Bright yellow goldenbush flowers nod in a gentle afternoon breeze. It's late fall on Catalina Island and the splash of color catches your eye. Up close, a drama is unfolding. What can it be?

The inaugural Catalina Island Conservancy Legacy Society Luncheon was held recently at the Country Club in Avalon.

The luncheon, hosted by Alison Wrigley Rusack, Paxson Offield, and Robert Given, honored Conservancy members who have named the Conservancy as a beneficiary of their estate plans.

Rusack thanked the Society members for having the vision to pass on to the next generation gifts that will help to keep Catalina wild, and ultimately benefit everyone who visits the Island.

“Your generosity shows confidence in the work that is being done by our talented team,” she said. “We are proud that we have earned your trust.” She entertained the group with memories of her childhood on Catalina and the wonder she felt while exploring the Island’s interior with her father, Bill Wrigley.

“I will never forget riding the ridges and canyons on horseback, diving into the surf at Ben Weston Beach, the incredible (and welcome!) sight of that little strip of runway as it suddenly popped into view amidst the fog, and the most important thing of all – seeing the delight in my children’s eyes as I experience these things all over again with them.”

Read more about the Conservancy's Legacy Society...

The Catalina Island Conservancy has expanded its popular Volunteer Vacation program to two additional weeks in the winter, February 5 - 10 and February 12 - 17, 2007. Volunteer Vacations provide outdoor enthusiasts an opportunity to get away from it all, while performing much-needed tasks in stunning backcountry locations on Catalina Island.

“Winter’s Volunteer Vacation participants will conduct rigorous tasks such as planting native seedlings at restoration sites and removing invasive plants in the rugged hills of the interior,” said Matthew Sutton, Volunteer Groups Coordinator. “We are looking for hearty volunteers who don’t mind possibly working in the rain, and camping with night temperatures that can drop occasionally to frost levels,” he said. “However, they will experience the Island turning green with new vegetation and resplendent with colorful wildflowers,” Sutton added.

Each week can accommodate between six to ten participants. After Monday’s orientation day, the Tuesday through Friday work day will be from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays will be spent enjoying one of the Island’s beautiful beaches.

Cost for the week-long vacations is $125 which includes tent bunkhouses at the Laura Stein Volunteer Camp located on a bluff overlooking the San Pedro Channel and the mainland. Three to four-course dinners are served each night by a consortium of local restaurants and local volunteers. Volunteers are responsible for their own breakfasts and lunches. Cooking facilities are available at the volunteer campground. Round-trip transportation to and from the mainland is not included.

Photo: Removing invasive plants is fun!

Once again the Catalina Island Conservancy, the Catalina Conservancy Divers, and the USC Catalina Hyperbaric Chamber are holding an annual contest for the T-Shirt Logo Design for their annual Avalon Harbor Underwater Cleanup.

The contest is open to any and all. The rules of the contest are simple. The design must include no more than two colors. The winner will be acknowledged in the marketing of the event as well as at the event itself.

Deadline for entries is January 1, 2007. The winner will be announced on February 1, 2007.

Submit your artwork, entries and questions to: Jill A. Boivin Event Chairperson: (boivin@newcap.com) or mail entries to: 2150 Loma Dr. Hermosa Beach, CA 90254

Image: Last year's winning entry by Jeff Lovin of 130 Down Dive Wear

Thelma Eileen Geiger died on September 25 at the age of 93. Her life was a full one, being an adventurous cook, an accomplished knitter, active in community service, pursuing a teaching career, enjoying a rich family life, and experiencing the adventure of yachting and travel.

Mrs. Geiger was the widow of George L. Geiger of Long Beach who died in 1992. Together, they loved Catalina. Mr. Geiger first visited the Island in 1928 and at age 19 built a small gaff-rigged yawl, named “Daisy R” after his mother. After they married in 1936, Mr. and Mrs. Geiger vacationed together on Catalina and enjoyed the secluded coves of the West End of the island. Two of these coves became known as “Little Geiger” and “Big Geiger.”

In 1945, the Geigers were one of three couples sailing out of San Pedro who formed the Blue Water Cruising Club which leases Big Geiger from the Santa Catalina Island Company. The Catalina Island Conservancy holds the lease on Little Geiger.

Mrs. Geiger is survived by her sister Hazel Wells of Fullerton, California; six children: Judy Geiger Pereira of Absecon, New Jersey; Sue Wilmer of Ojai, California; Faus Geiger Corlett of Corral, Idaho; Richard Geiger of Castro Valley, California; Ron Geiger of Nelson, New Zealand; and Pat Kinnaman of Las Vegas, Nevada. In addition, she leaves twelve grandchildren and fourteen great grandchildren.

Because Mrs. Geiger was a member of the Catalina Island Conservancy, the family requests that contributions be made to the Conservancy in her memory.

Photo: Thelma Eileen Geiger

Be sure to save the date for the 12th Annual Conservancy Ball, April 14, 2007. The formal Ball, sponsored by the San Diego Yacht Club in the beautiful Avalon Casino, will be a fabulous event, indeed!

Due to the popularity of the Conservancy Ball over the past several years, many people have been left on the waiting list. Invest in a sponsorship, and you and your guests will be guaranteed tickets. General ticket sales of remaining tickets will not start until February.

Here are your sponsorship choices:

• $15,000 Titanium Sponsorship includes: 10 tickets to the Ball and Pre-Ball Sponsor party; two full-page color advertisements in the Auction Program; and prominent listing on the Ball Poster
• $10,000 Platinum Sponsorship includes: 8 tickets to the Ball and Pre-Ball party; a full-page color advertisement in the Auction Program; and a listing on the Ball poster
• $5,000 Gold Sponsorship includes: 4 tickets to the Ball and Pre-Ball party; and a full-page advertisement in the Auction Program
• $1,000 Silver Sponsorship includes 2 tickets to the Ball and Pre-Ball party

Click here to request a sponsorship form...