Diplomacy in the Air at Tiffany Party

About 150 guests wandered among the treasures at Tiffany & Co. in Costa Mesa on Sunday at a reception presented by the International Visitors and Protocol Foundation of Orange County.

The cocktail party was held in honor of the new chief of protocol, Gayle Anderson, and foundation president Dr. Jerrel Richards. The foundation supports the Orange County Office of Protocol, which welcomes dignitaries from foreign countries and promotes international goodwill.

Diplomatic Welcome

Tiffany & Co. (the only store in South Coast Plaza that is closed Sundays) opened its heavy steel doors to guests who were ushered through an entryway decorated with flags of foreign countries.

Party-goers were served champagne and exotic hors d’oeuvres while they greeted the foundation’s new leaders and about 30 members of the consular corps.

“This reception helps our international visitors know who we are,” Richards said. “Orange County is now the 30th economic unit in the world. The Orange County supervisors set up the Office of Protocol so there would be citizen diplomats to serve as hosts to international leaders.”

Anderson has been active in the foundation for six years.

“I just love it. It’s exciting meeting people from all over the world,” she said. “And it’s an excellent opportunity to learn about different cultures.”

Stormy Weather

Guests braved stormy weather to attend the reception. “I can’t believe how many people drove here in this rain from Los Angeles and Malibu,” said Mary Ann Wells, co-chairwoman of the reception with Mary Lou Hopkins-Hornsby.

Nancy Weinstein is busy preparing for the foundation’s ninth annual International Protocol Ball, scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 6, at the Hyatt Regency Irvine. The black-tie gala will honor John and Donna Crean and about 50 consul generals.

“There’s actually going to be a musical dessert at this ball that plays ‘Peace on Earth.’ That’s our theme,” Weinstein said.

Others attending the reception were Zee Allred; Ginger Bernard, deputy chief of protocol for Los Angeles County; Tom and Cynthia Coad; Karl and Marcia Giesler; Andrew Ippolito, consul general of Liberia; Mary Jones; Jennifer Kim; Madelon Maupin; Cheryl Moore; Carl and Pat Neisser; Jo Ellen Qualls; Orange County Supervisor Thomas F. Riley; Fred and Eva Schneider; Gordon and Angela Tippell; Janet Curci Walsh; and Gwenda Watson.