Community & Clubs:

The Rotary Clubs of Newport Beach (Sunrise) and Costa Mesa are organizing the inaugural Newport Beach Lobster Fest. The event, which organizers hope will be annual, will be from 3 to 9 p.m. Aug. 2, at the Newport Dunes Resort.

The Lobster Fest is a family-friendly event providing attendees a delicious dinner of freshly cooked Maine lobsters (flown in the night before) with top-grade tri-tip, delicious sides and beverages. Adults ticket prices start at $75.

For the children, there is a kids’ menu of hamburgers, hot dogs, sides and drinks cooked on the grill by local Newport Beach firefighters.

The children will have loads of activities, including a sandcastle building contest and puppet show. Children’s tickets are $25.

It is also ideal for an office party or a group event, notes Tim Brown, Newport Sunrise club president for 2009-10.

Dancing will be available for everyone, featuring classic surf music (fast and slow) as bargain hunters will seek a wide range of silent auction items, including sports memorabilia, Angels/Yankees tickets and his-and-her bicycles. Many “top of the line” restaurant certificates will be available for summer entertaining, hotel accommodations and more.

A live auction will feature a week at the five-star Club Cascadas de Baja in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The resort is set facing the famous El Arco where the Pacific and Sea of Cortez meet on the fabulous Medina Beach, a short walk from town.

The organizing committee includes Don Gregg, president of Costa Mesa Rotary, and Tim Brown and Kimberly McKinney, co-chairs of the Newport Beach Sunrise Rotary. Assisting at the event will be the 1st Battalion, 1st Marines from Camp Pendleton (adopted by Newport Beach), the Sea Scouts and cheerleaders from Costa Mesa.

To get more information and order tickets, go to www.lobsterfestatnewportbeach.com or call (949) 650-5504.

BRAG TIME FOR HER HUSBAND

As many readers know, I have been married to Barbara for 39 years and for much of that time while I was with the YMCA and on the school board, she was known as Jim’s wife. Then for 10 years she served as president of the Orange Chamber of Commerce and for the past two and a half years, the president of the Palm Desert Chamber of Commerce. Now I am known as Barbara’s husband, and I am proud of that.

The Palm Desert Chamber was just awarded 5-Star Accreditation from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, something only one other chamber in California and 55 in the United States out of 6,500+ chambers have achieved. The same week she received notification of the accreditation, she was honored by the American Business Women’s Assn. of Palm Desert as “Queen for a Day” at the organization’s annual luncheon. In a couple of short years in the desert, she has made a name for herself!

WORTH REPEATING

Thought for the Day as provided by Greg Kelley of the Newport Mesa Irvine Interfaith Council… “In reading the lives of great individuals, I found that the first victory they won was over themselves…self-discipline with all of them came first.”

— President Harry S. Truman

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. Most clubs will buy your first meal as you get acquainted.

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 Crime Prevention Luncheon.

6 p.m.: The 65-member Rotary Club of Newport Balboa meets the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club for the Presidents Demotion Dinner, honoring outgoing President Victor Currie and welcoming incoming President Marc Aarons.

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. 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. Visit www.newportbeachkiwanis.org.

The 85-member Rotary Club of Newport Irvine meets at the University Club at UCI, 801 E. Peltason Drive, for a program by the chief executive of the Council on Aging. For more information, visit www.ni-rotary.org.

The 95-member Exchange Club of Newport Harbor meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club for the presentation of “The Book of Golden Deeds” by Garry Tewinkle and “One Nation Under God” by Ed Romeo.

TUESDAY

6 p.m.: The Newport Beach Sunrise Rotary Club meets at Five Crowns for Presidents Demotion Dinner, honoring outgoing President Mary Cockley and welcoming Tim Brown as president for 2009-10.

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 .