MY TURN: Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations 27th annual banquet

On Sept. 18, the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations will hold the 27th annual human rights banquet. This year’s event will honor and feature Ernie Stensgar, one of the most influential national, regional, state and Coeur d’Alene Tribe Native American leaders that has covered almost 50 years.

Coeur d’Alene Mayor Dan Gookin will present Stensgar with a proclamation declaring Sept. 18 “Ernie Stensgar Day in Coeur d’Alene.” In addition, the KCTFHR board will present Ernie with the prestigious KCTFHR Humanitarian Award.

This will be a special opportunity for us to show up in great numbers to honor Ernie Stensgar for his decades of service to our country, including military service, as well as a thank you to the Coeur d’Alene Tribe for their vast contributions to our region that was led by Ernie for decades.

Although each year the KCTFHR presents two awards, it will only be the second time in 45 years that the civil rights group has presented the humanitarian award. In 2012, the KCTFHR presented the award to Lidwina Dirne for her founding of the Dirne Community Health Center in Coeur d’Alene, a volunteer-run free clinic for low income and uninsured residents. Ms. Dirne’s volunteers were mostly members of St. Pius X Catholic Church with Father Bill Wassmuth as the parish priest. Today, the clinic operates as Heritage Health serving thousands of patients.

Lidwina Dirne was born in the Netherlands on Feb. 13, 1916. Later she immigrated to Canada before coming to Coeur d’Alene. She became known as a community pioneer and health care advocate.

The rigorous criteria established by the KCTFHR to be qualified for the award includes a desire and willingness to help others, works to reduce suffering, works to make other peoples’ lives better, promotes human dignity, devoted to serving those in need and working for the well-being of humanity. The individual is well-known for her or his commitment to charitable or philanthropic contributions. The person also possesses such qualities as integrity, honor, honesty, compassion and a peace maker.

This year’s keynote speaker is Dr. Lauren A. Bairnsfather from Pittsburgh, Pa. She is CEO of the Anne Frank Center USA. The organization includes traveling exhibits, actors and classroom materials about Anne Frank’s diary that has been translated into numerous languages. Her banquet topic is: “Anne Frank and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: Legacies That Continue to Shape Our World.”

A portion of the banquet profits each year funds four annual NIC student scholarships in partnership with the North Idaho College Foundation. Since the inception of the student scholarships, the two partners have awarded over 110 student scholarships.

This year’s banquet will be held at The Best Western Plus Coeur d’Alene Inn, 506 W. Appleway Ave., Coeur d’Alene. The reception will be at 5 p.m. and dinner at 6 p.m.

Individual tickets are $60, silver tables are $650 and gold tables are $1,000. Tables seat eight. Registration deadline is Sept. 15.

Registration forms are at: idahohumanrights.org or just send payments to the address below:

To register provide name, address and phone number and send checks, money orders or cash to:
KCTFHR
P.O. Box 2725
Coeur d’Alene, ID 83816

Further information at: 208-765-3932

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Tony Stewart is secretary of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations.