Community & Clubs -- Jim de Boom

Congratulations to the Newport-Mesa students who graduated from high

school on Thursday. You have reached the first, major milestone in your

formal education. Whether you go on to college or a trade school, join

the armed services or get on-the-job training, I join many in wishing you

the best.

You will find that many challenges await you. The higher the goal, the

greater the struggle, the greater the reward. We face many challenges:

finding a cure for AIDS, bringing peace to the Middle East and raising

the level of literacy in your community, to name a few. What difference

will your life make to others? Will you be the next Jonas Salk, Rabbi

Mark Miller or the Rev. John Huffman, John and Donna Crean -- all

examples of people who make a real difference in the lives of

individuals, the community and the world?

But no matter where you go and what you do, live life with honesty,

integrity and respect for others. Make your family proud.

DISTRICT CONVENTION:

More than 250 Exchange Club members are expected this weekend at the

Irvine Marriott Hotel for the annual district convention, said District

President Dick Freeman of the Exchange Club of Newport Harbor. Club

awards, program sharing and speakers such as singer Pat Boone and Gerald

Franklin, a past national Exchange president, will highlight the weekend

agenda.

SALUTE TO CITIZEN OF THE YEAR:

More than 100 Newport Beach community leaders and residents came

together at the new Cannery restaurant to salute Newport Beach Citizen of

the Year Bill Grundy and honor outgoing Chamber of Commerce Board

Chairman Roger Alford, a 24-year resident and Newport Beach certified

public accountant. Alford was joined by his wife, Ann Marie, and

daughter, Mindy, as the chamber presented him with a set of golf clubs

for his year of service as the board chairman. Phillip Bettencourt was

installed as board chairman for 2002-03.

Among those joining in the celebration were Don and Jan Webb, Ann and

Bob Badham, Jim and Jackie Penny, Bill and Lisa (Grundy) Johnson, Jim

Dale, Lloyd Ikerd, Seymour Beek, Georgia and Jerry Sewell, Bill

Gunderson, Tom Johnson, Diane Coltrane, Lula Halfacre, Tim Quinn, Henry

Schielein and Tom Wilck.

Grundy, who grew up in Newport Beach, was introduced by Balboa

Peninsula resident Dayna Pettit, saluted by a number of elected officials

and honored for his leadership in a variety of community organizations,

including the Newport Beach Historical Society.

WORTH REPEATING:

From the “Thought for the Day,” provided by Greg Kelley of the

Newport-Mesa Irvine Interfaith Council: “The country clubs, the cars, the

boats, your assets may be ample, but the best inheritance you can leave

your kids is to be a good example.” -- Barry Spilchuk

SERVICE CLUB MEETINGS THIS WEEK:

TUESDAY

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

Crowns for Monte Vista-Back Bay High School Scholarship Awards.

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 program by Dr. Raj Desai on Project

Deaf India.

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

Corinthian Yacht Club to hear former CNN anchor Farland Chang speak about

the art of what to say and how to say it under pressure

(www.newportbalboa.org).

THURSDAY

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

Club will meet at Mimi’s Cafe for a business meeting.

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

Inn (www.kiwanis.org/club/costamesa), 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, and the 100-member Newport-Irvine Rotary Club will meet at the

Irvine Marriott Hotel (www.nirotary.org).

* 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.