PRESIDENT'S BIOGRAPHY

After moving to Kootenai County, Idaho, from Claremont, Calif., in 1995, Donna Montgomery helped start the original Kootenai County RW. She has been instrumental in growing the club into the largest Republican women's organization in the state. She has served as president (1998 to 2002) and membership chair (1996 to 1998) and often organizes club events.

A highly-active Republican, Donna participates in an array of political activities, including working on campaigns such as Kempthorne for Governor (2002), Otter for Governor (2006) and Risch for U.S. Senate (2008). Previously, she served as Kootenai County Republican Central Committee chair and committeewoman in precinct 13.

Donna attributes her earliest political influence to an incident which occurred in 1978, when she applied for a "Women in Business" certification. Her application was denied because she was too closely associated with a "white" male in the same industry. Believing she was wrongly denied, Donna marched into her state assemblyman's office. That day she realized that "government can be effective if citizens get involved." With her certification in hand, Donna began her own business, D.L. Montgomery Trucking.

Donna is the president and founding coordinator of the Secret Witness Program. She also is active in many other organizations, including the Kootenai County Merit Commission, Museum of North Idaho, American Cancer Society, Coeur d'Alene and Hayden Chambers of Commerce, Rimrock Hawkweed Cooperative, North Idaho Classic Car Club and Adventist Rodders Club.

Donna was raised in Chino, Calif., a dairy and farming community. She has been married to husband, Monty (whom she met on a blind date in the 10th grade), for 50 years. They have three children and five grandchildren and are members of Hayden Lake Seventh-Day Adventist Church.

Publisher's Note: Text published as provided by Idaho FRW.

FEDERATION PROFILE

The Idaho Federation affiliated with the NFRW in 1944 and has two districts and 18 clubs. 

Prompted by the Republican National Committee, clubs began to form in the early 1900s. RNC Chairman Mark Hanna asked Mrs. J. Ellen Foster, the first woman to practice law before the U.S. Supreme Court, to visit the Western part of the country to talk to women about getting involved in Republican politics. Dr. Minnie Howard of Pocatello accompanied her. In August 1904, they called a meeting of Republican women of Idaho and elected officers, and formed the first club of women voters in the state.

Members who have held elective office include the Hon. Helen Chenoweth, the Hon. Pattie Anne Lodge, the Hon. Janet Miller, the Hon. Kathie Garrett, the Hon. Dolores Crow, the Hon. Shawn Keough, the Hon. Kathy Skippen, the Hon. Sheila Sorensen, the Hon. Debbie Field, the Hon. Julie Ellsworth, the Hon. Frances Field, the Hon. Sharon Block, the Hon. Maxine Bell, the Hon. Eulalie Langford, the Hon. Janice McGeachin, the Hon. JoAn Wood, the Hon. Lenore Barrett, and the Hon. Ann Rydalch. 

Past presidents include:
Melinda S. Smyser
Coleen Erickson
Carolyn Durant
Janet Miller
Patricia Anne Lodge
Renee Stucki
Helen Lowder
Pamela B. Ahrens
Dorothy Balch
Ione Stafford
Margaret Bunting
Mrs. Ruby Brown
Mrs. Louella Baum
Mrs. Edna Scott
Mrs. Irene Bevington
Mrs. Earl Wright
Mrs. Gertrude Detweiler
Mrs. Bess Myers
Mrs. Zola Stellman
Hazel Shook (founding)

LOCAL CLUBS

Ada County RW Bannock County RW Bingham County RW Blaine County FRW Bonner County RW Bonneville County RW Boundary County RW

Canyon County RW Canyon County II RW Fremont County RW Gooding County RW Jefferson County RW Kootenai County RW

Madison County RW Nez Perce County RW Payette County RW Silver Valley RW Twin Falls County RW Valley County RW