Gerri Goodreau, Marjorie Gorum, Barbara Gladden, Marilyn McCorkle, Gail Daniels (all are former Chairmen of The Guilds of Segerstrom Center for the Arts except Marjorie Gorum who is current co-chair) (Anaheim Hills, Laguna Beach, Mission Viejo, San Clemente, Irvine – also l to r)
Members of Carmen, Center Stage and Stage Door Chapters of The Guilds of Segerstrom Center for the Arts and their guests cruised to a Tropical Paradise for an evening onboard the MS Duck Club on Tuesday, April 7. They could feel their worries just melt away as attentive crew members greeted them with Mai Tais and adorned them with colorful leis and island flower clips for the ladies’ hair while infectious island music played in the background. The secluded location of the Duck Club coupled with its peaceful setting made this the ideal location for such an event.
Organized by members of the three chapters, the guests enjoyed tasty island appetizers. Meatballs, chicken tenders and sushi accompanied by delectable dips were followed by main courses such as Teriyaki Chicken, mouthwatering Roasted Pork and Mahi Mahi. Dessert dainties include Mango Cheesecake, Coconut Pudding, assorted Fruit Tarts, and Lemon Bundtinis.
A lively, multi-talented, entertaining duo, Panjive, played a smooth blend of Calypso, Reggae, Ska, Latin, and Contemporary music incorporating the unique island sounds of the wonderful and distinctive “Steel Drum.” With the sweet rhythms from Trinidad and Jamaica, they created an upbeat, fun-filled, memorable experience for all our cruising guests.
The highlight of the evening had to be the Hula Hoop contest – no one could keep that hoop from defying gravity no matter how hard they tried! The judges, in their infinite wisdom, called a draw and determined that all participants deserved recognition if only for their courage to participate. Terry Hagan won an Olive Garden gift card, Panjive donated one of their CD’s for Marianne Reitz’s efforts, and Roy Smoker won a “bobble head grass-skirted doll” whose hips wiggled instead of her head!
Everyone strolled among the beautifully wrapped raffle baskets, silent auction and jewelry tables to pick up some enticing gifts…there was something for everyone! Barbara Gladden of Laguna Niguel was among the lucky bidders to pick up three Silent Auction items! They included two orchestra seating tickets to the ever popular musical, “Annie”, at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, a Junior Executive stay at Ayres Hotel, and an exclusive evening at Marty and Bob Olds’ home in Newport Beach to enjoy cocktails and appetizers and view his incredibly distinctive train room.
Margaret Ann Vincent of Tustin won the exquisite glass necklace and matching earrings created by an artist from the Laguna Arts Festival. Jackie Olstad from Costa Mesa won an Angela Anderson painting – the artist was there to present her with the much sought after auction prize. Tom and Marianne Reitz, also of Costa Mesa, will enjoy a Hawaiian music performance at the Barclay Theater.
Special guests were introduced including Marjorie Gorum, Co-Chairman of The Guilds as well as Chairmen Emeritae: Barbara Gladden, Gerrie Goodreau, Marilyn McCorkle and Gail Daniels who will be presented with this year’s Guilds Inspiration Award at The Guilds Spring Celebration “A Night of Discovery” on Friday April 24 at the Fairmont Hotel in Newport Beach. Several members of The Guilds Board of Directors were also acknowledged.
This year’s fundraiser raised almost $7,000 for the Center to support the Center’s artistic and education programs.
Louise Costa and West Area Guild Chairman Margaret Ann Vincent, Co-Chairs, planned and organized the event assisted by committee members Delphi and Bob Ballinger, Ed Cady, Gail and Jim Daniels, Michela Engle, Diana Hardy, Carol Hunter, Susan Kinkade, Jackie Olstad, Terry Hagan and Lacy Walker.
The Guilds of the Center
The Guilds of Segerstrom Center for the Arts is one of the largest and most prestigious support groups for a non-profit organization in Orange County.
