Author: Wendy Taylor

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Scholarship Thank You Letters

Scholarship Thank you

Thank You For Your Generosity
September 25th, 2017
Orange County Wine Society
P.O. Box 11059
Costa Mesa CA 92627Dear Orange County Wine Society,

I am writing to thank you for your generous $1200.00 CPS Orange County Wine Society scholarship. I was overwhelmed with joy and extremely appreciative to learn that I was selected as the recipient of your scholarship. Receiving this scholarship was particularly special to me because of the nine years I spent working and living in Orange County, which is one of my favorite places in the world. I decided to go to college at age 29 after falling in love with wine during my career in the restaurant industry in the OC.
I am a Wine and Viticulture major with an emphasis in enology. I plan to pursue a career in the wine industry upon graduating from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. I am currently a senior working on my last quarter, and plan to graduate in the fall of 2017. After graduation, I will be looking to travel to the Southern Hemisphere to work harvest and then be moving to Sonoma County to find employment in the wine industry. Thanks to you, I am one step closer to that goal.
By awarding me the CPS Orange County Wine Society scholarship, you have lightened my financial burden which allows me to focus more on my studies. Over the last four years I have been in school full time, while working in restaurants part-time to pay for school and all other regular expenses. Your generosity will help me as I work towards my goal of graduating this fall Summa Cum Laude. It has also inspired me to help others and give back to the community, because without the help of generous people and organizations, like the Orange County Wine Society, I would not have been able to achieve my goals. I hope one day I will be able to help students achieve their goals just as you have helped me.

Sincerely,

Robert J. Huff
Categories
Members Corner

2017 President’s Award

At the Annual Business Meeting last month, Jim Beard awarded the 2017 President’s Award to Ken and Irene Scott. As many of you know, the President’s Award honors and recognizes those members for their exceptional contribution and dedication to the OCWS.

Both members for a number of years, Ken and Irene are passionate in supporting the various initiatives of the OCWS. They consistently contribute their expertise, knowledge and talent to many events and committees doubling the benefit to the OCWS.

As members of the Marketing Committee, Ken and Irene helped develop a marketing strategy promoting the mission and message of the OCWS. Their best practice approach made a significant impact in implementing a fresh approach toward brand recognition by updating materials and information provided to California wineries in connection with the Commercial Wine Competition. The brochures and other marketing materials they created carried that same brand identity into the Homewine Competition and the Winecompetition.com website.

This year, as members of the Commercial Wine Competition, they co-chaired the Volunteer subcommittee coordinating hundreds of workforce volunteers in various roles and schedules during the wine competition – no easy feat as both spent hundreds of hours making sure that everything ran smoothly, and they worked tirelessly at the Competition and behind the scenes.

Congratulations to Ken and Irene on receiving the 2017 President’s Award. This year’s award is in the hands of the most deserving and worthy candidates!

Categories
BOD Election

Announcing the 2017-2018 OCWS Board of Directors

Brian McDonald, Bill Redding and Ken Scott were elected by a majority vote of the OCWS Board members held on September 6 as provided under Article 4, Section 4.6 of the current Bylaws. Section 4.6 allows the Board to suspend the election and declare the candidates elected at the Annual Business Meeting if the number of candidates is equal to or less than the number of Director positions to be filled. By resolution, the Board took such action on said date.

During the Board of Directors meeting held on September 18, the 2017-2018 Board members  Jim Beard, George Cravens, Fran Gitsham, Brian McDonald, Terry McLean, Bill Redding, Ken Scott, Rich Skoczylas and Stacey Taylor elected the following Officers for the 2017-2018 Board year:

Fran Gitsham — President, 

Bill Redding — Vice President,

Brian McDonald —Treasurer, 

Rich Skoczylas — Secretary

Next time your paths cross, please congratulate and welcome them to their new positions as well as Ken Scott, as a newly elected Director.

– Jim Beard, Past President

Categories
Courtyard

2017 Courtyard Breaks All Records

The 2017 OC Fair, although now just a memory, is still very fresh in the minds and hearts of the 316 OCWS volunteers whose dedication and enthusiasm made this year’s Courtyard the most successful in OCWS history! With over 1,440 shifts worked at The Courtyard during the Fair, and thousands of hours spent behind the scenes before and after, this year found us smashing records from previous years. The Courtyard grossed the largest income in OCWS history.

The Orange County Fair & Event Center allowed us to partner with them to run both the Commercial and Home Wine Competitions and also gave us the opportunity to run The Courtyard. Income generated from The Courtyard has paid for both competitions and will cover OCWS’ overhead for the following year. Generous donations made by the general public contributed significantly to our Scholarship Fund.

