Community & Clubs: Planting the seeds

On Saturday, at least 30 members of Rotary Club of Newport-Balboa will titivate, or spruce up, more than 2,500 golden trumpet tree (tabebuia chrysotricha) and orchid tree (bauhinia variegata) seedlings in preparation to present them at a small ceremony this coming week to public and private schools within the boundaries of the Newport-Mesa Unified School District.

The Arbor Day activity was started in 1969 by Newport-Balboa’s past president and chairman of the Board of Supervisors, the late Gen. Thomas F. Riley, and his good friend Cecil Schira, then president of Hines Nurseries. For the past 43 years, Rotarians have given more than 98,500 trees to third-grade classes in public and private schools in Costa Mesa and Newport Beach.

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LIONS CELEBRATE 65 YEARS OF ENSENADA VISITS

It is a tradition with Lions clubs to visit other clubs each year, mainly in surrounding communities. However, a visit to another country is unique and not easily accomplished.

On May 2, Lions of District 4 L4 sailed from Long Beach aboard a cruise ship to Ensenada, Mexico, for the 65th anniversary of the longest running International Visitation in the world. Two clubs in Costa Mesa were represented: the Harbor Mesa Lions and the Costa Mesa Newport Harbor Lions. In all, 57 Lions participated this year. They brought donations of school supplies and cash to assist the Ensenada Lions with their community support and causes.

A special highlight of the visit was their 92-year-old member, Carlos, who was instrumental in forming this long-standing event. District 4 L4 Gov. Ken Sherwood was presented with a beautiful plaque to commemorate the occasion.

The Lions have built schools, eye clinics and donated medical equipment in the Ensenada area, and are a valuable asset to the community. Languages and customs may be different, but “Lion-ism” in any country is the same cause, and the motto “We Serve” means just that.

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EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

The Costa Mesa Historical Society monthly program on Sunday focuses on community safety with a presentation by Brenda Emrick, fire protection specialist for the Costa Mesa Fire Department

Emrick, who handles community education for CMFD, will talk about fire safety in the home, easy-to-prepare emergency kits, and the Community Emergency Response Team training in April.

Doors open at 2 p.m. and the program begins at 2:30 p.m. Admission is free. The society is located at 1870 Anaheim Ave. For more information, call (949) 631-5918 or visit https://www.costamesahistory.org.

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

“Think in terms of what’s good for the other person and success will seek you out.” — Mary Kay Ash

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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.

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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 presentation by Bazzel Baz about human trafficking and the recovery of abducted children worldwide. For more information, visit https://www.newportbalboa.org.

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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 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 emergency service amateur radio by Gordon West. 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. Visit https://www.costamesakiwanis.org.

*TUESDAY

7:15 a.m.: The 58-member Newport Beach Sunrise Rotary Club meets at Five Crowns restaurant, 3801 E. Coast Hwy., Corona del Mar, for a program by Megan McDonald on DOORS International Ministry for Deaf in Kenya. For more information https://www.newportbeachsunriserotary.org.

All day: The Junior League of Orange County, Calif. (JLOCC) is enrolling people on March 20 for its quarterly Provisional Membership Program. Membership forms and information are available at https://www.jlocc.org.

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