FOLEY, Ala. — What one constitutional reformer calls the “jaundiced historical environment” from which Alabama’s 1901 Constitution was derived will be one of the topics in several workshops around the state aimed at gearing up for a 67-county campaign of information and understanding next year.

The Alabama Citizens for Constitutional Reform Foundation will hold the workshops in preparation for its “Bring It Back Home” emphasis in 2010 that will bring “easy-to-digest seminars and sessions” to every county in the state. The goal of ACCR is to do something about the state’s 1901 amendment-heavy Constitution through a citizens’ constitutional convention.

The free workshop in this area that is a precursor to the 2010 constitutional campaign will be held Saturday, Oct. 24 from 9 a.m. to noon in Mobile at the Magnolia Grove Golf Course Clubhouse (Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail). The address is 7001 Magnolia Grove Pkwy.

Participants in the workshop will be given an opportunity to become County Coordinators to lead Citizen Action Teams next year. A CAT for Baldwin County would be responsible for coordinating education, training and legislative activities next year.

Don’t be surprised if Stan Virden of Gulf Shores ends up as the County Coordinator for Baldwin County. Virden has long been involved in an effort to reform the 1901 Constitution and was a delegate to the Mock Constitution Convention held earlier this year.

“I think there is growing interest in this issue,” Virden said this week of constitutional reform.

“A few more legislators each year get on board with this program.”

Asked about Baldwin County’s legislative delegation, Virden said he has talked with State Sen. Trip Pittman and Joe Faust and Steve McMillan, both members of the Alabama House of Representatives.

“They see the need (but) I think they are all wary of a citizens’ convention,” he said.

“The problem with the Legislature is they see substantial loss of legislative power coming about. They’d rather do it themselves on an article by article basis.”

According to Audrey L. Saldago, interim executive director for the ACCR Foundation, next year’s “Bring It Back Home” campaign will strive to meet four basic goals. It will explain Alabama’s “turbulent history” regarding its six constitutions and will highlight the 1901 Constitution’s articles, state code and amendments. The campaign will seek to determine through state officials how the Legislative and Executive branches of state government are working. It will also do the same on the regional, county and city governing levels.

The sessions for the free workshop on Oct. 24 will include the history of Alabama to 1900; the 1901 Constitution; State and Local Government from 1901 to the present; and a citizens’ panel.

According to Virden, the workshop should afford participants a “pretty thorough explanation” of what is involved in reforming the 1901 Constitution. Virden said citizens who frankly admit they “haven’t been paying attention” are coming around on reforming a constitution that has over 800 amendments.

The present Constitution places too much power in Montgomery, Virden said. It allows lobbyists such as those in education and insurance to exercise too much control over legislators. Virden also said that with 90 percent of state revenues already earmarked in advance, legislators don’t have a lot to do. They need to be accountable for doing an annual budget, he said, and that would give them a control they don’t have currently.

It will likely be 2012 before something is done legislatively to address constitutional reform, Virden said.

“Among people who think about it … there is growing favor toward a citizens’ convention,” Virden said.

Among those who have opposed a rewrite of the 1901 Constitution by convention is the Alabama Farmers Federation (Alfa). Alfa has advocated a “limited revision” and said it would support changes dictated by the courts and U.S. Constitution. Alfa has said a constitution convention could result in a “take-all or leave-all vote.”

Some opponents to reform have said a rewrite would open the state to gambling.