OCWS
Imagine walking into a room of over 100 people and not knowing a single person. It sounds a little daunting! That is currently what happens when a new member attends his or her first Wine Society event. What if that new member knew at least one or two other people in the room? Does that […]
The annual OCWS business meeting is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 11at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom. All members are invited and this is a great opportunity to hear from the board members and committee chairs on the state of the organization.
The Board of Directors candidates will have the opportunity to speak about their qualifications and goals. Please sign-up on the website and plan on attending.
We have had another successful year at The Courtyard at the Orange County Fair. Although wine sales were down year-over-year mainly due to slow concert ticket sales and extremely hot weather, The Courtyard is still, by far, the largest fundraiser for our organization.
I am still overwhelmed by the numbers of dedicated volunteers who fill every shift, fight the parking and the crowds to work, only for the satisfaction of helping the OCWS meet its goals. The final accounting numbers are not yet in, but I expect to have a good idea for the Business Meeting.
Our 50th year seems to be melting away and this is my penultimate President’s Message. It is the right time to begin thanking some of the hard-working folks who have made the Orange County Wine Society run so smoothly and successfully over the past 11 months.
First of all, it has been a truly great honor for me to serve as your president and I want to start by thanking the board for their hard work and giving me this opportunity.
Vice-President Fran Gitsham has been a thread who connects the entire organization together. Fran is the chair of the Commercial Competition, a supervising member of the Courtyard Committee and a wealth of knowledge. I want to thank her for offering support and being a great sounding board.
Thanks to Treasurer Linda Flemins for being a crucial watchdog of the OCWS finances. She has managed our cash reserves to ensure the best returns. Linda spent an inordinate amount of time dealing with our difficult insurance issues and navigated it very successfully.
Secretary Carolyn Christian not only kept our records, but, as chair, has dedicated a great deal of time to making sure the 50th Anniversary celebration has been a resounding success. Carolyn uses her chairmanship of the Marketing Committee to make sure the OCWS is cast in a shining light on many media platforms. Many thanks for all of her efforts.
Thank you to the five other board members who do so much to make the OCWS the great organization that it is. Sue England, Chair of the Photography Committee, always steps up to fill any need. CL Keedy makes the Winery Program run smoothly and represented OCWS with flair on ABC News. John Lane makes the cataloguing system work and liaisons with the home wine group. Daniel Vlahovic puts together wonderful outings and puts in much time at The Courtyard. Don Mayer coordinates hundreds of attendees to the very, very popular Mini-Tastings.
This is only a sample of the efforts by the OCWS board members. Everyone does more than I have space to list. Thanks again to all of them and more next month.
The event is sold out at this time. Call the office if you want to be on a waitlist. Signups for a trip in November to the Santa Ynez Valley are in full swing. Those interested can go to OCWS.org and find the trip under the “Events” tab. In case you missed the details, the […]
By Bob Topham and Beverly Genis
It is with great sadness that we share the passing of our friend and fellow Orange County Wine Society member and past Board Member, Walt Thurner, who passed away at his home after a long and courageous battle with oral cancer. May he rest in peace.
For more than 30 years, Walt was a dedicated and valued OCWS member. He was a past board member and an active member of the Cook’s Caucus. He served as a home wine judge for more than a decade, worked countless hours at the OC Fair and was known for stepping in to help whenever and wherever he could.
His commitment to our organization and its members reflected his quiet generosity and strong sense of community. Additionally, Walt served in the U.S. Navy and led a distinguished career at the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. He later served as Chief of Police at the Metropolitan State Hospital, where his leadership and dedication earned the respect of those who worked alongside him.
His family is holding a memorial service to honor and remember him on Saturday, September 12, at 2 p.m. in Clubhouse #2 of Seal Beach’s Leisure World. Your presence and support would mean the world to Dolorie and her family. Please RSVP to Dolorie at (562) 889-4932.
Outdoor Activities Continue In September
September offers the perfect blend of lingering summer sunshine and the first touches of fall. From vineyard visits and wine tastings to outdoor dinners, golden sunsets, and OCWS gatherings, there are endless opportunities to capture beautiful wine moments. Wherever your adventures take you this month, don’t forget your camera, we can’t wait to see your favorite September memories!
Each month, the OCWS Photography Committee selects a Photo of the Month to be featured in the OCWS newsletter and showcased on our website. The winner will also receive a special bottle from the OCWS cellar!
THEME: Harvest Moments Through the Lens
SUBMIT TO: Photo@OCWS.org
RULES: OCWS.org, News, Photos
Here’s to the good times we share!
Feel free to capture and share the fun, candid moments from any OCWS event—we’d love to see the experience through your eyes! These photos are separate from the Photo of the Month Contest (no prizes are awarded), but they may be featured in our newsletter, marketing materials, or on social media. It’s a wonderful way to showcase your unique perspective and celebrate the spirit of the OCWS community.
