montrose Area Pride, "THE MAP," with Jim Cheek. The newspaper was published for the men and women of the Houston Gay community.
Barry – Director - Contact email address: larsonbarry@yahoo.com