Are You Busy?

It’s summer time! We are enjoying the Year Without the Summer while it lasts! The cool breeze and late sunshine have been the perfect break from the usually sweaty summer weather. Out my window I can see the vacation condo’s on the bluff packed with guests airing out their beach towels and enjoying the afternoon breeze. When the sun peaks out for those few hours in the afternoon the harbor is packed with vacationers taking leisurely strolls and the athletically inclined running up and down Harbor Drive. Over at the other side of the harbor in Doheny Beach, the waves are packed with surfers and just North of me in Laguna Beach people are enjoying the water, beach volleyball, and having picnics packed with ripe fruit and cold beverages.

So the same question is brought to me quite frequently by friends and family, “so it’s the summer time, are you busy?” My answer: YES!! Even though the teachers that I work with are hopefully vacationing somewhere tropical and most importantly for them, very quiet and free of boisterous children; I am working away at the Institute listening to our students oohh and aww at the mysteries they are discovering during their short time with us. The team here is answering phones, setting up events and facilitating children and parents through our summer camp programs. We are answering ocean related inquiries including the all important question, “when is the best time to see the tide pools?” In case you are wondering to yourself right now, “yeah, that’s a great question, when is the best time to see the tide pools?” There is no general time of day that is best; low tide changes everyday. You can reference many online sites like: http://freetidetables.com/ or http://www.saltwatertides.com/dynamic.dir/californiasites.html. You could also purchase a tide calendar in our gift store.

What keeps me the busiest in the summer? Since you have already read the title of this blog, do I need to answer the question? The 2010 Laguna Beach Million Dollar Home Raffle! Besides the normal raffle operations of answering your phone calls, placing ads, and creating community relationships, this year, we started out with calling all of our previous buyers to thank them for their purchase and give them a chance to be one of the first people to participate in the raffle. My favorite days have been working with our local partners in the community setting up special offers for our ticket purchasers. Like the day we went to Sarducci’s in the beautiful city of San Juan Capistrano…..

If you’ve never visited the city of the SJC you need to put it on your list! The SJC Mission is considered to be the jewel of all the California missions and is located right in the center of the city. I love to be at the Mission on sunny bright days when there is a nice breeze coming through. It’s amazing how small you can feel while standing in the ruins of the Great Stone Church. The Ocean Institute is privileged to be able to send about 6,000 students through the Mission while en route to our residential facility in the Cleavland National Forest. The gardens and the history that is brought to life at the Mission are unforgettable. Sarducci’s is about a block away from the Mission right next to the Amtrak station and the Regency Theatre. The white chocolate raspberry cheesecake at Sarducci’s is about as unforgettable as the city of SJC. Bring your email confirmation of your 2010 Laguna Beach Million Dollar Home Raffle ticket purchase down to Sarducci's for a slice of that cheesecake or any other dessert of your choice OR a free split of champagne!

Raffling the Good Life,

Rachel Gomez

Instant Win: 2 passes aboard the RV Sea Explorer!

Any of you want to check out our Research Vessel Sea Explorer? All you have to do is click the follow link on the right of this page and you will be entered into a drawing for 2 tickets to join us for Marine Wildlife Cruise, Morning Breeze Music Cruise, or a Bioluminescence Night Cruise! No purchase is necessary to win. Follow us today!

Starting Week 3!

Welcome to week 3! I hope you made your ticket purchase already. Not only is this years raffle on track to sell out; we have so many special offers lined up for you, that you are going to need the next 13 weeks to claim them all. I have to admit that this summer has possibly been the most fun I’ve had working at OI. All of our community partners truly offer a fabulous service/product to Orange County. We are so lucky to be able to access such quality venues and I have had the best time checking them out! We never have a reason to say, "there's nothing to do" while living in Orange County.

One of the highlights of last week was our Members event at The Laguna Playhouse. We were treated to a theatrical delight of 50’s tribute singing and dancing in a production called Life Could Be a Dream. This was my first visit to the Playhouse and I was so impressed by the talent produced by our local theatre; it is truly world class. If you haven’t been there yet, you need to check it out.

OI Staff with the cast of Life Could Be a Dream Cast

Right around the corner from The Laguna Play house, is where you will find your next special offer to being a Laguna Beach Million Dollar Home Raffle ticket purchaser: Sun Dried Tomato.

This 10% off offer is good through August 18, 2010 and valid at any of the 3 Sundried locations: San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano and Laguna Beach. During my trip, we started with the Crispy Blacked Chicken Spring Rolls that came with delicious honey-cilatro pesto sauce. Then I made my way into a bowl of Creamy Sundried Tomato, Chicken and Vegatables over Bowtie Pasta. It was served with lots of tangy gorgonzola. I can't wait to go back!

