Filmmaker honored

JIM DE BOOM

The Soroptimist International of Newport Harbor recently honored

KOCE-TV personality Sandra Robbie and the Harbor Boulevard of Cars

with the prestigious Matters of the Heart award at a luncheon held at

the Turnip Rose in Costa Mesa.

The event was attended by more than 150 community movers and

shakers, including Ed Arnold, Marian Bergeson, KOCE-TV President Mel

Rogers, Don Laffoon, Kay Lyons, Carolyn Turner and Soroptimist Gov.

Cathy Standiford, just to name a few.

Robbie, the host of KOCE’s “Help Me Grow,” was cited for her

writing and production of the 2002 documentary “Mendez vs.

Westminster: For all the Children/Para Todos los Ninos,” which tells

the story of segregation and discrimination in Orange County schools

58 years ago. The documentary won both an Emmy and a Golden Mike

Award.

Robbie challenged those in attendance to call KOCE, order a copy

of the documentary and then return it to the station so it can be

donated to a local school. She has a goal of a countywide celebration

of the 60th anniversary of Mendez vs. Westminster in 2007, with

students of all ages studying the landmark decision, community

discussions and even a countywide concert featuring Orange County

talent to mark the anniversary.

In addition to the beautiful award, presented by chapter President

Diane Ashe, a $500 check was presented to the KOCE Foundation for

children’s programming in Robbie’s honor.

The dealers were honored for their support of Dollars for Schools,

the Boy Scouts, Orangewood Children’s Foundation and local police

departments. Paul Lundsberg of South Coast Toyota accepted the

Matters of the Heart Award on behalf of the Harbor Boulevard of Cars,

noting that they “try to make a difference and to do something for

the good of the community.”

Lundsberg also noted that what the Soroptimists are doing is

unbelievable, saying, “You are the stars in making the difference.

The congratulations need to be extended to you as well as to us.”

Lundsberg accepted the award and a check in the amount of $500 for

the Interval House.

Ninety-three-year-old Farel Walker, a charter member of the club,

was unable to attend but sent a letter, which was read to the

attendees, noting the club will celebrate its 50th anniversary in

September and congratulating the honorees.

Funds raised from the luncheon will help support the work of the

club with Woman’s Opportunity Awards, Lifeline 4 Girls -- which it

sponsors with Girls Inc. -- and Orange Coast Interfaith Shelter, to

name a few.

The luncheon was chaired by Rosalinda Lopez, who was supported by

committee members Ashe, Lisa Amin Desai, Denise Glass, Sue Haddock,

Kathy Flores, Wendy Kaiser, Dawn Marie Lemonds (who served as

Mistress of Ceremonies), Casey Shea, Turner and Soulah Warshauer.

CHECK TIME

Bob Scott, president of the Exchange Club of the Orange Coast,

presented $1,000 checks to Ron Brown for Teen Challenge and to Debbie

Magnusen for Project Cuddle at a recent meeting.

ROTARY HISTORY

At a recent meeting of the Rotary Club of Newport Beach Sunrise,

President Fay Bosler called upon member John Goodlad to share some

history about their mothers club, Newport-Balboa. Goodlad has been

giving weekly history reports on Rotary as it celebrates its 100th

anniversary this year.

Here is what Goodlad said:

“Newport-Balboa was founded in 1939, when there were 200,000

Rotary members and less than 5,000 clubs in Rotary International.

Today, there are over 1.2 million members and over 31,000 clubs.

“In those days, the Rotary Club of Newport-Balboa territory was

basically a resort atmosphere, and the families who had homes here

earned their living elsewhere.

“Bob Allen was a city councilman in 1939, and he knew everyone in

the area, plus his father was a Rotarian in Pittsburgh, Pa., and he

had visited his father’s Rotary Club many times. Bob knew there was

an interest in the community for another type of service club.

“Bob, the first president of the Rotary Club of Newport-Balboa,

and Marion Dodd, the first secretary, visited 23 local businessmen in

a three-week period to set up the requirement of charter membership

-- there were no turndowns. All the charter members had small

businesses.

“Santa Ana Rotary Club, the first service club in Orange County,

granted the territory, and the Orange Club sponsored the Rotary Club

of Newport-Balboa.

“The first meeting was held May 1939 at Park Cafe on a Tuesday

night (it was later changed to Wednesday night). In those early days,

nothing was planned for the meeting other than the speaker.

“The Rotary Club of Newport-Balboa has started four other Rotary

clubs. Two of them are still active: Newport-Irvine and Newport Beach

Sunrise.”

WORTH REPEATING

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

Mesa Irvine Interfaith Council: “Remember that what you possess in

this world will be found at the day of your death and belong to

someone else; what you are will be yours forever.”

-- HENRY VAN DYKE

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 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 to hear Sherry Jensen of the Adopt A Social

Worker program.

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 a marine biologist, who will be

speaking 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/ costamesa); the Kiwanis Club of

Newport Beach-Corona del Mar will meet at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht

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

Newport Irvine meets at the Radisson Hotel to hear Carol Catalano on

“Avoiding Heart Attacks” (www.nirotary.org); the 85-member Exchange

Club of Newport Harbor will meet at the Nautical Museum to hear David

Glenn discuss documentary filmmaking (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.