L-R: Joe Adams, Mechelle Lawrence-Adams, Elmo, Dylan and Lisa

I look at the photo showing my family visiting with Elmo and I think about how when the kids were young, Elmo was a rockstar. Now that they are older, the photo captures a silly moment. Despite my resistance, time has indeed marched on. My son Dylan heads off to college in the fall. My daughter Lisa will soon be a teenager, and life is far from those Sesame Street days when I first arrived here and she was in pre-school. Like most parents, I felt that things would never change and we were a long way from growing up! But in a blink of eye it happened.

I think about the Old Mission and how it seems to the outside world, perhaps, like things will never change. Then in a staff meeting, our team will reminisce about the preservation of the Serra Chapel and past museum exhibits. While reminiscing, we are reminded of the growth in our education programming and scholarships for low income students. We marvel at how time has marched on and how in just a few years, things have changed.

Yet, my ideas for progress at the Old Mission are tethered by concerns for preserving the moment and making sure that change doesn’t happen too fast, and that all work is rooted in principles of protection, care, and stewardship. Perhaps these themes relate to the ideas of parenthood. It’s our role at home, and in places like Mission San Juan Capistrano, to lead, nurture, and then one day let go.

For sure, at the old Mission, there is more history ahead, there is a chance to appropriately relocate the Gift Shop from the historic Sala to the front entrance, and thereby preserve the building. (For those that don’t know, this space is rich in history and dates to the founding of the Mission.) To me, this space is in the heart of the Mission site and deserves attention and a long range plan.

We leave legacies behind in our children and grandchildren. They teach us the value of time and love. The energy we get from them can be directed to making differences in other areas of our lives. For me, that energy has translated into the opportunity to make a difference to this landmark. A special place that welcomes all, provides sanctuary from the outside world, and a place where lifelong memories are made every day.

Despite our best efforts, change happens, life goes forward, and old buildings don’t just last because they are old or well built. They, like our children, reflect the investment and care that we as a society put into protecting their meaning, and nurturing their chance to stand for something bigger than ourselves for generations to come.

All that we have to do is to follow-up on that sense of care with personal action.

See you on the path,

Mechelle Lawrence-Adams
Executive Director
Chief Preservation Officer

The Mission Preservation Foundation Board includes:

PRESIDENT
George O'Connell
O’Connell Landscape Maintenance

SECRETARY/TREASURER
William Cvengros
Chairman
National Retirement Partners, Inc.

Wylie A. Aitken, Esq.
Aitken • Aitken • Cohn

Bruce Brainerd
General Manager
The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel

Michael Hagan
Furon Corporation ret.

Reverend Monsignor Arthur A. Holquin
Rector/Pastor
Mission Basilica San Juan Capistrano

Anthony R. Moiso
President and Chief Executive Officer
Rancho Mission Viejo

Michael J. Puntoriero
Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer
Allianz Asset Management LP

Connie Spenuzza
Vice Chair
Imperial Manufacturing Company

Madeline Swinden
Founding Chair, Mission Benefit Gala

Gretchen Stroscher Thomson
President
Stroscher Capistrano, LLC

EJ Tracy
Chairwoman
Tracy Industries

Mechelle Lawrence-Adams
Executive Director
Mission San Juan Capistrano

Past Members:
N. Christian Anderson III
Peter F. Bastone
Arthur B. Birtcher
R.J. Brandes
Tony Forster
Lula Halfacre
Robert McDonough
Anne Marie Moiso Leonard
Russell S. Penniman IV
Myron Sukut