Take time to remember what you’re blessed with

As family and friends gather over the next several days to celebrate Christmas or Hanukkah, let’s take time to let people know how important they are to us.

Give an “I appreciate ... “ around the dinner table to everyone present. Let that be your holiday present to them -- letting them know they are appreciated and loved. Have a discussion about what each of us is going to do to make our community and the world a better place in 2006.

Start with your commitment. Model the behavior you want to see.

And let’s not forget those who don’t have the advantages we have. Oh, we probably got some toys and a food basket for a needy family and dropped some coins in the Salvation Army bucket.

While we will be cheering on our favorite team in the coming football bowl games, let’s not forget that there a men and women in the armed services who are making a sacrifice each day on our behalf. Their families are making a sacrifice too.

FISH NEEDS WHEELS

Colin Lindborg, the new program director for the Mobile Meals, a program sponsored by Friends in Service to Humanity of the Harbor Area, sent along the January calendar for drivers to deliver meals in the harbor area. There are holes in the schedule almost every day in January. Some days they need four and five drivers to fill out a 14-person schedule.

“The gaping holes in the schedule represent groups of six to eight homebound men and women who require a volunteer to deliver their meals that day,” Lindborg said.

What’s involved?

Take your car to Hoag Hospital where the meals are prepared, load a hot box used to keep the meals warm and off you go to drop off the meals to homebound men and women who are most appreciative not only of the meal, but of the human contact. You can deliver meals once a month or once a week, whenever your schedule permits. But you need to sign up with Lindborg by calling (949) 645-8050 or by e-mailing him at colin @fishharbor.org. This is a project you can do with your spouse, friend, co-worker or even an older child.

Here is one place you can make a difference. Give Colin a call.

ROTARY CLUB PROJECT WITH INTERNATIONAL EFFECTS

The Rotary Club of Newport Beach Sunrise, through member Chuck Hirsch, received a report from the Rotary Club of Mount Lavinia, Sri Lanka. The Sari Lanka Rotary Club finished the library project in the Mount Lavinia School.

Another project is progressing in east Kalmunal, where a Buddhist monk is preparing a reading room on behalf of the Rotary Club. On Jan 14, the Rotary Clubs will donate two new computers with printers in two schools during the joint meeting with the Dambulla Rotary Club. The schools will use the computers for their training programs.

A new Rotary school will be ceremonially opened by the Rotary International president in Ambalangoda, which is in the tsunami-affected area where the Mount Lavinia Club is providing microscopes for the school laboratory.

The Kawan Tissa Vidyalaya in Tissa Maharama had a school severely affected by the tsunami. The Mount Lavinia Club will be donating most wanted sports items, such as 150 pairs of tennis shoes with socks, along with books for the school library. This will be accomplished in late February 2006.

They have undertaken to solve a perennial water problem for the Mount Lavinia Girls Buddhist School. About 3,000 students attend the school, and the water supply has been limited. The Rotary Club has reached an agreement to build a water sump and water tank at the school.

According to Caroline Babott, Newport Sunrise member, all the above projects are being funded by the $20,000 raised by Rotary Club of Newport Beach Sunrise, which responded to the tsunami in a big way. Local efforts pay big dividends in a ravaged area of the world. Congratulations and keep up the good work.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

From the de Booms to all you, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and best wishes for the New Year.

WORTH REPEATING

From the Thought for the Day as provided by Greg Kelley of the Newport Mesa Irvine Interfaith Council:

Look at a day when you are supremely satisfied at the end. It’s not a day when you lounge around doing nothing; it’s when you’ve had everything to do, and you’ve done it.

-- MARGARET THATCHER

SERVICE CLUB MEETINGS THIS WEEK

How are you giving back to your community? 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 opportunity for service. Most clubs will buy your first meal for you as you get acquainted with them.

TUESDAY

Noon: The newly formed Rotary Club of Costa Mesa will meet at the Clubhouse at South Coast Plaza.

WEDNESDAY

7:30 a.m.: The 10-member Newport Harbor Kiwanis Club will meet at a new location, Denny’s Restaurant at Redhill and Bristol.

Noon: The 27-member Exchange Club of the Orange Coast will meet at the Harbor Patrol Conference Room for a program by the Orange County Fire Authority.

THURSDAY

7 a.m. The 20-member Costa Mesa Orange Coast Lions Club will meet at Mimi’s Café.

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 to hear Bill Shane discuss “Crisis in Youth Sports;” the Exchange Club of Newport Harbor meets at the Nautical Museum to for a program on Exploring China.