Member Classification Update- Rose Marie Basaraba
Retired early 9 years ago from an administrative role at Norquest College.
Sponsored by Terry Sveinson in February 2004, she has enjoyed being an active member of the Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona. She particularly enjoys the opportunity to ‘give back to the community both locally and internationally.
7 years perfect attendance
Has served six years on the Board as Community Services Director and Secretary
Humbled to have been named as Rotarian of the Year for 2008
She keeps her pulse on the Club by her Involvement in the Club flag project, the Big Bin Project, served as Integrity Awards Chair, as well as taking a turn at door duty for club meetings
Currently, she also ensures that member- birthdays are acknowledged. As she believes in being involved, Rose Marie often has difficulty saying ‘no’ when there is a need. As a fellow Rotarian has often been heard to say, the last time a Rotarian can effectively say ‘no’ is when they are asked to join the Club.
Until 2 years ago she continued to oversee the books of a successful oilfield-related family business at Nisku which was established by her husband 35 years ago. That responsibility has now been passed to her daughter-in-law---with her blessings.
Member of Toastmasters for 18 years until September, 2010 where she achieved DTM status (Distinguished Toastmaster). A little known fact is that her Toastmaster experience led to her role as a Facilitator of non-denominational memorial services---when time allows. Rose Marie feels there is a definite need for a personal and compassionate touch at this sensitive time for families. She bases her decision to become a facilitator on the fact that many services she attended previously were an actual disservice to the family and the deceased. They were often scripted, impersonal and worse yet, there was no mention of the name of the deceased. Coincidentally, this was the very same ‘pet peeve’ voiced
by Garry Howdle of Serenity Funeral Services, during his presentation to our Club last week).
Rose Marie is married to Con who refuses to retire (he claims he "is having too much fun"). They have three adult children, three grandchildren. Isabella (9), Cody (8) and Alexis (2) years all born in July and of course, two grand dogs. (She is serious when she claims that when she is no longer able to remember their exact birthdates, she plans to give their birthday cards to their parents at the beginning of July thereby making them responsible for passing the card to them on the correct date). She is particularly close to Isabella, her first-born grandchild, who faces many medical challenges in her life. Like most grandparents, though, she spends many hours being delighted and enlightened by them on the virtues of life.
Rose Marie is a regular Volunteer plasma donor for Canadian Blood services BECAUSE SHE CAN. She is proud of her 230 whole blood/plasma donations just completed. She is committed to replenishing the system as Isabella, requires plasma transfusions every 4-5 weeks for a life-threatening blood disorder.
Although none have been of a lengthy nature, Rose Marie has enjoyed short holidays to Austria and Switzerland, the Atlantic Provinces and Newfoundland, Reno, Las Vegas, Hawaii as well as a cruise to Alaska. She looks forward to more travels while good health prevails.
Her current interests include : Music of all kinds (except perhaps jazz), theatre, concerts, walking, visiting with friends. She is also a member of a book club which naturally leads to interests in a variety of books and authors.
Rose Marie plans to continue to be actively involved and to enjoy the camaraderie and support provided by the Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona family for many years to come and BECAUSE SHE CAN.