Sunrise Rotary September 14, 2017; The Ramona Valley Vineyard Association… Wine in our Neighborhood
President Dave called the meeting to order…
Past President Barry Baker led the Pledge to our Flag…
The invocation was offered by Father Bill Dopp
Guests and Visitors:
None today
Birthdays:
September 15 Ralph Tavares
19 Richard Agnew
Anniversaries:
None this week
Rotary Anniversaries:
None this week
Photos of the Week:
Past President Mike Muehl with a huge bull Elk… 12 points, count ‘em! Acquired in Colorado the old-fashioned way; with a bow… All those poor Elk does are so lonely now! Congratulations Mike!
Past President Rich Aeling and Past President Mike O’Malley desecrating a Bronco’s flag at Past President Mark Hoekstra’s game night event… Now guys, humor Mark, and be appreciative of his game day treats…
Past President Barry Baker shared a photo of Hurricane Irma impacted property in the Florida Keys owned by a local San Pasqual alum… Lots of work ahead to restore the damage…
Grape Day 5K: 23 Days till the big event…October 7; Mark your Calendars…
Still need runners…
Fundraising is going strong: $44,476 committed by our teams
With Major Donors, the total raised is $100,436
Great job by all… Find those participants…
Past President Jim Ponder shared information on the matching grant status for the Flying Kites Orphanage in Nairobi Kenya.
Grant funds of $10,000 from District 5340; $7,500 from Past President Mike Dunlap’s charity efforts and $3,000 from Escondido Sunrise Rotary puts our total gained support at $20,500 for the great work to be done in Nairobi…
Great News!!
Father Bill Dopp presented a thank you letter for our gift of $1,500 from our friends at the Rotary Vocational School in Uganda
Dates to Remember:
September: 23 Rotary Foundation Seminar, Poway Center for the Performing Arts
October: 7 Escondido Sunrise Grape Day 5K Event; 23 days away
Hi-Fives and Announcements:
Past President Mike Dunlap announced that our frequent Australian visitor, Owen Tassicker passed away in July and that his wife recently passed away in Escondido.
Past President Jim Ponder recently completed a 70 mile bike ride in the Mammoth area and brought President Dave some local micro brew product from the Mammoth Brewery.
Brian Murphy announced that he recently accompanied his Indian Princess, Nancy to a gathering of the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma… Brian brought President Dave another useful mug gift… Brian’s trivia ‘chuckle’ about the trip is that he is a distant relative of General Custer; thankfully no battle erupted during his visit…
Past President George Beitner and his bride Erin recently visited Victoria British Columbia and he brought President Dave a wonderful gift of ‘Orca Poop’… George also reminded us all that as we travel, personal hygiene items from hotels are perfect for our contributions to Fisher House… Keep bringing ‘em in after your trips…
Past President Rich Aeling announced that Escondido Sunrise is supporting the students/residents at San Pasqual Academy as they begin their school year. Our grant of $750.00 will allow the students to each do some ‘buying’ of those school supplies that will help them succeed this academic year…
Rorie Johnston announced two Chamber of Commerce events at the Vineyard Golf Course; Thursday the 14th was a Chamber Mixer and the Golf Tournament supporting the Police Athletic League is set for Friday the 15th…
Elana Karoly announced that the “Go-2-Grow” Masquerade Fundraiser will be November 4 at Vintana. Cost is $50 per person. Visit their website at go2grow.com for reservations and more information…
Program:
Past President Mark Hoekstra introduced our speaker, Bill Schweitzer of the Ramona Valley Vineyard Association.
Bill shared with us about the growth of the ‘wine region’ in the Ramona, Escondido and Valley Center areas. In 2016 there were 18 locations in the association; both wineries and vineyards. In 2017, the Association has grown to 30 members.
Bill talked about the region and the qualities that affect grape growing and winemaking in the region; the altitude (early, intense sun), the soil (mineral rich and organically poor) the quality of the grapes and the wines (better each year), and the personal contact with winemakers.
The area has had a difficult struggle over the past 10 years, working with the County to ultimately create a ‘Tiered Winery Ordinance’ that enables wineries to begin producing and selling (at their wineries) the wines they create. This ordinance change has significantly reduced the cost of the winemaker to get from new vineyards to personally operated wineries… That ambience of the small, comfortable vineyards and wineries, enhances the wine tour benefit…
Local wineries in the Association have begin winning awards at various tasting competitions, which gives credibility to the region and it’s wines. Awards have been earned at the San Francisco Chronicle competition; the Toast of the Coast competition and the Sonoma Harvest wine competition.
All of this has combined to bring about growth in wine tourism in San Diego County, which is the second most popular tourist location in the world. The tourism draw along with the knowledgable wine consumers in San Diego County makes the Ramona Valley Vineyard Association a great growth opportunity for winegrowers and winemakers alike.
President Dave with Bill Schweitzer and Mike Dunlap our own local vineyard owner…
Next Week’s Program:
Kyle Button of California State University San Marcos
Opportunity Drawing:
Lunch Money: $18.00 Past President John Boyce
Big Pot: $218.00 Future President Chris Miller… Sorry, better luck next time