For those enthralled with the history of the American West, the newly organized Northwest Montana Posse of Westerners stands ready to enlighten and entertain participants about the Western way of life.

The organization’s inaugural meeting is Monday, Oct. 20, at the Outlaw Convention Center in Kalispell. It begins with a “Grab ’n Greet” social hour at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m. and an educational program at 7:45 p.m.

Dinner costs $18 and reservations can be made by contacting Janet Monk, 755-7339 or email jmonk@centurytel.net.

Guest speakers for Monday’s meeting are Daniel Fagre, a research ecologist with the Rocky Mountain Science Center’s West Glacier Field Station, and Jim Shelden, president of the Glacial Lake Missoula Chapter of the Ice Age Flood Institute.

They will speak about the glacial formation of the Flathead Valley. Fagre will discuss the early glaciers coming down from Canada and the formation of the Great North American Trough and Glacier National Park.

Shelden will focus on the later glaciers during their melting stages and the Glacial Lake Missoula events and their impact on the lower Flathead Valley and the entire Pacific Northwest.

The Northwest Posse’s presentations will be videotaped and made available to members.

The group’s monthly meetings will be held the third Monday of the month, except for the months of December and January. All meetings will follow the same format, with a social hour where members can “chew the fat” and get acquainted.

A meal will be served, followed by a presentation pertaining to some aspect of Western history. Nonmembers wanting to attend the presentation will be charged $5.

“The whole objective is to have fun,” said Ron Beard, a self-employed architectural consultant who has spearheaded the Posse’s formation.

The Northwest Montana Posse of Westerners is aligned with Westerners International and is the fourth Westerners group in the region. Other chapters are in Billings, Helena and Spokane.

There are more than 76 affiliated but independently run “Corrals” and “Posses” throughout the world, including many European countries and Japan.

Members typically are college professors, educators, historians, authors, history lovers, students and readers of history.

The Nov. 17 program will be “Charlie Russell’s Pranks and Stunts” as told by Sid Willis, presented by Richard Baker of Augusta.

Western traditions will prevail in all meetings of Westerners, and members are urged but not required to wear period or historical Western attire.

Beard said one Westerner historian summed up the group like this: “Westerners share a dislike for stuffed-shirtism, over-seriousness, shiftless thinking, and above all, ignorance.”

Membership dues for the Northwest Montana Posse of Westerners are $25 per person and $30 per family for active members, and $15 for student members.

For more information, go to northwestmontanaposseofwesterners.wordpress.com or contact Beard at (406) 210-2311 or ron.nmpw@gmx.com.

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by email at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.