Aside from The Courtyard requiring a lot of hard work and dedication, there’s always the fun factor. Here are some fun facts from this year:

  • Varietal Wines Sold: 17,536 glasses
  • Red & White Cellar Specials Sold: 9,302 glasses
  • Champagne Splits Sold: 4,439 bottles
  • Award Tastes Sold: 13,179
  • GoVino Glasses Sold: 3,870
  • The Express Bar: 5,977 transactions
  • Top 4 pm to 9 pm shift transactions: Saturday, July 15, 1066 transactions within 5 hours, or 213 transaction per hour, or 4 per minute
  • Largest credit card shift transactions: 4 pm to 8 pm, Saturday, August 12, 139 transactions within 4 hours, or 1 every 2 minutes
  • Largest credit card shift: 4 pm to 8 pm, Wednesday, August 9, totaling $2,366
  • Most shift transactions: 4 pm to 8 pm, Saturday, August 12, 447 transactions, or 1 every 31 seconds
  • Largest Scholarship Donation Day: Saturday, July 15, $1,320 in donations

The success of The Courtyard is due in no small part to all OCWS volunteers who manned or maintained The Courtyard in any number of capacities, or by simply lending moral support. It took each and every one of our volunteers to make The Courtyard a success and provide the OCWS with a fabulous financial foundation going into the next year.

Thank you to each and every one of our volunteers!

– Fran Gitsham, Brian McDonald & Lloyd Corbett
The Courtyard Co-Chairs

Categories
Courtyard

Making It Happen: Featured Winery Program

From conception to execution, Lloyd Corbett made it happen. Lloyd organized the highly successful Featured Winery Program held at The Courtyard during the OC Fair this year. He extended invitations to those wineries who support the OCWS and entered the 2017 Commercial Wine Competition.

The Express Bar, located within The Courtyard, was set up from noon to 4 pm. At this dedicated location, owners and/or winemakers were able to provide tastings or pour full glasses of their currently featured wines, share their winery history, and offer wine club memberships. The participating wineries also had the opportunity to meet OCWS members and its customers.

The OCWS had the pleasure and honor of hosting the following wineries:

  • Greg and Pamela Martin of Seven Angels Cellars in Paso Robles. Seven Angels Cellars made a second appearance.
  • Curt and Kate Dubost of Dubost Winery in Paso Robles
  • Phil Kaplan of Velvet Bee Winery in Santa Ynez Valley
  • Doug, Debbie and Joseph Wiens of Wiens Family Cellars in Temecula and Orange Coast Winery in Newport Beach
  • Michael Cox of Dark Star Cellars in Paso Robles

We extend our heartfelt thank you to all of the wineries that participated in our Featured Winery Program this year. A special note of appreciation is also extended to these participating wineries for providing additional wine for our use behind the service bar, for special events in The Courtyard during the OC Fair and for our Wine Wall (with proceeds going to our Scholarship Fund).

Due to the tremendous success of this year’s Featured Winery Program, we plan to present this new program again next year and add more guest wineries to our lineup, elevating The Courtyard experience for everyone.

If any member has a favorite winery you would like to see participate in our Featured Winery Program next year, please have them contact Lloyd and Liz Corbett at Lloyd@ocws.org or Liz@ocws.org.

– Liz Corbett, Director

Categories
BOD Election Members Corner

OCWS Board of Directors Elections: Last Call. Don’t Wait. Declare.

See BOD Candidate Statements

Declare early and take advantage of the opportunity to introduce yourself to the OCWS members volunteering at The Courtyard during the Fair! The Courtyard offers a unique venue for members to gather before and after shifts or to simply stop in and enjoy a glass of wine. Take advantage of getting some valuable “face time” with members to discuss your qualifications and desire to be considered for the Board.

Declare now, don’t wait until the filing deadline. Put yourself in front of your photo and written statement in an informal, relaxed and friendly setting.

Commitment. The overall time commitment for a member of the Board of Director varies, based on assignments and participation. All Board Members are expected to attend the monthly Board Meetings. Board members are also expected to organize or act as liaison for certain events and projects as assigned by the President. These responsibilities will generally require several hours per month of your time. Additionally, Board Members are expected to attend as many OCWS events as possible and are granted free attendance at most events for their participation.

