MONTANA ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION CENTER
Celebrating 50 Years of Constitutional Rights
by Katy Spence
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n 1972, 100 Montanans gathered in Helena to rewrite the State Constitution. On September 1, 2021, six of them reunited in a small ceremony in the Old Supreme Court chambers in the Capitol to receive MEIC’s Conservationist of the Year Award. “We are absolutely tardy in giving you this honor,” Anne Hedges, MEIC Director of Policy, said. “For nearly 30 years, I’ve been working at MEIC and relying on the words that you all put to paper.” Delegates in attendance were, in order of speaking: Mae Nan Ellingson, Arlyne Reichert, Gene Harbaugh, Jerry Loendorf, Lyle Monroe, and Bob Campbell. Former Governor Brian Schweitzer opened the event, pointing out the uniqueness of Montana’s Constitution. He noted the citizens’ right to privacy is protected in the new Constitution. He also pointed out the number of women who helped write the document, an unprecedented for that time 19 of the Cover: MEIC Board Member 100 delegates. Roger Sullivan “At its time, [the Convention] addresses was very progressive and represented attendees on Sept. 1, 2021. Montana,” Gov. Schweitzer said. “We are protected by the words that you have
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written, and I thank you for that. All of Montana thanks you for that.” The 1972 Convention was a groundbreaking event. Hundreds of Montanans ran during primary and general elections to be elected as a delegate. Of the 100 delegates, 58 were Democrats, 36 Republicans, and 6 Independents. Delegate Arlyne Reichert noted that they decided to sit alphabetically, so as not to give in to partisanship. “I think that we set a perfect example that exemplifies how people can get along without getting bogged down with these partisan politics,” Reichert said. In the end, the delegates’ work in 1972 gave Montana what many consider a “model” state
Protecting Montana’s natural environment since 1973.
