Rotary clubs to celebrate centennial

JIM DE BOOM

On Feb. 23, Rotary International will turn 100 years old.

Rotary was founded in Chicago by businessman Paul Harris as the

world’s first service club. Rotary Clubs are now found in 166

countries of the world with more than 1.2-million members who are

leaders in their communities, businesses and professions, including

49 clubs in District 5320 in Orange and Southern Los Angeles

counties.

During the week of Feb. 21, dozens of leaders of Rotary

International, 528 incoming district governors-elect and their

spouses will meet in Anaheim for the International Assembly, a

leadership-training program. It is an intensive seven-day training

program for both the Rotarians and their spouses who assume their

leadership positions on July 1 and serve for a year.

The training session will be translated live in seven different

languages for the attendees. On the evening of Feb. 23, the district

governors-elect and their spouses will take a break from their

activities to celebrate the centennial with Orange County Rotary

Clubs, their only time out of the Hilton Hotel.

According to Greg Arbues, president of the Rotary Club of

Newport-Irvine, his club will host Governors-Elect and spouses from

districts in the Philippines, Finland, France, India, Malaysia,

Brazil, Nigeria, Australia and Japan, with possibly more coming from

Mexico and Korea.

The Rotary Clubs of Newport-Balboa will host governors-elect at

the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club, where they will present several Paul

Harris Fellowships to club members. The Rotary Club of Newport Beach

Sunrise will provide home hospitality for several governors-elect and

their spouses.

The real centennial celebration will take place at the Rotary

International Convention in Chicago June 18 to 22, with an expected

attendance of more than 80,000 Rotarians from around the world. In

addition to the traditional speeches and entertainment, the

convention will be kicked off with a parade on State Street.

To date, more than 250 Rotarians from Orange County Rotary Clubs

have registered for the convention, according to Dist. Gov. Grant

Engle.

COLLECTING EMPTY INKJET CARTRIDGES

The Kiwanis Club of Newport Beach-Corona del Mar is collecting

empty inkjet cartridges as a fundraiser, with the proceeds going

toward its youth service projects, according to club President Joel

Carlson.

Carlson said the club receives $3 for each cartridge it returns.

That makes it a win-win. It’s a win for the environment and a win for

the club, which raises additional funds to support their many youth

programs.

To find out how you may donate your inkjet cartridges, e-mail

[email protected].

ATHLETES OF THE MONTH

Dee Pritchard, president of the Kiwanis Club of Costa Mesa, had

the honor of recognizing the following Athletes of the Month:

Jennifer Sparks (soccer), Bethany Vergara (basketball), Eric Vargas

(soccer) and Brandon Aleson (basketball) of Costa Mesa High School,

and Elise Carroll (soccer), Katelyn Mahan (basketball), Angel Cirilo

(soccer) and Carlos Pinto (basketball) of Estancia High School.

WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF SERVICE CLUBS

Scott Stetson, Starbucks manager, who joined the Kiwanis Club of

Costa Mesa.

WORTH REPEATING

From the Thought for Today, provided by Greg Kelley of the Newport

Mesa Irvine Interfaith Council: “The ultimate measure of an

individual is not where they stand in moments of comfort and

convenience, but where they stand at times of challenge and

controversy.”

-- MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

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 week to

learn more about opportunity for service. Most clubs will buy your

first meal for you as you get acquainted with them.

MONDAY

6:30 p.m.: The Harbor Mesa Lions will host the Student Speakers

Contest at the Costa Mesa Country Club. Five students from Newport

Harbor High will be competing in the contest. The club will also hold

its annual clothing drive for “Women Helping Women,” a local

organization that helps women get back into the work force.

TUESDAY

7:30 a.m.: The 48-member Newport Beach Sunrise Rotary Club will

meet at the Five Crowns restaurant to hear Greg Smith discuss Anaheim

Convention Center activities. (www.newportbeachsunriserotary.org)

WEDNESDAY

7:30 a.m.: The Newport Harbor Kiwanis Club will meet at the

University Athletic Club.

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

Corinthian Yacht Club for a program by Jerry Amante on politics and

current events.

6 p.m.: The 50-member Rotary Club of Newport-Balboa will meet at

the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club for a Valentine’s Dinner.

(www.newportbalboa.org)

THURSDAY

7 a.m.: The 20-plus member Costa Mesa-Orange Costa Breakfast Lions

Club will meet at Mimi’s Cafe for the annual Student Speaker Contest.

(www.cmoclions.org)

Noon: The 50-member Costa Mesa Kiwanis Club will meet at the

Holiday Inn for a business meeting (www.kiwanis.org/club/costamesa);

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

Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club (www.newportbeacahkiwanis.org); the

100-member Rotary Club of Newport Irvine meets at the Radisson Hotel

for a Sweetheart Luncheon (www.nirotary.org); the 85-member Exchange

Club of Newport Harbor meets at the Nautical Museum to hear Lt. Bob

Oakley of the Newport Beach Police Department on Airborne Law

Enforcement. (www.nhexchangeclub.com)

* COMMUNITY & CLUBS is published Saturdays in the Daily Pilot.

Send your service club’s meeting information by fax to (714) 921-8655

or by e-mail to [email protected].