JIM DE BOOM -- Community & Clubs

$1.5-MILLION CAMPAIGN: The YMCA of Orange County, including the

University Drive branch, kicked off a $1.5-million support campaign

earlier this month as the group celebrates its 150th year as an organization and expands its relevancy for today’s community needs. The

YMCA was founded by George Williams in London and came to Orange County

in the 1880s, according to Bruce Clark, chairman of the YMCA’s board of

directors and president of Leighton and Associates.

Today, the group is the largest provider of child care in Orange

County. Some 7,300 campers attended day, specialty and resident camps;

and 3,500 children learned how to swim at its facilities. The group also

provided programs to decrease school dropout rates, violence, drug and

alcohol use, and incidents of teenage pregnancy.

Some 800 volunteers will be calling on members, clubs and the business

community as the YMCA raises funds to continue “building strong kids,

strong families and strong communities in Orange County,” Clark said.

SINGERS TO CARNEGIE HALL: The 33-member Ensign Madrigals have been

selected to participate in the annual Choral Festival, which will be held

at Carnegie Hall in New York City next month. Annually, hundreds of music

groups from all over the United States apply for admission. Last year,

the Ensign Intermediate School Madrigals were the only group from a

junior high school chosen to participate.

The cost to send each student is about $1,300. Unfortunately, funds

for an opportunity such as this are not available through the school

district and many Madrigal families are unable to bear the burden of the

cost. Students are participating in various fund-raising activities, from

cookie dough sales to raffles. While these efforts will help in part to

offset the cost, they have fallen short of the needed funding.

That is why they are looking for community support to help them

achieve their dream. Contributions may be made payable and mailed to:

Ensign School -- Carnegie Hall Fund, 2000 Cliff Drive Newport Beach, CA

92663.

NEW STUDENT EXCHANGE: In 1988, Newport Beach and Antibes, France,

became sister cities and numerous cultural exchanges have taken place

between the two. However, a student exchange with Antibes has never

occurred until this weekend.

Today, the Newport Beach Sister City Assn. will greet five French

students and their teacher-chaperone upon their arrival from Antibes. The

president of the Antibes Sister City Assn. (the Antibes Jumelages),

Christian Francois, and his wife, Collette, also will be paying a visit

to Newport Beach for several days at this time.

The French students will stay with their host families for two weeks

before returning to France on March 2. Students will learn what it means

to be an American teenager, attend classes with their hosts and

participate in numerous educational and fun events sponsored by the

Newport Beach Sister City Assn.

A group of students from Newport Harbor and Corona del Mar high

schools will visit France in April. The young ambassadors representing

our community will assist in strengthening ties between Newport Beach and

Antibes and in increasing international understanding.

LEADERSHIP TOMORROW: “Reducing Domestic Violence in Orange County”

will be the subject of a Leadership Tomorrow after-hours meeting from 5

to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Din Din at the Bamboo Terrace restaurant, 1773

Newport Blvd., Costa Mesa. Vivian Clecak of Human Options will be the

guest speaker. The $15 per person price includes hosted hors d’oeuvres.

Reservations may be made by calling (949) 644-8283.

WORTH REPEATING: From interfaith council member Greg Kelley’s e-mailed

“Thought for the Day” -- “If you want your life to be a magnificent

story, then begin by realizing that you are the author and every day you

have the opportunity to write a new page.” -- Mark Houlahan

SERVICE CLUB MEETINGS THIS WEEK: Does your New Year’s resolution

include getting more involved in your community, making new friends,

networking or giving something back to your community? Try a service

club. You are invited to attend a club meeting this week. Many clubs will

buy your first guest meal.

TUESDAY

7:30 a.m.: The Newport Beach Sunrise Rotary Club will meet at the

Newport Harbor Nautical Museum/Riverboat Restaurant to hear Marcos Nava

of the Boy Scouts.

6:30 p.m.: The Costa Mesa-Newport Harbor Lions Club will meet at the

Costa Mesa Golf and Country Club.

WEDNESDAY

7:15 a.m.: The South Coast Metro Rotary Club will meet at the Center

Club, and the Newport Harbor Kiwanis Club will meet at the University

Athletic Club.

Noon: The Orange Coast Exchange Club will meet at the Bahia Corinthian

Yacht Club for a crime prevention luncheon.

6 p.m.: The Rotary Club of Newport Balboa will meet at the Bahia

Corinthian Yacht Club for a belated Valentine’s dinner with a barbershop

quartet.

THURSDAY

7:30 a.m.: The Costa Mesa Orange Coast Breakfast Lions Club will meet

at Mimi’s Cafe for a business meeting.

Noon: The Kiwanis Club of Costa Mesa will meet at the Holiday Inn, the

Newport Beach-Corona del Mar Kiwanis Club will meet at the Bahia

Corinthian Yacht Club, the Exchange Club of Newport Harbor will meet at

the Riverboat Restaurant to hear Don Tooker, and the Newport Irvine

Rotary Club -- o7 https://www.nirotary.orgf7 -- will meet at the Irvine

Marriott Hotel for a Valentine’s luncheon to hear Matt Rhyne, an

ambassadorial scholar.

* COMMUNITY & CLUBS is published every Saturday in the Daily Pilot.

Send your service club’s meeting information by fax to (949) 660-8667,

e-mail to jdeboom@aol.com or by mail to 2082 S.E. Bristol St., Suite 201,

Newport Beach, CA 92660-1740.