JIM DE BOOM -- Community & Clubs

Applications are being accepted by Rotary District 5320 for five

Ambassadorial Scholarships to be awarded in the spring for undergraduate

and graduate students to study aboard for the 2002-03 academic year, says

Rotary District 5320 Gov. Price Shapiro, a member of the Newport Beach

Sunrise Rotary Club. The scholarships, valued at up to $25,000 each, are

funded by donations from some 2,400 Rotarians in Orange and Southern Los

Angeles County to The Rotary Foundation, the world’s largest privately

funded international scholarships program.

More than 1,200 Ambassadorial Scholarships were awarded worldwide for

study for the 2001-02 academic year through grants totaling about $26

million. Recipients from some 69 countries will study in more than 64

different nations, notes Robert McAulay, District 5320 Ambassadorial

Scholarship chairman. In comparison, 25 Rhodes Scholarships are awarded

annually in the United States.

The Rotary Foundation’s oldest and best-known program, Ambassadorial

Scholarships was established in 1947. Since then, more than 30,000 men

and women from 100 nations have studied abroad under its auspices,

McAulay says.

The purpose of the Ambassadorial Scholarships program is to increase

international understanding and friendly relations among people of

different countries. While abroad, scholars serve as ambassadors of

goodwill to the people of the host country and give presentations about

their homelands to Rotary clubs and other groups. Upon returning home,

scholars share with local Rotarians and others the experiences that led

to greater understanding of their host countries.

A benefit not found in other scholarship programs is the scholar’s

association with Rotary clubs and Rotarians. Each scholar is assigned

both a sponsor and a host Rotarian counselor who provide orientation,

advice and assistance.

Many former scholars serve important posts with their governments;

others are highly respected in their fields. Examples of outstanding

Rotary alumni include Bill Moyers, a prominent U.S. journalist; Sadako

Ogata, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees; Paul Volcker,

former chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve Board; Carlos Alberto Da Mota

Pinto, former prime minister of Portugal; Otto Borch, Danish Ambassador

to the U.S.; Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Santa Ana); and Roger Ebert, the

popular film critic.

Prospective scholars must apply through one of 51 local Rotary clubs

in Rotary District 5320. Applicants must have completed at least two

years of college when the scholarship begins. For additional information,

eligibility requirements or an application, call McAulay at (714)

532-1030.

PEARL HARBOR: Newport Beach resident professor Bill Mimiagg, a

retired Marine with 31 years of experience that included World War II,

will be the featured speaker at 7:30 p.m. Monday at American Legion Post

555. Honored guests at the event will be Pearl Harbor survivors and

community college students of a World War II history class. The post is

at 14582 Beach Blvd., Westminster.

WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF SERVICE CLUBS: Paul Bush, sponsored by

George Sanders, and Gabe Riojas, sponsored by Harry Hartstein, joined the

Newport Beach-Corona del Mar Kiwanis Club. Mike Busch, sponsored by Jim

Parsons, joined the Rotary Club of Newport-Irvine.

SERVICE CLUB MEETINGS THIS WEEK: Does your New Year’s resolution

include getting more involved in your community, making new friends,

networking or giving something back to your community? Try a service

club. You are invited to attend a club meeting this week. Many clubs will

buy your first guest meal.

MONDAY

6:30 p.m.: The Harbor Mesa Lions Club will meet at Zubies Restaurant.

TUESDAY

7:30 a.m.: The Newport Beach Sunrise Rotary Club will meet at the

Newport Harbor Nautical Museum/Riverboat Restaurant to hear Judge

Geoffrey Glass of Orange County Drug Court.

6:30 p.m.: The Costa Mesa-Newport Harbor Lions Club will meet at the

Costa Mesa Golf and Country Club.

WEDNESDAY

7:15 a.m.: The South Coast Metro Rotary Club will meet at the Center

Club, and the Newport Harbor Kiwanis Club will meet at the University

Athletic Club.

Noon: The Orange Coast Exchange Club will meet at the Bahia Corinthian

Yacht Club.

6 p.m.: The Rotary Club of Newport-Balboa will meet at the Bahia

Corinthian Yacht Club to hear Jim Dale of Hoag Hospital discuss plans for

the new Women’s Pavilion o7 (https://www.newportbalboa.orgf7 ).

THURSDAY

7:30 a.m.: The Costa Mesa Orange Coast Breakfast Lions Club will meet

at Mimi’s Cafe to hear new member Jim Wagner give a craft talk.

Noon: The Kiwanis Club of Costa Mesa will meet at the Holiday Inn, the

Newport Beach-Corona del Mar Kiwanis Club will meet at the Bahia

Corinthian Yacht Club, the Exchange Club of Newport Harbor will meet at

the Riverboat Restaurant to hear Tom Moon give a talk titled “OSS

Experiences in World War II,” and the Newport Irvine Rotary Club will

meet at the Irvine Marriott Hotel for a program on the youth exchange and

a craft talk or two (o7 https://www.nirotary.orgf7 ).

6:30 p.m.: The Zonta Club of Newport Harbor will meet at the clubhouse

to hear Victorian Curtin with an update on the Women’s Opportunity

Center.

* COMMUNITY & CLUBS is published every Saturday in the Daily Pilot.

Send your service club’s meeting information by fax to (949) 660-8667,

e-mail to o7 [email protected] or by mail to 2082 S.E. Bristol St.,

Suite 201, Newport Beach, CA 92660-1740.