COMMUNITY & CLUBS:Not going loco, down in Acapulco

Today’s column comes to you from Acapulco, Mexico, where Barbara and I are vacationing at the Mar Azul resort in downtown Acapulco with our daughter Stacy.

We have lain poolside for a number of days, taken the city tour, the harbor tour, visited the Chapel of Peace, and watched the cliff divers from the La Perla restaurant. We dined at Su Casa, Pardise and El Zorito, to name a few places with excellent food and service.

Stacy found us a taxi driver, Federico Perez Rebolledo, who drives the Ford Grand Marquis LS, rather than one of the more than 6,000 Volkswagen Beetle taxis found in Acapulco.

Federico, a native of Acapulco, lived in the U.S. for a number of years, speaks good English and is one trustworthy taxi driver. He picks us up at the agreed time and meets us when we are done shopping or touring to return us back to the Mar Azul. One day he was tied up so he sent his boss, another taxi driver, in his place to make sure we had the transportation we needed. The insight Federico adds to each day’s activities is really informative. His business card notes he is a tourist guide in addition to being a taxi driver. He does both very well.

On Wednesday, we toured Fort San Diego and an Acapulco history museum. We learned a lot about Acapulco and Mexico and the countries that ruled over it in the 19th century. For many years, it was a trading center with China and the Philippines.

One of the exhibits at the museum was about plants and trees they used to grow in the area that provided oils to sell abroad.

The exhibit told of many Mexicans earning their living from the plants. But at the same time, they did nothing to grow new plants, and in the 20th century, they lost their income.

The result, according to the exhibit: “We are becoming illegal immigrants, because we can’t make a living at home.” The solution, the exhibit asked? We are the solution, it stated.

Now, Congress has taken the rest of August off, and its members will be back in their home districts. Therefore, is the time for the average citizen, you and me, to express our views on the proposed immigration legislation.

If you’re unable to talk directly with your congressman or senator, you can call and give one of their aides your opinion. If you don’t express your opinion, who will? Give them a call next week.

WORTH REPEATING

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

“Small deeds done are better than great deeds planned.”

? PETER

MARSHALL

SERVICE CLUB MEETINGS THIS WEEK

TUESDAY

7:30 a.m.: The 45-member Rotary Club of Newport Beach Sunrise meets at Five Crowns to hear Rotary District Governor Lane Calvert, who makes his official visit. For more information, visit, www.newportbeachsunrise.org.

Noon: The 20-member Rotary Club of Costa Mesa meets at Karl Strauss Brewery, 901 South Coast Drive, Costa Mesa.

6 p.m.: The Costa Mesa Newport Harbor Lions Club meets at the Costa Mesa Golf and Country Club for a business meeting.

WEDNESDAY

7:30 a.m.: The 10-member Newport Harbor Kiwanis Club meets at Denny’s Restaurant at the corner of Redhill Avenue and Bristol Street.

Noon: The 27-member Exchange Club of the Orange Coast meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club.

6:00 p.m.: The 55-member Rotary Club of Newport-Balboa meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club for a program by May Yacoob on “Polio as viewed by the UN Foundation.” For more information, visit, www.newportbalboa.org.

THURSDAY

7:00 a.m.: The 20-member Costa Mesa Orange Coast Lions Club meets at Mimi’s Cafe.

Noon: The 50-member Costa Mesa Kiwanis Club meets at the Holiday Inn, (www.kiwanis.org/club/ costamesa); the 45-member Kiwanis Club of Newport Beach-Corona del Mar meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht to hear Catherine Follett, board chairwoman for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UC Irvine, providing educational opportunities to all ages; the 95-member Exchange Club of Newport Harbor meets at the Nautical Museum to hear from Ed Romeo on the “Benefits of Oasis Membership.” (www.nhexchangeclub.com); the 85-member Rotary Club of Newport Irvine meets at the Radisson Hotel. (www.nirotary.org).