Extending hearts and hands in service

The Newport-Mesa Irvine Interfaith Council presented four Hearts

and Hands for Service awards to individuals and groups who make a

difference in our communities. Presenting the award certificates,

created by Greg Kelley of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church,

were Lane Calvert of the Bahai faith and Jaimie Day of the Church of

Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. All three are council board

members.

Among the honored was Ron Owens of Project Independence, a program

that aids persons with developmental disabilities and creates

services that expand their opportunities for personal freedom.

Roger McGonegal and the Rotary Club of Newport-Balboa received the

award for the Reading by 9 program, conceived four years ago to help

buy books for children from kindergarten through third grades at

Pomona, Whittier and Wilson Schools in Costa Mesa. Due to the

combined efforts of Rotary Clubs of Newport-Balboa, Newport-Irvine

and Newport Sunrise, as well as the Daily Pilot and the Fashion

Island Fountain for Youth, some 15,000 reading books have been

purchased and dozens of community members are volunteering as reading

mentors in the three schools.

The Rev. Cheol Kwak and Bill John of the United Methodist Church

“Gimme Shelter” were honored for their work in providing affordable

housing. Together, they have brought together volunteers from Orange

and San Diego Counties to raise $100,000 and build housing. In

November, after six months of volunteering each Saturday, the first

United Methodist Church-Habitat for Humanity housing will be

dedicated in Orange County.

Honored for his work with Vineyard Christian Church Outreach was

Luis Armendiaz, who drives “The Jesus Truck,” picking up food,

clothing and necessities to give to families and individuals who need

them the most. “If everyone whose life has been made better from

Luis’ goodness was here to honor him, we would need to meet in a

stadium,” Day said.

“It is inspiring to hear the difference an individual, a group and

a church can make in the life of our communities,” noted The Rev. Don

Oliver, interfaith council president and a chaplain at Hoag Memorial

Hospital Presbyterian.

NEW KIWANIS OFFICERS

Wally Paulson assumed the presidency of the Newport Beach-Corona

del Mar Kiwanis Club recently and was off to a rocky start as club

members walked out of the meeting. For some service clubs, that is

how they welcome their new leader. The members soon returned to hear

Paulson introduce the officers, directors and committee chairs

serving with him.

Mark Doyle is president-elect, Kyle Raine is vice president, Ted

Dean is secretary and Jack Mills is treasurer. Serving as directors

are Dean Brigham, Harrell Kloke, Carl Laird, Joe Sessa, Cathy Pham,

George Sanders, Bill Simons and Barrett Westover.

NATIONAL DAY OF SERVICE

Members of the Exchange Clubs from across the United States will

gather today in Battery Park, New York City, for a ceremony to pay

tribute to police officers and firefighters who sacrificed their

lives on Sept. 11, 2001. Today is the Exchange’s annual National Day

of Service.

The highlight of the tribute will be the presentation of the Blue

and Gold Awards. The purpose of the Blue and Gold Award is to enhance

the public’s respect, admiration and appreciation for the sacrifices

that law enforcement and firefighters make in the line of duty,

according to Tom Keyes, president of the Exchange Club of Orange

Coast.

WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF SERVICE CLUBS

Lan Nguyen, a certified public accountant sponsored by Kim

DeBroux, and William Kames, sponsored by Dick Dickson, joined the

Rotary Club of Newport-Balboa. John McNaughton and Al Weber joined

the Exchange Club of Newport Harbor. Kathy Blake, Debbie Jara and

Dalila Jara joined the Newport Harbor-Costa Mesa Lions Club.

Christina Holliday, a certified public accountant, joined the Rotary

Club of Newport Beach Sunrise.

WORTH REPEATING

From the “Thought for the Day” provided by Greg Kelley of the

Newport-Mesa Irvine Interfaith Council ... “You will find, as you

look back upon your life, that the moments when you have really lived

were the moments when you have done things in the spirit of love.”

... Henry Drummond

SERVICE CLUB MEETINGS THIS COMING WEEK

TUESDAY

7:30 a.m.: The 35-member Newport Beach Sunrise Rotary Club will

meet at Five Crowns for a program by Craig Kennedy on club

membership.

6:30 p.m.: The 40-member Costa Mesa Newport Harbor Lions Club will

meet at the Costa Mesa Country Club.

WEDNESDAY

7:15 a.m.: The 20-member South Coast Metro Rotary Club will meet

at the Center Club (www.southcoastmet rorotary.org) and the Newport

Harbor Kiwanis Club meets at the University Athletic Club.

Noon: The 35-member Exchange Club of the Orange Coast will meet at

the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club for a presentation by Howard Newton

on the Orange County Sheriff’s communication system.

6 p.m.: The 60-member Rotary Club of Newport-Balboa will meet at

the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club for a Past President’s Night and

Reunion Dinner with past members of Newport-Balboa and Costa Mesa

Clubs.

THURSDAY

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

Club will meet at Mimi’s Cafe for a business meeting.

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

Holiday Inn (www.kiwanis.org/club/ costamesa); the 50-member Newport

Beach-Corona del Mar Kiwanis Club meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht

Club; the 80-member Exchange Club of Newport Harbor meets at the

Newport Harbor Nautical Museum for a Ladies Day Program; and the

100-member Newport-Irvine Rotary Club meets the Irvine Marriott Hotel

to hear Marilyn Desper discuss “Disaster Nursing After September

11th” (www.nirotary.org).

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

Send your service club’s meeting information by Fax to (949)

660-8667; e-mail to [email protected] or by mail to 2082 S.E. Bristol,

Suite 201, Newport Beach, CA 92660-1740.