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March & April 2024 Newsletter

Message from the President  Dear Santa Barbara Associates and Friends, It was a full house for the Annual Meeting held on February 22nd at the University Club. We certainly were a lively group as we mixed and mingled in the bar before moving into the dining room for a delicious buffet dinner. The program included the acknowledgement of the…
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January & February 2024 Newsletter

Message from the President  Dear Santa Barbara Associates and Friends, Welcome 2024! We are happy to start the year with the much-awaited launch of our new website! We are grateful for the work of Marci Friedlander, Christine Gregory, Sue Larsen, and Lori Sullivan for their dedication to this challenging project. Special thanks go to our IT guru Christine Gregory who has worked…
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November & December 2023 Newsletter

Message from the President  Dear Santa Barbara Associates and Friends, SBA members and guests enjoyed a terrific private docent tour at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art last month with the wonderful Patty Santiago, SBMA Docent Council President. The tour was followed by Drinks and Nibbles in the University Club’s library for a fun and casual get together. A fun…
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September & October 2023 Newsletter

Message from the President  Dear Santa Barbara Associates and Friends, SBA members and guests enjoyed a wonderful Fiesta-themed summer party last month in the beautiful dining room of the University Club. The delicious Mexican buffet dinner and the delightful company made for a perfect evening. The complimentary wine provided by Seagrape Cellars winemaker Karen Steinwachs was a treat. Thank you to Chris…
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July & August 2023 Newsletter

Message from the President  Dear Santa Barbara Associates and Friends, SBA members enjoyed a wonderful luncheon last month featuring speakers from the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. President/CEO Luke Swetland gave us an informative overview about the Museum and Sea Center, and introduced us to Andrea McFarling, their new Philanthropy Officer of Legacy Giving. We then…
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May & June 2023 Newsletter

Message from the President  Dear Santa Barbara Associates and Friends, SBA members enjoyed a terrific luncheon last month featuring speaker extraordinaire Greg Gorga, Executive Director of the Maritime Museum. His talk about the history of the Point Conception lighthouse was fascinating! If you missed it, SBMM has a past lecture on the topic available on their website. Well…
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Woman of Distinction Award 2022

Sharon Van Gundy Presented by Marci Friedlander  This year’s Woman of Distinction has been a long-term active member of the Santa Barbara Associates.  I first met her in the mid 90’s when I first joined Santa Barbara Associates.  She was so outgoing and full of energy and kindness – I felt especially welcomed by her…
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Santa Barbara Associates Woman of Distinction 2021 Nikki Ayers

Woman of Distinction Award 2021

Nikki Ayers The Woman of Distinction this year is none other than Nikki Ayers. Nikki has shown her leadership over the years. She has been involved in her own business for 38 years in Automotive Repairs. Women were not involved in those early days in that type of work. She was a trail blazer, offering…
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Santa Barbara Associates Woman of Distinction 2020 Gretchen Hewlett

Woman of Distinction Award 2020

Gretchen Hewlett Presented by Tanis Hammond This year's Woman of Distinction is none other than Gretchen Hewlett. She is SBCC Foundation’s Chief Development Officer. In 2015 she was honored by the Association of Fundraising Professionals Santa Barbara/Ventura Chapter as Professional Fundraiser of the year for her work at SBCC Foundation. She has also served on the SBA Board and…
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