Community & Clubs: Students set off for Okazaki trip

A delegation of students from Newport Beach was set to leave Tuesday for a visit to the sister city of Okazaki, Japan.

“We have an outstanding delegation going to Okazaki representing the Newport Balboa Rotary Club, the Newport Beach Sister City Assn., our schools and our community,” said Connie Skibba of the Newport Beach Sister City Assn.

The group consists of Lauren Nakamura, Courtney O’Connor, Matthew Daruty, Natalie Wilde, Montana Mattox, Kelly Mulcaire and chaperones Julie Oblouk and Nicole Fusaro, who teach at Corona del Mar High School.

The delegation will stay with host families and attend school in Okazaki, about 200 miles southwest of Tokyo. Before returning home July 15, they will also visit Kyoto.

In October, the local students will host students from Okazaki in their homes and share their high school campus experience. The exchange was started by the Rotary Club of Newport-Balboa some 20-plus years ago, according to Robert Merring, a Rotarian and Sister City Assn. board member.

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Volunteers clock many hours

Volunteers devoted a total of 31,741 hours of their time to the Assistance League of Newport Beach during 2010-11.

“This year, the total annual hours volunteered by our membership was nothing short of amazing, and each of us can be proud to belong to such a dedicated group of women,” said Kathy Youngman, the league’s vice president of for membership.

“Given that the 2010 national estimated value of the volunteer hour is $21.36, our 513 members donated $677,988 worth of their time this past year,” Youngman said.

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Hearts of lions

Harbor Mesa Lions have donated more than $12,000 to charitable organizations in the past year.

At a recent meeting, representatives of various charities, including the Boys & Girls Club of the Harbor Area, Youth Employment Services, Share Our Selves Soup Kitchen, Angels Charities, Interfaith Shelter and many others were given the money and spoke about their organizations.

Each gave touching stories of how those in need are helped with the funds. The Lions are always in the forefront when disasters occur and when a need for help arises in the community. The personal stories of those helped made it all very worthwhile to the Harbor Mesa Lions members. The funds are raised with events such as a casino night, bingo night, spaghetti dinner and the garage sale.

Visit nhcmlionsclub.com for more information.

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Reaching out to Marines

The Rotary Club of Newport-Balboa shipped 595 pounds of goodies to Marines at sea with the 1st Battalion, 1st Marines — Newport Beach’s adopted military unit. The care packages reached the unit Sunday, a battalion landing team leader said.

According to Rotary Club coordinator Bill Hossfeld, the boxes included beef jerky, nine flavors of licorice and a variety of Jolly Ranchers.

“We also put into each box some of our Rotary Club banners and a thank-you note addressed to each ship signed by many of our club members,” Hossfeld said. “We are hoping to have another shipment in the near future for all the men to enjoy in their leisure time, if any.”

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SERVICE CLUB MEETINGS THIS WEEK

You are invited to attend a service club meeting this coming week to learn more about opportunities for service. Most clubs will buy your first meal for you as you get acquainted with them.

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Wednesday

Noon: The Exchange Club of Corona del Mar meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club, 1601 Bayside Drive, Corona del Mar, for a business meeting.

5:15 p.m.: The 10-member Rotary Club of Costa Mesa meets at the Ramada Inn & Suites, 1680 Superior Ave., Costa Mesa. Visit https://www.costamesarotary.org.

6 p.m.: The 60-member Rotary Club of Newport-Balboa meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club,1601 Bayside Drive, Corona del Mar, for Club Assembly with newly installed president Bill Hossfeld.

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THURSDAY

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

Noon: The 45-member Kiwanis Club of Newport Beach-Corona del Mar meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club. For more information, visit https://www.newportbeachkiwanis.org.

The 95-member Exchange Club of Newport Harbor meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club,1601 Bayside Drive, Corona del Mar, for a business meeting. For more information, visit https://www.nhexchange.org.

The 40-member Kiwanis Club of Costa Mesa meets at the Costa Mesa Golf and Country Club, 1701 Golf Course Drive, Costa Mesa. For more information, visit https://www.costamesakiwanis.org.

The 65-member Rotary Club of Newport-Irvine meets at the University Club, 801 E. Peltason Drive, Irvine. Visit https://www.ni-rotary.org.

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TUESDAY

7:15 a.m.: The Newport Beach Sunrise Rotary Club meets at Five Crowns Restaurant, 3801 E. Coast Hwy., Corona del Mar, for a program by Lane Calvert and Rae Shirer, “Fifth Avenue of Service.” Visit https://www.newportbeachsunriserotary.org.

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