COMMUNITY & CLUBS:

Lions International District 4-L4 held its annual “Melvin Jones Fellowship Awards Dinner” at the Costa Mesa Country Club on Saturday.

The Harbor Mesa Lions honored two of their members with the prestigious Melvin Jones Fellowship award. Sue Seager was given the fellowship award and President Gina Stansbury was given the progressive award. These awards are given for outstanding service to the club and community.

It is the highest honor a club can award. Other clubs in the district also presented awards to members. Speaking at the event was Past International President Kay Fukushima, a Sacramento resident.

Melvin Jones established Lions Clubs International in 1917 and they have become the world’s largest service organization with clubs in 202 countries. The event occurs annually in January, the birthday month of Melvin Jones.

ROTARY SEEKING SCHOLARS

More than 800 Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarships will be offered around the world with three being offered in District 5320, according to Victor Currie, president of the Rotary Club of Newport-Balboa.

Besides offering an educational opportunity in a foreign country, they represent Rotary’s faith that the interaction with the people and the culture of the country will encourage them to dedicate their personal and professional lives to improving the quality of life for the people in their home communities and countries.

This year Rotary District 5320, which serves Orange and Southern Los Angeles Counties, is offering up to three Ambassadorial Scholarships for one year at a maximum value of $23,000 or a multi-year at $11,000/year. Interested parties can apply through any one of the four clubs in the Newport-Mesa area.

Scholarships are for the academic year 2010-11 and can be used for almost any field of study. Applicants must have completed two years of college or university study by the time the scholarship begins. Applicants cannot be a Rotarian or a direct descendant of a Rotarian. Scholarships can’t be used for unsupervised research, internships or full-time employment. Study location must be in an area where a Rotary club exists. Applicants who apply for study in a non-English speaking country should be prepared to pass a language test for that country. More information and application forms are available at www.rotary.org.

For further information call the District 5320 Office at (714) 921-1881. Applications must be submitted to a local Rotary Club by April 30. District 5320 interviews will be the first weekend in June.

WORTH REPEATING

Thought for the Day as provided by Greg Kelley of the Newport Mesa Irvine Interfaith Council: “It doesn’t matter where you are coming from. All that really matters is where you are going.”

— Brian Tracy

SERVICE CLUB MEETINGS

How are you giving back to your community? 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.

TODAY

7:30 a.m.: The 10-member Newport Harbor Kiwanis Club meets at Denny’s Restaurant at the corner of Redhill Avenue and Bristol Street.

Noon: The 20-member Exchange Club of Corona del Mar meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club.

6 p.m.: The 65-member Rotary Club of Newport Balboa meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club for a program by attorney Rae Shirer on 2009 Laws affecting Business. Visit www.newportbalboa.org.

THURSDAY

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

Noon: The 50-member Costa Mesa Kiwanis Club meets at the Holiday Inn, Costa Mesa. Visit www.CostaMesaKiwanis.org;

The 45-member Kiwanis Club of Newport Beach-Corona del Mar meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club. For more information, visit www.newportbeachkiwanis.org;

The 85-member Rotary Club of Newport Irvine meets at the University Club at UCI. Visit www.nirotary.org

The 95-member Exchange Club of Newport Harbor meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club for a program by Nancy Oconnor on the History of the Newport Dory Fleet.

TUESDAY

7:30 a.m.: The 55-member Newport Beach Sunrise Rotary Club meets at Five Crowns for a program by Todd Creagar, Life Coach “Successful Relationships.” For more information, visit www.newportbeachsunriserotary.org.

Noon: The 15-member Rotary Club of Costa Mesa meets at the Costa Mesa Marriott Suites.

6 p.m.: The Irvine New Generations Rotary Club meets at Tapas Restaurant, Newport Beach.

COMMUNITY & CLUBS is published Wednesday in the Daily Pilot. Send your service club’s meeting information by fax to (714) 921-8655 or by e-mail to jdeboom@ aol.com.