Leaders share goals

Representatives of nonprofit groups and the business community put their best feat forward Tuesday at the 20th annual Leadership Luncheon at the Hotel Laguna.

Participants were allowed one minute to share their own or their group’s top accomplishment in 2006 and a top goal for 2007.

“You are all leaders, and we want you to get to know one another,” luncheon founder and moderator Bobbi Cox said. “You are the program.”

But it wasn’t easy to top Mother Nature. Dolphins and whales cavorting just off-shore in the sun-sparkled ocean charmed the participants looking out of the windows of the California Room, almost at beach level.

The show put on by the marine mammals was one of the few things for which Cox would turn off the timer.

“I am ruthless,” Cox warned.

She got the ball rolling.

Cox’s main accomplishment in 2006 was walking away from an automobile accident that could have been fatal. It gave her a new perspective on what is important — a value she plans to put into action this year.

Jan Herkelrath, president-elect of the Rotary, said the Classic Car Show was the club’s most important event of 2006 but also mentioned the Grapes for Grads fundraiser.

Khyber Pass owner Sadiq Tawfig, also a Rotarian, started a club in his native Afghanistan in 2006.

Harry Lawrence, who will be honored for his contributions to the city at the Legacy Ball tonight, looked back on 60 years of accomplishments and put the creation of Main Beach and the construction of the Laguna Playhouse on Broadway at the top of his list.

“I hope you all enjoy them,” Lawrence said.

Record attendance at the 2006 Patriots Day Parade rated an “A” from parade President Charlie Quilter, who flew back from Austria to attend the luncheon and a meeting that night of the parade committee.

“Beginning the automated sprinkler system was our top accomplishment,” said Scott Miller on behalf of the Friends of the Hortense Miller Garden.

Emily Rose Miller said breaking ground in 2006 for new pools was a major accomplishment for the Pacific Marine Mammal Center.

Blue Water founder Rick Conkey said the group’s beach clean-up day attracted 1,000 people.

Cindy Prewitt claimed her smartest move in 2006 was moving the Jazz and Classic Music Festival to January.

Barbara Antonacci was pleased to announce that the Laguna Beach branch of the American Assn. of University Women added funding for a new scholarship for women returning to college.The mural on the Laguna Beach County Water District capped the 2006 efforts of the Community Art Project.

Assistant City Manager John Pietig said breaking ground for the corporation yard relocation to ACT V was a major achievement for the city.

On a less happy note, Doctors Ambulance Service grew by 50% in 2006.

“You all need to eat less, drink less and walk more,” company Vice President Kay Kearney said.

The Laguna Beach College of Art & Design added a Masters of Fine Art degree, expecting a class of five, but 20 students signed up.

Rebecca Barber was thrilled to open an art gallery in the Old Pottery Place in 2006.

The opening of the Old Pottery Place was a 2006 highlight for Planning Commissioner Anne Johnson.

Mayor Toni Iseman shared her pleasure at being chosen as mayor by her fellow council members.

Friends of the Library President Martha Anderson thanked all the contributors to the library renovations in 2006 sponsored by the Friends.

An offshoot of the Friends will be started this year to support children’s activities and needs at the library, Children’s Librarian Rebecca Porter reported.

Woman’s Club of Laguna Beach President Peggy Ford said the club increased membership and established its first scholarship for a student in a single-parent family. The Rev. Jerry Tankersley is proud of the master plan developed for the Laguna Presbyterian Church.

Jennifer Myers retuned to Laguna after several years in Great Britain to open her own business, Sapphire Communications.

“Our best accomplishment was repeated 150 times,” said Carol Rhodes of Friendship Shelter. “That is the number of people who walked in homeless and left with a job and a future.”

Elizabeth Bows and Ron Crane represented Kush Fine Art.

“We got the damn thing open,” Crane said.

The Youth Shelter posted more grants and a budget topping $10 million, Margot Carlsen said.

Some of the goals:

The Bank of America’s Jeffrey Redeker said his goal is to expand the scope of Rotary’s Grapes for Grads fundraiser.

Terry Ann Barnes aims to keep going the free pre-school, which celebrated its sixth year in 2006 at the Boys & Girls’ Club of Laguna Beach.

The club has been serving Laguna for 54 years, said Executive Director Kim Maxwell.

“Our main problem is to survive,” said Ben Blount, commander of the Laguna Beach post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. “Most of our members are World War II and Korean vets.”

Chuck Robinson of Ganahl Lumber will be serving this year on the Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

Jim Rue would like to see advances in accommodations for the handicapped.

“Andy Leaf [founder of SEED, a business development for program for people with disabilities] would have been here today, but he couldn’t get into this room,” Rue said.

Councilwoman Cheryl Kinsman showed off chips from the runway at El Toro Marine Air Base, which were packaged and presented to participants of the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority, which officially closed shop Monday, no longer needed to fight against a commercial airport on the site.

“My goal is to work harder this coming year,” said Rose Hancock, executive director of the Chamber of Commerce and Civic Assn., which presents the annual Leadership Luncheon.

Kevin Johnson said cleaning up the neglected Vacation Village property is his top priority as the new general manager. Johnson, who was introduced by Visitors Bureau President Karen Phillipsen, is no newcomer to Laguna. He formerly worked as assistant GM at the Surf & Sand before moving to Sausalito to oversee the addition of rooms and a spa to the Casa Madrona Inn and then onto Sedona for another project.

Chris Lange of Citizen’s Business Bank said she wants to establish a musical event in November in town.

“We will celebrate our 75th Diamond Jubilee this year,” said Festival of Arts President Anita Mangels. The festival also plans to revive the Pageant of the Monsters, one of the best ways ever that the town celebrated Halloween.

Chamber President Dave Sanford concluded the luncheon with thanks to Cox.

“She is a true angel as everyone knows,” Sanford said. “This event is so important. It brings all of us together.”

More than 100 community leaders attended the luncheon.