Service Clubs
Karen Hubbard
Thanks to the leadership of outgoing president Kermit Floyd and the
generous support of Burbank Noon Rotarians, at a recent meeting of the
club, Julie Ann Larsen, treasurer of the Burbank Center for the Retarded,
was presented with a giant symbolic check in the amount of $20,000, for
which she expressed the gratitude to everyone -- clients, families, staff
and trustees.
The center will use the equipment grant funds to purchase a
commercial-size refrigerator, a nine-unit wall cabinet, a
state-of-the-art main office photocopier, a small photocopier and letter
machine for use by teachers, a digital camcorder and several other
miscellaneous items.
Prior to the presentation, Maria Di Liberto, program supervisor, and
Lonna Grant, manager of operations, described the centers’ evolution over
the years and the values that govern its program services.
Rachel Galperin, executive director, likened Kermit Floyd and the
Rotarians’ passion for giving to a recent Newsweek magazine essay by Jack
McConnell, in which he recalled from his childhood the question his
father posed daily to each of his seven children: “And what did you do
for someone today?”
It was that question that spurred McConnell to come out of retirement
from an exclusive community on Hilton Head Island, S.C., to establish
Volunteers in Medicine, a clinic providing free medical care to the
island’s poor native population.
Thanking the Noon Rotary for its generosity, Rachel Galperin quoted
England’s former prime minister, Winston Churchill, who said, “We make a
living by what we earn, but we make a life by what we give.”
Congratulations, Burbank Noon Rotary. What a fine thing you’ve done!
*
This columnist had the pleasure of being a guest at the recent Burbank
Sertoma Clubs’ Scholarship Awards luncheon.
Guests at this meeting included Maurie Thomas, Sertoma international
director; Bob Engel, Los Angeles-Hawaii governor; and George Carter, past
international vice president.
Lorilei Kelley, Burbank Sertoma scholarship chairwoman, presented
certificates and awards to Frank Leroy Reed, from Burbank High School,
and Keith Jarbo, from John Burroughs High School. They received the Sally
Beaton Memorial scholarships of $1,500 each.
Alonzo Villasenor, from Bellarmine-Jefferson High School, and Nazo
Koulloukian, from Providence High School, each received Burbank Sertoma
Club scholarships of $1,000 each.
My thanks to the Sertoma Club for inviting me to this special meeting,
and my personal congratulations go to these very deserving recipients.
Congratulations, too, to the Burbank Sertoma Club on receiving
regional recognition at the Pacific West Convention in Sacramento, where
it received a first-place award for the club bulletin.
*
According to Chairwoman Marsha Jackson, the Burbank Kiwanis are hard
at work with plans and preparations for their annual gala July 14 at the
Lakeside Golf Club. Paul Moyer, KNBC-TV Channel 4 news anchorman, will
serve as master of ceremonies.
Best of luck, Kiwanis, on this major fund-raising effort!
*
I am looking forward to attending Burbank Sunrise Rotary’s upcoming
scholarship presentation meeting, where three $1,000 cash awards will be
presented to local high school seniors. Details will appear in my next
column.
* KAREN HUBBARD’s service club column appears every other week. She
welcomes information about club projects, fund-raisers, meetings and
awards given and received. Reach her by e-mail at kehubzclubnews@juno.com
or call/fax 842-4370.