Community & Clubs -- Jim de Boom

There were smiles on the faces of the dozen students being honored,

proud parents came with their cameras to record their children being

honored and Happy Dollars were chipped in by almost everyone in

attendance at the final Eagle Pride meeting of the year at the Kiwanis

Club of Costa Mesa. School board member Dave Brooks, Chamber of Commerce

Chief Executive Ed Fawcett, former Costa Mesa Mayor and City Councilman

Ed McFarland, representatives of Assemblymen Ken Maddox and John

Campbell, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher and Mayor Linda Dixon were among a group

of nearly 100 people who enjoyed the buffet lunch at the Holiday Inn as

they celebrate the accomplishments of students from the feeder schools to

Estancia High School.

Guests were treated to a typical Kiwanis Club meeting as Buzz Kostlan

gave the invocation, Charlie Markel led the Pledge of Allegiance, and

Fred Owens led a rousing rendition of “God Bless America.” It was Eagle

Pride Chairman George Cote who served as the master of ceremonies for the

presentation of the awards, which included a certificate, a beautiful

dictionary and individual proclamations from the elected officials.

Honored were Hannah Butler and Daniel O’Neil of Adams Elementary

School, Shay Goldberg and Bobby Lenke of California Elementary School,

Ashley Melgareja and Ervin Herrera of Rea Elementary School, Alexa Marie

Aguilar and Seth Hernandez of Victoria Elementary School, Griselda Martin

and Damian Leon of Wilson Elementary School, and Be Diep and Chad Kunert

of TeWinkle Middle School.

Several words were common as Cote introduced the students with

descriptions that were written by their teachers -- heart, service and

volunteerism. The club’s lieutenant governor, Allan Anderson, suggested

that except for their age requirement, the students could easily be

service club members with their service in the community and invited

their parents to consider Kiwanis Club membership. The students were

encouraged to join the Key Club at Estancia High when they get there in a

couple of years.

The weekly Kiwanis tradition continued as parents, students,

administrators and teachers donated Happy Dollars, thanking the Kiwanians

for continuing to recognize students for their accomplishments. Kiwanians

donated Happy Dollars in honor of the teachers and parents, thanking them

for the great job they are doing in their respective roles.

THANKING VOLUNTEERS: Schools around Newport-Mesa are

thanking their volunteers, parents and community volunteers in a variety

of ways as the school year comes to a close. One such celebration was

held Friday morning at Pomona Elementary School, where Principal Julie

McCormick and staffers hosted a tea for more than 100 volunteers and

presented certificates and handcrafted pins made by office manager Janet

Stewart. The pins featured the 34-cent Mentoring Stamp from the post

office, which cites what a mentor does: helping students with values,

goals and skills. Mentor Less Silver, one of the community volunteers at

Pomona who mentors second-graders said: “This is one of the best things I

have done in my life. I get so much satisfaction mentoring.” Also honored

were Irene and Arnold Schapiro, owners of several Del Taco franchises,

and Newport-Balboa Rotary Roger McGonegal, chairman of the club’s Reading

by 9 program.

Thanks to all those who volunteer at our schools, public and private,

who mentor and make a difference in the life of a child.

DEMARCO TAKES COMMAND: Ed DeMarco was installed as commander

of the 484-member Sons of the American Legion, Newport Harbor Squadron

291, at a meeting held May 31. Serving with DeMarco are Les Hunt, 1st

vice commander; Matt Parsons, 2nd vice commander; Don Karwalis, chaplain;

Dave Doum, adjutant; Roger Reimer, finance officer; Jeff Kingsley,

membership; Scott L’Ecular, sergeant at arms; Paul Mesmer, national

representative; Michael Brigandi, detachment representative; Larry

Szatkowski, judge advocate; Frank Martinez, press officer; Dave Owen,

historian; John Willis, chowline editor; Jeff Kingsley, chowline

distribution; and Scott Cullings, immediate past commander.

WORTH REPEATING: From the “Thought for the Day” provided by

Greg Kelley of the Newport-Mesa Irvine Interfaith Council: “True success

in life is not measured by how much you make, but rather by how much of a

difference you make.”

SERVICE CLUB MEETINGS THIS WEEK:

TUESDAY

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

Crowns.

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 Rotary Club of Newport-Balboa will meet at the Bahia

Corinthian Yacht Club for a program by wine importer Peter Smith on

French wines (o7 www.newportbalboa.orgf7 ).

THURSDAY

7 a.m.: The 20-plus member Costa Mesa-Orange Coast Breakfast Lions

Club will meet at Mimi’s Cafe.

Noon: The 50-member Costa Mesa Kiwanis Club will meet at the Holiday

Inn (o7 www.kiwanis.org/club/costamesaf7 ), the Newport Beach-Corona

del Mar Kiwanis Club will meet at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club, the

80-member Exchange Club of Newport Harbor will meet at the Newport Harbor

Nautical Museum for the presentation of the Bill Wittman Award, and the

100-member Newport-Irvine Rotary Club will meet at the Irvine Marriott

Hotel (o7 www.nirotary.orgf7 ).

SATURDAY

Harbor Mesa Lions Clubs will hold its new officer and director

installation dinner at the home of the group’s incoming president,

Marianne Segalla. The Costa Mesa Newport Harbor Lions Club installation

dinner will be held at the home of the McIlroys.

* 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.