of support and attendance. Sea Grill was the perfect location with a Whale Tale extending over the bar, Régine Biscoe Lee as master of ceremony announcing our program and prizes, amazing food with music from Friend’s with Instruments, decorations and lights hung, while scuba Steve watched from the corner, now it was time for the party.
We received so much support from the very beginning from our main sponsors: Fokai, Docomo, Sup Shack Guam, AMT Beach House, Beachin’ Shrimp, Eat Street Grill, and California Pizza Kitchen. Not to mention, all of our other supporters from small businesses to everyone who attended, made the night a major success. In hindsight, we should have opted to include the upper level as well, who knew everyone who bought tickets actually wanted to come. This was another major show of support, and we love you for it.
When planning the MCC Launch Party our main goal was to bring the community together, celebrate the common, raise a voice to conservation, scientific research ,showcase our up and coming leaders of tomorrow while hopefully raising a little bit of money for some our programs. All of us are Stakeholders but often we focus on the things that divide us rather then what joins us. We wanted the night to be about what links us, having fun, enjoyment, friendships all united in the love for nature, specifically ocean life. We do live on an island surrounded by amazing marine life.
So many of us enjoy it from a beautiful sunset or sunrise, paddle boarding on liquid glass, scuba diving and snorkeling, swimming, outer-rigger paddling, photography, and research. Many of us depend on it as substance from fishing, and tourism. All you have to do is look in Tumon and the line of hotels. There is a reason they are waterfront. The ocean holds a power that transcends through cultures, languages, and countries, and political beliefs. I fail to meet a person standing by the seashore that doesn’t look out longingly across the waters with a peacefulness of existence
We are connected as much as the land and waters are intertwined. We all have an invested interest in keeping it healthy, alive, beautiful, and managing it sustainably. Island life brings together a greater focus as a community often lost on Continents divided my land. We know that even amongst our differences living together in an acceptance makes life easier. I believe there is a better acceptance of individual differences here. It is from this acceptance, our connections, and commonality that we can seam together a better plan for tomorrow.
One week before the launch party something amazing happened. On Facebook we had numerous people contacting asking us if they could give something towards our silent auction. From beautiful jewelry, art, clothing, bags, books, scuba lessons people were giving what that could, contributing to a bigger cause. Until two hours before the event we still had people contacting us with gifts. To me this speaks volumes of the heart of Guam, it’s community, and why this is home to me. Not only did we feel the support of the community but from our government, our Congresswomen Madeleine Z. Bordallo, Vice Speaker BJ Cruz, Senator Mary Torrez.
Things need to change the way we approach and manage our natural resources. Water temperatures are rising, fish stocks are depleted, and corals are being smothered. These issues are the same shared through out the region changing a little in structure of priority, but emerging from the same mold. Collectively we are stronger and just like in the meeting houses in Yap, saco nights in Pohnpei, and the fiestas in Guam we need to discuss, suggest, and build on our unity that connects us the ocean. We must keep her healthy. We depend on it.
If you attended the MCC Launch party you felt the love, and support, it was palpable, almost overwhelming and clear MCC has an energy and path of it’s own, created by you. Thank you for everything and we look forward to serving our community to the best of our ability honorably and honestly. “As a individual we are as a drop of water, together we are life the ocean”.
As Founding Director I need to thank several people who work endless hours from the goodness of their heart creating the foundation for a successful night. Belinda Baird coordinated this entire event, Julia Berg for making sure our website was not only working and functional but amazing, Whitney Blandford muliti-tasked between grant writing, administration work, and event preparations. Our high school Ambassador Gabby Paynter , College ambassador Leilani Sablan, and Outreach Coordinator Diona Drake and Marine Team member Melissa Bridges for their heartfelt presentations. You could hear and feel their passion and love for marine life, and Guam. This is why I was driven to start MCC. To support their dreams and see them achieve it. Micronesian Conservation Coalition is their NGO and yours.
Special thanks to ALL of our supporters.
