We’re excited! In 2008, CEA will celebrate 15 years of research, education and advocacy in Akumal, working to understand better the natural elements that make this place so beautiful, to raise awareness about how to protect it, and to invite others to join us in our efforts. We will have lots to celebrate and we would love to count on your participation throughout our year of events, especially in our Third Annual Save Our Seas Festival, on February 20 & 21. We will offer activities designed to connect more information about reefs and their inhabitants to people from all over the world. CEA is blessed literally to have the ocean at our doorstep and we are grateful to be able to plan an exciting fundraising experience. We will close the Festival with our Third Annual Gala Event which will include amazing talent, entertainment and surprises for those who attend. Make your reservations online now.

This year's Silent Auction is already showing great promise. Ron and his partners have donated a wonderful item for the auction—a stay at their slice of paradise, Xamach Dos, located on the pristine beach of Sian Ka'an. Last year, many people who could not attend the Festival in Akumal expressed their disappointment in not being able to participate in the Silent Auction. This year we hope to include an online auction to coincide with our Silent Auction; the items will be different but just as wonderful. If you would like to donate an item or participate in the online, silent and live auctions, check back periodically for updates.

If you would like to participate in this year's CEA Festival, please contact Alma or Lydia. We are always looking for volunteers, entertainers, craft demonstrations and, of course, items for our Silent Auction. Or, if you would like to sponsor part of the event, please let us know. In the past, we have focused mainly on vacation rentals in and around Akumal, but this year we hope to expand and offer unique experiences from many locations.

Another way to support the auction is by charging a donation to your credit card or sending a check that we can use to purchase an item or services that will be auctioned. For example we are expecting to receive a hotel night at the Hotel Mayaland in Chichén-Itzá. Your auction donation could be used to purchase the entrance tickets and private guide that could be packaged with the hotel night to create a very exciting auction item. This is another very generous way to contribute and support CEA.

If you do wish to send an auction donation check, please make it out to YEF (Yucatan Environmental Foundation, CEA's tax-deductible fiscal sponsor in the U.S.) and mail to PO Box 2116, Madison WI 53701-2116. Please make a notation that it is for auction support, so we can be sure it's used specifically for that purpose.

January 2008 update - CEA is proud to announce that the Gala Dinner will be held at the CEA Center, catered by Jen at Turtle Bay Café, and the catering is sponsored by Akumal-Villas.

February 5, 2008 - CEA is pleased to announce that Karin Ten Cate, soprano and Karen Mercer will both be performing at the Gala Dinner. There will also be a live auction. Seating is limited please make your reservations now, online.

February 11-22, 2008 Online Auction.

February 14,2008 We are pleased to announce the addition of Veinte Varos will be entertaining us. They will perform a Children's Circus on Wednesday morning and perform at the Welcome Hour at the Gala Event. Both performances will be entirely different. These shows are sponsored by Hotel Akumal Caribe and Akumal Beach Resort.

You may click here to view the Gala Dinner Menu.