Oceana Magazine Winter 2011: Events
SeaChange Summer Party
In September, the must-attend event in Orange County, California, was Oceana’s third annual SeaChange Summer Party. More than 350 guests enjoyed sunset ocean vistas while reviewing a fabulous silent auction and meeting special guests Jeff Bridges and Pierce Brosnan. Guests gathered for a seated dinner and a surprise performance by Jeff Bridges at the Tuscan-inspired home of Karen and Bruce Cahill in Laguna Beach.
Seventeen-year-old actor Graham Phillips, an Orange County native, performed several musical selections accompanied by Tony Award winner Jason Robert Brown. The event raised more than $1,000,000 for Oceana.
The SeaChange Summer Party was co-chaired by Oceana board member Valarie Whiting and Ocean Council member Eve Kornyei. Oceana President Keith Addis spoke and played a key role in organizing the event. Other guests included Oceana board members Ted Danson and Sam Waterston, Morgan Freeman, Diane Lane, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Kristin Bauer and Eric Balfour.
The SeaChange Summer Party was made possible through the generous support from various distinguished local and international businesses including the Harriet E.Pfleger Foundation.
Buck Home Soiree
On September 22, Ocean Council member Deborah Buck and husband Christopher Buck graciously welcomed guests into their gorgeous Manhattan home for dinner and a conversation on the issues facing the oceans.
Ocean Council Chairwoman, Susan Rockefeller, and Oceana Vice President of Global Development, Bettina Alonso, spoke passionately about the urgency of ocean conservation and how Oceana is taking measurable action to ensure healthy oceans for future generations.
Oceana’s Board of Directors Geneva
Oceana’s staff, funders, board members and supporters gathered in Geneva for a series of events around the Oceanaboard of directors meeting. Ambassador Tim Yeend of Australia hosted a reception at the Australian Mission to introduce Oceana to the locally-based international community and other Geneva leaders. Members of the board had a highly engaging discussion with World Trade Organization Director-General Pascal Lamy. The forum was an indispensable opportunity to discuss global fisheries depletion and how the WTO can stop the government subsidies that drive overfishing of the world’s oceans.
The week concluded with a workshop by board member and renowned fisheries scientist Dr. Daniel Pauly on the state of the world’s oceans for the WTO delegations and international organizations.
The Explorers Club
On September 20, Oceana board member Sam Waterston delivered a lecture at The Explorers Club in New York City entitled “Counting the Ways Oil and Water Do Not Mix.” The lecture was attended by a sold-out crowd who had many insightful questions concerning the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, which were fielded both by Waterston and by Oceana Executive Vice President Jim Simon.
