Community & Clubs: Give a book, plant a seed for future

Rotarians from the three area Rotary Clubs (Newport-Balboa, Newport Beach Sunrise and Newport-Irvine) as well as from District 5320’s eClub have arranged for the purchase and delivery of nearly 2,000 summer reading books to the students at Wilson, Whittier and Pomona elementary schools in Costa Mesa as part of the Fountains for Youth program, according to Newport-Balboa Rotarian Roger McGonegal.

These books were given to the students to take home and keep (and share with friends and family members) through a partnership with Scholastic Inc., which initiated the Reading by 9 program with the Los Angeles Times and Rotary nearly a decade ago.

The librarians and teachers in the schools selected the titles to reinforce classroom instruction and promote a family engagement strategy.

“The Rotary Club provided a book for each child in our school to keep,” said Whittier librarian Monica Reuter. “The children were very excited to receive a book, but the joy on the teachers’ faces was just as grand. Encouraging a love of reading, building vocabulary, increasing their knowledge and confidence was a gift given to each child at Whittier Elementary. This gift will continue to grow within each child. We are very thankful for the Rotary Club and their gift of books for our students.”

Under the new grant model for the programs of the Rotary Foundation, basic education and literacy are areas of focus for all Rotarians as they develop and implement humanitarian and educational projects around the world. Recently, Rotary International was recognized with a Silver Edison Award, named after Thomas Alva Edison, for its “innovative approach to humanitarian service.”

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Lions present Flag Day Program to two schools

The Harbor Mesa Lions recently presented a Flag Day program at two Costa Mesa elementary schools, Kaiser and Rea. Students participated in the program, giving recitations on the flag. A small flag was given to each student to take home.

Lion members who presented the program were President Eileen Jensen, Carol Proctor, Arlene Schafer, Carol Van Holt and Cathy Waters. The Lions Flag Day Program originated in Cupertino in 1969, and today, it is presented in states from Hawaii to New York. Approximately 250,000 flags are distributed in schools.

The Lions also presented library books to the Kaiser library as a part of the Reading Action Program sponsored by Lions International.

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Book of Golden Deeds

Exchange Club of Newport Harbor member Gary TeWinkle presented the 2013 Book of Golden Deeds to Nancy Acone in recognition of her work in the community.

Nancy served as the librarian in Costa Mesa and Buena Park for 25 years before “retiring” in 1996. Nancy then became the manager of the Used Book Store for the Friends of Oasis and the Newport Beach Public Library, selling more than $200,000 annually.

Nancy is on the Oasis Board of Directors and has purchased flags for the Exchange Club’s Field of Honor in memory and honor of her father, nephew and other family members who have served in the military. Congratulations, Nancy!

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Service club meetings this week

WEDNESDAY

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.

THURSDAY

Service clubs will not be meeting July 4. The meetings listed below are for July 11. Happy Fourth of July and enjoy the American Legion Newport Harbor Post 291 Character Boat Parade!

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

Noon: The 45-member Kiwanis Club of Newport Beach/Corona del Mar meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club. For more information, visit sites.google.com/site/kiwanisofnewportbeach.

Noon: The 75-member Exchange Club of Newport Harbor meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club for a business meeting — no program, no guests. On July 18, the program will feature Adam Krason discussing “Assisted Living at Home.” For more information, visit https://www.nhexchange.org.

Noon: The 40-member Kiwanis Club of Costa Mesa meets at the Costa Mesa Country Club, 1701 Golf Course Drive, Costa Mesa. For more information, visit https://www.costamesakiwanis.org.

Noon: The 55-member Newport-Irvine Rotary Club meets at the University Club, 801 E. Peltason Drive, Irvine.

6 p.m.: The 57-member Rotary Club of Newport-Balboa meets at Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club for the first meeting of recently installed President Bob Merring. For more information, visit https://www.newportbalboa.org.

MONDAY

6:30 p.m.: The Harbor Mesa Lions Club meets at the Costa Mesa Country Club on the first Monday of each month; on the third Monday, the club meets at various restaurants in the area. For more information, email clion93@verizon.net.

TUESDAY

7:15 a.m.: The 58-member Newport Beach Sunrise Rotary Club will meet at the Newport Sea Base to hear director Shana Bannert provide an update on the base. On July 16, Bill Sinclaire will discuss “International Business Cycles.” For more information, visit https://www.newportbeachsunriserotary.org.

COMMUNITY & CLUBS is published Wednesdays. Send your service club’s meeting information to jdeboom@aol.com.