COMMUNITY & CLUBS:Serving families of fallen soldiers

Thanks to Orange County businessman and Rotarian Michael Kerr and the Rotary Clubs of Costa Mesa, Newport Irvine, Irvine Spectrum and around the United States, children who lost a parent serving in the military in Iraq or Afghanistan will be treated to a holiday experience with a free trip to Disneyland and the performance of “The Glory of Christmas” in mid-December.

They’ll be housed in local hotels or with Rotary families, treated to a holiday party by Oakley with X-Games athletes and a trip to the Irvine Spectrum.

It is estimated that there are 1,200 children of fallen military members who are eligible to participate in the Snowball Express. Rotary Clubs around the U.S. are working to locate families who lost a parent serving in the military since Sept. 11, 2001 and helping them not only with connecting with the Snowball Express weekend, but also supporting them throughout the year.

Kerr indicates that some 200 families have signed up so far for the Snowball Express.

“Those who protect us deserve our thanks, our support and our help. Those in the armed forces who have laid down their lives in service to our way of life deserve our gratitude and our commitment to helping the family members they left behind,” he said.

The sponsor list is looking good, with the likes of Southwest Airlines, Oakley, Quiksilver, Disneyland, Crystal Cathedral, Fairmont Hotels, Marriott, Hyatt, Hilton, Embassy Suites, the Island Hotel, Ayres Hotels, AT&T;, UPS and Toyota, to name a few.

For more information on how you can participate, go to www.snow ballexpress.org or call Kerr at (949) 831-4933.

Contributions can be made payable to Rotary Snowball Express and mailed to District 5320 Charitable Foundation, 2245 N. Glassell Ave., Orange, CA 92865-2701.

HARBOR MESA LIONS CLUB INVITES NEW MEMBERS

The Harbor Mesa Lions Club is inviting community-minded individuals to visit their club and find out how to join the largest service organization in the world.

“November is membership month for our club,” President Arlene Schafer said, “and we are hoping to have guests who are interested in joining.”

Membership Chairwoman Joan Parks has scheduled several members to speak about the club at the Nov. 6 meeting. Lion Dave Hubbard of the Huntington Beach Host Lions is on the district membership committee and will also speak on Lions International.

Schafer noted that membership in the district is down and that there is a great effort for all clubs to grow this year.

“Our club happens to be all women, but we would welcome men to join or couples to join,” she said. “Not only are we a service organization, we also have social evenings and do many diverse activities that are not only fun but help those in need.”

The Nov. 6 meeting is at 6:30 p.m. at the Costa Mesa Country Club, and the cost for the dinner is $15. Call Parks at (949) 548-2440 for more information.

RAMADAN BECOMES INTERFAITH FOR A NIGHT

The Islamic Education Center of Orange County opened the Oct. 18 Ramadan service to members of the interfaith community and local business and community leaders.

For most of us non-Muslims, this was the first time we had set foot in a mosque. The prayer service was led by Imam Sayed Moustafa Al-Qazwini and was followed by a feast of delicious Middle Eastern food, prepared and served by mosque members.

After dinner, the mosque leaders welcomed the community members to the Ramadan service and called upon members of different faith communities to share their appreciation for the openness of the evening and the learning about Ramadan.

MEETINGS THIS WEEK

TUESDAY

7:30 a.m.: The 45-member Rotary Club of Newport Beach Sunrise meets at Five Crowns for a program by Dr. Richard J. Fischel, M.D., Ph.D., FACS, Director of Chapman Lung Center, Director of American Lung Assn. of Orange County, discussing “Lung Diseases Awareness.” www.newportbeachsunrise rotary.org.

Noon: The 20-member Rotary Club of Costa Mesa meets at the Costa Mesa Marriott Suites.

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

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 p.m.: The 56-member Rotary Club of Newport-Balboa meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club to hear the Hon. David Chaffee discuss the Orange County Judicial System. www.newportbalboa.org.

THURSDAY

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

9 a.m. The 95-member Exchange Club of Newport Harbor meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club to hear Mr. Swennen discuss Proposition 89, the California Clean Money and FairElections Act.

Noon: The 50-member Costa Mesa Kiwanis Club meets at the Holiday, www.kiwanis.org/ club/costamesa; the 45-member Kiwanis Club of Newport Beach-Corona del Mar meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club; the 85-member Rotary Club of Newport Irvine meets at the Radisson Hotel. For more information, visit www.nirotary.org.

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.