Convention
The 50th Anniversary Gathering of the Montana Wilderness Association
April 25-27, 2008 * Best Western Heritage Inn, Great Falls
Please join us to Keep It Wild!
Featured Speakers
Ed Zahniser Saturday, April 26th
Ed Zahniser is the son of Howard Zahniser, primary author of the 1964 Wilderness Act. Ed serves as senior writer and editor for the National Park Service Media Services Center in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. He will share valuable insight into his father’s work, family recollections, inspirations of the wilderness movement as well as encourage action on behalf of Wilderness and wildlands.
U. S. Senator Jon Tester Saturday, April 26th
Senator Jon Tester will talk about the Beaverhead-Deerlodge Forest Partnership and the need for Montanans to come together around the future of our national forests to address forest restoration and Wilderness designation.
Convention Kickoff Event: Friday, April 25th
Where: The History Museum in Great Falls at 7:00 p.m.
Join us for an evening of entertainment with world-renowned composer, Philip Aaberg, who will perform in celebration of our 50th anniversary.
Greg Keeler of Bozeman will entertain us with his comic lyrics and witty poetry.
Tickets still available and may be purchased at the Great Falls History Museum: 422 2nd Street South.
Note: Tickets puchased on-line can be picked-up at the door the night of the event.
Volunteer Empowerment Training: Saturday April 26th, 9-Noon Where: Best Western Heritage Inn Convention Center
Carrie Sandstedt, Field Director for the Campaign for America’s Wilderness will work with participants on making public speaking fun, giving successful presentations, and responding to tough questions. Everyone is welcome to join us for this free, informative and useful training session.
NEW This Year!
Field Seminars/Wilderness Walks Saturday, April 26th
- Giant Springs Birding Hike. This is an opportunity to enjoy one of Montana’s premier spring birding wonderlands. Led by premier birder, Harriet Marble 2-3 miles, easy. Reservations: Dan Bennett, 452-7657.
- Morony Dam to Sulphur Springs. This is a round trip over rolling terrain into the heart of Lewis and Clark’s presence in the Great Falls area. Led by Aart Dolman and Tom Crane, 4 miles, easy-moderate. Reservations: Aart Dolman, 452-5554 or Tom Crane, 727-1501.
- Finger Bay from Ryan Dam along the north shore of the Missouri. Led by Tom Kotynski 4-5 miles, moderate. Reservations: Tom and Katie Kotynski, 761-4463.
- Cochran Dam. Walking along the cliffs above the Missouri River, hikers will be able to view Rainbow and Crooked Falls as well as Rainbow and Cochrane Dams. 6 miles round-trip, moderate. Reservations: Matt Marcinek, 454-5858 or Lisa Easton, 781-2341.
Join us and:
*Reminisce in the rich history of a half-century of Wilderness protection
*Learn about Wilderness campaigns around the state and nation
*Hear from influential Montana leaders in Wilderness
*Discover the wonders of the Rocky Mountain Front
*Listen to a panel discussion on the Island Ranges of central Montana
MWA gratefully thanks these sponsors for their contributions to our 50th Anniversary Gathering:
Ugrin, Alexander,
Zadick & Higgins, P.C.
Attorneys At Law
plus,
Island Range Chapter Board Members
Montana Senior News
Past Conventions and Trivia
You can get a good sense of the nature of the conventions by checking out posters and flyers for past conventions: 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006.If you are a past attendee or a history buff, take our quiz and see how well you know the highlights of these annual gatherings:
- Which convention boasted the highest attendance for a single speaker, packing the center with over 700 people?
- Which Montana city was host to the 1st annual meeting in 1958?
- Which convention had all speakers' flights cancelled due to winter storms?
- Which convention both featured a newly elected governor and a future U.S. Senator as guests?
- What author of The Monkey Wrench Gang was our guest speaker at the 1977 convention?
- The 44th convention in Kalispell enthusiastically welcomed Terry Tempest Williams as the keynote speaker in 2002.
- Bozeman hosted the first annual meeting, listing all 116 charter members of the newly-formed Montana Wilderness Association in the Souvenir Program.
- A wicked snowstorm cancelled all flights in and out of Billings the first day of the 2005 convention, leaving two key staff stranded in Missoula. For bonus points, you will know that those two staffers made it safely to Billings after a snowy, blowy drive across the state with then Senator Conrad Burns.
- In December 2004, both newly elected Governor Schweitzer and newly announced candidate for U.S. Senate, Jon Tester, spoke at the 46th convention in Helena.
- Edward Abbey spoke in Livingston at the 19th convention.