Kudos go to the entire Home Tour Committee for a very successful 14th Annual Home Tour. Special thanks to Mary Crowl, Suzanne Enis, Marilyn Moon and the homeowners and volunteers who made it happen. More than 300 people attended the tour. Air-conditioned shuttles transported guests and docents from City Hall to the beautiful homes of Niguel Shores. Another highlight of the day was the introduction of our first in a series of collectible ornaments. Thanks to Exhibit Chair Kirsten Reynolds, we had the opportunity to purchase the ornament and have the enclosed certificate signed by designer, graphic artist Rick Morgan. The buzz heard about the tour at the end-of-day reception was enthusiastic praise for the variety and style of architecture presented as well as the beautiful ocean views seen from this year’s homes.
The home tour is our major fundraiser, underwritten by our sponsors whose contributions advertise the tour, print the programs and contract the shuttles. We are indebted to our sponsors including our Founding Sponsor Dan Raphael, long-time sponsor Dana Point Nursery and this year’s reception sponsor Trader Joe’s, Laguna Niguel. We could not have had the tour without all of our sponsors, who provide the homes and whose donations made our advertising and printing possible. In-kind donations provided morning coffee (Coffee Importers), inspired guests to purchase tickets to win dinner at Cannons, a Casa Romantica membership basket, Dana Wharf Cruise & Whale Watching passes and Dana Point Symphony tickets among other wonderful prizes. All of our sponsors are listed in this issue and on our web site, www.danapointhistorical.org.
Please tell our sponsors how much you enjoyed the tour they made possible. We accomplished our goals to raise funds for the preservation of Dana Point history and to highlight the tour’s theme, Coastal Living, Niguel Shores Style.
Our September meeting commemorating the 25th Anniversary of the City of Dana Point’s incorporation was both entertaining and informative. Graphic artist Rick Morgan took us through the process of designing the city’s official seal and former mayor Bill Bamattre, a member of the first city council, described the city’s productive experience of working with Rick.
The presentation culminated with Mayor Lisa Bartlett, along with past mayors Bill Bamattre and Joel Bishop, presenting Rick with a Certificate of Recognition acknowledging his contribution to our city.
The Year of Dana awaits us. August 1, 2015, is our namesake’s 200th birthday! Our year-long theme will celebrate Richard Henry Dana, Jr., which includes our fifth public community reading of Two Years Before the Mast in March.
Please calendar Sunday, December 7, for the museum’s traditional Holiday Open House and the exhibit of Rick Morgan’s 15 original drawings leading to the official City of Dana Point Seal.
The Society’s Board of Directors joins me in thanking each of you for your support to preserve Dana Point’s heritage and to enhance public appreciation of our history. Wishing you all the joys of the holidays with family and friends!
Barbara Force Johannes