COMMUNITY & CLUBS:More reasons to join service clubs

There are a lot of reasons why people join an Exchange, Kiwanis, Lions, Rotary or Soroptimist club. One of the main reasons people stay as a member are the speakers they have at their meetings. The speakers and their subjects vary from week to week and they are always informative.

For example, George Grupe, a historian and noted speaker, held the Exchange Club of Corona del Mar spellbound last week with his presentation on Abraham Lincoln and George Washington.

On Thursday, the Exchange Club of Newport Harbor will hear from the youngest survivor of “Schindler’s List,” Leon Leyson.

And the Rotary Club of Newport Irvine will hear from Charlene Bradley on the Arroyo Vista Community Garden. State Sen. Tom Harman will provide a legislative update to the members of the Kiwanis Club of Costa Mesa on Thursday.

Last Wednesday, the Rotary Club of Newport-Balboa heard from Dr. Antoine Mourra about the Albert Schweitzer Hospital in Haiti and this week will hear a presentation by Jay Allen on “Humans in Training.”

Tuesday morning, the Newport Beach Sunrise Rotary Club will get an update from former Guantanamo Bay Chaplain Robert Palmer as he presents “A Look at Guantanamo Bay from the Inside,” while the Rotary Club of Costa Mesa hears a craft talk from one of its newest members, Jenny Hu, an acupuncturist.

As you can see, programs vary from club to club based on the interests of members but usually include speakers on local issues. And some programs are just for fun.

Periodically, service clubs hold business meetings so members can be involved in planning service projects and community involvement. Clubs usually stay away from programs where people are trying to sell them a water-purifying system, a garage door or an investment opportunity.

You are invited to attend a service club meeting this coming week to learn more about opportunity for service to the community, the world and its people.

LAST CALL FOR TALENT

There’ll be lots of kids singing, dancing and playing music at 7 p.m. on Friday at the Oasis Senior Center auditorium. It’s the annual Search for Talent, sponsored by the Exchange Club of Newport Harbor. If you’re between the ages of 6 and 18, and you want an audience, a spotlight and a stage, call Deane Bottorf at (949) 673-8701. If you can’t make the age requirement, you can still attend to see some talented young people.

UNDERSTANDING HINDU

The public is invited to the Wednesday meeting of the Newport-Mesa-Irvine Interfaith Council to learn about Hinduism, according to Greg Kelley, the council’s program chairman.

The meeting begins at 11:45 a.m. A reception with a buffet lunch will be served at noon, followed by the program at 12:30 p.m. Presenters are Dwarkesh Parikh and Ramesh Gaud.

The luncheon will be held at St. Mark Presbyterian Church, 2100 Mar Vista Drive, Newport Beach. The cost is $10 per person with a reservation, $12 without areservation.

Reservations must be made by Monday. Call (714) 921-8665 or by e-mail nmiinterfaith@aol.com .

MEETINGS THIS WEEK

MONDAY

6:30 p.m.: The Harbor Mesa Lions will meet at Coco’s Restaurant in Fountain Valley.

TUESDAY

7:30 a.m.: The 40-member Newport Beach Sunrise Rotary Club meets at the Five Crowns to hear Robert Palmer, former Guantanamo Bay chaplain, give a talk, “A Look at Guantanamo Bay from the Inside.” For information, go to www.newportbeachsunriserotary.org .

Noon: The 20-member Rotary Club of Costa Mesa meets at the Costa Mesa Marriott Suites for a talk from Jenny Hu, an acupuncturist.

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 for a Youth of the Year program.

6 p.m.: The 55-member Rotary Club of Newport-Balboa meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club for a program by Jay Allen, “Humans in Training.” 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 for a legislative update by state Sen. Tom Harman. For details, go to 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 to hear Charlene Bradley on the Arroyo Vista Community Garden. For details, go to www.nirotary.org .

The 95-member Exchange Club of Newport Harbor meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club to hear Leon Leyson, youngest survivor of “Schindler’s List.”

For information, go to https://members.cox.net/nhexchangeclub/index.htm .