A busy week for DGP!
Lifetime Giving Luncheon and Good Scout Award
On October 22, my wife, Karen, and I attended a luncheon that The Boy Scouts of America, Orange County Council held to honor a good friend of ours, the Honorable Harriett M. Wieder, with the Lifetime Giving and Good Scout Award at the Islands Hotel in Newport Beach.
It was a great event with lots of people there to honor and support Harriett who has worked for many years in Orange County politics and has put together programs that supported organizations like the Boy Scouts.
It was great for me to reconnect with the Boy Scouts because I earned my Eagle Scout award as part of a troop here in Orange County. I hope to continue that involvement in the years to come and can highly recommend to others to consider this worthy organization. www.ocbsa.org
A project that has been in the works, and is now open, is called the Outdoor Education Center which is located in and around Irvine Regional Park.
This facility will be available to everyone to learn and enjoy outdoor activities. For more information please visit: www.outdooreducationcenter.org
The President's Volunteer Service Award
On October 23, I was honored to be the photographer for a ceremony to honor the recipient of The President's Volunteer Service Award in Orange County which was held at the Village of Hope in Tustin.
Rather then try and tell you a lot about the award, simply go to their website at www.presidentialserviceawards.gov.
In another one of those small world moments, as I was walking past some of the recipients before the ceremony, I heard someone shout out my name. It turned out to be Karissa Kiremit who just two nights before had booked me to photograph her wedding that will be held in January 2009. She was there with her mother because her father was one of the recipients that day. It was wonderful to meet Karissa’s parents and then have someone that I knew receive one of these prestigious awards.
Girls Incorporated of Orange County
On October 24, my wife and I attended another event at the Islands Hotel in Newport Beach in support of an organization we have enjoyed supporting for many years, Girls Incorporated. http://www.girlsinc-oc.org
Mission: Inspiring all girls to be strong, smart, and bold.SM
Vision: Empowered girls and an equitable society.
This says it all about the organization who serves about 4,500 young girls from 4 to 18 years of age with many programs around Orange County and the country.
It is such a pleasure to be around the girls that are part of the program. If the mission and vision speaks to your heart, getting involved with the girls and the organization will only make them both come alive. I can wholeheartedly recommend Girls, Inc. as worthy of your time and support.
Friends of Dorothy Halloween Party
October 25, I donated my time and talent to photograph the Haunted Halloween Costume Party for the Friends of Dorothy Guild at the Village Crean in Newport Beach. The event was a smashing success raising $45,635.00 for Aids Services Foundation.
As you can see from the other post in this blog, I have been supporting this organization proudly all year.
I hope to see you at the next event! For information:
VW Drag Races at the Irwindale Raceway
Finally, on October 26th, Karen and I went out bright and early in the morning to the Irwindale Raceway to watch my sister, Susy, and her husband, Mike, race their VW’s down the drag strip. It turned out to be an all day family affair, with my sister, Kathy, and her husband, John, my Aunt Judy, my cousin Jack and his wife, Linda, there to support Susy and Mike.
My sister and brother-in-law ended up racing each other in the practice runs – great fun to watch this married couple beat it down the stretch! The race of the day, from my perspective, was “The Powder Puff VW Division” comprised of all seriously competitive women – including my little sister! She placed second while her best friend took the checkered flag. I was the unofficial photographer for that division. The next race is Fontana on May 3rd, 2009. Be there!
