Getting to know Alexis Ksiazkiewicz!
Enjoy this new monthly segment where we choose a Rotarian in our club and send to them a series of questions to answer with levity and brutal honesty! You may be next.....
When did you join Rotary?
I joined in 2011. John Whitmore was my sponsor.
How long have you been a member of our club?
I became a member in May 2011.
Who are the most important people in your life?
My husband, Fil, our families, and our rescue dog, Seymour
Would you rather live on the beach or in a cabin in the woods?
Both my husband and dog love the water so I would have to go with the beach.
What outdoor activity haven't you tried, but would like to?
Since I'm going to live on the beach (see above), I guess I should try paddle-boarding.
What is your Rotary moment? An experience that made being a Rotarian the right thing for you?
When I first joined the club, it was difficult to determine how I could contribute. It was suggested that I attend a Youth Exchange Committee meeting (now Youth Services). I took that advice and that was when I knew that joining Rotary had been a great decision. For six years, I volunteered with and subsequently chaired the club's Youth Services Committee. It is an area of service that I am passionate about and it provided me with an opportunity to meet and become friends with some wonderful members of our club, while also supporting amazing students and youth. I really enjoyed it.
If someone narrated your life, who would you want to be the narrator?
I love to laugh so I would definitely choose Tina Fey. She could make even the most mundane details entertaining.
If you didn't have to sleep, what would you do with the extra time?
I love to read and drink coffee - neither of which is compatible with sleeping - so this could work out really well for me. I would read more books and drink more coffee. The added bonus to this is that my dog loves to cuddle while I do both of these things, so it would be a win-win.
If you were arrested with no explanation what would your family and friends assume you had done?
That I had perpetrated a crime against animal abusers. I serve on the Board of Directors of Second Chance Animal Rescue Society (SCARS). The rescue stories are often truly upsetting and it's difficult to accept how some people neglect and/or abuse animals.
Where is the most interesting place you've been?
That's a hard choice. We love to travel and have been to more than 20 countries over the past fifteen years. One of the most interesting places we've been to recently is Berlin. The history is fascinating and we really enjoyed the Spy Museum, which showcases the history of espionage, with a special focus on activities in Berlin during the Cold War.
Would you rather go hang gliding or whitewater rafting?
Neither. I'd rather explore nature with less altitude and velocity. Hiking is more my taste.
Who has impressed you most with what they've accomplished?
Ruth Bader Ginsburg - a.k.a the Notorious RBG. In addition to being an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United Statues, a feminist hero and a pop culture icon, I'm pretty sure she can do more push-ups than I can.
What songs hit you with a wave of nostalgia every time you hear them?
Anything by Cher (in any decade). I'm a huge fan.
What kinds of things do you like to cook?
Everyone in my life knows that it's my husband who is a great cook. We both enjoy BBQ-ing but he also enjoys cooking. I'm not a great cook but I am an excellent baker. I really limit my baking activities to the Christmas season (in the best interest of our health). For about two months a year, I make an enormous amount of cookies, squares, cakes, tarts, fudge, candy and other treats for family and friends.
Rotarian Alexis Ksiazkiewicz
Active, Fun and Fabulous member of the Rotary Club of Edmonton
Associate Vice-President
Government & Community Relations
University of Alberta