Dawn Soto
Dawn L. Soto is the Executive Director of the St. Luke’s Magic Valley Health Foundation. She is a recovering Banker of 25 years.
Education:
MBA in Business:
Gonzaga University (Go ZAGS!)
MA in Nonprofit Development and Philanthropy:
Univ. of Northern Iowa (Graduationed May 2019)
BA in Business
Idaho State University, Pocatello Idaho
Dawn’s been married for 20 years with 3 kids: ages 28, 15, and 8.
Favorite Hobby: Kicking it with family and friends on “The Old Lady”, our 1999 Pontoon boat.
Life goal: to be a professional golfer (or maybe just learn to play better).
Eva Craner
Eva Craner was born and raised in Buhl, Idaho and attended Boston University where she studied communications and public policy, with an emphasis on education policy inspired by her parents who both work in public education. Eva returned to Buhl in 2012 to marry Trent Craner, also of Buhl. She began working for the Twin Falls School District in 2014 and pursued a master’s degree from Purdue University shortly thereafter. Eva is 2nd vice president of The Optimist Club of Twin Falls, Idaho, Inc., serves on the Blue Lakes Rotary Board and Twin Falls Education Foundation Board, and is an ambassador for the Twin Falls Area Chamber of Commerce.
Eva is an avid outdoorsman and when she isn’t promoting public education you can likely find her on her paddle board, hunting, or riding her bike with Trent and their two dachshunds (yes, the dogs go on the paddle boards and wear life jackets).
LeAnn Cline
LeeAnn has Idaho roots as she was born in Boise – but has lived all over! She attended Arizona State University; Go Devils! When she isn’t busy chasing her two little dudes around for sports, she loves volunteering her time. Along with being the 2nd Vice President for the Optimist Club, she serves on the Champions Board for the RMHC of Idaho, helps with Relay for Life, and serves dinners at the local Boys & Girls Club. Five things she can’t live without? Kayaking, Live Music, Books, Boise State Football & Vino
Chris Stearns
Chris Stearns joined the Optimist Club in 1987. One of the first women to join under new regulations allowing Women in Optimist Clubs. She has held many offices, including President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer and has served on the Board of Directors. Chris also has held several office in the Pacific Northwest District Optimists including, Membership, Leadership and Secretary-Treasurer twice, hoping to get it right the second time around!
Chris and her husband Orlan, who is also an Optimist member, are retired and have 3 Boys, 10 Grandchildren and 3 Great Grandchildren. Hobbies include gardening, landscaping, and classic cars. They retreat to their home in Mesa Arizona in the winter months and are thankful for the friendships they have made through Optimism!!
Dennis Bowyer
Dennis graduated from Twin Falls High School in 1975, received an Associate of Arts degree from College of Southern Idaho in 1977 and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics from Whitworth University in 1980. Dennis was the recreation supervisor with the City of Twin Falls from 1981 to 1996 and was promoted to director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Twin Falls in 1996 until his retirement in 2016. During his employment, Dennis oversaw the development and management of parks, recreation activities, canyon rim trails, municipal golf course, municipal swimming pool and all other activities and development pertaining to parks and recreation for the City of Twin Falls. Dennis has been a member of The Optimist Club of Twin Falls, Idaho, Inc. since 1982, was president in 1986-1987, and has held all other offices in the club. Dennis serves on the Twin Falls Community Foundation Board and Magic Valley Arts Council. He was a member of the Idaho Recreation and Park Association from 1983 to 2016, president of the association from 1999-2001 and held most all other offices in the association and a member of the Boys and Girls Club of Magic Valley from 1993-2000 and was the first president of the board from 1993-1995.
Anna Scholes
Anna is a community pharmacist and a member of the Board of Trustees at the College of Southern Idaho. In addition to the Optimist Club, Anna is a board member of the Boys and Girls Club of the Magic Valley, the Twin Falls Education Foundation, and the St. Luke’s East Region Quality, Safety and Service Excellence Committee. She is happily married to Dr. Chris Scholes and they have two children. Anna enjoys traveling, walking her dogs and working on community projects.
Robin Stanhope
Robin a member of the Twin Falls Optimist Club since 1992. She has been married to Wayne for 40 years and they have one daughter, Sara. Robin has been in the travel business since 1991 and has worked for Desert Sun Travel for the past seven years; Inside Sales and Marketing. Robin has is a past president and past secretary and has held many board positions and chaired many committees, such as, Childhood Cancer, Membership, Wings & Things, ABC Program (Always Buckle Children in the Back Seat, distributing approximately 75,000 brochures in the community), and much more. Robin has also helped with the operation of the Club’s Facebook and Website. Robin is also a member with the Jerome Club and is involved with the PNWD Board of Directors on many levels; chaired District Essay, CCC, and many more. She is currently the PNWD membership chair for Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Robin is a member of the Twin Falls Chamber Ambassadors, served as chair for the Ambassadors in 2016, and is on the Twin Falls Chamber Board of Directors.
Dan King
Dan is a Certified Financial Planner at Elevant Wealth. Dan received his Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Utah. Dan is a member of the Magic Valley Estate Planning Council. He and his wife Tammy have been married for 37 years. They are the parents of four children, two boys and two girls. Finding time to have fun with 11 and soon to be 12 grandkids is always a priority. Dan has spent more than 30 years as a Boy Scout Leader and youth leader at church. His served six years on the Twin Falls School Board, with three of those years as chairman. Dan loves spending time in the outdoors and playing games with the family. Being part of Twin Falls Optimists is a happy part of each week
Ron Welker
Ron is an employee of Farmer’s Bank and has been a member of The Optimist Club of Twin Falls, Idaho, Inc. since 2016.
Terry Ford
US Army Brat, US Air Force Veteran, 1962 Louisiana Tech graduate, ex-Country Western DJ, retired from DOI (Bureau of Reclamation) in 2011 after 45 years of service as a Contracting Officer, lived in Idaho since 1990, lived in Twin Falls for 6 years. Married, no children (three dogs), Meals on Wheels driver, MVUUF member.
Ron Lundgren
Rob Lundgren, 67, is a long-time member of the Jerome and Twin Falls Optimist Clubs. He is the father of 4 grown children, and 3 grand kids. He is recently retired, allowing more time to dedicate to community service, and his rustic woodworking sideline. He is in the beginning stages of taking his DUI Consequences presentation on the road to area civic clubs and high schools.