COMMUNITY & CLUBS:

It seems to me that I learn more about people I know when they pass away than when they were alive.

There was more to Phil Arst than being a leader of Newport Beach’s Greenlight group.

He was a respected Rotarian and president of the Newport-Irvine Rotary Club in 2001-02 and served the Rotary District for the past five years as chairman of the district’s efforts to support Donate Life, the organ transplant organization.

He persuaded me and a lot of the other 2,600 Rotarians in District 5320 to sign up online at www.donatelifecalifornia.org to donate our organs upon our death.

Thanks to Phil, I have my pink dot on my driver’s license and the authorization form in my wallet.

I met former Irvine Co. PR executive Tom Wilck in the early 1980s when we were both members of the Commodores Club of the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce.

He had a dry wit and a real ability to understand the situation.

It wasn’t until I read his obituary that I learned he worked for Walt Disney personally, the Small Business Administration and the Republican National Committee with a focus on public relations in the three areas.

A real gentleman!

Condolences from Barbara and me to both families.

READING BY 9 BOOK DRIVE A SUCCESS

Rotary District Gov. Roger McGonegal of Newport Beach reported that Wednesday’s Reading by 9 Book Drive at the Orange County Fair netted 42,637 books, an increase of 20% from the previous year.

Rotarians from local clubs collected books at fair entrances in exchange for an admission ticket. Scholastic Books will match the number donated by fair attendees, and the 83,000-plus books will be distributed to elementary schools in Orange County for use by kindergarteners through third-graders as part of the Los Angeles Times’ Reading by 9 program.

WORTH REPEATING

Thought for the Day as provided by Greg Kelley of the Newport-Mesa-Irvine Interfaith Council ... “Be a good listener. Your ears will never get you in trouble.”

— Frank Tyger

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.

TODAY

7:30 a.m.: The 10-member Newport Harbor Kiwanis Club meets at Denny’s at the corner of Red Hill Avenue and Bristol Street.

Noon: The Exchange Club of Corona del Mar meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club for a program on Bizz Kids.

6 p.m.: The 62-member Rotary Club of Newport-Balboa meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club for an Olympic Night program. For more information, visit www.newportbalboa.org.

THURSDAY

7 a.m.: The 20-member Costa Mesa Orange Coast Lions Club meets at Mimi’s Café.

Noon: The 50-member Costa Mesa Kiwanis Club meets at the Holiday Inn in Costa Mesa. For more information, visit www.CostaMesaKiwanis.org. The 45-member Kiwanis Club of Newport Beach/Corona del Mar meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club. For more information, visit www.newportbeachkiwanis.org. The 85-member Newport-Irvine Rotary Club meets at the University Club at UCI to hear Rep. John Campbell. For more information, visit www.nirotary.org. The 95-member Newport Harbor Exchange Club meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club for a Ladies Day program featuring comedienne Cindy Burns. For more information, visit members.cox.net/nhexchangeclub/ index.htm.

MONDAY

5 p.m.: The Costa Mesa-Newport Harbor Lions Club is dining for dollars at the Souplantation in Costa Mesa.

TUESDAY

7:30 a.m.: The 52-member Newport Beach Sunrise Rotary Club meets at Five Crowns Restaurant for a Frank Olivares craft talk, “30 Years as a Jockey.” For more information, visit www.newportbeachsunriserotary. org.

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

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