Introduction To Speakers And Featured Guests - Presented by Ray Davi

(Patricia Huntington)
I would first like to introduce Patricia Huntington. A woman of numerous talents, she is also a minister, and will lead us in a blessing in just a moment. Her background includes: psychology, physical therapy, nutrition, holistic health care, energy medicine and homeopathy. Throughout the day she will be available to all of you for short energy balancing "tune-ups" and "once-over body assessments.

(Magnus Toren)
Now we’ll hear from Magnus Toren, the Director of the Henry Miller Library...with some insightful stories about Henry Miller and his Big Sur neighbors. Magnus is a native of Sweden who spent seven years sailing in the South Pacific, living in Tahiti for a year. At one point, he delivered a boat from Fiji to San Francisco. It was then that he traveled for the first time to Big Sur…and was enchanted by it! In 1984 he returned to this area to settle.

Now, I invite you to give your attention to our speakers…as they share their stories.

I have a distinct relationship with each of them. Each of them has made great efforts…

- To slow down, pay attention, and listen to what matters
- To stay present
- To be responsible for making a difference

Among all their various gifts, they have one thing in common…their immeasurable vitality!

(SARK)
Please open your hearts and minds…as we enter into a look at creative thinking…… SARK, or as some know her, Susan Ariel Rainbow Kennedy, brings an artistic approach to creating solutions. The author of ten books, including the best seller, Wild Succulent Woman, SARK has focused the attention of millions of readers on how to be true to one’s self. Her books are published in five languages. SARK was one of my earliest mentoring clients. Last year she delivered this event’s blessing. This year she will give us our inspirational address…Please welcome her back!

(Gayle Ortiz)
We will now hear about creating solutions on the local government level, from Gayle Ortiz. Over the 14 years that I’ve lived here, watching the success of Gayle’s Bakery in Capitola made me want to know her. Today, her renowned bakery employs 125 people. It’s a meeting place where locals discuss politics, the environment, or something as simple as the local dog park issue….

For the Monterey Bay region, it’s sort of a Chez Panisse of bakeries…and the place to find out what’s happening. When her husband, Joe, told me of her city council appointment, I couldn’t wait to hear what she had in mind for this new assignment. Since then, she has fun for office, and has been appointed Vice-Mayor.

Gayle became a client of mine when she was in the process of focusing her attention on giving more to her community than it had given her. She is a trailblazer and a person with whom it is a joy to discuss all sorts of topics…Please welcome Gail Ortiz as she discusses the government sector.

(David Whitman)
For our insights into creating solutions in the non-profit and for-profit sectors, we will be hearing from David Whitman. David and I have spent many hours over the years discussing just how a gathering like today’s event would prove to be important…in that it would bring like-minded people together to share information and inspiration. David’s background in corporate and entrepreneurial business took him from merchandising and marketing into community, cultural and non-profit work, early in his career. He has always been passionate about working with human ecology activities. A strong set of values and high quality standards have been the cornerstones of his career in advertising, retail, and product development.

After living in Dallas, New York and Santa Fe, he moved to the Berkshires in western Massachusetts. There he co-founded Nature & Culture, Inc., a new kind of consulting team, to establish collaborative efforts with sustainable ventures. Nature & Culture focuses and assists non-profits and for-profits, such as the Berkshire Botanical Gardens and the Carapan Urban Spa in New York….

Most recently, with his partner and co-founder Peter Stiglin, Nature & Culture has conceived, developed, and launched a massive on-line magazine for the Orion Society, part of a 3-year program to increase membership subscription. Here today to discuss the non-profit and for-profit sector…please welcome David Whitman back to one of his favorite spots on the planet….

(Joe Brown)
Joe Brown is public relations manager for the San Francisco Chronicle. He will give us insights into the opportunities that exist to create solutions by way of the media. Joe’s original job in the newspaper business was in 1980, at the Washington Post, as assistant to the P.R. Director. He spent 15 years at the Washington Post, as a reporter, critic and columnist in the Arts, Lifestyle, and Entertainment sections. During that time, the late Katherine Graham moved up from publisher to chairman of the publication.

One of Joe’s early solutions concerned the fight to write and place the first story on the inaugural showing of the AIDS Memorial Quilt on the lawn at the mall, in Washington, D.C. Joe was the liaison between the business and editorial departments at the internationally famous newspaper.

Currently, in addition to being manager of public relations for the San Francisco Chronicle, he serves as advisor to its senior management. Last year, Joe single handedly created a grass-roots effort to make the Chronicle the first major U.S. newspaper to sponsor a Gay Pride celebration…Please welcome someone who takes an innovative approach to journalism…as he talks about the media sector.

(Mary Harper)
We will now enter the personal realm with Dr. Mary Harper. Last year, when Mary spoke to us, the response was terrific, so she’s back!

Mary’s work in organizational development and consulting psychology brings great insights in to our own development toward creating solutions, within ourselves. Her creation of an open-systems communications model has helped numerous fortune 500 companies and various industries and fields, as well as institutions and governments. Her work establishes what she calls transparency in governance, as well as looking at the consequences of how things are organized.

I have had the opportunity in the past year to work with Mary, to see how her approach to reactive situations creates positive solutions for individuals, both personally and professionally.

To me, Mary represents the spirit of what is called in Greek Methodology, "inspiritrix"…the ability to bring magic, wonder, and delight to any situation.

Please welcome back Dr. Mary Harper, who will speak about the personal journey towards creating solutions.