Mimi Hemphill
Director, Events
Washington, DC, USA
Respect for the Water
Although I lack the ocean expertise that so many of my colleagues here have, I do love and respect both the water and the environment. Our family vacations are usually spent along the beaches of the Delmarva, the Carolinas and the Florida shores. Some of our favorite respite spots are Chincoteague and Assateague Islands. Assateague is famous for its wild ponies, wildlife, and fishing. Many times I’ve driven to the Island after a big winter storm just to see what gifts the ocean has bestowed upon us. It saddens me to watch this quaint island slowly give way to growth by allowing restaurant and hotel franchises to go up.
Life, from Beginning to End
The ocean represents life, from beginning to end. I have to respect it for its power and its beauty. It’s also full of surprises - it can be calm and friendly or it can get whipped up into a frenzy in a huge storm. Since I’ve been here, I’ve learned that there’s a lot of work to be done to make people aware of the importance of the oceans.
