City Club Of Boise

We all know that the show must go on! But how does that show go on when no one is allowed into the performance hall - not even the performers?  We hear from four local arts leaders as they share their organization's plans for the coming months, and discuss the challenges of leading non-profit organizations during a pandemic.

In 2016, following a contentious Presidential campaign season, City Club of Boise partnered with the National Institute for Civil Discourse to organize a series of events exploring civility in our public discourse. The goal of this project, to paraphrase City Club founder Dottie Stimpson, was to "get people to start talking" to each other, and to chart a course for communicating outside of traditional partisan lines.

Now, nearly four years later, we appear to be at another test of civility. The 2020 Presidential election and a global pandemic of historic proportions are once again challenging elected leaders and citizens to talk to each other-- not at each other.

The 2020 legislature in Idaho was certainly overshadowed by the COVID-19 pandemic.  What were the outcomes?  What issues were left unadressed?  Four respected pundits weighed in on the session, some hot-button issues and even shared a couple of limericks for levity.  The discussion took place via Zoom meeting to respect social distancing and attendees asked questions via chat and e-mail.

Local officiating associations are struggling to recruit new officials and keep them. Good coaches are choosing to hang up the whistle rather than deal with irate parents with unrealistic expectations.

Brad Little, Idaho's 33rd Governor, addressed the City Club of Boise on the 29th of January, 2020 and took questions from members and attendees. Little discussed state budgets, Idaho's prison system, the state's educational goals, transportation, growth and affordable housing. Hear the forum in its entirety below.

We have all heard of the advances in artificial intelligence, robotics, the Internet of Things, 3D printing, genetic engineering, quantum computing, and other technologies — all of which will spark exponential changes to the way we live, work and relate to one another. This change we are living through is called the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and it impacts all disciplines, industries, and economies.

The City Club of Boise welcomed a curious audience to learn about efforts to develop a skilled labor force in Idaho.  For years, industry and the trades have recognized that a shortage of skilled laborers is coming. Many of our skilled workforce are aging out of their professions and young people have generally not been encouraged to view the trades as a viable, well paying career. If this trend cannot be reversed the economic impacts could be devastating.

Dr. Jim Weatherby was honored with the City Club of Boise’s 2019 Stimpson Award for his work in promoting civic dialogue and civility in the Treasure Valley. 

For nearly 55 years, Boise has not experienced a runoff election in a election for mayor.

Six candidates running for mayor of Boise were recorded at a forum presented by the City Club of Boise and the League of Women Voters at Boise's library at Hillcrest.

The forum from Thursday, October 10th covered a wide range of topics including transit, homelessness, the potential F-35 mission at Gowen Field, affordable housing, and local option taxes.

This forum was recorded on September 18th, 2019.

All summer long, the Southwest Idaho chapter of Women in Transportation Seminars, the Urban Land Institute of Idaho, ACHD Commuteride and the Community Planning Association of Southwest Idaho (COMPASS) have been exploring the changing challenges and opportunities in store for the Treasure Valley's transportation future. What are the trends and technologies coming our way? How should we build a city for tomorrow? How do we turn vision into reality? And what will mobility look like in the future?

Christopher Swain visited the City Club of Boise to discuss his efforts to bring awareness to water quality issues and our reliance on water resources.

This City Club forum was recorded on August 1st, 2019.

This City Club of Boise Forum on energy policy was recorded on  Monday, July 8, 2019.

The City Club of Boise hosted Matt Ramsey, an Idaho native who has been a member Blue Man Group in New York for nearly two decades.  His partner for the forum was Joe Golden, former Green Show performer at the Idaho Shakespeare Festival.  The two met when they were both performers at ISF and have been friends and co-conspirators ever since.  There were many laughs and a lively discussion of their art, transitioning one’s career from small town Idaho to an internationally famous franchise where performers deliver their message without words.

The City Club of Boise held the 2nd annual Marilyn Shuler Forum on Human Rights, featuring Idaho native and State Senator Cherie Buckner-Webb.

Some people may be disturbed by language used in the forum.

On March 27th, the City Club of Boise welcomed Kendra Pierre-Louis to discuss reporting on climate for the New York Times on the climate desk where she reports on climate science and the social impacts of climate change. 

This City Club of Boise forum was recorded on Friday, the 1st of March, 2019 at the Grove Hotel in Boise.

Special Event: Boise's Changing Food Scene - A forum on the food scene and what the future holds for Treasure Valley restaurants, menus and tastes.  

This City Club of Boise Political Pundits Forum was recorded on January 29th at The Boise Centre.