Chamber visits marine mammals

The Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce took a trip to the Pacific Marine Mammal Center for its monthly networking luncheon Tuesday.

The field trip-themed event came complete with a boxed lunch, though the gourmet eggplant, turkey and tuna sandwiches provided by A La Carte probably wouldn’t be found in many children’s lunchboxes.

There was also an educational presentation on marine mammals by the center’s education director, Meg Jones, during lunch to add to the educational flair.

The presentation gave the attendees an overview of the center’s history and its mission as well as an explanation of how the marine mammal patients are treated.

Like a classroom field trip, things like sea lion skulls, fish hooks and sea lion-ingested plastic were passed around the group during the presentation.

After the lunch presentation, the business owners and organization representatives were given a tour of the facilities and the center’s newly constructed pools.

They were also introduced to sea lions as well as harbor and elephant seals.

“We are thankful to the Chamber for their involvement with local nonprofits and are pleased to have been host to the first of their community ‘fieldtrips,’” said Emily Wing, the center’s director of development and marketing.

“We are glad to have had the chance to educate members about our marine mammal patients and their ocean environment.”

Attendees were given a stuffed sea lion as a memento of the trip, as well as free membership to the Pacific Marine Mammal Center.

Represented at the luncheon were local organizations including the Visitor’s Bureau and South Coast Water District and businesses such as Ganahl Lumber, Ocean Laguna, and Nice Touch Chiropractic.

The Chamber of Commerce holds regular luncheons and mixers in order to allow Laguna Beach businesses and organizations to interact and connect as well as learn something new.

The next field trip luncheon is planned for the tide pools.