Get to know this Rotarian: Ramona Pleva
Current occupation: A rockin’ Chiropractor at Northern Lights Chiropractic
How long have you been a Rotarian? 12 years
What made you interested in joining Rotary? All the impactful service work that Rotary does, and I wanted to be a part of something greater than myself. It’s been one of the best things I’ve ever done!
What do you love the most about Rotary? The people! In this club, I’ve made great friends.
What has been your favorite program or volunteer opportunity with rotary to participate in? The Youth Exchange Program! All the students that I’ve worked with have left a big imprint on my heart!
What keeps you with Rotary? I appreciate the connections I’ve made with other community professionals who are committed to service work. Some of their work is very inspiring and it’s a privilege to rub elbows with them.
What are you currently reading? The Truth about COVID
What is a fun fact about you? I was once featured on the cover of Taste of Home magazine. My mother submitted her cherry pie recipe with my name on it and sent in my high school senior picture. The magazine ended up using that issue as their Collector’s issue for two and a half years.
Get to know this Rotarian: Becky Ewing
Current occupation:
I am the outgoing Executive Director of Rotary Charities.
How long have you been a Rotarian?
I first joined the Sunrise Rotary Club in 2008 and transferred to the noon club in 2016.
What made you interested in joining rotary?
Experiencing firsthand the impact Rotary Charities and the Club have on our community. I was part of the Water Studies Institute as it was being formed and we were the recipient of the 41 million centennial grant celebrating the 100-year anniversary of Rotary. Through that process I met Marsha Smith, Paul Laporte and others. The Water Committee was formed, and I met other Rotarians as we did restoration work in the watershed. It was a very inspiring group of people!
What has been your favorite program or volunteer opportunity with rotary to participate in?
I love Kids Free Fishing Day – it's a joy to watch kids and their families fish together.
What are you currently reading?
I always have two books going at once – one fiction and one nonfiction that helps me move forward in my learning and self-awareness journey. I'm just finishing Ibram Kendi's book, "How to be an Anti-Racist," which is a compelling and enlightening book. I just finished Mary Doria Russell's book, "The Women of the Copper Country," and learned so much about the dire conditions of early 20th-century copper miners and their families in the Upper Peninsula. I love her writing and enjoyed the strong women portrayed in the book.
What are you currently watching?
Bob and I are enjoying Mare of Eastown, The Handmaid's Tale, and the Great British Bakeoff
What is a fun fact about you?
This year marks the 49th consecutive year of running and I'm coming up on 1,000 days of meditating – I love physical activity and moments of quiet reflection. I'm really excited to have my daughter move back to town this summer and watch my son Duncan and former noon Rotarian Emma Moyer get married in September! I continue to be in awe of my kids.
Get to know this Rotarian: Dan Rickard
Current occupation: Owner of The Copy Shop on 8th and Woodmere
How long have you been a Rotarian? Since 1995, 26 years this summer!
What made you interested in joining rotary? My father "suggested" I get involved in a service club. A friend invited me to a Rotary lunch and I found I knew quite a few Rotarians. I knew of the impact Rotary had on the local community and decided that I wanted to be a part of making the community a better place.
What do you love the most about rotary? Rotarians say YES to requests in the club and in their personal businesses and lives.
What has been your favorite program or volunteer opportunity with rotary to participate in? There are 3 of us who have Co-Chaired the Christmas Baskets program for over 10 years. Since 1995, my first year when I was given a family and some money and told to make a family's Christmas better, I have been hooked. There is nothing better than giving someone joy person to person.
What keeps you with Rotary? Being part of a group that is focused on doing good and positive energy.
What are you currently reading? Between books so I am catching up on National Geographic’s.
What are you currently watching? The Stanley Cup playoffs.
What is a fun fact about you? I played competitive Rugby for about 13 years and another 5 years as an "Old Boy" and played in Golden Oldies tournaments in South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and France!