REMINDERS:
• By submitting, you grant OCWS rights to use your photos for marketing.
• Only submit photos that are your own.
• Send your shots to photo@OCWS.org
Let’s raise a glass to the good times we share.
—Leslie Hodowanec, Arnie Gamboa, Hank Bruce and Sue England – Photo Committee
Have you ever wanted a slice of Sideways? Are you a fan of Pinot Noir from the Sta. Rita Hills? Do you enjoy the quaint charm of Solvang, Buellton or Los Olivos?
If any of that sounds fun, come November it can be yours. The Orange County Wine Society is inviting members to uncork a new adventure in the Santa Ynez Valley that will feature discounts and other benefits at select wineries using a special passport being created for the trip.
A committee has spent the last few months creating a top-flight itinerary that will include:
We have reserved all 20 rooms at Hotel Hygge for the trip. If all the rooms are booked, we will likely be able to get 10 or more additional rooms at the nearby Sideways Inn but the price will be higher.
The tentative plan is as follows:
Sunday, Nov. 8: Arrive in Santa Ynez Valley. Afternoon wine tasting (TBD as a group or on your own). 5-8 p.m. Dinner at Hitching Post, featuring owners Frank Ostini and Gray Hartley, who will be pouring a selection of their wines.
Monday, Nov. 9: Wine tasting in Los Olivos. A list of wineries in the passport will be provided. Tasting reservations must be made on your own and are not covered in the trip price. 5-9 p.m. wine-paired dinner featuring Foxen Winery at Inn at Zaca Creek.
Tuesday, Nov. 10: Checkout or tack-on tastings at wineries (TBD).
Breakfast is not provided in the cost of the trip. We are currently working on getting discounts at restaurants that provide lunch and updates will be provided to those who sign up for the trip.
Signups will begin at OCWS.org on August 15 and members are encouraged to act early as spots are expected to fill quickly.
The cost for the hotel and two dinners (wine included) is $700 per couple and $425 if you are going solo. The registration deadline is Sept. 24 and the drop-dead date for refunds is Sept. 27. No refunds will be given after Sept. 27.
There also will be a waitlist during signups for those wanting to go and can either replace someone who can no longer go or additional rooms become available. (no splitting costs of hotel or restaurants).
The passport will be valid Nov. 8-12.
There will be more details to come and if there are any questions, please reach out to Greg Risling at editor@OCWS.org.
It is with a heavy heart that I write this column as I have just learned we lost a decades-long member of the Orange County Wine Society: John Goodnight. He was a past president of OCWS (1987-1989, 1999-2000), recipient of the President’s Award (2002) and long-time volunteer.
John helped get The Wine Press started and most recently, John served as a Best of Show judge at the 2026 OC Fair Home Wine Competition. Our thoughts go out to Jane Goodnight. John was a great friend and great poker player.
The 2026 election for the OCWS Board of Directors is scheduled to take place after the September 11 annual business meeting. Prospective candidates must submit their declaration of candidacy to Greg Hagadorn no later than August 28.
Past President Carolyn Christian and I have completed our maximum two consecutive terms and cannot run for re-election. I urge dedicated OCWS members who have the time and interest to seek election to the board. For me, serving on the board has been a great honor and a truly rewarding experience. It is an opportunity to have a hand in the operation of an outstanding 501(c)3 organization.
The Orange County Fair is now in full swing after the July 17 opening. Leslie Hodowanec’s set-up crew was able to get everything in place for opening day despite delays and hiccups from the sign shop. Carolyn Christian put together a fantastic theme for the 2026 Courtyard with a look back over the five fabulous decades of the OCWS. Be sure to check out the OCWS history.
The fair has another 16 days to run, so if you haven’t had a chance to see The Courtyard and taste some of the award-winning wines from the Commercial Competition it is not too late.
Rich Skoczylas and Sue England have been working on The Courtyard schedule and put out the SOS (Save Our Shifts) alerts. There still may be a few opportunities to add some shifts, so watch for emails.
I hope you got to see Director CL Keedy on July 14 on the ABC7 morning news. He talked about our organization, the Commercial Competition, scholarships and The Courtyard.
See you at the fair.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Summer, the fair and time to think about running for the OCWS Board of Directors.
Please note that the earlier you declare, if you’re working at the OC Fair, you can campaign with your friends and fellow members. You can hear and listen to the issues that other members have and are concerned about.
Have you thought about getting more involved with the OCWS outside of volunteering for or attending various OCWS-related events? If you are innovative, open-minded, possess good interpersonal skills, are results oriented and a problem solver, then a position as a board director 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.
The overall time commitment for a board member varies, based on assignments and participation. We are moving from having the Board manage some events to having our members run the event with a Board coordinator being
the liaison to the Board regarding budgets, event timing and placement.
