Community & Clubs: Rotarians hand out business awards

The Rotary District 5320 Business Rotarian of the Year Awards were held Sept. 10 at the Doubletree Hotel in Orange with more than 170 Rotarians and guests attending. Twenty-nine Rotarians were nominated by their clubs to be honored in three categories. Each honoree was presented with a certificate of appreciation and a special medal inscribed with the Rotary Four-Way Test. District Gov. Johrita Solari (RC Anaheim) and former District Gov. Bret Gerdes (RC Irvine Spectrum) assisted with the presentations as event chairman Ian Hicks (RC Yorba Linda) read a brief description of each nominee's contribution to business, their community and to the clubs.

Past President of the Rotary Club of Newport Balboa Steve Speers received the Ethics in Business Award. Speer owns Gina's Pizza & Family Style Pastaria in Irvine, and has served on the board of the Padre Foundation at Children's Hospital of Orange County for 19 years.

Jerry Rekers was nominated by the Rotary Club of Newport Irvine. Rekers is owner of Fiber Seal/Fiber Clean of Orange County and has chaired the Woodbridge Cross Country Classic for the past 12 years.

Alex Ureche was nominated by the Rotary Club of Costa Mesa. Ureche is founder and executive director of the Children Aid and Development, a nonprofit that strives to break the cycle of poverty through education and founder of Global One Consulting.

Congratulations to every one of these Rotarians!

Lion honored with Lion of the Year award

Sue Seager, immediate past president of the Harbor Mesa Lions, awarded member Gina Stansbury with the Lion of the Year award for 2009-10 at their recent meeting. Stansbury has served as president for two years, chaired the Casino Night, and participated in numerous projects and events. She was also named President of the Year by the district governor at the 2009 convention. Seager also gave out pins and certificates to members who contributed hours of service to their causes. The club has 54 members from communities in the area. For further information about the club, visit nhcmlionsclub.com.

Thought for the Day

"Ordinary people believe only in the possible. Extraordinary people visualize not what is possible or probable, but rather what is impossible. And by visualizing the impossible, they begin to see it as possible." — Cherie Carter-Scott

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