A few good Easter baskets

JIM DE BOOM

Members of the Exchange Club of the Orange Coast have been building

Easter baskets for the children of Marines from Camp Pendleton who

were deployed to Iraq in early March, said Club President Bob Scott.

Members have been donating candy, toys and things little kids like.

The club has even received some anonymous donations to aid in

bringing joy to the Marine families. “That is what Exchange is all

about -- helping our community,” Scott said.

NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY AND PREPAREDNESS

With the support of Costa Mesa Emergency Services Coordinator

Jerry Verwolf, steps are being taken to strengthen the Neighborhood

Safety and Preparedness Course and make it even more valuable to

Costa Mesa residents. One step is training a team to be able to teach

the American Heart Assn. CPR program ourselves.

The goal is to become an association training site, with special

privileges, according to Diane Hill. To make this happen, Verwolf is

covering the expense of the two full days of training with the

understanding that those taking the training will volunteer their

time, so the CPR classes within the Neighborhood Safety and

Preparedness Course can continue to be free to Costa Mesa residents.

This training will be all day April 19 and 20. The city is especially

looking for one more people who can speak both English and Spanish to

help us take this program into the Spanish-speaking community.

If you know anyone who wants to help make a difference in Costa

Mesa by doing this work, please e-mail cmprepared@ comcast.net or

call Diane Hill, (714) 546-4252.

VOCAL COMPETITION

Holly Stanton won the vocal competition hosted by the Rotary Club

of Newport-Balboa. Holly, a contestant from Newport Harbor High, sang

“My Funny Valentine” as Rotarian Rick Weiss accompanied her on the

piano. Holly’s proud mother Lisa Stanton was present. Rotarian Nate

White, who organized the evening, presented Holly with a check for

$25. Holly will be moving on to Rotary District 5320 Area

Competition, according to White. Good Luck!

REMOVING ROADBLOCKS IN COMMUNICATION

The fourth session in Mac MacAdam’s Communication Connection

program series will be held at the Oasis Senior Center from 9:30 to

10:30 a.m. on April 7 in room 1A. McAdams said all are welcome to the

session. The topic is “Removing Key Roadblocks to Excellent

Interpersonal Communication.” The focus of this session is on

learning about the roadblocks that deter good communication and how

to avoid them. Participants will identify the roadblocks they put in

the way of communicating with others and learn how to stop doing it

to keep relationships intact. The center is at 800 Marguerite Ave.

WORTH REPEATING

From the Thought for Today, provided by Greg Kelley of the Newport

Mesa Irvine Interfaith Council: “Material possessions will rust away,

wear away or depreciate, but your inner sources -- character -- must

never depreciate. In seeking success you must also seek fulfillment.

Ask yourself not only what you want to be, but who you want to be.”

-- Elizabeth Dole

SERVICE CLUB MEETINGS THIS WEEK

Help your community and the world through a service club! For

many, service club membership is an extension of our religious

beliefs and congregation affiliation.

You are invited to attend a service club meeting this coming week

to learn more about opportunity for service. Most clubs will buy your

first meal for you as you get acquainted with them.

TUESDAY

7:30 a.m.: The 48-member Newport Beach Sunrise Rotary Club meets

at the Five Crowns restaurant to hear Norman Loats, past assistant

superintendent of Newport-Mesa Unified School District

(www.newportbeachsunrise rotary.org).

Noon: The Rotary Club of Costa Mesa, now in formation, meets at

the Holiday Inn to hear Lee Wood, business consultant and Rotarian,

speaking on “Networking and marketing to it’s greatest effect -- and

having fun along the way.”

WEDNESDAY

7:30 a.m.: The Newport Harbor Kiwanis Club will meet at the

University Athletic Club.

Noon: The Exchange Club of the Orange Coast meets at the Bahia

Corinthian Yacht Club for a program on crime prevention.

6 p.m.: The 50-member Rotary Club of Newport-Balboa meets at the

Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club for a state of the city address by

Newport Beach Mayor Steve Bromberg (www.newportbalboa.org)

THURSDAY

Noon: The 50-member Costa Mesa Kiwanis Club will meet at the

Holiday Inn (www.kiwanis.org/club/ costamesa); the Kiwanis Club of

Newport Beach-Corona del Mar will meet at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht

Club (www.newportbeach kiwanis.org); the 100-member Rotary Club of

Newport Irvine meets at the Radisson Hotel for craft talks

(www.nirotary.org); the 85-member Exchange Club of Newport Harbor

meets at the Nautical Museum for a Ladies Day program with Penny

Lambright (www.nhexchange club.com).

* COMMUNITY & CLUBS is published Saturdays in the Daily Pilot.

Send your service club’s meeting information by fax to (714) 921-8655

or by e-mail to [email protected].