ABE Board of Directors Meeting
OCTOBER 27-30, 2024
THE RITZ-CARLTON BACARA, SANTA BARBARA, CA
Dear ABE Board Members and Guests,
Eric and I look forward to welcoming you to Santa Barbara in a few weeks. Whether you have visited Santa Barbara before or this is your first time, we hope you will leave with some fond new memories.
We will be staying at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, a stunning Mediterranean style resort on 78 acres overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Located in Santa Barbara, this charmingly small city is a mere 7 minutes from Santa Barbara Municipal Airport and 90 miles north of Los Angeles. It is a beloved destination in Southern California known for its beautiful scenery, laid-back atmosphere, and access to the ocean.
On a nearby hill, Mission Santa Barbara, founded in 1786, houses Franciscan friars and a museum. Spanish settlers gave the city its distinct architectural style in the form of Old Mission Santa Barbara and what is now the County Courthouse — a style that was carried forward by local visionaries after a massive earthquake destroyed much of the area’s infrastructure in 1925.
For the movie buffs among us, you may be surprised to know that hundreds of silent films were produced in Santa Barbara in the early 1920s, and Charlie Chaplin himself was known to frequent the area. Stretching east into the Santa Ynez Mountains is The Santa Ynez Valley - Santa Barbara County’s wine country, boasting more than 150+ wineries, 250+ boutique shops and 60+ restaurants.
Our Welcome Reception on Sunday evening will be held from 6:00-8:00 p.m. in the hotel’s Cohiba Lounge. We will have plenty to eat and drink, so you can relax on the terrace, enjoy the stunning views and not have to worry about making dinner plans.
While the Board is meeting on Monday, spouses and guests will have time to see the sights of Santa Barbara on an open-air trolley tour, followed by lunch at the Brophy Bros Clam Bar and Restaurant on Santa Barbara Harbor.
We will finish up our Board meeting around 3p.m. on Monday to allow time to freshen up and change for a night to remember at the Vega Vineyard and Farm. The evening will include produce freshly plucked from the earth to accompany a true farm to table menu. We don’t want to give everything away, but plan to enjoy a memorable al fresco evening!
On Tuesday, the Board will meet for a full day. Spouses and guests can enjoy some free time on their own or get to know some of Santa Barbara’s landmark architecture with tours of the Santa Barbara Court House and the Santa Barbara Mission.
A brief reception, followed by dinner will take place on Tuesday night in the Ritz-Carlton’s Rotunda and Terrace. Set atop the resort lobby, this sun-filled venue overlooks the ocean, gardens, and adjoining terraces. What a terrific spot in which to share the great experiences of our time together and bring our meeting to a close.
We will not meet on Wednesday, as this will be a travel day for most. But please join us before you head out to the airport for a buffet breakfast to fortify yourself for the journey home.
We think this will be a special meeting in a special place. The weather will be moderate with warm days and cool nights, so pack accordingly. It's a good idea to pack layers, including a light sweater, wrap, or jacket. Comfortable/flat or low-heeled shoes are highly recommended for the spouse/guest activities as well as our evening at the Vega Vineyard.
Attire for board meetings will be smart casual (polo shirt, slacks or skirt/dress) and attire for the evening receptions and dinners--all with outdoor components, is resort chic, which includes collared shirt and slacks for men (sport coat and ties optional) and dresses of any length, pantsuits or jumpsuits for women. It’s California, so interpret as you see fit!
We look forward to seeing you in the American Riviera!
Safe travels.
Lora and Eric
