Community & Clubs: Eight feted for their consistent service
Editor’s note: Eight locals were inducted into the Community & Clubs Hall of Fame during a luncheon in their honor June 17 at American Legion Post 291 in Newport Beach. Orange County Supervisor John Moorlach emceed the event, while Daily Pilot columnist Jim de Boom presided over handing out Hall of Fame Awards to the eight inductees, who were nominated by Newport-Mesa service club chapters. This week’s Community & Clubs column features edited excerpts from de Boom’s speech introducing each of the inductee and welcoming them into the Hall of Fame:
Ed Kohlmeier
The Exchange Club of Corona del Mar is proud to nominate Ed Kohlmeier for the Community & Clubs Hall of Fame Award. Ed is married to Shirley, the club secretary, and together they have three children, four grandchildren and one great grandchild.
Ed has been an Exchange Club member for 35 years, including 25 years with the Exchange Club of Corona del Mar. He has served as club president, board member, district president, district secretary, Region 1 national vice president and was responsible for developing the National A.C.E — Accepting the Challenge of Excellence Award.
Ed has led the club in recognizing and honoring the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and O.C. Fire Authority annually. He has led the club in honoring students from numerous high schools through sponsoring the club’s Search for Talent. He supports many local projects such as Teen Challenge and Project Cuddle. But he is best known for saying “yes,” as he remains involved in all club activities and fundraising, two Exchange clubs and is active in both District and National Exchange activities.
Sandi Scheafer
The Harbor Mesa Lions Club is proud to nominate Sandi Scheafer. Sandi has been married to Mike Scheafer, a 2009 recipient of the Hall of Fame Award, for 39 years. They have three sons and four grandchildren, and son Matt is Lions Club member.
Sandi has been a member of the Harbor Mesa Lions Club for 14 years, serving as club president, 2nd vice president and club treasurer. She has chaired fundraising for the Boys and Girls Club, and chaired the annual Lions International Peace Poster contest, among other events. In our Lions district, she has worked on the District Convention Committee several times and is known for organizing contests (i.e. survivor, medieval contests, etc.) She was also the District 4L4 Lions President of the Year a few years ago.
Sandi works as the administrative assistant for the Harbor Area Boys and Girls Club. She was a board member and served as President of the Costa Mesa National Little League. In 1995, French’s, the mustard maker, named the Scheafer family as the California Baseball Family of the year.
Hank Hornsveld
Hank has been involved in the Costa Mesa Newport Harbor Lions Club for 40-plus years and has served in many positions, including club president.
Over the years, Hank has been a leader and involved in all club projects, but he is probably best known as the electrician for the annual Lions Club Fish Fry. Before the Fish Fry begins, Hank is on site, hooking up the electrical power that is needed for the carnival, food booths, and the main stage. Hanks is also a founder and member of the Orange County Model Engineers.
A footnote: during World War II Hank helped Jews in his native Holland escape from the Nazis. Hank is a proud “Dutchman” and a strong family guy.
Walt Wagner
American Legion Post 291 is proud to nominate Walt Wagner. For 66 years, Walt has been an active member of the American Legion. He has held all officer positions, including commander, finance office and executive board member. He has served as the American Legion Baseball of Orange County commissioner.
This man who stands before us today, has freely given of his time, talent and treasure for the American Legion and our communities. A special note: Walt is a U.S. Marine Corps and World War II vet who served in the battle of Iwo Jima. Thank you for your service, Walt.
Jerry Nininger
The Exchange Club of Newport Harbor proudly nominates Jerry Nininger. Jerry is married to Jeanne and together they have one daughter.
Jerry has been an Exchange Club member for six years and has served as VP for programs and chaired the Field of Honor Committee: he ran the committees that installed 1776 flags, recruited volunteers, printed dedication labels, shipped flags and marketed the event. Jerry obtained the permits and negotiated key issues. He has always been on the Movie Benefit Committee and was chair of the Youth of the Year Committee.
Jerry serves as projects chair for the Orange County Woodworking Assn., which donates toys to kids and pens to soldiers. He has also been on the Board of Directors of the “Friends of Newport Theater Arts Center” for 17 years.
Jim Bonar
The Kiwanis Club of Costa Mesa is proud to nominate Jim Bonar. Jim has been a member of the Kiwanis Club of Costa Mesa since 2003. He had retired then from a career in accounting and finance for consumer product manufacturing companies, and wanted to become involved in volunteer work.
Jim was born in Long Beach, and first came to appreciate community service as a member of the Kiwanis sponsored Key Club in high school. After graduating from UCLA, he served as an officer in the Navy and saw duty in Vietnam. He married his college sweetheart, Ann, and they have two children, Julie and James, as well as four grandchildren.
Before joining Kiwanis, Jim was active in the Jr. Chamber of Commerce in Los Angeles and is a past president of the UCLA Club of Orange County. He loves being of service in the community, especially working with the students in Costa Mesa and serving on the Kiwanis leadership team in the California, Nevada and Hawaii District of Kiwanis.
Dr. Tim Brown
The Rotary Club of Newport Beach is proud to nominate Tim Brown. Tim, a Rotarian for six years, is the immediate past president and vocational service chair for the Newport Beach Sunrise Rotary Club.
The Club’s Vocational Service Project, developed by Tim along with club’s partners Working Wardrobes and the Salvation Army, has been widely acclaimed throughout Rotary District 5320. Under Tim’s leadership, the club completed its first ever Vision Building Session and developed a five-year Strategic Plan.
Tim currently serves on the Newport Beach Parks, Beaches and Recreation Commission. He served as the chair from 2007 to 2008 and again in 2009 and 2010. Since 1999, Tim has been a member of the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce. He was elected to the Board of Directors in 2006 and served as a Representative At Large for three years. Tim served as the chairman of the Board of Directors of Leadership Tomorrow for three consecutive terms. Since 2003, Tim has been an associate with the Upper Back Bay Naturalist and Friends. During the summer of 1999 Tim was a member of the second graduating class of the Newport Beach Citizen’s Police Academy.
Tim also served on the Executive Planning Committee of the Corona del Mar Centennial Celebration and is a volunteer at the Newport Beach Toshiba Champions Tour event at the Newport Beach Country Club since its inception in 1994.
Bill Hossfeld
The Rotary Club of Newport-Balboa is proud to nominate Bill Hossfeld. Bill is married to Jan, and they have two sons and one daughter.
A member of Rotary for seven years, Bill is the club’s incoming president. He has served as director of club service, community service, programs and First Battalion/First Marines Christmas and July 4th project. He has been awarded the Paul Harris Fellow, Rotarian of the Year four times, and the club’s Community Service Award twice.
His community activities include fundraising for Corona del Mar High School, Newport Beach East Pony League vice president and coach, Newport Beach AYSO regional commissioner and coach, Newport Little League Executive Committee and coach, YMCA Executive Committee, Indian Guides, BIA committee member, and Newport Harbor Jaycees president. Bill is best known for getting the job done and attention to detail.
COMMUNITY & CLUBS is published twice monthly on Wednesdays. Send your service club’s meeting information by fax to (714) 921-8655 or by e-mail to jdeboom@aol.com.