FISH for Katrina relief

Newport Mesa congregations from different faiths have responded to

Hurricane Katrina in many ways. Many have raised money; others have

collected clothing and food. Still others are sponsoring or hosting

Katrina refugees.

Rather than initiating a new Katrina relief program, the Newport

Mesa Irvine Interfaith Council encourages local congregations to work

with Friends in Service to Humanity, also known as FISH, in helping

to settle Katrina refugee families, according to the Rev. Dennis

Short, council president and pastor at Harbor Christian Church.

“We have four Katrina refugee families new to Orange County that

the Red Cross has asked us to assist, and we expect more,” said Dana

Timmermans, executive director for FISH.

They need housing, furniture, clothing, food and money in the

resettlement process.

If you, your family, office or congregation want to help Katrina

victims in a hands on way, contact Timmermans at (949) 515-3815.

AMERICAN LEGION

RAISES KATRINA FUNDS

On Sept. 5, the American Legion Families of Newport Harbor Post

291 held a charity fundraiser at the American Legion Hall to provide

relief and aid to the veterans and their families in the hurricane

damaged areas.

The Post raised $11,061, and money is still coming in, thanks to

the Internet and the post’s website.

Post members served 264 meals, and an estimated 400 people

attended. It was put together in 48 hours by about 24 volunteers.

For more information or to donate, visit

o7www.al291donations.comf7.

SPURGEON AWARD

TO RUDAT AND CARONA

Corona del Mar resident David Rudat -- the retired city manager

and fire chief of Orange -- and Orange County Sheriff Michael Carona

received the William H. Spurgeon Award at a luncheon sponsored by the

Explorer Council of Orange County and chaired by Costa Mesa Fire

Chief Jim Ellis.

Explorers, sponsored by the Boy Scouts of America’s Orange County

Council, is best known for its police and fire department posts. The

late William H. Spurgeon III started the Explorer program some 40

years right here in Orange County. It is now a nationwide program,

including 5,000 high school students involved in 185 posts around Orange County.

As a high school student at Villa Park, Rudat helped charter the

Fire Service Explorer Post 547 sponsored by the Orange Fire

Department in 1970. As a result of his experience, Rudat was the

first firefighter ever hired under the age of 21 in the city of Orange.

A firefighter paramedic for 10 years, Rudat became an engineer,

then a captain, and moved through the ranks of deputy fire marshal,

battalion chief, assistant fire chief, and was named fire chief for

the city of Orange in 1993. In 1995, Rudat was selected city manager,

a post he held until this summer, when he retired.

Rudat has been one of my idols as a city manager, as he has

encouraged community involvement by city staff members. He has led by

example, having served as chairman of the Explorer program and as an

active member of the Rotary Club of Orange and the Orange Chamber of

Commerce. Congratulations!

NICOLL NEVER RETIRED

Former Newport-Mesa Unified School District Superintendent John

Nicoll, who passed away on Sept. 10, never retired from the education

field even after he left the Newport-Mesa district.

Nicoll signed on at National University as an associate professor

of educational administration, according to David Waller, the

associate dean at National University. Nicoll taught school

administration classes to want to be school administrators.

The week before Nicoll died, he signed a 10-year teaching contract

with National University, Waller said.

Although he never retired, he will be missed. Condolences to

John’s family and friends.

WELCOME TO THE WORLD

OF SERVICE CLUBS

Julianne Hagan and Farrah Abrishami, sponsored by Kim DeBroux, who

joined the Rotary Club of Newport-Balboa.

WORTH REPEATING

From the Thought for the Day as provided by Greg Kelley of the

Newport Mesa Irvine Interfaith Council: o7”To dream anything that

you want to dream, that is the beauty of the human mind. To do

anything that you want to do, that is the strength of the human will.

To trust yourself, to test your limits, that is the courage to

succeed.”

f7 -- BERNARD EDMONDS

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 opportunities for service. Most clubs will buy

your first meal for you as you get acquainted with them.

TUESDAY

7:15 a.m.: The 48-member Newport Beach Sunrise Rotary Club meets

at the Five Crowns restaurant for a program by Juan Francisco Lara,

the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Services at UC Irvine

(o7www.newportbeachsunrise rotary.orgf7).

Noon: The newly formed Rotary Club of Costa Mesa will meet at The

Club House at South Coast Plaza.

WEDNESDAY

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

University Athletic Club.

Noon: The 27-member Exchange Club of the Orange Coast meets at the

Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club.

6:15 p.m.: The 50-member Rotary Club of Newport Balboa meets at

the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club to hear Sara Barnicle speak on “Your

Library -- It’s Not Just Books” (o7www.newportbalboa.orgf7).

THURSDAY

7 a.m.: The 20-member Costa Mesa Orange Coast Lions Club meets at

Mimi’s Cafe.

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

Holiday Inn (o7www.kiwanis.org/club/costa mesaf7); the 50-member

Kiwanis Club of Newport Beach/Corona del Mar meets at the Bahia

Corinthian Yacht Club to hear Jim Gilchrist, founder of the Minuteman

Project and a candidate for the 48th Congressional District seat; the

85-member Exchange Club of Newport Harbor meets at the Newport Harbor

Nautical Museum for a Ladies Day program by Dr. Akbarpour on aging

and cancer; the 90 member Rotary Club of Newport Irvine meets at the

Radisson Hotel to hear craft talks by two members

(o7www.nirotary.orgf7).

* 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].

f7