Rotary Club sponsors scholarships

JIM DE BOOM

The Ambassadorial Scholarships program is one of Rotary’s finest.

The scholarships are one of a kind. Some 1,200 will be offered

around the world, with four being offered in District 5320, according

to Kim DeBroux, president of the Rotary Club of Newport-Balboa.

Besides offering an educational opportunity in a foreign country,

the scholarships represent Rotary’s faith that interaction with the

people and the cultures of other countries will encourage them to

dedicate their personal and professional lives to improving the

quality of life for people at home.

This year, Rotary District 5320 is offering up to four

Ambassadorial Scholarships -- either one year at a maximum value of

$26,000 or a multi-year scholarship at $13,000 annually. The

scholarships are for the academic year 2006-07 and will not begin

before July 1, 2006. They may be used for almost any field of study.

Applicants must have completed two years of college or university

study by the time the scholarship begins. An applicant cannot be a

Rotarian or a direct descendant of a Rotarian. Scholarships can’t be

used for unsupervised research, internships or full-time employment.

Study location must be in an area where a Rotary club exists.

Applicants who apply for study in a non-English-speaking country

should be prepared to pass a language test for that country.

For further information, contact the Rotary Club of

Newport-Balboa, Newport Irvine or Newport Sunrise. Applications must

be submitted to a local Rotary Club by April 28. District 5320

interviews will be held the first weekend in June.

More information and application forms are available at Rotary

International’s website, https://www.rotary.org.

RELAY FOR LIFE

KICKS OFF ON SUNDAY

The Newport-Mesa community’s Relay for Life kickoff meeting will

be held on Sunday from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at Newport Rib Company,

according to event co-chair Anna Biason.

Information will be available for businesses, civic groups,

congregations and schools on how to form relay teams.

The event, to be held May 13 and 14 at Newport Harbor High School,

is a major fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, according to

co-chair Stacy de Boom.

For more information on the Relay for Life, call David Schapira at

(949) 567-0635

SPECIAL TREES

The topic for the next meeting of the Speak Up Newport program on

March 9 is the city’s “special tree” policy.

City General Services Director David Niederhaus will discuss how

the city plans to single out such trees for special protection and

how a tree can be nominated for “special tree” status.

The meeting will be held at the Newport Beach Yacht Club, 1099

Bayside Drive, starting at 5 p.m. with appetizers and a cash bar,

followed by the program at 6 p.m. Additional information is available

at (949) 224-2266.

ROTARY UNIVERSITY

Five-hundred Rotary leaders from 66 countries gathered in Anaheim

this past week to celebrate the organization’s centennial and plan

for its second century of service.

Governors-elect, representing 529 Rotary districts, focused on how

the world’s first service organization can better meet the needs of

communities around the world.

Often called “Rotary University,” the eight-day training meeting

highlighted innovative Rotary activities from around the globe --

including poverty, literacy, health education, micro-credit, urban

peace, disabilities training, disaster relief and food distribution

projects. Plenary and small group leadership sessions at the

International Assembly incorporated six languages to prepare

governors-elect to lead Rotary’s 32,000 clubs in more than 165

countries when their term starts July 1.

Feb. 23 marked Rotary’s 100th birthday. The organization began in

Chicago in 1905, and its ideals of community service and volunteerism

quickly spread around the globe. By its 25th anniversary, Rotary had

more than 150,000 members in 3,349 clubs in 62 countries on six

continents.

“There are few organizations that last 100 years. The fact that

Rotary has reached this important milestone is a sign that there is

tremendous need for Rotary service,” said Glenn E. Estess, Rotary

International’s president for 2004-05. “We must draw inspiration from

past success to help us face the challenges of a second century of

service.”

Today, Rotary members incorporate technology, progressive

membership strategies and hands-on projects to make their volunteer

efforts more effective.

In 2005, Rotary hopes to celebrate a polio-free world. Rotary has

contributed more than $500 million dollars and countless volunteer

hours since 1985 to immunize more than two billion children in 122

countries.

WORTH REPEATING

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

Mesa Irvine Interfaith Council: “Nothing is done well when it is done

out of self-interest.”

-- ST. THERESE OF LISIEUX

SERVICE CLUB MEETINGS 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 affiliation.

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

to learn more about opportunities 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 will

meet at the Five Crowns restaurant (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 will meet at the Bahia

Corinthian Yacht Club for a business meeting.

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

the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club (www.newportbalboa.org).

THURSDAY

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

Club will meet at Mimi’s Cafe to hear marine biologist Kelly Orally

speak on seafood choices for an ocean lover (www.cmoclions.org).

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

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

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

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

Irvine will meet at the Radisson Hotel to hear James Doti of Chapman

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

Harbor will meet at the Nautical Museum for a business meeting

(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.