by Denise Roth Barber
Every day in Montana, there are quiet, often unseen moments that determine the future of the places we love — decisions about clean water, breathable air, and the landscapes that define this state. Because of our members, MEIC can show up for those moments.
We’re so grateful for all our members, but in this Down To Earth, we would like to shine a light on members of our Snowberry Society. These are members who donate what they can — $5, $25, $100+ — every month! Our monthly donors provide the steady, reliable support that allows MEIC to plan ahead, act quickly, and stay focused on protecting Montana’s air, water, and wild places every single day.
Like the snowberry — quietly resilient, rooted in place, and enduring through every season — our monthly donors may not always be visible, but they are essential. Snowberries nourish wildlife through the winter and help sustain the ecosystem year-round. In the same way, our Snowberry Society sustains MEIC’s work behind the scenes, ensuring we can respond nimbly to emerging threats, advocate effectively, and stay the course for long-term change.
Bob and Carolyn Adams of Helena, for example, have been strong supporters of MEIC since its inception in the early ’70s. In 2008, they chose to give consistently every month, which they have been doing for the past 16 years! When asked why they decided to give monthly, Bob and Carolyn said, “The foremost reason is to support the most effective environmental advocacy program in Montana. During MEIC’s decades-long presence at the Legislature, before its committees and commissions, in state and federal courts, MEIC remains articulate, accurate and relentless in pursuit of environmental justice. We believe that the best and most efficient way to allow MEIC to plan its budget is for staff and board to know that there is a steady and dependable source of funds arriving in each month of the year. That’s a solid basis for long-range commitment to projects. While we encourage whatever manner of giving works best for you, we also urge you to consider the Snowberry program for monthly giving. After all, the attacks on our Montana Constitutional Right to a Clean and Healthful Environment occur monthly, if not daily!”
I, too, have been a member of MEIC’s Snowberry Society since 2023. I give monthly so that I can give more. Large one-time donations aren’t always possible, but making consistent monthly donations allows me to ultimately give more each year, without putting extra stress on my wallet.
Because of committed supporters like you, MEIC is able to take on complex, long-term challenges: from pushing for a closure date for Montana’s largest polluter, the Colstrip Power plant, to protecting the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness, to ensuring NorthWestern Energy customers aren’t left paying for corporate pollution mistakes. This work requires persistence, stability, and courage, and monthly support helps make all three possible.
We want to thank all of our monthly donors for standing with us in such a meaningful way. We’re honored to have you as part of our dedicated community protecting the Montana we all love — today and for generations to come.
Please consider joining our Snowberry Society, if you haven’t already. To do so, go to our website Donate page, select “Recurring Donation” under Gift Purpose, and select “Monthly.”
If you have questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to me at drothbarber@MEIC.org or 406-443-2520.
This article was published in the June 2026 issue of Down To Earth.
