The Crowd: World Affairs Council honors three longtime members

The World Affairs Council of Orange County welcomed former New York Times reporter Philip Taubman to its July conference in Costa Mesa.

Taubman, the Times’ former bureau chief in both Washington and Moscow, addressed the local audience on the current state of the nuclear threat and the influence of rogue states in the nuclear mix.

His address focused on bipartisan efforts by former and present U.S. government officials — including Henry Kissinger, William Perry, Sen. Sam Nunn and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton — committed to reducing the nuclear threat on a worldwide scale. The Hilton Orange County/Costa Mesa hotel

was the setting for the confab, chaired by World Affairs Council of O.C. leader Serge Tomassian.

The evening also recognized longtime World Affairs Council members Harry Sahota, Bruce Hallenbeck and Fred Ameri. The three gentlemen were awarded the 2012 Golden Orange Award in recognition of their years of community service and commitment to fostering international relations through the World Affairs Council.

The much-respected Jo Ellen Chatham, an executive with Southern California Edison and a past recipient of the Golden Orange Award, joined Tomassian in presenting the awards to the three men.

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The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation will be the beneficiary of proceeds raised at next week’s OC Look event. The July 26 extravaganza will unfold at the Ritz Cove residence of Daniel and Maureen Callahan in Dana Point, welcoming Orange County style makers to the fifth anniversary event sponsored by Orange Coast Magazine in association with the Dream Guild of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

The concept behind the project is to focus on individuals in Orange County who are the unofficial arbiters of current style. Diversity is the operative word, inasmuch as the OC Look honorees are chosen from very different sectors of Orange County society.

Without giving away the names, they will include a hotel magnate, a recording artist, an athlete, a fashion designer, a research scientist, an interior designer, a professional chef, a physician and even an Olympic gold medalist.

Tiffany & Co., celebrating its 175th anniversary year in 2012 as America’s premier jeweler and arbiter of taste, will be represented by South Coast Plaza store executive Michael Botsko. Each of the OC Look honorees will be presented with an exclusive award designed and provided by Tiffany.

The night of style will also feature informal modeling by Saks Fifth Avenue, beauty bar makeovers by MAC Cosmetics, and even a photo lounge by Lisa Renee Photography. Karlsson’s vodka will be pouring martinis with catering by 24 Carrots.

The Dream Guild has raised more than $50,000 to date in support of research to fund a cure for diabetes. Citizens involved include Michael Hall of Neiman Marcus, Jennifer Condas, Melanie Hurwitz, Neil Latham and fashion designer Oday Shakar, among others.

THE CROWD runs Thursdays and Saturdays. B.W. Cook is editor of the Bay Window, the official publication of the Balboa Bay Club in Newport Beach.