Community & Clubs: Lunch bunch reaches 30 years
The year 2011 marks the 30th anniversary of a group of moms known as the Out to Lunch Bunch. The common denominator is that each member had a child in kindergarten at Woodland Elementary School, which became a K-2 school when nearby Kaiser Elementary School became a grades 3 through 6 school.
Initially it was three or four Woodland moms who would go out for lunch after a Parent Faculty Organization meeting. The group expanded to a dozen moms after the first Jog-a-thon at Kaiser Elementary School a year or two later that was chaired by Ann Alford and Margo Cleary. The dozen moms, who were counting the proceeds collected from the Kaiser School jog-a-thon, liked the time they shared together, and the Out to Lunch Bunch was formed. They went out for lunch once every month.
As some of the moms had to work during the day, they would go out for dinner so that all could be included. The group continues today, having a Christmas Gift exchange just before Christmas. Every year for 30 years they have shared together weddings of their children, funerals of their parents, and baby showers for their grandchildren.
One year at Christmas time, a ship and wrap store opened in West Cliff Plaza and was looking for temporary help. The OTLB moms as a group ended up working shifts, wrapping gifts while earning extra money for their families for Christmas.
When a big O birthday of one of the moms comes up, they are off for the weekend maybe to Big Bear, Santa Barbara, Catalina, Palm Desert, or Glen Ivy Hot Springs. They have involved the families at picnics at the park next to the Lou Yantorn Boys and Girls Club in Costa Mesa. One year they got the husbands to cook omelets for them on Mother’s Day. And there was always the end of the school year pizza party for the kids and their moms while they were in elementary school.
Still active in the OTLB are Ann Alford (now know as Anne Marie), Annie Younglove, Judy Geim, Diana Reed, Toby Yockus, Donna Wicks, Janice Nimmo and Barbara de Boom. Four others who were members and have moved away for Newport Mesa are Pat Karle, Jan Najum, Judy Mitchell and Margo Cleary, although when they have been back to visit family in Newport Mesa, they have gotten together with the OTLB group.
Rumor has it that the OTLB is planning a reunion with their children and grandchildren in 2011.
Going twice a month
At the request of the Daily Pilot editors, the Community & Clubs column will appear on the first and third Wednesdays of each month, starting now. So when possible, I will be listing service club programs for the coming two weeks in each column.
Thought for the Day
“Resolve to make at least one person happy every day, and then in 10 years you may have made three thousand, six hundred and fifty-two persons happy, or brightened a small town by your contribution to the fund of general enjoyment.” — Sydney Smith
SERVICE CLUB MEETINGS THIS WEEK
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.
TODAY
7:15 a.m.: The Soroptimist International of Newport Harbor Area meets for a business meeting at the South Coast Regional Project Office, Fairview Developmental Center, 2501 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa. Visit https://www.soroptimistnha.org
Noon: The Exchange Club of Corona del Mar meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club, 1601 Bayside Drive, Corona del Mar, for a business meeting.
5:15 p.m.: The 10-member Rotary Club of Costa Mesa meets at the Ramada Inn & Suites, 1680 Superior Ave., Costa Mesa. Visit https://www.costamesarotary.org.
6 p.m.: The 65-member Rotary Club of Newport Balboa meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club. https://www.newportbalboa.org
THURSDAY
7 a.m.: The 20-member Costa Mesa Orange Coast Lions Club meets at Mimi’s Café, Newport & Harbor Blvds., Costa Mesa.
11 a.m.: The 95-member Exchange Club of Newport Harbor meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club, this week for a business meeting and on the Jan. 13 for the Costa Mesa and Newport Beach Police Officers of the Year presentation. For more information visit https://www.nhexchange.org.
Noon: The 45-member Kiwanis Club of Newport Beach-Corona del Mar meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club. For more information, visit https://www.newportbeachkiwanis.org.
The 40-member Kiwanis Club of Costa Mesa meets at the Costa Mesa Golf and Country Club, 1701 Golf Course Drive, Costa Mesa. For more information, visit https://www.costamesakiwanis.org.
The 65-member Rotary Club of Newport Irvine meets at the University Club, 801 E. Peltason Drive, Irvine, for a club assembly and next week a program by Dr. Phil Ross on Global Climate Change. Visit https://www.ni-rotary.org.
The 45-member Kiwanis Club of Costa Mesa meets at the Costa Mesa Golf and Country Club. https://www.costamesakiwanis.org.
TUESDAY
7:15 a.m.: The Newport Beach Sunrise Rotary Club meets at the Five Crowns, 3801 E. Coast Hwy., Corona del Mar, for a program this week by Bobbie Johnson, Phoenix House Jail Inmate Rehab Program and on Jan. 18 for a program by Sylvia Michler on the Africa Girls School project. https://www.newportbeachsunriserotary.org.
COMMUNITY & CLUBS is published the first and third Wednesday of each month. Send your service club’s meeting information by fax to (714) 921-8655 or by e-mail to jdeboom@aol.com.