Parker: 2-year-old basketball star

Barbara and I drove to Chico to celebrate grandson Parker’s second birthday last Thursday and to spend the July Fourth weekend with daughter Jodi and her husband, Zach Drysdale, and their friends. Our weekend included a traditional barbecue with hamburgers, hot dogs, corn on the cob and the Chico Outlaws baseball game and post-game fireworks show at Chico State’s Nettleton Stadium.

Parker, being our only grandchild, received for his birthday a BMW toy car, a bike, a Radio Flyer scooter and from his aunt, a 54-inch high basketball standard, among other things.

Boy, does Parker know how to shoot a basketball.

At the same time, daughter Stacy and her husband, Kyle Howard, who were married in February, left for the East Coast to celebrate the holiday with his family and for their two-week honeymoon trip to New England and Eastern Canada.

Skype is one great invention, for it allowed us to visit with Barbara’s sister in Palm Desert and my brother in Minneapolis via live video on our computers and for them to catch Parker shooting the basketball.

We, the Howards and the Drysdales, will all be together later this summer as we travel to Avalon for a week’s vacation and to celebrate family once again.

NEW OFFICERS FOR EXCHANGE CLUB

The Exchange Club of Newport Harbor has new officers for 2010-11. Gary Eckles was installed as president and Bob Wood, president-elect, and Leo Fracalosy, vice president.

Newly installed board members include Tom Naughton, Alan Staniforth, Bill Bechtel, Ted Davis, Neil Kessel and Jack Valley. Continuing as club secretary is Tuck Rabbitt and Treasurer Tom Norton. Jerry Nininger, whose term was completed June 30, is the immediate past president.

The Exchange Club of Newport Harbor meets at 12:15 p.m. Thursdays at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club for lunch and is known for the annual movie benefit held each fall and Americanism programs.

NEW OFFICERS FOR LOBSTERFEST CLUB

The Rotary Club of Newport Beach Sunrise won’t miss a beat with its Aug. 1 Lobsterfest at Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort with the installation of new officers and directors for 2010-11. Reniero Franciso is the new club president, replacing Tim Brown, whose term expired. Serving with Franciso are Cynthia Cowell, president elect; Donna Cody, secretary; and directors Gordon Bagne, Kimberly McKinney, Tom Egan, Carl Lachman, David Bahnsen and Willis Longyear.

More than 400 reservations for the club’s second-annual Lobsterfest have been received and more are coming in each day. For more information on the Lobsterfest, or to order your tickets on or before July 29, visit https://www.lobsterfestatnewportbeach.com.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

“Become the kind of leader that people would follow voluntarily, even if you had no title or position.” — Brian Tracy

SERVICE CLUB MEETINGS THIS WEEK

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 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, 290 Bristol St., Costa Mesa.

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

5:15 p.m.: The 10-member Rotary Club of Costa Mesa meets at the Ramada Inn & Suites, 1680 Superior Ave., Costa Mesa. Visit https://www.costamesarotary.org

6 p.m.: The Rotary Club of Newport Balboa meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club for a Club Assembly. Visit https://www.newportbalboa.org

THURSDAY

7 a.m.: The 20-member Costa Mesa Orange Coast Lions Club meets at Mimi’s Café, 1835 Newport Blvd., Costa Mesa.

Noon: The 45-member Kiwanis Club of Newport Beach-Corona del Mar meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club, 1601 Bayside Drive. For more information, visit https://www.newportbeachkiwanis.org

Noon: The 95-member Exchange Club of Newport Harbor meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club for a program by historian, Judge Selim (Bud) Franklin, “The Father of Our Country.” For more information, visit https://www.nhexchange.org,

Noon: The 65-member Rotary Club of Newport Irvine meets at the University Club, 801 E. Peltason Drive, at UC Irvine. Visit https://www.ni-rotary.org

Noon.: the 45-member Kiwanis Club of Costa Mesa meets at the Costa Mesa Golf and Country Club, 1701 Golf Course Drive.

TUESDAY

7:15 a.m.: The Newport Beach Sunrise Rotary Club meets at the Five Crowns, 3801 E. Coast Hwy., Corona del Mar. For more information, visit https://www.newportbeachsunriserotary.org.

COMMUNITY & CLUBS is published Wednesdays. Send your service club’s meeting information by fax to (714) 921-8655 or by e-mail to [email protected].