On Saturday, Nov. 4, Powder River Basin Resource Council will host its 51st Annual Meeting at the Best Western in Sheridan. This year’s theme, Watching Out for Wyoming: The Next 50 Years, will explore the unique time and place in which Wyoming finds itself as well casting an eye toward the future.
“At Powder River we’ve striven for 50 years to work on behalf of the environment and of our communities, to act with compassion toward both, and to honor the deep connection between the two. We’ll be doing that for the next 50 years,” said David Romtvedt, Powder River Chair.
The evening’s keynote speaker, Wyoming author and former legislator, Rodger McDaniel, will use a historical lens to help frame Wyoming’s present-day cultural, economic, and political climate. McDaniel’s long career spans law, the ministry, and public service. He served in the Wyoming State Legislature from 1971-1981 and ran for the U.S. Senate. After practicing law for 20 years, he was ordained in 1999 and also served as the Director of the Wyoming Department of Family Services for a number of years. This fall, he retired after serving 15 years as pastor at Highlands Presbyterian Church in Cheyenne. Additionally, he has written five books. His most recent is Profiles in Courage: Standing Against the Wyoming Wind, a collection of stories of Wyomingites who stood against the prevailing culture.
The evening will also include a viewing of The Big Open, a photographic journey through the seasons in the Powder River Basin by Story photographer Dainis Hazners. An award-winning poet, Hazners also has an MFA in Photography and has shown his work at the Brinton Museum and Sheridan County Library. Hazners says of The Big Open: “Since beginning this project, I’ve captured over 20,000 digital images, all of which are full-frame with no ‘adjustments.’ My goal has been to adore the world of 10,000 things as discovered in Powder River Country.”
The public portion of Powder River’s Annual Meeting kicks off at 4:30 pm with a social hour and a live auction, including Pies by Guys. The dinner and program will begin at 6:30 pm. Tickets are $50 for members and $60 for non-members. Everyone is welcome. For more information or to register for the event, visit www.powderriverbasin.org, contact Powder River at 307-672-5809 or email info@powderriverbasin.org.
