Community & Clubs: Rotary Club’s benefit gala is ‘Passport to the World’

“Passport to the World,” the Newport Sunrise Rotary Club’s annual fundraiser gala, will be held at the Crevier Classic Cars shop in Costa Mesa on the evening of March 31.

To support the club’s work in the community, event Chairman Carl Lachman and his committee have put together a fun-filled evening to support many of its charities.

These include: Working Wardrobes Success Workshops in conjunction with the Rotary and Salvation Army; The African Child Foundation, supporting a girls orphanage in Kenya; and the “Wounded Warrior Battalion — West,” to which musical instruments have been donated for therapy and memory foam mattresses given that help accelerate the healing process of severely wounded Marines and Navy personnel at the Marine Corps Base Hawaii on Oahu.

For car aficionados, you can view rarely seen cars, such as the 1940 Packard 110 Woodie Station Wagon, a 1938 Harley-Davidson Knucklehead, a 1956 Ford Thunderbird or various Hudsons and BMWs.

The evening will feature a sit-down dinner, accompanied by silent and live auctions, including a chance to win a tour of Paramount Studios or a week at the 5-star Club Cascadas de Baja in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

For more information or to order tickets for the evening event, go to newportbeachsunriserotary.org/events or call (714) 606-8384.

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Lions honor Old Glory

On Friday morning, Harbor Mesa Lions will give a presentation honoring the symbol of our country, the American flag, at Whittier Elementary School in Costa Mesa. Fourth- and fifth-graders will participate in the program, which starts at 8:15 a.m.

Lions club members Carol Van Holt, Arlene Schafer and President Carol Proctor will tell the students about the history of our flag. Eight students will be included in the presentation.

Parents and guests are invited to attend the ceremonies. Each student will receive a flag from the Lions at the end of the program. Lions clubs statewide participate in “Lions Flag Days” in February, to coincide with Presidents Day.

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California and mission history

On Sunday, the Costa Mesa Historical Society will present architect Richard Dodd talking about “Traveling the El Camino Real – the Founding of the California Missions.”

The program will cover California’s early years and how the missions shaped it.

Doors open at 2 p.m. and the program starts at 2:30 p.m.. Free admission and refreshments. The Historical Society is at 1870 Anaheim Ave., at the northwest corner of the Lions Park complex in Costa Mesa.

For more information call (949) 631-5918 or visit https://www.costamesahistory.org.

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Thought for the day

“The purpose of life is a life of purpose.” — Robert Byrne

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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.

WEDNESDAY

Noon: The Exchange Club of Corona del Mar meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club, 1601 Bayside Drive, Corona del Mar.

6 p.m.: The 57-member Rotary Club of Newport Balboa meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club for a Valentine’s Dinner. For more information, visit https://www.newportbalboa.org

THURSDAY

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 a Valentine’s Program, which will feature Eileen and Dave Hood performing “Love Songs on the Coast.” For more information, visit https://www.newportbeachkiwanis.org.

The 95-member Exchange Club of Newport Harbor meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club for a program on the Orange County Fair by Steven Beazley. For more information visit https://www.nhexchange.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 55-member Rotary Club of Newport Irvine meets at the University Club, 801 E. Peltason Drive, Irvine, for a program by Henry Walker, chief executive of Farmers & Merchants Bank. Visit https://www.ni-rotary.org.

The 45-member Kiwanis Club of Costa Mesa meets at the Costa Mesa Golf and Country Club. For more information, visit https://www.costamesakiwanis.org

TUESDAY

7:15 a.m.: The 58-member Newport Beach Sunrise Rotary Club meets at the Five Crowns restaurant, 3801 E. Coast Hwy., Corona del Mar, for a program by Gary Sherwin of Visit Newport Beach. For more information, go to https://www.newportbeachsunriserotary.org.

COMMUNITY & CLUBS is published twice monthly on Wednesdays. Send your service club’s meeting information e-mail to jdeboom@aol.com.