JIM DE BOOM -- Community & Clubs

EL TORO’S THE TOPIC: From the halls of Irvine to the shores of Newport

Beach, the Marines are coming to do battle in a debate over the proposed

El Toro airport.

The event, an Aug. 16 luncheon at the Irvine Marriott, is sponsored by

the Newport Irvine Rotary Club, said Bob Ramsay, program chair.

Art Bloomer, former commanding general of the El Toro Marine Base,

represents the Orange County Regional Airport Authority, supporters of

the airport plan. Tom O’Malley, a retired Marine colonel, is a spokesman

for the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority, a group opposed to the airport.

In contrast with other recent meetings over the airport, the program

will have a strict debate format, emphasizing the long-term effects on

air transportation and the environment. Ramsay, also a former Marine,

emphasized: “If we have to fix bayonets, the event will not dissolve into

a shouting match.”

Ramsay will serve as the moderator, providing each speaker with 20

minutes for presentation, followed by 20 minutes of questions from the

audience. To prevent the meeting from turning into an emotional war of

words and to ensure the forum addresses the real issues of transportation

need, costs, environment, quality of life and safety, Ramsay is having

Rotarians submit, in advance, written questions to be asked of the

speakers.

The public is invited, with a luncheon price of $20 or free without

lunch. Call Ramsay for reservations: (949) 675-1693.

FALL FOLIAGE OF JAPAN: The Newport Beach Sister City Assn. invites you

to see the fall foliage of Japan, Nov. 7 through 14, by visiting the

sister city of Okazaki. Group members will depart Nov. 7 from Los Angeles

International Airport for Okazaki, where they will spend three days

meeting local families and sightseeing, including a bus tour to Gero Hot

Springs and a stay in a typical Japanese inn. Then it’s off to Toyota

City, where they will be hosted by Toyota Motors and tour the automobile

plant and museum.

The group also will visit Taipei for three days and see the National

Palace Museum, the Shihlin Presidential Compound, Yingminshan National

Park, Yingko Pottery Museum and much more. If you wish to experience this

chance of a lifetime, call Connie Skibba at (949) 650-0594. The cost of

the trip is about $2,400.

WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF SERVICE CLUBS: Mark Freed, sponsored by Jeff

Dimsdale, joined the Costa Mesa Kiwanis Club.

WORTH REPEATING: “Thought for the Day” furnished by Greg Kelley of the

Newport-Mesa Irvine Interfaith Council: “Courage is what it takes to

stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and

listen.” -- Sir Winston Churchill

SERVICE CLUB MEETINGS THIS WEEK: Who did you help this week? Don’t

have an answer for that question? Try helping your community and the

world through 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 Five

Crowns Restaurant for a program presented by me on Reading by 9.

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 (o7 https://www.southcoastmetrorotary.orgf7 ), 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 to hear George Jaramillo, assistant Orange County Sheriff.

5:30 p.m.: The Rotary Club of Newport-Balboa will meet at the Bahia

Corinthian Yacht for a craft talk by longtime member and Sister City

leader Wendell Fish (o7 https://www.newportbalboa.orgf7 ).

THURSDAY

7 a.m.: The Costa Mesa-Orange Costa Breakfast Lions Club will meet at

Mimi’s Cafe for Eric Anderson’s motivational program for physically

challenged individuals.

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

a program on community betterment, 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 Newport Harbor Nautical Museum

for a business meeting, the Newport Irvine Rotary Club will meet at the

Irvine Marriott for a program by Robert Iacono of Loma Linda University

to discuss proton treatment and the pallidotomy procedure (o7

https://www.nirotary.orgf7 ).

* COMMUNITY & CLUBS is published Saturdays in the Daily Pilot. Send

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

to o7 jdeboom@aol.comf7 or by mail to 2082 S.E. Bristol St., Suite

201, Newport Beach, CA 92660-1740.