Golf tourney funds scholarships

Golfers will tee off in the 10th annual Newport-Irvine Rotary Club’s golf tournament on June 8 at Strawberry Farms Golf Club in Irvine. The event is the club’s major annual fundraiser, and its goal is to raise $40,000. The funds are designated to provide educational and family support for abused children and community college scholarships.

The day’s program will feature 18 holes of golf, lunch, live and silent auctions and a banquet dinner. Registration will be at 9:30 a.m., and the fee is $275 per golfer. Cocktails and dinner will be served at 5:30 p.m. Individuals and business groups may participate as players, tournament sponsors and program advertisers. Prizes will be offered for tournament winners, the longest drive, shots closest to the pin and more. A number of celebrities will participate, including Dr. Sammy Lee, who is in both the Olympic Hall of Fame and the International Swimming Hall of Fame; Mitch Gaylord, the most decorated Olympic gymnast in history; Debbie Dahmer, winner of numerous professional and amateur golf tournaments; and Patrika Darbo, one of daytime TV’s most popular stars.

Registration and information is available at www.nirotary.org or by calling Jerry Rekers at (949) 724-8157.

EXCHANGE HONORS STUDENTS

The Exchange Club of Newport Harbor honored students from Monte Vista, Back Bay, Costa Mesa and Estancia high schools at a recent luncheon meeting at the Nautical Museum. Recognized were Sebastian Castellanos, Danny Marroquin, Melinda Sandoval, Alexander Angulano, Angeline Calvert, Martin Sanchez, Jacob Baumgartner and Cassie Hopkins.

AWARD-WINNING CLUBS

Three local Rotary Clubs walked away with a number of awards from the 50-club competition at the recent Rotary district conference.

The Rotary Club of Newport-Irvine received first place among large clubs for its international and vocational service projects and second place in website, bulletin, club and community service.

The Rotary Club of Newport-Balboa received second-place awards among medium-size clubs for community service and website, and the Rotary Club of Newport Beach Sunrise received second place in international service and bulletin.

HONOR A CANCER VICTIM

Those who lost their lives to cancer will be remembered tonight at Newport Harbor High School as the track is lined with luminaria as part of the 24-hour Relay for Life benefiting the American Cancer Society. For $10 you can purchase a luminaria to honor a loved one. The ceremony begins at 9 p.m., and a tribute to Newport Beach Relay for Life co-founder Pat Smith will be held at 9:30. For more information, call event co-chair Stacy de Boom at (949) 278-3774.

‘DA VINCI’ DRAWS CROWD

Wednesday’s luncheon meeting of the Newport-Mesa-Irvine Interfaith Council at St. Mark Presbyterian Church drew 170 members and guests, a record according to council president Rev. Dennis Short. The subject was “The Da Vinci Code and the Gospel of Judas,” presented by Marvin Meyer of Chapman University.

“Not only did we have our largest luncheon attendance ever, we had the most clergy ever,” Short said.

“ ‘The Da Vinci Code’ is fiction,” Meyers said. “Dan Brown says it’s fiction. There is very little about the book that is historically accurate.”

WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF SERVICE CLUBS

Phyllis Hutto, sponsored by Sandi Scheafer and Carol Van Holt, joined the Harbor Mesa Lions Club.

WORTH REPEATING

The thought for the day, as provided by Greg Kelley of the Newport-Mesa-Irvine Interfaith Council:

“Most of our obstacles would melt away if, instead of cowering before them, we should make up our minds to walk boldly through them.”

? ABRAHAM MASLOW

SERVICE CLUB MEETINGS

TUESDAY

7:30 a.m.: The 45-member Rotary Club of Newport Beach Sunrise meets at Five Crowns to hear John Moorlach, Orange County tax collector.

Noon: The 24-member Rotary Club of Costa Mesa meets at the Clubhouse at South Coast Plaza.

WEDNESDAY

7:30 a.m.: The 10-member Newport Harbor Kiwanis Club meets at Denny’s Restaurant at the corner of Red Hill Avenue and Bristol Street.

Noon: The 27-member Exchange Club of the Orange Coast meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club for the ACE and Teacher Awards.

6 p.m.: The 55-member Rotary Club of Newport-Balboa meets at Myers Racing, 15222 Connector Lane, Huntington Beach, to see the collection of racing cars (www.newportbalboa.org).

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 meets at the Holiday Inn (www.kiwanis.org/club/costamesa); the 45-member Kiwanis Club of Newport Beach-Corona del Mar meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club for a program by retired Police Capt. Tim Newman on home security; the 95-member Exchange Club of Newport Harbor meets at the Nautical Museum for a program by Tram Ho, Mrs. Asia USA 2006. (www.nhexchangeclub.com); the 85-member Rotary Club of Newport-Irvine meets at the Radisson Hotel to hear Orange County Sheriff Mike Carona (www.nirotary.org).