COMMUNITY & CLUBS:

The Orange County Department of Education at a recent board meeting honored Newport-Mesa School Foundation longtime member and three-time President Norm Loats with the “Outstanding Contributions to Education” award at a recent meeting. Loats was honored for “a lifetime of dedication to Education,” according to Phylis Berenbeim, awards program coordinator. Loats served as assistant superintendent of the Newport Union High School District in 1961 and as deputy superintendent of Newport-Mesa Unified School District until his retirement in the 1980s. Loats has also been a leader in the Hoag Hospital 552 Club, the Youth Employment Service, YMCA, Assessment and Treatment Center and Commodores Club of the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce.

CARL KARCHER remembered

The late Carl Karcher was a star on the service club speaker route. The face of Carl’s Jr. was more than willing to attend a Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions or Exchange club meeting and share his philosophy of business and personal life. And he usually gave the attendees a signed card entitling them to a free Famous Star hamburger. Service club members would listen closely to what he had to say.

Some dozen years ago, Barbara and I were invited by then-Providence Speech & Hearing fundraiser Dori Fitch to attend a Sunday afternoon reception at the Karcher home in San Clemente. We were there with 40 or so of Karcher’s friends who were invited to underwrite an upcoming benefit dinner for Providence Speech and Hearing. After an hour of refreshments and appetizers, Carl called the group to order and indicated he needed underwriters for the dinner’s invitations, food, reception, and the list went on. In 40 minutes he had commitments for more than $120,000! Carl will be missed. Condolences to his family and friends.

MUSEUM OF TOLERANCE awaits

In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. day, the Newport Mesa Irvine Interfaith Council will tour the Simon Wiesenthal Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles on Jan. 21. A bus will leave at 9 a.m. from the Costa Mesa City Hall parking lot and return about 3 p.m. According to Greg Kelley, council program chair, room is available. The tour ticket is $13 for adults; $11, seniors 62 and older; $10, students; and there is a $5 fee for all riders. Lunch will be on your own.

WORTH REPEATING

From the Thought for the Day, as provided by Greg Kelley of the Newport Mesa Irvine Interfaith Council: “The greater part of our happiness or misery depends on our dispositions and not our circumstances.” — Martha Washington

COMMUNITY & CLUBS is published Saturdays. Send your service club’s meeting information by fax to (714) 921-8655 or by e-mail to jdeboom@aol.com.