COMMUNITY & CLUBS:Heart-warming luncheon

Soroptimist International of Newport Harbor Area members celebrated their 51st anniversary at the 27th annual Matters of the Heart awards luncheon at Costa Mesa’s Turnip rose on Feb. 9. Club President Carolyn Turner noted they have started to use “area” in the name once again. When the club was formed 51 years ago, “area” was in the organization’s name because the area of influence went beyond Newport Beach. And it still does.

The luncheon honored Jane Glenn Haas, founder of WomanSage in 2004, now with 600 members in Orange County and 6,000 across the U.S. and the Orange County Girl Scout Council.

While Martha Garcia received this year’s Women’s Opportunity Grant, I enjoyed learning about Angela Kelly, who received the same award from the Soroptimists in 2000. Angela is a single parent mother of seven children — and against all odds, but with the help of Soroptimists and the Women’s Opportunity Grant, she was able to return to college, earn a degree, help her children attend college and become successful adults. Today, Angela serves others at the Florence Critten Home and is giving back to the community as a member of the Soroptimist Club in Cerritos and is active in the Soroptimist District activities as Dist. 1 representative for Women’s Opportunity Grants.

The luncheon included silent and voice auctions to raise funds for local and international Soroptimist projects. The colorful Valentine’s baskets were the hit of the silent auction while the most squeals during the live auction were for “good dinner with good-looking firemen at a Costa Mesa fire house.”

Haas is a newspaper columnist, book author, television host, professional speaker and founder of WomanSage, a organization dedicated to empowering, educating and fostering mentoring relationships among women at midlife in all types of life situations. Visit www.womansage.com for more information.

Nancy Nygren, chief executive officer of the Girl Scout Council of Orange County, spoke on behalf of the council at the luncheon, noting that there are 25,000 girls and 13,000 volunteers involved in Girl Scouts in the county. Nationally, the organization that was founded 95 years ago has 3.6 million members. Cookies, crafts and camp are the old view of Girls Scouts, noted Nygren, while explaining the new thrust is “from dreams to reality, goals and careers.” Go to www.gscoc.org for Girl Scout program information.

Dawn Marie Lemonds served as mistress of ceremonies. Rosalinda Lopez, event chairwoman, was assisted by Wendy Kaiser, Carolyn Turner, Megan Hertzberg, Sue Haddock, Ann Shultz, Denise Glass, Dalia Badajos Lugo and Sue Burns.

LIONS STUDENT SPEAKER CONTEST

At a recent Harbor Mesa Lions meeting, the annual Student Speaker contest was won by Newport Harbor High School senior Ariel Little. She was awarded $50 and will go on to compete in the zone contest at 7 p.m. Feb. 21 at the Newport-Mesa Unified School District offices. The theme this year is Global Warming: Fact or Fiction. Students from local high schools will compete in the zone, region, district and multiple district, with the final winner receiving $21,000 in scholarship funds. Harbor Mesa member Marianne Allen chaired the contest. For further information on the zone contest, call Sandi Scheafer at (714) 549-4961.

WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF SERVICE CLUBS

Jim Wyland and Jim Vale joined the Exchange Club of Newport Harbor.

WORTH REPEATING

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

“Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.”

— ALBERT SCHWEITZER

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.

MONDAY

6:30 p.m.: The Costa Mesa Newport Harbor Lions Club meets at the Golden Dragon Restaurant in Costa Mesa.

TUESDAY

7:30 a.m.: The 40-member Newport Beach Sunrise Rotary Club meets at Five Crowns to hear Dr. Richard Haskell speak on cardiology for fun and profit. For more information, go to www.newportbeachsunriserotary.org .

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

WEDNESDAY

7:30 a.m.: The 10-member Newport Harbor Kiwanis Club meets at Denny’s Restaurant, 290 Bristol St., Costa Mesa.

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

6 p.m.: The 55-member Rotary Club of Newport-Balboa meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club for the high school vocal competition. For information, go to www.newportbalboa.org .

THURSDAY

7 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. Go to www.kiwanis.org/club/costamesa.com 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 to hear Betty Dietz discuss “Pearl Harbor, A Personal Experience.” For details, go to www.nirotary.org . The 95-member Exchange Club of Newport Harbor meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club to hear Lisa Kalustain, chief deputy director of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s office. For information, go to members.cox.net/nhexchangeclub/index.htm.