COMMUNITY & CLUBS:

The Newport Mesa Irvine Interfaith Council will conduct its eighth trip to China led by yours truly and Linda Short of Harbor Christian Church. This special opportunity is open to clergy, congregation members, service club members, their families and friends, and will take place Oct. 30 to Nov. 7. More than 800 youth and adults have toured China with the Interfaith Council, according to Short.

The tour includes round-trip international air fare from LAX, 4- or 5-star hotel stays, double occupancy, three meals each day except one dinner on your own, visits to a Protestant and Roman Catholic Church, several Buddhist Temples, deluxe bus tours, English speaking tour guides, admission to tourist spots and airport tax throughout the trip for the price of $1,859. A single room for the entire trip is available at additional $450, Business Class upgrade on International flights is $4,500. Optional tour to Xi’an and Terra Cotta Warriors is available for $450 per person.

An orientation meeting will be at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at Harbor Christian Church, 2401 Irvine Ave., Newport Beach. Visit www.nmiinterfaith.org for a complete itinerary and application.

WOMEN HELPING WOMEN

I received an e-mail from Melissa Sanchez, who works at Women Helping Women in Costa Mesa:

“Hi! I work at a local nonprofit in Costa Mesa that provides low-income individuals with employment services. We give them business professional clothing free of charge. We really are in need of women’s and men’s suits. If you would like to donate to a good cause, or if you have any family and friends who would like to donate their unwanted clothing, feel free to contact me! Thank you so much!”

You can e-mail Melissa at melissas@whw.org, or call her at (949) 631-2333, and can drop off clothes at 711 W. 17th St., A-10, Costa Mesa.

WORTH REPEATING

Thought for the Day as provided by Greg Kelley of the Newport Mesa Irvine Interfaith Council:

“Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain — and most fools do. But it takes character and self-control to be understanding and forgiving.”

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 Restaurant, 290 Bristol St., Costa Mesa.

Noon: The 20-member Exchange Club of Corona del Mar meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club, 1601 Bayside Drive, for a program by Dave Simpson on “Today’s Finances.”

6 p.m.: The 65-member Rotary Club of Newport Balboa meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club for a program by Dr. Raj Desai on Project Deaf India. Go to www.newportbalboa.org for details.

5:15 p.m.: The 15-member Rotary Club of Costa Mesa meets at the Metro Center at South Coast, 555 Anton Blvd., Suite 150.

THURSDAY

7 a.m.: The 20-member Costa Mesa Orange Coast Lions Club meets at Mimi’s Café, 1835 Newport Blvd. No. F.

Noon: The 50-member Costa Mesa Kiwanis Club meets at the Holiday Inn, 3131 Bristol St., 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 Rotary Club of Newport Irvine meets at the University Club at UCI, 801 E. Peltason Drive. For more information, visit www.ni-rotary.org.

The 95-member Exchange Club of Newport Harbor meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club for a program by James McCall on the new “Boracare Termite Treatment.”

TUESDAY

7:30 a.m.: The 55-member Newport Beach Sunrise Rotary Club meets at Five Crowns, 3801 E. Coast Hwy., Corona del Mar, for Craft Talks by club members. For details, go to www.newportbeachsunrise rotary.org.

6 p.m.: The Irvine New Generations Rotary Club meets at Tapas Restaurant, 4253 Martingale Way No. A, 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.