Skills and experience a candidate should possess, but not be limited to, are:Elections

  • A general knowledge of OCWS events and activities
  • Experience as a volunteer in some events; involvement with event committees
  • The ability and time to organize events during the year
  • Experience in selected events and budget management
  • Be a member in good standing

Submission and Deadline. To declare your candidacy for a position on the Board, the candidate must present their Declaration of Candidacy in writing, by mail or via electronic media to the Election Chair no later than fourteen (14) calendar days prior to the scheduled Annual Business Meeting. The last date to declare candidacy for this year’s election is the hard date of Friday, August 25, 2017.

During the Annual Business Meeting, you will have the opportunity to speak to the membership and present your qualifications. A written Statement of Qualifications must be presented to the Election Committee no later than five (5) calendar days after your Declaration of Candidacy.

Questions, Reach Out. If being an OCWS leader interests you, feel free to contact Greg Hagadorn with any questions related to Director responsibilities, the election process or other matters related to the election. Greg can be reached at 714.388.8803 or at Greg@ocws.org. Involvement as a Director of the OCWS can be both personally and professionally rewarding.

Candidate Statements. As candidates declare their candidacy in accordance with election protocols, their photo and statement will be uploaded on to the OCWS website for your review and consideration. BOD Candidate Statements can be accessed on the OCWS website either at About>Our Organization or at the link on the landing page at ocws.org. Please be sure to visit the site frequently.

– Greg Hagadorn, 2017 Election Chair

 

Categories
BOD Election

2017 Board of Director Elections: Electronic Voting is Here

As you know from articles that have been published in The Wine Press, the Board of Directors has been investigating electronic voting. At its last meeting, the Board approved electronic voting for the 2017 Board of Director elections using a company called eBallot.com.

From a cost perspective, electronic voting and hard copy “snail mail” voting are about a push. Studies have shown electronic voting usually increases the participation in the voting process because it only takes a few minutes and requires a few clicks of the mouse. Getting more members to vote should be viewed as a positive. In addition, it is totally anonymous and the results are available within minutes after the ballot period ends.

Here is how it will work:

1. If you have a single membership and what appears on the surface to be a valid email address, you will receive an electronic ballot. If you do not have what appears to be a valid email address (i.e., your email address of record begins with “fake….”), you will receive a hard copy ballot which you must complete and return. Your ballot must be received by the Chair of the Election Committee no later than 5:00 pm on Friday, September 29.

2. If you have a dual membership with only one email address that appears on the surface to be valid, two email ballots will be sent to that single email address, one addressed to each member. Each ballot will have its own unique log in and password.

If you have a dual membership with what appears on the surface to be a valid email

 

address for each member, each member will receive his or her email ballot, each with a unique log in and password.

4. If you have a dual membership with what does not appear on the surface to be a valid email address for either member, a hard copy ballot will be mailed to each member each of which will have to be received by the Chair of the Election Committee no later than 5:00 pm on Friday, September 29.

The OCWS is not responsible for bounced email addresses any more than it is responsible for returned hard copy ballots received after the voting deadline. OCWS members manage their own profile and are responsible to insure their email address is accurate.

Here is how the email ballot will work:

You will receive an email ballot from eBallot.com identifying it as being the OCWS ballot. It will have a link to the eBallot.com OCWS portal with a log in and password. Click on the link, enter your log in and password and you will be presented with a list of candidates, their picture and candidate statement. You can then proceed to vote for up to three candidates. Vote for the candidates of your choice, then close your ballot. You will not be able to vote a second time or change your vote. This is no different than using a hard copy ballot. Once you mail or deliver your ballot, it cannot be changed.

Shortly after 5:00 pm on Friday, September 29, the Chair of the Elections Committee will receive a notification from eBallot.com indicating the number of votes cast for each candidate.

I want to emphasize that electronic voting will only be used if there are more than three members who have filed a Declaration of Candidacy within the prescribed period.

We will be submitting the database of qualified members to eBallot.com by Friday, August 25. Between now and then, I encourage you to open your online profile and confirm your email address (and that of your co-member if a dual membership) is correct.

 – Jim Beard, President

 

Categories
Membership

2017 MEMBERSHIP PROMOTION

Between July 14 and August 31, OCWS will again be running a membership promotion.  Each person joining during that period will receive a $15 coupon which can be used for any OCWS event except the purchase of merchandise and membership dues (that’s one $15 coupon for a single membership and two $15 coupons for a dual membership).  The coupon will be automatically added to the new member’s on line account but will expire July 15, 2018.  This promotion is available to anyone who has not previously been a member of OCWS.

If you have friends who have expressed in interest in the Wine Society or you think may have an interest in the Wine Society, this is a great time for them to join.  Please share this opportunity with them.

