Community & Clubs -- Jim de Boom
ANSWER THE PRESIDENT’S CALL: In his State of the Union speech Tuesday,
President Bush said, “My call tonight is for every American to commit at
least two years, or 4,000 hours, over the rest of your lifetime to the
service of your neighbors and your nation.” How are you going to answer
the president’s call?
Some will say they are too old or too young to be of service to their
neighbors or nation. Some will say they have done their service. Others
will claim they are too busy or they need to earn a living and don’t have
time for their neighbors and the nation.
Get over the excuse and get on with service to your neighbor and
nation. An hour a week can make a difference to a neighbor and the
nation.
Where do you find service opportunities, you ask? Start with your
church, synagogue or temple. Most have local service opportunities, an
outreach to the community.
Periodically, the Daily Pilot runs a feature titled “Getting
Involved,” which highlights service opportunities with the environment,
education, health care, housing, the arts and a variety of social issues.
Pick up the phone, make a call, find out more information and get
involved in service to your community and nation.
It doesn’t make a difference if you are 16 or 70 years old, there is a
child who needs you to help him learn to read so he can be a successful
part of the country in the future. You can help by donating one hour a
week to mentor a child. We have some 2,000 children in first, second and
third grades in three Westside schools who need mentors. They need you.
To volunteer at Pomona Elementary School, call Jill McWhertor at (949)
515-6980; at Whittier Elementary School, call Sarah Markel at (949)
515-6898; and at Wilson Elementary School, call Diane Clemensen at (949)
515-6995, Ext. 3209. To volunteer at the Shalimar Learning Center’s
after-school program, call Laura Johnson at (949) 646-5797.
Or better yet, join one of the harbor area’s 14 service clubs. While
being of service to your neighbors and nation, you can benefit in a dozen
different ways, including making new friends, developing new business and
having a whole lot of fun. Check out a service club this week, and the
club will buy your first meal for you as you get acquainted with them.
Here is a preview of club meetings for this week.
MONDAY
The Newport Harbor-Costa Mesa Lions Club will meet at 6:30 p.m. at the
Costa Mesa Golf and Country Club, where four students from Newport Harbor
High School will compete in the annual Student Speakers Contest,
sponsored by Lion’s International. The students were selected by
political science instructor Phil DeAugustino. This year’s topic is
“Energy - What’s In The Future?” Winning speakers from the club level
will go on to compete in the regional and district competition, ending at
the multiple district with winnings of up to $18,000.
TUESDAY
7:30 a.m.: The 40-member Newport Beach Sunrise Rotary Club will meet
at Five Crowns Restaurant.
6:30 p.m.: The Costa Mesa-Newport Harbor Lions Club, the Fish Fry
Club, will meet at the Costa Mesa Golf and Country Club.
WEDNESDAY
7:15 a.m.: The 20-member South Coast Metro Rotary Club will meet at
the Center Club (o7 www.southcoastmetrorotary.orgf7 ), and the Newport
Harbor Kiwanis Club will meet at the University Athletic Club.
Noon: The 35-member Exchange Club of the Orange Coast will meet at the
Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club for a business meeting.
6 p.m.: The 60-member Rotary Club of Newport-Balboa will meet at the
Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club to hear Newport Beach Fire Chief Tim Riley
(o7 www.newportbalboa.orgf7 ).
THURSDAY
7 p.m.: The 20-plus-member Costa Mesa-Orange Coast Breakfast Lions
Club meets at Mimi’s Cafe for a business meeting.
Noon: The 50-member Costa Mesa Kiwanis Club will meet at the Holiday
Inn, the Newport Beach-Corona del Mar Kiwanis Club will meet at the Bahia
Corinthian Yacht Club to hear Norris Brandt of the Irvine Ranch Water
District discuss “Natural Water Treatment,” the 80-member Exchange Club
of Newport Harbor will meet at the Newport Harbor Nautical Museum for a
business meeting (o7 www.nhexchangeclub.comf7 ), and the 100-member
Newport-Irvine Rotary Club will meet at the Irvine Marriott for the
presentation of the Newport Beach Fireman of the Year award (o7
www.nirotary.orgf7 ).
WORTH REPEATING: From Thought for the Day by Greg Kelley of the
Newport-Mesa Irvine Interfaith Council: “Real joy comes not from ease or
riches or from the praise of others, but from doing something
worthwhile.” -- Wilfred T. Grenfel
GIVING AWAY MONEY: The Newport-Mesa School Foundation will present
$125,000 in grants to teachers for specific classroom programs at a
banquet on Thursday at the Hyatt Newporter. The Newport-Mesa Federation
of Teachers will join in the festivities with the presentation of Teacher
of Excellence awards. The silent auction will begin at 5 p.m., dinner
will be served at 6, with adjournment by 9 p.m. The cost is $45 per
person. For more information, call (949) 631-3293.
Whatever you do this week, answer the president’s call!
* 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 jdeboom@aol.com or by mail to 2082 S.E. Bristol St., Suite 201,
Newport Beach, CA 92660-1740.
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