Service Clubs:

Health care has been a dominant issue everywhere we go. What is health care? Who is going to pay for it? Who really gets health care? What is each political party’s stance on the new law? Is the president right or wrong? How does all this affect us at home?

The Lions Clubs International saw all this debate as a great opportunity to challenge our high school students. The Lions’ 73rd annual Student Speaker Contest set “Universal Healthcare — How Will It Affect Us?” as the topic for students to speak about in their contests.

I was invited to attend three speech contests, which made me realize that many of our high school students are, in fact, tuned in to what goes on in the country.

The students gave in-depth analyses of the issues, not just some political blah blah about our health care.

There is some real intelligent thought among our students.

The Crescenta-Cañada Lions Club hosted the regional level contest for winners from local area speech contests here and in the Valley.

The contestants were Sam Whitefield from La Cañada High School and Stephanie Oguine from Chatsworth High School, who had both won prior contests in their home areas.

The regional contest event was hosted the Crescenta-Cañada Lions Club. The club’s president, Art Rinaman, was the master of ceremonies for the contest.

The conference room in the CitiBank building in Montrose was packed with many Lions members and officials, plus students and their families for the contest.

The contestants, Stephanie and Sam, gave insightful, inspiring speeches. They both brought out points about health care that really displayed their independent thinking on the topic.

The audience was given great food for thought on health care.

Stephanie was selected by the panel of judges as the contest winner. She next goes on to compete is a statewide contest. Stephanie is a graduating senior, and she hopes to continue speaking and being involved in social issues next year in college. Both contestants received scholarship funds from the Lions Club.

Crescenta-Cañada Lions Club meets at 7 p.m. on the second and fourth Thursday every month at CitiBank, 2350 Honolulu Ave., Montrose.

For more information, call Art Rinaman at (818) 225-5100, Ext. 243.

Olympics has Team Kiwanis ready

The Glendale Kiwanis Club has supported the Special Olympics for many years.

The club has brought together a special group of children with disabilities, which is called “Team Kiwanis,” to compete in Special Olympic athletic events throughout Southern California.

Last Saturday, club President Cathy Keen and members Dave Cormier, Susie Dell, Todd Hunt, Amy Lambert, Peggy Johnson, Judy Seelig and Randy Slaughter worked out with Team Kiwanis at Glendale High School.

The children and the Kiwanians spent time working out in preparation for the upcoming Southern California Tri-Valley Special Olympics Athletics & Track Meet from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 1 at Crescenta Valley High School.

The Team Kiwanis members said they will continue to work out to get ready for the meet. Many members of the Kiwanis Club will attend the meet to work with and support the children.

Glendale Kiwanis Club meets at noon every Friday at the Glendale Elks Club, 120 E. Colorado St., Glendale. For more information, call Vic Legerton at (818) 354-8838.