For a moment, when I heard the Luis Oasis Center’s ukulele band playing on Friday evening, March 20, at the Santa Maria Country Club, I thought I was in Hawaii.
But then, I realized I was at the Oasis Center’s sixth annual Spring Gala.
This lollapalooza of a fundraiser garnered close to or just more than $50,000.
Look what you can do with ukuleles.
“The success of the evening,” said executive director Doug Dougherty, “was beyond all expectations.
“It was the most successful event,” he added, “in the six years that we have been doing this.”
A high percentage of the 200 people at the dinner and auction were older than 60. It was kind of like AARPers Anonymous.
I hasten to add that a) there was a lot of glamour and style among the female guests, and b) there was a lot of electricity and energy in the room.
At my table were Dolores and Jerry Luis, Dr. Dennis Shepherd, Betty Jo Cravello, Dave and Joy Kennison, John and Viki Murray, and Brenda Wolf.
One table over were Stu and Jan Bartelson, George and Pam Risher, and Kevin and Barbara James.
Among those who witnessed Brian and Shirley Hall receiving the “Hero’s Award” plaque for their service to the center were Gary Miller, Margie and Chuck Halsell, and John Noon (representing the Woods Foundation).
Liz Addamo was there, as were Carolyn McCall and Chuck and Marie Whitford.
Factoid Department: Director of Development Kathy Hayes told me that in 2011, the Oasis Center had 400 members. They now have more than 900. The only place in town with a larger membership is the Elks Lodge.
Economics and education
It was nominally a meeting of the Economic Alliance of North County, but what it really was was an education summit.
Allan Hancock College’s president, some Hancock administrators, and school district superintendents and administrators were at the Santa Maria Inn on Thursday, March 26, for a program that discussed what schools are doing to address literacy and workforce development.
This exciting initiative attracted educators from Lompoc, Guadalupe, and Santa Maria, as well as the former mayor of Lompoc, John Linn.
Our own mayor, Alice Patino; county Supervisor Steve Lavagnino; Doug Coleman (representing Assemblyman Katcho Achadjian); and Lompoc’s Joyce Howerton (representing State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson) were in the audience of 120-plus, along with reps from important employers like Hardy Diagnostics and Santa Maria Energy.
You can see that there were a lot of heavy hitters on board to hear panels talk about what is happening to promote literacy that is good for the North County economy.
One issue that really caught my attention was when Santa Maria-Bonita Superintendent Phil Alvarado talked about an online program to facilitate the learning of math. He said a goal was to reduce the outsourcing of technical jobs to overseas countries.
Hear, hear! I’ll drink to that (the inn’s very good Gevalia coffee, of course).
Retired Air Force public affairs guy Cary Gray told the audience that the Air Force is the world’s largest community college system. Kinda made me want to rush to my local recruiter and sign up.
This program got Hobnobbing’s best possible accolade: totally non-boring for those interested in the economic future of North County.
Mike Kirkwood is the president of the nonprofit Economic Alliance. Vikki Conner spearheaded event coordination.
If you want to hobnob with Helen, you may contact her at helenthom232@yahoo.com.
This article appears in Apr 2-9, 2015.