Off and running at Woodbridge

JIM DE BOOM

The first starter’s gun for the 23rd running of the Woodbridge Cross

Country Track Meet will fire at 7:45 a.m. this morning. The event,

sponsored by the Newport Irvine Rotary Club, will attract 6,500 star

athletes from 170 high schools in California, Arizona, Nevada and

Washington to Irvine’s Woodbridge High School for a series of

three-mile races.

“This meet is the second largest high school cross-country meet on

the West Coast and the third largest in the nation,” Woodbridge coach

George Varvas said.

Many of the winners will advance to the CIF, then state,

championships.

The Newport Irvine Rotary Club has been the principal sponsor of

this meet for 20 years, providing volunteer officials to run the

races plus payment of major meet expenses. Jerry Rekers, Rotary

coordinator, announced that the club is also administering a program

for the 170 high schools to sell an estimated 12,000 $5 tickets in a

raffle to win a free week in Hawaii.

“A continuing feature this year will be several $1,000 community

college scholarships sponsored by the Newport Irvine Rotary Club for

selected track team members, based on academic potential and

financial need,” Rekers said.

The Newport Irvine Rotary Club is one of the largest Rotary groups

in the area, with 100 members and a broad list of community support

programs. Particular emphasis is on school sports and assistance to

students with participation costs. Other activities include aid to

abused children and teacher/student exchange programs.

LIONS IN THE MOUNTAINS

Harbor Mesa Lions Club members will be in Wrightwood at the Lion’s

Camp at Teresita Pines next weekend (Sept. 27 and 28) to donate their

time and talents to the Lion’s Wilderness Camp for Deaf Children.

Each year, various Lion’s Clubs members volunteer to clean, paint

and make necessary repairs to the camp so it will be in working order

for the hearing-impaired children to enjoy. Regardless of their

financial condition, the children are given the opportunity to enjoy

the experience of camping. They learn basic survival techniques under

the guidance of professionals. For more information about the camp,

you can visit their Web site at https://www.lionswildcamp.com.

WORTH REPEATING

From the Thought for the Day provided by Greg Kelley of the

Newport Mesa Irvine Interfaith Council: “Great spirits have always

encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.” -- Albert

Einstein

WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF SERVICE

Rami Lazarescu, who joined the Rotary Club of Newport-Irvine.

SERVICE CLUB MEETINGS THIS WEEK

TUESDAY

7: 30 a.m.: The 40-member Newport Beach Sunrise Rotary Club will

meet at Five Crowns to hear Betty Kranz on “Travels”

(https://newportbeach sunriserotary.org/index.htm).

6:30 p.m.: The Costa Mesa Newport Harbor Lions Club will meet at

the Costa Mesa Country Club.

WEDNESDAY

7:15 a.m.: The 10-member South Coast Metro Rotary Club will meet

at the Center Club (https://www.southcoastmetro rotary.org); and the

Newport Harbor Kiwanis Club will meet at the University Athletic

Club.

Noon: the Exchange Club of the Orange Coast will meet at the Bahia

Corinthian Yacht Club.

6 p.m.: The 50-member Rotary Club of Newport-Balboa will meet the

Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club to hear Daily Pilot columnist Peter Buffa

(https:// www.newport-balboa.org).

THURSDAY

7 a.m.: The 20-plus-member Costa Mesa-Orange Costa 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 (https://www. kiwanis.org/club/costamesa); the 50-member

Kiwanis Club of Newport Beach-Corona del Mar will meet at the Bahia

Corinthian Yacht Club; the 80-member Exchange Club of Newport Harbor

will meet at the Newport Harbor Nautical Museum to hear 70th District

Assembly candidate Chuck DeVore; and the Rotary Club of Newport

Irvine will meet at the Atrium Hotel to hear Jerry Slusieqicz, a

radio talk show host, discuss “The 3 R’s of Money Risk Management”

(https://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

or by e-mail to jdeboom@aol.com.