COMMUNITY & CLUBS:Rotary creates event for families of fallen military

In an effort to support the families of the fallen military since 9/11, a dozen Rotary Clubs in District 5320 have banded together with other support groups to form “Operation One Family.” Sponsoring Rotary Clubs include the Costa Mesa, Newport-Balboa and Newport-Irvine clubs. The weekend event is being co-chaired by Kim DeBroux (Newport-Balboa) and Larry Thomas (Costa Mesa).

Operation One Family endeavors to help families of the fallen military to cope with their loss, stabilize their present situation, and secure their future.

“Since no one group or agency is able to provide the breadth or depth of support these families need, these Rotary Clubs saw it as an opportunity to bring various support groups together in a collaborative effort for a common cause,” said John Brainerd, governor for Rotary’s District 5320, which encompasses Orange County and portions of southern Los Angeles County.

The mission of Operation One Family is to help provide resources for life skills, education and continuing support to the families of our fallen military heroes since 9/11.

Thus far, the groups banding together with these Rotary Clubs under Operation One Family include Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (www.taps.org), Homefront America (www.homefrontamerica.org), Thanks USA (www.thanksusa.org) and the Military Connection (www.militaryconnection.net).

The efforts of Operation One Family culminate in a convention-style event Aug. 2 through 5 at Vanguard University, where families of the fallen in the Southwest will travel from around the county to connect with these various support groups to forge long-term relationships.

The families arrive Aug. 2 at Vanguard. On Aug. 3, they travel to Camp Pendleton for a TAPS program (separate grief programs for parent and child) and a concert featuring country western star Phil Vassar, with Ricky Lee and Alana Grace.

On Aug. 5 they participate at Vanguard in a variety of life-skills workshops ranging from financial management to interviewing for employment for parents and children, and share fair resources available to them back home. That will be followed by an evening at the Orange County Fair. Sunday begins with an interfaith service and ends with a day at Knott’s Berry Farm.

Weekend sponsors include Vanguard University, Knott’s Berry Farm, Orange County Fair, Go Country 105 FM, Camp Pendleton Marine Base, SMS Generators, Tri West Health Alliance and Liteworks of California.

For more information about Operation One Family, its supporters, efforts, and how individuals, businesses and organizations can get involved, go to www.OperationOneFamily.org or contact co-chairs Kim DeBroux at (714) 914-1078 or by e-mail at kim@gowesternpacific.com, or Larry Thomas at (949) 751-7180 or by e-mail at lthomas@independence-bank.

Game Boys and iPods

While dining with our family last night on the Island of St. Martin in the Caribbean, where we are on vacation, two families from the United States were seated at different tables near us. The first family, a mom, dad and three girls and a boy ranging in age from 12 to 18; the second family, a mom, dad and three boys also ranging in age from 12 to 18.

The first family was talking to each other reminiscing about their days, telling stories and jokes, and laughing. They really enjoyed each others’ company.

When the second family arrived, the parents talked to each other while the children played either with their Game Boys or iPods for a better part of an hour and a half. The only time they put their iPods and Game Boys down was to eat, for about 7 minutes, while they gulped down their food. Ah, what technology has done to too many American families!