Newport Balboa Rotarians were joined by representatives of the Newport Beach Sister City Association to honor local students chosen to participate in the annual student enchange program with Okazaki, Japan.  Take a lok at the article on the daily pilot's wensite: http://www.dailypilot.com/news/dpt-japan060110,0,7000573.story

(Click here for a photo gallery of the week's events)

The day started out overcast but the group of Rotarians from Newport-Balboa know the drill which started with a glass of OJ, cup of hot coffee and the ceremonial arrival of the cream cheese apple and cherry wagon wheel coffee cake which signaled that work was to start for the Rotary family of eight (8) plus The Environmental Nature Center’s (ENC) Executive Director and a few ENC volunteers to prepare the Butterfly House at The Environmental Nature Center for its Spring Opening on Saturday, May 1, 2010 that includes its Eco Faire starting at 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

This was a time for everyone to dig in with some back-breaking work to prepare after a long winters night the Butterfly House that included selective pruning, removal of dead wood and spent plants, weeding, raking, digging, removing cob-webs, wiping down all surfaces, washing windows, wheel barrowing decomposed granite, the reconstruction of the walk ways with decomposed granite, cleaning out a years worth of roots, leaves and slimy smelly green moss growing in the small pond in the corner of the Butterfly House, and hosing off a collection on dust and mud splatter from the recent rains plus dressing up out side the Butterfly House, starting at the path leading away from the ENC’s concrete patio to the entrance doors of the Butterfly House which is also free of weeds and dead growth.  Without looking at a clock, everyone gathered for a swig of water, orange juice or cold coffee at Noon looking back at our handy work, seeing a shinny jewel with a few butterflies fluttering around and a large grasshopper eyeing everything for a nice green morsel that will be his lunch.

Assisting was the Executive Director of the ENC; Bo Glover with the following Newport-Balboa Rotarians that included President Elect Jerry Morris and Chairman of Rotarians at Work Day John Kerr who brought Butterfly Docents Nancy Kerr (also John’s wife) and Julia Kerr (also John’s daughter and ENC’s Volunteer of the Year in 2008), Bill Hossfeld, Dan Morris, Steve Phair, and Portia Weiss (Dr. Rick’s Weiss wife with Rick off surfing with Remmie) plus four (4) ENC volunteers. 

Besides the clean up and preparation of the Butterfly House for its grand opening next week, the Rotarians are also preparing for some new educational materials that are being designed and soon to be constructed that includes visual and graphical signage and new chrysalis chamber for the metamorphosis from chrysalis to butterfly including appropriate educational graphics that are being jointly funded by a District 5320 Simplified Grant, matching funding from the Newport-Balboa Rotary Club Foundation and the Environmental Nature Center’s Foundation that were approved in March 2010 and planned to be installed by The Rotary Club of Newport-Balboa under the supervision of the ENC with its technical staff in May or early June. 

The ENC’s Butterfly House is part of Newport-Balboa Rotary Clubs commitment as a Joint Centennial Community Project with The Rotary Club of Okazaki South, Okazaki, Aichi, Japan that jointly funded the Butterfly House under then President Ed Rennie and was dedicated in November 2004.  Since that date Newport-Balboa Rotary has been providing funding each year to supply graphic and other educational materials for all the children of Newport Beach and Orange County to learn more about the environment that is native to Orange County with over 16,000 visitors each butterfly season that visits the Butterfly House plus the ENC’s program by bring the Butterfly House and other natural science materials to class rooms in Orange County that can not afford field trips to the ENC.     

-Bill Hossfeld





Past Presidents of the Rotary Club of Newport-Balboa spanning four decades gathered on Gary Myers' beautiful yacht, Wanderlust, to reminisce while enjoying the harbor.

Take a look at the new photo gallery from the cruise.

At the recent Presidential Demotion Night, outgoing President Victor Currie announced the awards for outstanding Rotary achievement in the 2008-2009 Rotary Year.

Dan Hoffmann was announced as Rotarian of the Year.  Hoffman, the Club's International Services Director, also doubled up with international duties at the district, plus led a Group Study Exchange Team of local young business leaders to Bavaria.

The Community Service Award went to Dr. Art Walton, longtime organizer of the Frank E. Anderson Memorial Track Meet.

Club Secretary Bob Merring was awarded both the Icebreaker of the Year Award for the most active new Rotarian as well as Bob Callis Award chosed by the club president for the person who has been the most helpful to the president throughout the year.

Congratulations to all!

2008-2009 Club President Victor Currie was treated to an Oscar-themed sendoff and roast at the annual presidential Demotion Night.  Currie was greated by hoards of camera-bearing paparazzi as he entered walking down the red carpet, followed by an awards ceremony in which Currie somehow ended up with all the statues.

At the end, Currie thanked the club members and his Board for a great year, then passed on the President's Pin to 2009-2010 President Marc Aarons, who officially takes the reigns July 1.

Click here to view  photos from the party.