Community & Clubs:

Under the leadership of Tim Brown of the Newport Beach Sunrise Rotary Club and Don Gregg of the Costa Mesa Rotary Club, the inaugural Newport Beach Lobster Fest was deemed a success by those in attendance, according to Kim DeBroux, president of the Costa Mesa club.

Between the guests and volunteers, about 600 attended.

About 30 children enjoyed playing in the sand and constructing their own sandcastles under the supervision of a professional.

The surf-themed band, the Hodaddies, elevated the mood as people began lining up for their delicious fresh Maine lobster, provided by Santa Monica Seafood.

The tri-tips were marinated and cooked by the Newport Beach Fire Department, and the lobsters were done perfectly under the supervision of Chief Dermot Driscoll and Marines from the 1st Battalion, 1st Marines at Camp Pendleton.

“Chris Szechenyi, general manager of the Five Crowns, chose an excellent set of wines from the Summerland Winery in Santa Barbara County,” said Rotarian Laura Dietz. “The margaritas from Margaritaville and the beer from local brewery Dechutes were very, very popular as well.”

“The catering staff of the Newport Dunes did a great job getting us set up and serving food to the VIP tables,” Dietz said. “The audio needs of the event were handled by Al Newman. The auctioneer, Jim Nye, did a terrific job and introduced us all to a fundraising game called ‘Heads or Tails’ and the technique of auctioning off desserts.”

“We should be extraordinarily proud of the steps we took toward increasing the profile of both our [Rotary] club as well as the Costa Mesa club,” Brown said.

Harbor Mesa Lions serve lunch

Six members of the Harbor Mesa Lions served lunch at the Ronald McDonald House in Orange on Friday. The facility provides housing and accommodations for families of children hospitalized at Children’s Hospital of Orange County.

Chaired by Harbor Mesa member Carol Proctor, they served sandwiches, salads, desserts and drinks from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

The Lions club serves meals several times each year at the Ronald McDonald House as one of the many projects the Lions clubs are involved with in the community.

For more information about the Harbor Mesa Lions Club, call (714) 962-0265.

WORTH REPEATING

Thought for the Day as provided by Greg Kelley of the Newport-Mesa-Irvine Interfaith Council: “Attitudes are contagious — is yours worth catching?”

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 opportunity for service. Most clubs will buy your first meal for you as you get acquainted with them.

TODAY

7:30 a.m.: The 10-member Newport Harbor Kiwanis Club meets at Denny’s Restaurant, 290 Bristol St., Costa Mesa.

Noon: The 20-member Exchange Club of Corona del Mar meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club for a business meeting.

6 p.m.: The 65-member Rotary Club of Newport Balboa meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club for a program by Orange Country Schools Supt. William Habermehl. For more information, visit www.newportbalboa.org.

The 15-member Rotary Club of Costa Mesa meets. Call (714) 914-1078 for this week’s meeting location.

THURSDAY

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

Noon: The 50-member Costa Mesa Kiwanis Club meets at the Holiday Inn, Costa Mesa. For more information, visit www.costamesakiwanis.org.

The 45-member Kiwanis Club of Newport Beach-Corona del Mar meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club. For more information, visit www.newportbeachkiwanis.org.

The 85-member Rotary Club of Newport Irvine meets at the University Club at UCI. For more information, visit www.ni-rotary.org.

The 95-member Exchange Club of Newport Harbor meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club for a program by Mike Reed, head scout at USC, titled “College Scouting.”

TUESDAY

7:30 a.m.: The Newport Beach Sunrise Rotary Club meets at Five Crowns for a program by Tony Rackauckas, Orange County District Attorney. For more information, visit www.newportbeachsunriserotary.org.

COMMUNITY & CLUBS is published Saturdays. Send your service club’s meeting information by fax to (714) 921-8655 or by e-mail to [email protected] .