Sundried's Laguna location is also conveniently located right next to Hobie where you can pick up your free t-shirt, and a brief walk away from the Wyland Gallery where you can grab a free cup of coffee and a cookie for desert.

Make sure to print out your 2010 Laguna Beach Million Dollar Home Raffle e-mail confirmation and go visit Laguna today! I hope to see you all in Downtown!

Raffling the Good Life,

Rachel Gomez

Week Two with Wyland

Hey Bloggers,

I can't believe how fast week 1 of the raffle flew by! It was so energizing to speak with all of our ticket purchasers who were new and those returning to our raffle. This year, we hope that all of you who are returning to our raffle are also energized by our new LOCal Community Partner program. We have a ton of discounts and freebies lined up for you. The raffle doesn't just end with the final drawing in November; we want you to enjoy the benefits of being a ticket purchaser all year long.

So now you may be asking yourself, "if the final drawing doesn't take place until November, why should I buy my ticket today?" Well besides the 4 additional "Early Bird" drawings that you will be entered into by purchasing your ticket before August 18th, you will get to pick up all of the free merchandise we have lined up for you with our LOCal Community Partner program. Most of the free give-aways are only good until August 18, 2010.

Last week I was assigned the task of hanging out at the Wyland Gallery in Laguna Beach to shoot your video for your next freebie. It wasn't a rough day at all..... The Gallery is AWESOME. It is definitely on my list of recommendations for when you're strolling down town Laguna. They have an awesome deck with perfect views, and perfectly cozy couches to relax and take in the artwork. My favorite part was the Coffee Bar. They serve some of the best coffee in Laguna Beach and THE BEST cookies. Definitely not break-and-bake. YUM! I knew, they had to be FREE for YOU the ticket purchaser. Wyland is also throwing in a free poster of your choice if you make a ticket purchase while you are in the gallery.




Again, this offer from Wyland is only good until August 18, 2010. So call us at 949-542-3600 and buy your ticket today, so that you can take your email confirmation down to the gallery to get that cookie and coffee. It's perfect timing now that the June gloom has finally lifted!

Raffling the Good Life,
Rachel Gomez

Free T-Shirt from Hobie!

Drum roll please...... here is your first free offer for being a Home Raffle ticket purchaser!

Bring your email confirmation or ticket receipt into Hobie at the Dana Point location to receive a free Hobie T-Shirt. Also, since your raffle ticket purchase makes you and OI member, you will get 15% off any purchase at Hobie! How sweet is that? A discount and a freebie!







The free t-shirt offer is good starting today and will run until August 18, 2010 or while supplies last. Proof of Laguna Beach Million Dollar Home Raffle ticket purchase must be shown at the Hobie location, or purchase your ticket inside Hobie.

Raffling the Good Life,
Rachel Gomez

Welcome to the Home Raffle

The Next 16 Weeks

I woke up so excited to come to work today! Why would I be excited to return to work after a perfect, long holiday weekend?

(my desk this morning)

Today is the first day of our raffle journey. Over the next 16 weeks here in the office our phones will be so busy ringing that it will resemble the sound of Vegas slot machines. During these phone calls we will be busy selling tickets to people purchasing hope and the opportunity to dream.

While their ticket purchase is really going to the bottom line here at the Ocean Institute, to help us educate, nurture, and inspire kids, the force driving their purchase is the idea of living in a beautiful home in Laguna Beach with white water views. And for some, it’s the idea of having $1 million dollars in the bank to spend on cars, purses, vacations or pay off debt, pay their mortgage and provide for their families. No matter the motivation for the ticket purchase, we can hear the sound of excitement in their voices. We are just as excited to sell them their ticket because we are OI raffle veterans, and we know their hope is REAL.

(Elizabeth on the phone)

Someone is REALLY going to have to choose their dream vacation.
Someone is REALLY going to drive away in a brand new Toyota Prius
Someone is REALLY going to win a million dollars
Children’s lives will REALLY be changed by the funds raised through the raffle

I look forward to this blog serving as a forum for a discussion of hope and dreams and that we can discuss the prizes and opportunities provided through the raffle. I will also be using this blog to post our Flip camera videos featuring local businesses that are supporting the raffle, and giving our viewers special deals. Who doesn’t love a discount?

Follow our blog! Tweet us! FB us! Skype me! AIM me! Or give us a call in the raffle office!

Raffling the Good Life,

Rachel Gomez