A letter from Rick Graetz, publisher, author, photographer and Geography Professor at The University of Montana

On a winter's night nearly 35 years ago, the late Phil Tawney and his wife Robin summoned a group of Helena folks to meet at the then Rev. George Harper's St.Paul's Methodist Church. The Tawney's saw a need to form a grass roots organization to work as an environmental advocate at the Montana Legislature and to provide public education. The time was right and the agreements made that evening in 1973 led to the founding of the Montana Environmental Information Center.

In part the sense of urgency was based on a Montana landmark event. The previous year, 1972, Montanans ratified a new constitution. A statement in the Declaration of Rights, was encouraging and cause for celebration and hope. “All persons are born free and have certain inalienable rights. They include the right to a clean and healthful environment…”

With that positive vote, Montanans demonstrated they were in a mood to look after the magnificent geography that makes life in the Big Sky Country so appealing. Ensuring this disposition and rights guaranteed in the new Constitution were respected was another matter. The birth of the MEIC that day in 1973 then was a high point for our state. A citizen's group would be ever-present to see that legislation and policy were on the side of the environment.

Today, the MEIC is stronger than ever and hasn't strayed from its roots. Funds raised primarily go to stand up for the cherished Montana landscape and the rights of its citizens as guaranteed by the 1972 Constitution.

Experience and accomplishments have earned the organization a lofty reputation as Montana's leading state government-focused activist and a leader in promoting progress in many areas of environmental policy that affect peoples lives.

I strongly urge you to come on board to continue the good fight! Now more than ever your help is needed.