Clubs & Organizations

Ramona’s clubs and organizations were busy during February, and members are looking forward to various events over the next few weeks.

The Ramona Trails Association had a visitor from the Poway Trails Crew as guest speaker of the group’s Feb. 4 meeting.

For the past 13 years, Mike Fry has worked on the Fry/Koegel Trail, which connects Ramona and Poway through Mount Woodson. Currently, a single boulder makes the trail inaccessible for most horses, but complete accessibility is expected in the near future.

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The Ramona Equine Industrial Network is working on a revision of the Ramona Equine directory, last published in February 2002.

REIN also has been working with the Ramona Chamber of Commerce to determine ways to market Ramona as an equine-friendly destination, and the group hopes to be active during the zoning portion of the county of San Diego’s general plan update.

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Ramona’s Kiwanis Club was saddened by the death of member Chuck Hunt, but recent guest speakers at its Saturday morning meetings included Col. Blackledge, who was in charge of transporting supplies for the U.S. Army during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Upcoming events for the Kiwanis Club include a hawk watch March 6 at the Wildlife Refuge Institute, with proceeds benefiting the Wildlife Center and a highway cleanup on March 20.

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Ramona’s Soroptimist chapter gave away a couple of scholarships recently.

Andrea Lucio earned the Violet Richardson Award, given to young women ages 14 to 17 who have distinguished themselves through work in the community.

The Soroptimists also gave the Women’s Opportunity Award, which allows female heads of household to continue their education to better themselves, to Kerra Hasty.

Hasty’s home had been destroyed in the 2002 Pines Fire, and while she was rebuilding her life from that, she lost her new possessions in the Cedar Fire.

In March, the Soroptimists will judge candidates for the scholarships provided to local high-school students, and an additional $500 scholarship to a local fire victim will be added to the annual scholar-ships. Those scholarship winners will be announced in June.

In January, chapter president Kathy Brumfield received a nomination for the Ramona Chamber of Commerce’s Citizen of the Year award.

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The Scottish Rite order gives the Double Eagle Award every four years, and in January the order’s highest award went to a Mason from Ramona.

Mike Bonner had won the Hiram Award, the highest honor of the local lodge, and in September he was named Mason of the Year for the Ramona lodge. When the inspector learned of all of Bonner’s mentioned contributions and then found out about additional community service, he worked with Bonner’s wife and daughter to bring him to the Scottish Rite Temple in January, where Bonner was surprised with the Double Eagle Award.

Bonner’s wife, Mary, leads Ramona’s TOPS, or Take Off Pounds Sensibly, chapter. Members of the TOPS groups are getting ready for Area Recognition Day in April, when weight loss totals will be revealed.

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In February, the Ramona Garden Club set its schedule for the year. The club hopes to have more meetings at the Guy B. Woodward Museum.

Meanwhile, member Tricia Renner will be planting a garden at the Home and Garden Show, which will take place at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in March. In addition, member Iris Price is working with disposal companies and municipal solid-waste departments on a green mulch waste program.

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The Ramona Woman’s Club will host its annual flea market sale March 20 at the clubhouse, and proceeds will benefit the scholarship fund. 

Jacqueline Davis will review the Pulitzer Prize-winner, Empire Falls at the club’s meeting on March 8. 

On March 11, Rita Courtney will host a luncheon and card party, and on March 25, Ladybugs will carpool to the Cuyamaca (College) Gardens.

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On March 31, the San Vicente Valley Club will hear guest speaker Ellie Whitcomb on "Cancer and You." Whitcomb, who formed the Ramona Cancer Center, is a three-time cancer survivor and the widow of a cancer victim, and she also has founded support groups in Ramona and in Escondido.

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Recent actions of Ramona’s Rotary Club chapter included donating $3,000 to the senior center, $2,000 to the Boys and Girls Club of Ramona, and $2,000 to the Guy D. Woodward Museum.

The money was raised during the Pioneer Night fundraiser, and the remainder of the $10,000 raised during that event will help fund four $2,000 scholarships to be provided during spring.

The Rotary chapter had Ken Woodward as its guest speaker when he accepted the check for the Guy B. Woodward Museum.