COMMUNITY & CLUBS:Neighbors, Rotary help Bill

“On Tuesday, Jan. 30, a close friend and neighbor suffered a stroke in his spine, a rare and life-changing medical experience,” according to Rotarian Joan Archibald, a member of the Rotary Club of Costa Mesa. Bill Thomas is 40, married with two young children — Keoni, 3, and Makaio, 9 months.

Thomas is at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta and is on a respirator. He is paralyzed from the neck down. You can read more about Bill at www.neighborbill.com .

The neighbors and the Rotary Club are coming together from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. April 27 for a Casino Night at the Halecrest Clubhouse, 3107 Killybrooke Lane, Costa Mesa, with the proceeds going to the Thomas family

Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at the door.

Volunteers are needed. For more information, tickets or to volunteer, contact Archibald at (714) 432-7553 or e-mail her at gthumbgal@sbcglobal.net.

TOTAL K DAY

“On April 7, 59 volunteers shared a day of fun, fellowship, food, and, of course, service at the Children’s Center at Orange Coast College,” according to Jeff Dimsdale, editor of the Costa Mesa Kiwanis Club’s newsletter, the KiwaniScope, in a recent edition. “In addition to four members of our club (Anis, Carl, Jeff and Wayne), students from Costa Mesa High School and Estancia High School Key Clubs, Orange Coast, UCI, and Cal State Fullerton Circle K Clubs, and our Builders Club painted, pulled weeds, washed windows, and so forth,” according to Dimsdale.

Also pitching in were Costa Mesa High School Key Club advisor Amelia Perez and her husband, Edward, Boys and Girls Club staff members Harlan Anderson and Tess Lindsay, Children’s Center staff and even some parents of our younger students. The day started with refreshments donated by Starbucks and Mimi’s Cafe. After two hours of work, we switched teams so students would get to know more people.

All in all, Kiwanis One Day was a great success and a wonderful example of making service fun. It was the kind of event we should be inviting prospective members to attend. After seeing events like this, the prospects will be more likely to join Kiwanis of Costa Mesa, Dimsdale noted.

NEVER FORGET

Remembering the Holocaust is the theme of Wednesday’s luncheon meeting of the Newport-Mesa-Irvine Interfaith Council. Scheduled speakers are Marilyn Herron of the Chapman University Holocaust Center and Rabbi Richard Steinberg of Congregation Shir Ha-Ma’alot, who will conduct a short remembrance service, according to the Rev. Dennis Short, the council’s president.

The program, which will be held at Congregation Shir Ha-Ma’alot, 3652 Michelson Drive, Irvine, begins at 11:45 a.m. with a reception, a buffet lunch at noon, followed by the program at 12:40 p.m. and adjournment by 1:30 p.m.

The cost is $10 with a reservation, $12 without a reservation. Reservations are required by Monday and can be made by calling (714) 921-8665 or by e-mailing nmiinterfaith@aol.com.

CLUB MEETINGS THIS WEEK

Help your community and the world through a service club!

You are invited to attend a service club meeting this coming week to learn more about opportunities for service. Most clubs will buy your first meal for you as you get acquainted with them.

TUESDAY7:30 a.m.: The 47-member Newport Beach Sunrise Rotary Club meets at Five Crowns, www.newportbeachsunriserotary.org.

Noon: The 20-member Rotary Club of Costa Mesa meets at the Costa Mesa Marriott Suites to hear Roberto Brutocoa discuss the Small Angels, a private foundation.

WEDNESDAYThe 10-member Newport Harbor Kiwanis Club meets at Denny’s Restaurant, 290 Bristol St., Costa Mesa.

7:30 a.m.:

Noon: The 27-member Exchange Club of the Orange Coast meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club. Dick Beverage of the Assn. of Professional Ballplayers of America will be the speaker. The Soroptimist International of Newport Harbor meets at the Santa Ana Country Club to hear Victoria Gray, vice president and senior administrative officer for trust and estate services of Northern Trust.

6 p.m.: The 55-member Rotary Club of Newport-Balboa meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club for a program by Newport Beach Mayor Steve Rosansky. For details, go to www.newportbalboa.org .

THURSDAYThe 20-member Costa Mesa Orange Coast Lions Club meets at Mimi’s Cafe.

7 a.m.:

Noon: The 50-member Costa Mesa Kiwanis Club meets at the Holiday Inn. 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 to hear Brad Avery, director of our nation’s largest and most comprehensive public sailing program at Orange Coast College. For more, go to www.newportbeach kiwanis.org. The 85-member Rotary Club of Newport Irvine meets at the University Club at UC Irvine. For more, go to www.nirotary.org . The 95-member Exchange Club of Newport Harbor meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club. For more information, go to https://members.cox.net/nhexchangeclub/index.htm.