The Guilds, which is comprised of 22 chapters and nearly 1,600 members, is respected and admired for its contributions to Segerstrom Center for the Arts and is emulated by many other arts organizations around the country.
Guilds members are Center ambassadors, spreading the word about the Center among their friends and neighbors and encouraging them to enjoy and use this great community resource.
The Guilds raises funds for the Center, Orange County’s largest non-profit arts organization. Guilds members have contributed more than $14 million dollars in support of the Center since their organization was founded.
Their support helps the Center to present its renowned performing arts series, which includes dance, Broadway shows, cabaret, jazz, classical music, family entertainment, cutting-edge theater and many free and low cost performances and events.
Close to the heart of The Guilds is the Center’s education programs that reach hundreds of thousands of young people and educators each year with performances and arts-in-education programs at the Center and on school campuses.
The Guilds sponsors the Children at the Center initiative, which provides volunteers who assist the Center’s Education Department with bus-ins, the Family Series and other special events attended by young people.
During the holiday season, The Guilds also holds its Toy Drive in conjunction with the U.S. Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots®, which benefits deserving but less fortunate Orange County children. One chapter of The Guilds is Performing Arts Junior (“PAJ”). This chapter provides young people ages 11-18 with opportunities to attend varied performance events and to learn about the performing arts. PAJ members are required to donate community service hours to an arts-service activity each year.
Members of The Guilds know that the arts can change lives, uplift and inspire, and represent and unite the community. Since opening in 1986, the Center has achieved national and international acclaim for the exceptional range and quality of its presentations, and members of The Guilds are proud to be part of the Segerstrom Center for the Arts family.
Segerstrom Center for the Arts is unique as both an acclaimed arts institution and as a multi-disciplinary cultural campus. It is committed to supporting artistic excellence on all of its stages, offering unsurpassed experiences, and engaging the entire community in new and exciting ways through the unique power of live performance and a diverse array of inspiring programs.
Previously called the Orange County Performing Arts Center, Segerstrom Center traces its roots back to the late 1960s when a dedicated group of community leaders decided Orange County should have its own world-class performing arts venue.
As Orange County’s largest non-profit arts organization, Segerstrom Center for the Arts owns and operates the 3,000-seat Segerstrom Hall and intimate 250-seat Founders Hall, which opened in 1986, and the 2,000-seat Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, which opened in 2006 and also houses the 500-seat Samueli Theater, the Lawrence and Kristina Dodge Education Center’s studio performance space and Boeing Education Lab.
A spacious arts plaza anchors Segerstrom Center for the Arts and is home to numerous free performances throughout the year as part of Segerstrom Center for the Arts’ ongoing Free for All series.
The Center presents a broad range of programming each season for audiences of all ages from throughout Orange County and beyond, including international ballet and dance, national tours of top Broadway shows, intimate performances of jazz and cabaret, contemporary artists, classical music performed by renowned chamber orchestras and ensembles, family-friendly programming, free performances open to the public from outdoor movie screenings to dancing on the plaza and many other special events.
It offers many education programs designed to inspire young people through the arts. These programs reach hundreds of thousands of students of all ages with vital arts-in-education programs, enhancing their studies and enriching their lives well into the future.
In addition to the presenting and producing institution Segerstrom Center for the Arts, the 14-acre campus also embraces the facilities of two independent acclaimed organizations: Tony® Award-winning South Coast Repertory and a site designated as the future home of the Orange County Museum of Art.
Segerstrom Center for the Arts is also proud to serve as the artistic home to three of the region’s major performing arts organizations: Pacific Symphony, the Philharmonic Society of Orange County and the Pacific Chorale, who contribute greatly to the artistic life of the region with annual seasons at Segerstrom Center for the Arts.
Carmen, Center Stage and Stage Door Chapters of The Guilds
provide ongoing support of Segerstrom Center for the Arts
and its varied community and education programs.
Diana Hardy
