Bonners Ferry Rotary embarking on a new era

Bonners Ferry once, and not all that long ago, had civic clubs and organizations for nearly every age group and interest: The Lion’s Club, Kiwanis, Jaycees and many more. But today, few remain. One is the county’s newest, the Bonners Ferry Rotary Club, and since it was founded, its home has been Mugsy’s Tavern & Grill, 7160 Main Street. But that’s changing.

For 23 years, Mugsy’s has been the scene of every regular Bonners Ferry Rotary meeting. Every scholarship awarded, every good deed done began and came to fruition in the birthplace of our local Rotary.

Last week at their last regular meeting there, the founding members of their club were honored, to include Ray and Beth Holmes, who founded Mugsy’s and gave Rotary a home. Dave Walter, who was there with his wife, Brenda. Founders Greg Johnson and Lon Woodbury.

Retired bailiff Ron Sukenik, who helped Judge James Michaud with all the voluminous paperwork that went into chartering a Rotary chapter, spoke of his becoming a member mainly to see that all his work wasn’t wasted … to gain membership, they had to have one member more than they had already and Ron stepped up to the plate, giving the new club the requisite  number of members. And he became a driving force, enlivening meetings with his wit and good humor, working tirelessly on many of the events and activities Rotary brought to Bonners Ferry, including the amazing three-on-three basketball tournament that filled the city with hoops and colorful backboards for several summers and once even brought a Harlem Globetrotter to town.

Founding member Dave Kramer would have been there, but having only recently retired from a stellar 50-year career as Bonners Ferry Police Chief and Boundary County Sheriff, he was off training for the next phase of his career.

The final guest speaker at a regular Rotary meeting at Mugsy’s was the new publisher of 9B News, Katie Banning, and founder and long-time county reporter Mike Weland, both of whom spoke of their love for the community and of their commitment to presenting fair, accurate and timely news.

The Bonners Ferry Rotary’s last meeting at Mugsy’s will be at noon Tuesday, April 1, and the guest of honor will be Mugsy’s itself, with both a celebration of the amazing times spent together in their meeting room since the Bonners Ferry Rotary was established as well as discussion on the transition ahead, led by their irrepressible president, Sandy Johnstone, who moved to Bonners Ferry seven years ago and rose above diversity to make herself a Bonners Ferry treasure.

Shortly after setting up their new home, Sandy’s beloved husband passed away, and then COVID hit. For just over two years, she said, her world was she, her sorrow and her two dogs. Needing at last to be around people again, she reached out and it wasn’t long before she was welcomed into the Bonners Ferry Rotary, becoming a member five years ago. It was a match that lifted both she and the Rotary, a rare synergy wherein one plus one equals far, far more than two. At about … ahem … 80 beautiful years young … Sandy is this years’ energetic and optimistic president and president-elect for next year as well, having been invigorated by the people she’s met and in turn energizing Bonners Ferry Rotary, which she expects could double in membership thanks to all the new people now calling Boundary County home.

All are welcome to attend.

On Tuesday, April 15, again at noon, meetings will be moving to the Kootenai River Inn for the next chapter in the history of the Rotary Club of Bonners Ferry.

The new venue will allow the club to realize the vision of the new Rotary Action Plan by ending the talking head at the front of the room and creating an interactive experience where everyone feels involved, heard and appreciated.

They will focus on enhancing their public image and expect to flourish with a new “Guest is Best” philosophy, creating an atmosphere that is welcoming, vibrant, exciting and fun!

Meetings will remain at noon the first and third Tuesday of each month in the large meeting room off the main lobby.

To learn more about Rotary International and the Bonners Ferry Chapter, bonnersferryrotary.com, follow them on Facebook, call Sandy Johnstone at (208) 267-9840, home, or (208) 920-1451, cell, or email rotaryclubofbonnersferry@gmail.com.