A day to celebrate diversity

JIM DE BOOM

“Beyond Peace: Breaking Through Cultural and Religious Barriers” is

the theme for the 10th annual Religious Diversity Faire, at UC

Irvine’s student center from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today.

The keynote speaker will be Robert Muller, former assistant

secretary-general of the United Nations. During his 40 years behind

the scenes at the United Nations, Muller was known as the

“philosopher” and the “prophet of hope.” From his vantage of a

top-level global statesman, he has seen a strong connection between

spirituality and the political and cultural scene. Muller is author

of “New Genesis, Sharing A Global Spirituality.”

Morning events will include concurrent religious observances of

eight faith groups and an ongoing viewing of the film “On Common

Ground,” which is a documentary about three Orange County

congregations -- one Muslim, one Jewish and one Christian -- that got

together and built a house in Mexico.

A multicultural lunch will be served at noon, with food from the

Sikh, Muslim, Baha’i and Mormon communities. The opening ceremony

will include drumming and flute by Healing Rhythms and songs by the

Tushmal Singers, from the Achajeman Tribe.

To keep the Faire open to as many people as possible, the cost has

been kept to a suggested donation of at least $15. The student fee is

only $5. For more information on the program, visit the Web site:

www.religiousdiversityfaire.org. The student center is on Pereira

Drive just off West Peltason Drive. Parking is in the structure right

across the street at the cost of $5.

The yearly Religious Diversity Faire promotes respect,

understanding and appreciation among the many faith traditions of

Orange County communities. It is sponsored by the Office of Equal

Opportunity and Diversity of UC Irvine, the Alliance for Spiritual

Community and the National Conference for Community and Justice.

MEET THE DORY FISHERMAN

Steve Escobar, a Dory fisherman, will tell how he spends his day

fishing for lobster, crab and other marine crustaceans from 7:30 to

8:30 p.m. on Thursday at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club.

Escobar will be bringing live lobster and crabs and even a few

live octopus for show, tell and touch. If you or your children

haven’t ever met or touched a live octopus, one of the smartest

marine animals, this is a time to remember!

Guests will also learn how to prepare lobster and crab for cooking

and will receive recipes from the head chef of Bahia Corinthian Yacht

Club.

Reservations are not required.

SUCCESSFUL FUND-RAISER

The Harbor Mesa Lions Club had a very successful casino night last

week, raising mor than $6,700 for local charities, member Carol Van

Holt said.

“It was the biggest fund-raiser we have ever had,” she added.

The grand prize of a $300 South Coast Plaza shopping spree was won

by her sister-in-law, Claudia Van Holt.

The Costa Mesa Police Department, the Newport Beach Police

Department and South Coast Plaza contributed to the event.

“It truly was a community effort, with Barbara Hayward and

Marianne Segalla serving as co-chairs of the successful fund-raiser,”

Carol Van Holt said.

PROUD OF THEIR MEMBERS

A special photo supplement was added to last week’s Spindriff,

which is published for the members of the Exchange Club of Newport

Harbor, listing the six club members who made the Daily Pilot’s list

of 103 most influential Newport Harbor residents in 2003.

Balboa Island Ferry owner Seymour Beek was No. 15, auto dealer

Theodore “Bob” Robins was No. 16, attorney Rick Taylor was No. 49,

Nautical Museum CEO Glenn Zagoren was No. 95, benefactor John Crean

was on the all-time list, and developer Steve Sutherland made

honorable mention.

Congratulations! That is an influential club!

WORTH REPEATING

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

Mesa Irvine Interfaith Council:

“Until you make peace with who you are, you will never be content

with what you have.”

-- DORIS MORTMAN

SERVICE CLUB

MEETINGS THIS WEEK

MONDAY

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

Country Club. District 4-L4 Gov. Jim North will be visiting the club

with several members of his cabinet.

TUESDAY

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

meet at Five Crowns to hear Ralph Linhardt discuss “News from

Cinematography” (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 Rotary Club of Newport Balboa will meet at the Bahia

Corinthian Yacht Club to hear Sara Cullen with an update on the new

tax laws and other year-end considerations.

THURSDAY

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

Club will meet at Mimi’s Cafe.

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 to hear Orange County Register reporter Gordon

Dillow discuss his experience as an “Embedded Reporter in Iraq with

U.S. Marines”; the Exchange Club of Newport Harbor will meet at the

Nautical Museum for a business meeting; and the Rotary Club of

Newport Irvine will meet at the Atrium Hotel

(https://www.nirotary.org).

* COMMUNITY & CLUBS is published Saturdays in the Daily Pilot.

Send your service club’s meeting information by fax to (714) 921-8655

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