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Categories
Mini Tastings

Gold Medal Wines Mini-Tasting: Wrap Up

A total of 168 members and guests attended the July Gold Medal Mini-Tasting held at nine host sites. The evening began with a Gold medal winning wine from Gloria Ferrer, Blanc de Noir, Carneros.

A blind tasting followed with six flights of two wines each. The superb selection of wines chosen by Chris Cunningham had tough competition with many sites reporting “ties” for the top wines.

The three favorite wines of the nine host sites are listed below:

  • First Place: Ballantine, 2015 Zinfandel, Napa Valley at $30
  • Second Place: J. Lohr, 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, Hilltop, Paso Robles at $35
  • Third Place: 2015 Eberle, Barbera, Kokopelli, Steinbeck, Partridge Vineyards, Paso Robles at $32

In addition, attendees brought a delicious dish to share and then voted on a Chef of the Evening. The results of the Chef of the Evening at each host site are:

  • Host Chris Cunningham: Mike and Deborah Webber, Chile Relleno
  • Hosts Pat and Frank Solis: Tom Richey, Smoked Pork Belly Burnt Ends
  • Host Jolen Zeroski: Sheila Tedesco, Chocolate Fruit Cup with Sherbert
  • Hosts BJ and Tina Fornadley: Judy Koeblitz, Chicken Devine
  • Hosts Marcia and James Vaughan: Simone Dygert, Boeuf Bourguignon
  • Hosts Stephen and Nancy Edwards: Nancy Harman, Chicken Tortilla Soup
  • Hosts Sam Puzzo and Carol Frank: Carol Frank, Smoked St. Louis Ribs
  • Hosts Stacey and Wendy Taylor: Bill Forsch and Noel DeSota, Nicoise Salad
  • Hosts Craig and Ronna Rowe: Kathy Krieger, Blackberry Crisp

Congratulations to all the winners and a big thank you to the Hosts! A special thank you goes to Chris Cunningham for his selection of the Gold Medal wines.

For additional information on more award winning wines, visit  winecompetition.com.

Please send your recipes to Bill Redding at Bill@ocws.org as a possible recipe in a future newsletter article.

– Bill Redding, Director

Categories
BOD Election Members Corner

OCWS Board of Directors: Call for Candidates

See current Candidate Statements.

Have you thought about getting more involved with the OCWS outside of volunteering for or attending  various OCWS-related events? Have you thought about where the direction of the OCWS is headed in the next 5 to 10 years?  Would you like to be a part of navigating the OCWS into the future? If you are innovative, open-minded, possess good interpersonal skills, are results oriented and a problem solver, then a position as a Director of the OCWS just might be right for you.

The beginning of a three-year term of the nine members of the Board of Directors, according to the Bylaws, shall be staggered such that three members’ terms will expire each year. The three vacated Board positions will be filled each year by a vote of the OCWS membership, following the Annual Business meeting in September.

ElectionsThe overall time commitment for a member of the Board of Director varies, based on assignments and participation. All Board Members are expected to attend the monthly Board Meetings. Board members are also expected to organize and manage certain events and projects as assigned by the President. These responsibilities will generally require several hours per month of your time. Additionally, Board Members are expected to attend as many OCWS events as possible and are granted free attendance at most events for their participation.

It is not a one size fits all mentality that makes a successful Board Member. It is the ability to accept an exchange of differing ideas and a combination of differing skills that has been the culture, legacy and success of the OCWS.

A candidate should possess some of the following skills and experience as well:

  • General knowledge of OCWS events and activities
  • Experience as a volunteer in some events; involvement with event committees
  • The ability and time to organize events during the year
  • Selected event and budget management skills
  • Be a member in good standing

To declare your candidacy for a position on the Board, the candidate must present their Declaration of Candidacy in writing, by mail or via electronic media to the Election Chair no later than fourteen (14) calendar days prior to the scheduled Annual Business Meeting. The last date to declare candidacy for this year’s election is Friday, August 25, 2017.

During the Annual Business Meeting, you will have the opportunity to speak to the membership and present your qualifications. A written Statement of Qualifications must be presented to the Election Committee no later than five (5) calendar days after your Declaration of Candidacy.

If being an OCWS leader interests you, feel free to contact Greg Hagadorn with any questions related to director responsibilities, the election process, or anything related to the election. Greg can be reached at Greg@ocws.org. Involvement as a Director of the OCWS can be both personally and professionally rewarding.

– Greg Hagadorn, 2017 Election Chair