Recognized for giving back to her community, Maureen Ruscheinsky of the Sutton Group Lakefront Realty in Vernon is the 2012 recipient of the REALTORS Care® Award for the North Okanagan Zone of the Okanagan Mainline Real Estate Board (OMREB).
Many REALTORS® give of their time, money and expertise, and this is the fifth year OMREB has recognized the exemplary volunteer efforts of its member REALTORS® in the North Okanagan. The presentation to Ruscheinsky was made at the North Zone’s annual holiday luncheon on Friday, November 30, and Board-wide recognition will occur at OMREB’s Annual General Meeting in March 2013.
“Maureen Ruscheinsky is a very worthy recipient of this award,” notes OMREB President and active Vernon REALTOR® Rob Shaw. “Her diligent and ongoing support for several causes in the Vernon area exemplifies those REALTORS® who have made long-term contributions to the communities in which they live, and to promote public awareness that REALTORS® are committed to helping the communities in which they earn a living and care deeply enough to be actively involved.”
Maureen (Mo) is recognized for tirelessly donating her time and energy to many organizations, and is known for being the backbone behind the scenes for countless events. For many years, she has been an active member and major supporter of the Powerhouse Theatre – serving as Director at Large, Head Properties manager for the production team, and stage actor for various productions.
In 2011, Maureen represented Powerhouse in the “Dancing with the Vernon Stars” fundraising event for the North Okanagan Hospice Society, committing long hours to prepare for the competition. She recommitted her time to being the stage production manager for this event in 2012.
Mo has participated in the RE/MAX Childrens’ Miracle Network bike-a-thon for three years, putting in numerous hours of training to complete the rigorous, multiple-day ride. Sutton Spirit fundraising activities hosted by her office to support various community organizations have also benefitted from her generous volunteer efforts. Over the years, Mo has also been active in bringing awareness to Turner Syndrome.
Also recognized for making significant contributions to his North Okanagan community is Award nominee Shane McMorran of RE/MAX Vernon who has devoted more than 20 years of his time and energy to volunteering for and supporting various community social services and community development activities dedicated to improving the lives of families and youth in the area.
Joe Pearson of RE/MAX Vernon was also nominated for his community involvement, particularly the many years he has chaired and served on local economic development and advisory planning committees. He is also acknowledged for his longtime commitment to organized real estate – serving at the Board and provincial levels to further professional standards and education for the industry, and advocating for real estate matters that affect the quality of life for BC residents.
“Congratulations to this year’s award recipient and to all 2012 nominees for being good public citizens, and truly caring about the local and global communities they live and work in,” says Janice Myers, Executive Director of the Okanagan Mainline Real Estate Board. “It is amazing to see the diverse ways our REALTORS® give back, the leadership they take and the good example they set for others. Their community spirit remains undeterred.”
As the Okanagan moves towards further economic recovery and market stability during 2013, local REALTORS® look forward to continued involvement in their communities.
The North Zone of OMREB covers an area from Predator Ridge north to Vernon and Coldstream, and also includes the surrounding areas of Falkland, Enderby, Grindrod, Armstrong, Spallumcheen, Lumby and Cherryville. The Okanagan Mainline Real Estate Board (OMREB) is comprised of 1,045 member REALTORS® and 95 real estate offices in the Southern Interior of BC.
Pictured: REALTOR® Maureen Ruscheinsky takes a spin on the dance floor as part of the 2011 “Dancing with the Vernon Stars” fundraising event, in support of the North Okanagan Hospice Society.
