March 5th, 2020

Here’s a pic of our Thank You Crew that presented a plaque and heartfelt gratitude to the Western MV Realtors for their generous $10,000 donation to our Coats for Kids™ program on Tuesday, March 3rd.


Topic for this year’s OI essay contest is:
Is Optimism the key to achieving the dreams you imagine?

And the winners are….
Charles Milam Crane – 1st Place $150
Lara Maccabee – 2nd Place $125 (not pictured – she had a math test)
Julianna Bisbal – 3rd Place $100

Club News

  • No featured speaker this week; next week’s meeting will be a Club Day, and we’ll be bagging poker chips!
  • Mark your calendars for 5:00 p.m., Monday, March 15th, when the Mayor will read a proclamation at the City Council meeting, recognizing our Club’s 50th year! That week will be designated Twin Falls Optimist Club week! Woo-hoo!
  • Robin Stanhope reported on the PNWD Regional Meeting held in Middleton (sponsored by the Middleton Club) on February 29, 2020.

Items Discussed:

Governor-elect Edie Soloranzo talked about the 2020-2021 Strategic Planning – they basically are re-zoning the District again…for us that means we’ll be Zone 10 (including Twin Falls, Jerome and SLC)
Idaho Optimist of the Year for PNWD – Victor Islas of Middleton!

  • Lt Governor Remarks – presented to the group what OI has to offer the clubs (if you’d like information on any of the following topix, see Robin or Dawn Soto):
  • The Optimist International Junior Golf
  • Optimist Photography Contest
  • Kaleidoscope of the Performing Arts
  • Optimists Spark Fun in the Park – a global integration of youth ad adults working together
  • Facts about OI
  • Dime a Day (we have several TF/Jerome Members that participate) helps with program that OI do that come into the clubs – Essay, Ortaical etc.
  • Governor’s Awards – this is a program that you can participate in and receive pins for your accomplishments
  • Club Recognition – Honor Club, Distinguished Club, and much more
  • Top Ten Ways to Market your Club
    • You and your story – what better way to explain Optimists to people
    • Websites
    • Social Media, news marketing, NOW program
  • Members
    • Recruit a Teach for $30
    • 30 and Under for $30

Come enjoy a fun night in our casino-like atmosphere while helping the Twin Falls Optimists raise funds for the youth in the Magic Valley.

Tickets are $25 each, but if you purchase your tickets by midnight on Friday, March 13, you’ll save $5!

Even if you can’t come to the event, your ticket enters you into a raffle for great prizes from Wilson Bates (a $1,200 shopping spree), Jensen Jewelers (a $2,000 diamond), the Rob Green Auto Group ($500 in cash), and Highway 30 Music Festival (Package for Two).

We’ll have tables for Black Jack, Texas Hold’em, and Craps,  but no prizes will be awarded based upon card play.

Many thanks to our generous sponsors of this event: Don Anderson Construction; Plant Therapy; Scholes Dermatology; Idaho Central Credit Union; and Idaho Power.

You can purchase your tickets online here.


New this year at Lost Wages
Forest at Washington Street Pawn is donating a Rough Rider revolver. Chambered for the .22LR cartridge, the Rough Rider is manufactured using state-of-the-art precision machinery that assures its accuracy and reliability. The cylinder lock-up is tight and the perfect timing of the action makes for a handgun that will put its shots where you want ’em.

The machined barrel is micro-threaded and inserted into the frame for the optimal barrel/cylinder gap to give you maximum ammunition performance. A hammer block mounted in the recoil shield provides extra protection and has a red dot indicator that lets you know when the gun is ready for action. A new, more authentic looking flat-sided hammer paired with new exotic cocobolo grips, makes the Rough Rider both functional and handsome. When it comes to the Rough Rider there are no shortcuts taken!
Ideal for hunting, plinking or western action shooting, let the Rough Rider be your choice in a new rimfire revolver.
Firearm Specifications
  • Model: RR226
  • UPC: 72796250020 0
  • Barrel Material: 1215 Steel
  • Barrel Length: 4.75 in.
  • Caliber: 22 Long Rifle Only
  • Cylinder Capacity: 6 Rounds
  • Cylinders Material: 12L14 Steel
  • Finish: Blue
  • Frame Material: Aluminum Alloy
  • Grip: Cocobolo
  • Land and Grooves: 6
  • Land Width: .076 inch
  • Length of Rifling Twist: 1 Turn in 14 inches RH
  • Over all Length: 10.035 inches
  • Sights: Open fixed type; Notch at Rear
  • Trigger Pull: Approximately 6 Pounds
  • Weight Unloaded: 33.4 ounces (Aprox)

Mark your calendar! Jerry was RIGHT today!


Kim Hamblin wins the raffle but donated the money back to the Club.
(She did, however, keep her lucky cookie!)


There’s still time to complete the survey to help guide the Twin Falls County COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
The survey will remain open through March 20, 2020 at 11:59 PM.


Tired of partisan bickering?   Well, who ISN’T???

Join us as former State politicians discuss how to find common ground on important issues. “Civil Talk in Uncivil Times” will start at noon on March 9 at the Turf Club, 734 Falls Ave., Twin Falls.  Participants: Butch Otter, former Idaho Governor; Walt Minnick, former Congressional Representative; Moderator: Maxine Bell, former State Representative and JFAC Chairperson.

Admission: $20.00 online and $25.00 at the door.  Get tickets here.


The CSI Board of Trustees (Anna Scholes is one) is in the process of hiring a new president for CSI.  Public forums to meet the candidates will be held in the CSI Fine Arts Auditorium.  All community members are invited to listen and give their input as to who they’d like to see lead CSI in the future.  Each of the events will be livestreamed on the CSI website for interested persons who can’t make the event in person.

The forum schedule is as follows:

  • March 9, 2020 at 2 p.m. to 2:50 p.m. – Dr. Dean Fisher
  • March 9, 2020 at 3 p.m. to 3:50 p.m. – Dr. Dana Young
  • March 10, 2020 at 2 p.m. to 2:50 p.m. – Dr. Joshua Baker
  • March 10, 2020 at 3 p.m. to 3:50 p.m. – Dr. Martin Reimer

Please come and give your feedback!


Youth Appreciation – Our banquet will be at the Stone House on Thursday, April 23, from 11:45 – 1:10 p.m.  Our keynote speaker will be Dr. Jeff Fox, President of the College of Southern Idaho.  Cost will probably be $20 per person.  We’ll make it an extra special event as we are celebrating the 50th anniversary of our CluB so mark your calendars!

You’ll need to RSVP to Anna at [email protected]


Put these Optimist events (and others of interest) on your calendar!

  • Lost Wages committee meetings – Wednesdays @ 5:30
  • Lost Wages – March 14 at Canyon Crest 7-10 PM
  • Youth Appreciation Luncheon and 50th Anniversary Celebration – April 23 at StoneHouse (this replaces our regular meeting)
  • 2020 Valley House “Hands of Hope” auction and dinner, April 24, from 5:30 – 9:30 p.m., at the Canyon Crest Dining and Event Center.
  • Guild Mortgage Golf Tournament – June 26 (not an Optimist event, but one benefiting the Ronald McDonald Youth House!)