COMMUNITY & CLUBS:

Soroptimist International of Newport Harbor will conduct its 10th annual Matters of the Heart Feb. 6 at the Turnip Rose in Costa Mesa. The event will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with a luncheon, opportunity drawings and silent auction, according to Dawn Marie Lemonds, past president of the local Soroptimist club.

The event is a celebration of two organizations that have made a difference for women and girls. This year’s event will celebrate two honorees: Sandie Morgan for her work with the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force, and Orange Coast Interfaith Shelter for its excellent service to our community.

Sandie Morgan is the administrator of the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force, where she is working to build a team that will educate and enlist our local community against the modern slave trade. As an advocate for victims of human trafficking, Sandie guest lectures in universities, community groups and churches. Changing the way we think about the forces that drive demand for human trafficking is her goal.

“The modern slave trade is a business fueled by demand,” she said. “Consequently, to some degree we are all part of the problem or part of the solution. We contribute to demand by turning a blind eye to pornography and sex tourism, or by making choices that reward companies that keep their bottom line under the rest of the market by the use of slave labor.”

The mission of the Orange Coast Interfaith Shelter is to change the lives of homeless families by providing them with the encouragement and the tools for achieving self-sufficiency. Everyday, the interfaith group helps homeless families from all over Orange County in its efforts to find housing and attain self-sufficiency. In the organization’s 28 years it has evolved into a multifaceted transitional housing program addressing the tangible and intangible needs — from shelter, to parenting class to counseling. As one of the oldest and largest shelters in Orange County, Orange Coast Interfaith Shelter serves more than 300 individuals each year and is structured to respond in a proactive manner to the needs of our families.

Reservations are $60 per person and must be made by Jan. 31. Underwriting opportunities are also available. For additional information call Dawn Marie Lemonds at (714) 709-3686.

Past honorees include Sandra Robbie, Marian Bergeson, Jo Caines, Peggy Goldwater Clay, Jean Forbath, Dora Hill, Marian Knott, Dawn Marie Lemonds, Judge Frances Munoz, Gloria Osbrink, Linda Schulein, Lori Warmington and yours truly to name a few.

Soroptimist International of Newport Harbor Area is a club of 25 local businesswomen representing a variety of professions and industries. The organization supports a number of local organizations such as Interval House, Orange Coast Interfaith Shelter and Girls Inc., as well as sponsoring International Projects with Soroptimist International. The club also annually awards women reentering the work force and high school women for their volunteer work. The Newport Harbor Area club is part of Soroptimist International, which boasts 100,000 members in 127 countries worldwide.

WORTH REPEATING

The thought for the day, as provided by Greg Kelley of the Newport Mesa Irvine Interfaith Council — “Whoever renders service to many puts themself in line for greatness — great wealth, great return, great satisfaction, great reputation, and great joy.”

Jim Rohn

SERVICE CLUB MEETINGS THIS WEEK

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.

TODAY

7:30 a.m.: The 10-member Newport Harbor Kiwanis Club meets at Denny’s Restaurant, 290 Bristol St., Costa Mesa.

Noon: The 20-member Exchange Club of Corona del Mar meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club.

6 p.m.: The 65-member Rotary Club of Newport Balboa meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club for a program by Joe Partise on “End Polio Now.” For details, visit 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, Costa Mesa. Visit www.CostaMesaKiwanis.org. The 45-member Kiwanis Club of Newport Beach-Corona del Mar meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club. Visit newportbeachkiwanis.org. The 85-member Rotary Club of Newport Irvine meets at the UCI University Club. Visit www.nirotary.org. The 95-member Exchange Club of Newport Harbor meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club.

MONDAY

6:30 p.m. The Newport Harbor-Costa Mesa Lions club meets at the Chicken Coop.

TUESDAY

7:30 a.m.: The 55-member Newport Beach Sunrise Rotary Club meets at Five Crowns for a program by Merle Stern of the Orange County Art Museum. For more, go to newportbeachsunriserotary.org.

Noon: The 15-member Rotary Club of Costa Mesa meets at the Costa Mesa Marriott Suites.

6 p.m.: The Irvine New Generations Rotary Club meets at Tapas Restaurant, Newport Beach.

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.