Youth discover artistic abilities

JIM DE BOOM

Express Yourself is Mika Community Development Corporation’s

after-school urban arts program designed for at-risk youth, ages 7 to

17, so they can discover their artistic talents in a fun and safe

environment.

Offered in Costa Mesa through the Shalimar Learning Center and

local schools, the program’s goal is to help students realize that

they can shine with the gifts God has given them, according to Melisa

Jennings, Mika’s youth arts director.

The group will be holding its first fundraiser from to 6 to 8 p.m.

on Tuesday at the home of Jill Meer, a member of St. Andrew’s

Presbyterian Church, 1912 Galaxy Drive in Newport Beach.

The evening will include a light dinner, performances by student

artists and an opportunity learn how you can partner with Mika. For

more information, contact Jennings at (949) 307-0030, by e-mail at

melisa@mikacdc.com, or at their website at www.mikacdc.com.

Reservations are a must!

TSUNAMI RELIEF

Newport Beach Sunrise Rotarian Chuck Hirsch reported the club has

currently collected more than $10,600 for our Tsunami Relief Project.

The Rotary Club is looking to help with the reconstruction of the

schools, and it is estimated that it will cost $350,000 to $900,000

per school. According to the Rotary District Governor of Sri Lanka,

UNICEF will supply books for the schools, once the reconstruction is

complete. The total funding needed to reconstruct all of the affected

schools may be as much as $10 million.

Hirsch is seeking financial support from other Rotary Clubs and

others for the school reconstruction project.

SEARCH FOR TALENT

If you can sing or dance or play an instrument, and if you are

between the ages of 6 and 18, you can find an audience and maybe a

trophy at the ‘Search for Talent’ contest, presented by the Exchange

Club of Newport Harbor. The show will be held on March 4 at the Oasis

Senior Center auditorium.

For details, call Deane Bottorf at (949) 673-8701.

STUDENT SPEAKER RESULTS

The Harbor Mesa Lions Club held its annual Student Speakers

Contest at the February meeting, with five students from Newport

Harbor High School competing. Students spoke on the theme, “Is

Attitude the Key to Success?”

The winner of the contest was Audrey Nisbet. The other competitors

were: Harrison Brown, Lara Schilling, Holly Stanton and Tyler

Blackney. Audrey will go on to compete in the Lions zone contest

later this month. Students will be competing on the zone, region,

district, area and multiple district levels. The final winner will

win more than $20,000 in scholarships.

SCHOLARSHIPS PRESENTED

Syd Lucas, community service chairman for the Rotary Club of

Newport Beach Sunrise, presented the third of four $600 scholarships

to Duy Doan.

Doan is attending Orange Coast College, carrying 15 units in

general education. He plans to transfer to a four-year college when

he completes his work at Orange Coast. Congratulations.

Lucas then presented a fourth and final scholarship check for $600

to Jessica Clendenin, a recent graduate of Golden West College. She

has completed her licensure in cosmetology and is taking additional

classes in specialty areas. Clendenin was hired by Crystal Court

Salon, a prestigious salon in the area. Congratulations, Jessica.

WORTH REPEATING

From the Thought for Today, provided by Greg Kelley of the Newport

Mesa Irvine Interfaith Council: “Think well of yourself and proclaim

this fact to the world -- not in loud words but in great deeds.”

-- OPTIMISTS’ CREED

SERVICE CLUB MEETINGS

SCHEDULED THIS WEEK

Help your community and the world through a service club! For

many, service club membership is an extension of our religious

beliefs and congregation affiliations.

You are invited to attend a service club meeting this coming week

to learn more about opportunity for service. Most clubs will buy your

first meal for you as you get acquainted with them.

TUESDAY

7:30 a.m.: The 48-member Newport Beach Sunrise Rotary Club meets

at the Five Crowns restaurant to hear Judge Pamela Iles speak on the

Family Violence Project (www.newportbeachsunrise rotary.org).

WEDNESDAY

7:30 a.m.: The Newport Harbor Kiwanis Club will meet at the

University Athletic Club.

Noon: The Exchange Club of the Orange Coast meets at the Bahia

Corinthian Yacht Club for a program by Trinka Porrata on teens and

drugs.

6 p.m.: The 50-member Rotary Club of Newport-Balboa meets at the

Crown Plaza Hotel, Anaheim for the District Foundation Dinner.

(www.newportbalboa.org).

THURSDAY

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

Club will meet at Mimi’s Cafe. (www.cmoclions.org)

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

Holiday Inn (www.kiwanis.org/club/ costamesa); the Kiwanis Club of

Newport Beach-Corona del Mar meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club

(www.newportbeach kiwanis.org); the 100-member Rotary Club of Newport

Irvine meets at the Radisson Hotel for the Youth Singing Contest

(www.nirotary.org); the 85-member Exchange Club of Newport Harbor

meets at the Nautical Museum to hear Ron Brown of Teen Challenge

(www.nhexchangeclub.com).

* 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.