Mary Bonino Jones

Reg Dorrett stood surrounded by the future. Mock decompression chambers, robotic arms, high-tech hardware--all confronted the Canadian emissary here last week as he shook his head in wonder at a model of a space station that is to be launched in 1995. "It really is fascinating, I must say," Dorrett, Canada's consul general to the western United States, said during a tour of the McDonnell Douglas space facility here. "We're just not getting enough Canadians involved in this."

Mary Bonino Jones, who has headed the county's office of protocol for seven years, has decided to step down from the post in September, saying she has accomplished what she set out to do. "It was my responsibility to establish an office of protocol for the county, and I feel that I have accomplished that," Jones said Tuesday. Jones joined the then-fledgling office in 1985 when she was still an executive with Disneyland.

Mary Bonino Jones, who has headed the county's office of protocol for seven years, has decided to step down from the post in September, saying she has accomplished what she set out to do. "It was my responsibility to establish an office of protocol for the county, and I feel that I have accomplished that," Jones said Tuesday. Jones joined the then-fledgling office in 1985 when she was still an executive with Disneyland.

Reg Dorrett stood surrounded by the future. Mock decompression chambers, robotic arms, high-tech hardware--all confronted the Canadian emissary here last week as he shook his head in wonder at a model of a space station that is to be launched in 1995. "It really is fascinating, I must say," Dorrett, Canada's consul general to the western United States, said during a tour of the McDonnell Douglas space facility here. "We're just not getting enough Canadians involved in this."

So you're having the prime minister of India over for dinner and everything appears to be going beautifully in spite of that crack you made about the Taj Mahal not quite fitting into your camera frame the way you expected. Conversation is flowing along and the visitors seem relaxed as they wait for the entree: a delicately prepared beef Wellington. If you notice that one of the guests is temporarily missing, however, it will be Mary Bonino Jones.

Retired Army Chief of Staff Gen. William C. Westmoreland stopped over briefly in Orange County Monday en route to Palm Springs, where he will spend a few days as a house guest of Bob Hope before turning around and coming back here later in the week. Westmoreland, commander of U.S. military forces in Vietnam from 1964-68 and chief of staff from 1968-72, was met at John Wayne Airport by the Santa Ana High School band and the school's Naval Junior ROTC drill team.

Recent articles in The Times concerning Disneyland's association and relationship to the Anaheim City Council have been very disturbing to me personally because for 24 years as Disneyland's community affairs manager, my responsibilities included governmental affairs. In that capacity it was my privilege to interface with government officials at city, county, state and federal levels. Since Anaheim is known as the home of Disneyland, it is important that positive public relations be maintained with all facets of the community.

Guests got a taste of Hungary on Sunday when the board of directors for the International Visitors and Protocol Foundation of Orange County staged a Hungarian dinner. About 100 people, many of them Hungarian, turned up at the Aurora restaurant in Fullerton to enjoy Hungarian music, song and food. The $40-per-person event was held in honor of Andras Marton, the first consul general appointed by Hungary to head its new consulate in Los Angeles.

In a darkened ballroom at the Irvine Hilton & Towers on Saturday night, a spotlight sought out the colorful flags of 42 countries and their respective consuls general. But "A Slice of Orange," the fourth annual Orange County Protocol Foundation ball, turned out to be more than a salute to the International Consular Corps. The white-tie gala also celebrated the county's advancement in international trade and the destination point it has become for visitors from all over the world.

So you're having the prime minister of India over for dinner and everything appears to be going beautifully in spite of that crack you made about the Taj Mahal not quite fitting into your camera frame the way you expected. Conversation is flowing along and the visitors seem relaxed as they wait for the entree: a delicately prepared beef Wellington. If you notice that one of the guests is temporarily missing, however, it will be Mary Bonino Jones.

From her corner office on the ground floor of the county Hall of Administration, Gayle Anderson, the county's official diplomat, fields calls from foreign ambassadors, makes appointments to meet royalty, and chats with foreign businessmen interested in Orange County. Anderson's volunteer work as chief of protocol is all part of a 10-year effort by the county office of protocol to change the county image from that of sidekick to Los Angeles to one of haven for international investment.

Renewed hopes for world peace and the easing of global tensions gave more than 400 party-goers reason to celebrate at Saturday's eighth annual International Protocol Ball. The International Visitors and Protocol Foundation of Orange County's salute to more than 40 members of the Consular Corps took place in the posh ballroom of the Hyatt Regency Irvine.