Daring to dream of a float

To raise the thousands of dollars needed to fund a float in the

Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade, members of Soroptimist

International sold raffle tickets at $10. Several winners were

selected to ride on the float, including local member Pat

Jackson-Coland.

The float’s theme is “Dare to Dream,” and Jackson-Coland did as

she sold tickets to family, friends and co-workers. She was raised in

Indiana. When the football team went to the Rose Bowl, Jackson-Coland

came to see the parade, caught “California fever” and eventually

moved here.

Her father, who is highly involved in the Lions Club, has always

teased her about “Where’s the Soroptimist float?” Now she will get to

wave to him from atop it, having helped it come to being!

The float is entry No. 83, near the end of the parade.

Jackson-Coland’s family will be gathered in the family room. Her

parents, siblings and the grandchildren have long deferred their

Christmas celebration to New Year’s Day. Her husband will be in the

parade stands, beside an empty seat where Jackson-Coland would have

sat.

Jackson-Coland will be helping to decorate the float on New Year’s

Eve. Then she will get up early and head up to the parade route for

her adventure. The global telecast of the Rose Parade mirrors the

Soroptimists’ presence in the world.

We are a “global voice for women,” she notes. “I have been a

member for nearly 19 years and feel very strongly that our service

makes a difference.”

As you watch the parade, you can also view floats by Rotary

International, Kiwanis International, Lions International and

Exchange clubs. Enjoy the parade with more than 300 million TV

viewers.

READING BY 9: “Daily Pilot readers are generous,” said Lana

Johnson, promotions director for the Daily Pilot, as she shared the

list of recent donors to the Reading by 9 campaign.

Mr. and Mrs. Roger W. Gilbert, Mr. and Mrs. William Roper, Mr. and

Mrs. Gerald Hornbuckle, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Wahlstedt Jr., Janet and

Taylor Smith, Terry Senko, Kathryn Byrd and Mr. and Mrs. Daniel

Hoffmann are the most recent donors to the $2,500 challenge fund

created by the Rotary clubs of Newport-Balboa, Newport Irvine and

Newport Sunrise.

Many thanks to all the donors for their generous support of

Reading by 9. To date, $1,650 has been contributed by Daily Pilot

readers, leaving $850 to be raised by Wednesday.

Your $10 donation will be matched by the Rotary Clubs to buy 11

reading books. A $25 donation will be matched to buy 30 books, a $50

donation will be matched to buy 58 books, and so on. Your tax

deductible donation to buy Reading by 9 books can be made payable and

mailed to Rotary District 5320 Foundation, c/o Daily Pilot, 330 W.

Bay St., Costa Mesa, CA 92627. Make your investment and watch the

dividends grow.

READER PROVIDES AUTHOR’S NAME: So I goofed last week when I

indicated that the author of “The Dash” was known. I really meant to

say unknown. Yet, it turns out the author is known, and was made

known to me by Daily Pilot reader Bill Harader, who was one of many

who saw my mistake (my editor didn’t).

Bill states in an e-mail, “I was going to ask if the two readers

gave you the name of the author, but then I decided to use search

engine www.dogpile.com and within two minutes I had the answer. The

author as you may know is Linda Ellis, and her poem ‘The Dash’ has

been an inspiration to millions and published recently in the book

‘Healing Grief,’ by author James Van Praagh. ‘The Dash and Other

Poems’ by Linda Ellis is available by ordering online at her Web

site. The Dash’ is a terse, powerful, compelling poem with a

meaningful message.”

I agree! Thanks, Bill, for the information. Happy New Year.

LOST A GENERATION: With the death of my aunt Lucille Luinstra, 93,

in Norwalk on Christmas morning and her brother Simon de Boom, 89, in

LaMars, Iowa, the day after Christmas, we close out my dad’s

generation of de Boom’s. Until two years ago, Lucille would spend

Christmas with our family. Her only son died 20 years ago in a

boating accident. Uncle Simon raised three great kids, whom I enjoyed

visiting on the farm in Iowa when we were all growing up in the

1950s. Our family reunions the first Saturday in August in Iowa won’t

be the same. I will miss them both. Condolences to the families.

WORTH REPEATING: “When you become detached mentally from yourself

and concentrate on helping other people with their difficulties, you

will be able to cope with your own more effectively. Somehow, the act

of self-giving is a personal power-releasing factor.” -- Norman

Vincent Peale

SERVICE CLUB MEETINGS

THIS COMING WEEK

THURSDAY

Noon: The 80-member Exchange Club of Newport Harbor meets at the

Newport Harbor Nautical Museum for a business meeting.

* 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,

Suite 201, Newport Beach, CA 92660-1740.