Signature Events
Pundits Forum
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City Club of Boise has hosted this annual forum since the organization’s inception in 1995, bringing
together citizens, community leaders, legislators, and a panel familiar with the Idaho legislative process to
talk about what might happen during that year’s legislative session. Whenever the Idaho Legislature comes to town, there's plenty to talk about.
This popular forum draws up to 700 guests, including community leaders in all sectors; manufacturing and industry, finance and banking, media, law, education, technology, as well as elected officials from all levels of government.
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This event is typically held in January.
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Marilyn Shuler Forum on Human Rights
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The City Club of Boise presents annually the Marilyn Shuler Forum on Human Rights, honoring longtime board member Marilyn Shuler, who passed away in early 2017. A speaker is chosen by the Programs committee to honor the Human Rights legacy that Marilyn exemplified.
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Described by Governor Butch Otter as “a guiding light and an Idaho icon of compassion and decency,” Shuler served as the executive director of the Idaho Commission on Human Rights for 20 years. She was an active volunteer in retirement, and among her other contributions served on the Club’s program and Landmark committees.
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Marilyn Shuler was dedicated to helping advance educational opportunities for young people, so as part of the event, City Club of Boise also recognizes a local student whose character and work exemplify the spirit of Marilyn Shuler’s commitment to human rights, civil discourse, and informed civic engagement.
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The 2022 event will be organized by a community-based student planning team. The team will meet weekly after school, beginning at the end of the month through the wrap-up of the event, (anticipated to be the last week in April). This is a great community engagement opportunity for a student who is interested in human rights, civic engagement, and event planning. Applications close on February 15th, 2022. Click here for application.
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In 2018, the Inaugural speaker was Thomas L. (Les) Purce, a friend of Marilyn’s and a staunch advocate of human rights. City Club also recognized two students -- Colette Raptosh, a senior at Capital High School, and Nora Harren, a freshman at Western Washington University.
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Idaho native and State Senator Cherie Buckner-Webb spoke for the 2019 Marilyn Shuler Forum on Human Rights and the student honoree was Borah High School's, Garrett Richardson.
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This event is typically held in April.
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Stimpson Award Forum
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The Dottie and Ed Stimpson Award for Civic Engagement
celebrates the spirit of our founder, Dottie Stimpson, and
her husband, Ed. The couple believed that no problem
was so great that it couldn’t be solved by people with
open minds, using civil discourse.
Every year, the City Club of Boise honors a person(s)
or organization that exemplifies that conviction.
In 2009, the award was presented to the Dottie and Ed Stimpson.
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In 2011, the club presented the award to the Owyhee Initiative, Inc. Members of that group worked tirelessly over
eight years to negotiate an agreement between diverse parties that became the basis for the designation of the 517,000-acre Owyhee Wilderness in southwestern Idaho in 2009.
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The second Idaho Citizens’ Reapportionment Commission received the award in 2012 for its work rising above partisan politics to draft new legislative and congressional boundaries for the state.
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In 2014, Mr. Ben Ysursa received the award, acknowledging his long career or service to the citizens of Idaho as Secretary of State.
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City Club of Boise, in 2016, recognized Congressman Mike Simpson and Idaho Conservation League Executive Director Rick Johnson for their successful efforts to create the Boulder White Clouds Wilderness. Boise City Club cited the risks the two men took with their reputations and careers in taking on a controversial and often unpopular project; standing up to opposition from sometimes even their own supporters; demonstrating courage in the face of those risks to do what they believed was right for Idaho; and creating a model for how Idahoans and Americans can find resolution on divisive environmental and political issues.
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Dr. Bob Kustra was the 2018 honoree of the prestigious Stimpson Award for Civic Engagement. During his 15 year tenure, Dr. Kustra’s leadership transformed Boise State University into a Metropolitan Research University of Distinction and created the Colleges of Innovation and Public Service. Dr. Kustra is personally known throughout the Treasure Valley for the weekly public radio program he created and hosts, Reader’s Corner.
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In 2019, Dr. Jim Weatherby was honored with the Stimpson Award for his work in promoting civic dialogue and civility in the Treasure Valley.
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Elinor Chehey received the award in 2020 for her many contributions to vibrant political discussion in Idaho as an avid community volunteer, church leader, and longtime figure in the League of Women Voters of Idaho.
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Bruce Reichert, host of Outdoor Idaho, was honored in 2022. Reichert was also the executive producer of additional local programming like Idaho Reports, Idaho Debates, and Idaho Experience. He has created opportunities to promote an informed and engaged public and is known statewide as a champion for Idaho. In a state long challenged by divisions — north and south, urban and rural, Republican and Democrat — Bruce has created a touchstone that unites all Idahoans through his work and a shared love of the outdoors.
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In 2023 we honored Betsy Russell, who retired this year as the undisputed dean of the Idaho Statehouse press corps. In her 36-year career at three of the state’s largest newspapers, her diligent reporting kept Idahoans across the state, as well as those inside the Idaho Capitol itself, up-to-date on every move of the state’s political leaders. Her newspaper stories, Eye on Boise blog, and commentary on Idaho Public Television’s Idaho Reports were required reading and viewing for anyone with an interest in the state’s halls of power.
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This event is typically held in November.
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If you know a person or organization you would like to nominate for the award, you can do so online, by email, or please call (208)364-4614.