A candidate should possess some of the following skills and experience as well:
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 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 at (714) 388-8803 or Greg@OCWS.org.
Greg Hagadorn, Election Chair
January, February, March and April on the third working Friday of the month, come and hear from the winemakers that won Double Gold, Gold and Silver awards at the OCWS Commercial Wine Competition.
Thank you to our crew of set-up volunteers for making our 50th anniversary at The Courtyard very special and we all hope that you are enjoying it too. The beautiful work that went up, sadly must be torn down. We can use your help.
All members are invited to sign up for the tear down crew for one or both days on Monday, Aug. 17 and Tuesday, Aug. 18 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Lunches are provided. This is a great way to see the fair behind the scenes. Please sign in directly with Leslie Hodowanec at Les@owcs.org
John Goodnight was a 2002 OCWS President’s Award recipient, an exceptional volunteer, a dedicated member, and a remarkable financial expert. This July 2026, the Orange County Wine Society lost one of its most passionate and valued gentlemen.
John was undoubtedly one of OCWS’s pioneers and visionaries. In 1986 John first ran for the Board of Directors and was elected as Treasurer, his first mandate was to obtain a computerized financial program. At this time, the OCWS financials were prepared by an outside accounting service. John stated, “All we used was the check register and a cigar box!” After researching, John found a shareware program that did the trick. John also influenced the Board of Director decision that there was a need for a full-time Office Administrator. Prior to this time, the Office Administrator was in a part-time position being considered as an independent contractor. John had the unenviable position of setting up and complying with all the state and federal requirements for full-time employees. John continued to function as the OCWS Treasurer for nine of his twelve years on the Board, two of those years he served as the OCWS President.
John worked the OC Fair night shifts and locked up daily. He instituted Cashier Procedures by creating forms, accounting sheets, and cash controls. He also assisted in organizing shift controls. John was the OCWS President when Norb Bartosik, the General Manager of the OC Fair, approached the OCWS with the idea of providing the OCWS with a new venue during the Fair. Originally, the Wine Garden and later called Wine Pavillion and now called Wine Courtyard, was relocated. Despite this relocation, the then-called Wine Pavilion enjoyed a 35% increase in gross revenue during its first year and has been our primary source of revenue since then.
Prior to John managing The Wine Press, the newsletter was not printed consistently. John wanted to make sure The Wine Press was printed once a month.
Preparing The Wine Press was a monumental task. Articles would be prepared using a Word file then cut and pasted on to “paste-up boards.” They kept the Newsletter to about 8 to 12 pages. Later, John started utilizing Microsoft Publisher, a desktop publishing software. He did this monthly for 17 years. Jane Goodnight would edit the final version. They would then take The Wine Press to the printer to print and collate about 600 to 700 copies since that was the amount of the membership at that time. They would then have to print labels and postage then take the newsletter to the post office for mailing. A herculean task, to say the least!
John jokes that he included a joke page in the newsletter which was comprised of cartoons and light humor sourced from the web. One person complained to the Board, so they printed that a vote was taken resulting in a landslide for keeping the joke page.
Under John’s leadership, graphics from the Wine Press won numerous OC Fair ribbons including the Blue Ribbon First Place for the Wine Press and a Best of Show award for the Extraordinaire program.
Around 1979, is when Jane McGrath met John Goodnight. They met at a piano bar at the Rose and Crown in South Coast Village in Cost Mesa. Jane was, and still is, a member of the OCWS Commercial Wine Competition Steering Committee, and she invited John to OCWS events. Jane remembers their first Valentine where John stated, “I like RC, you like wine, won’t you be my Valentine?” Jane started inviting John to OCWS wine events and he quickly got heavily involved in volunteering and leadership at OCWS all happily leading to a 1983 wedding.
Jane has fond memories of her and John participating in one of the most popular OCWS events, The Chili Cook-off! She remembers one year they won for the mildest chili, but they were a little disappointed in that award label so the following year they made a really hot chili, and they won for the hottest chili and felt a lot better about that award!
In 1987 and 1988, while serving as OCWS Treasurer and Membership Chairperson, John estimated there were about 350 members. Membership information was stored on an Excel spreadsheet. The OCWS would do a mass mailing for dues collection in November and December using mail merge. However, John remembers the Board of Directors discussed their promise to the membership to always look after the membership and operate on a break-even basis, not on a “for profit” basis. As a result, the Board felt this process was not fair to the members who joined late in the calendar year, so they started an annual membership renewal. Membership renewal would commence on the anniversary of when the member joined.
John remembers that the Orange County Fair (OC Fair) was always the best recruitment time for new members. The number of new members joining would be about 40 to 50. There used to be a dual $10 family membership offering.
Times have changed, but one thing remains certain: OCWS is fortunate to have dedicated, enthusiastic and passionate members, yet few have matched the leadership, vision, and valuable contributions John brought to the organization.
–Linda Flemins