PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE


You could feel it in the air that night – the camaraderie, excitement, surprise, delight, and connection. The vibe was palpable!  The Hoedown was by all measures an enormous success. !!!

Hats off to everyone who helped to make this happen.

Conne Sutherland and Sherie Dodsworth devised a terrific new layout that accommodated dining, dancing and the auction very nicely.  The decorating committee created a wild west atmosphere with lots of communal tables and themed décor.

Linda Smutz spearheaded a marketing campaign that boosted local awareness of the club and attracted a load of new attendees.  The first timers were wowed!

Deb Langley scoured the county for donations of unique experiences and valuable hotel, restaurant and services certificates.  An amazing haul!

Kitten Carter designed, set up and worked the photo booth.  A new addition that was a lot of fun and delivered on the spot, free, charming photographic mementos.

Judy Tschirgi oversaw the whole process from planning to post-op.  She helped coordinate logistics, completed the arduous permitting processes, and did all the final accounting.  A mastermind of details!

Donors and Sponsors really stepped up this year.  Reading about the impact our donations have on aspiring students and local non-profits inspired new donors to give and our committed members to give more.  We are very grateful for your support.

We heard so many positive comments about the food, the music, the dancing, the auction items, the photo booth and the overall organization and atmosphere.  One guest told me and Judy “You nailed this.”

We can all be very proud of what we accomplished.  I, for one, am pretty excited about next year’s celebration!

Finally! After all this cool weather - warm day on a sunny patio! Members and guests gathered at Twisted Roots Winery in Carmel Valley Village on May 6 for lunch (a feast really!) and to hear Julie Ruiz describe how Twisted Roots Winery came to be. Julie’s family, whose own roots go back many generations in our valley, have turned their talents and efforts toward vegetable farming, grape growing, and eventually, wine making.

Beginning in 1918, Julie’s family grew grapes and sold them to other winemakers. Then in 2005, her uncle decided to experiment with some of those grapes and came up with an excellent Petite Syrah. He was an early adopter of sustainable practices. Julie’s husband Josh joined him in the winemaking endeavor and today Twisted Roots’ selection of wine includes Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo, Petite Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc, Albarino, Rose, two types of Brut, and hard cider. Luncheon guests were treated to a taste of the Brut Rose.

In 2013, Julie and Josh and their relatives rented a little space in front of a gallery in the Village and in 2018, they bought the entire building and created the elegant space they now welcome guests to for wine-tasting.

The bountiful spread of everything from a salad with goat cheese and blackberries to charcuterie and crudité platters to vegetable and chicken salad roll-ups was provided by Paradise Catering whose new owner Heidi Sebok is a CVWC member.

To top off the day, Desiree Gillingham won the raffle basket and Hollie McGee won dinner for two at FISHWIFE in Pacific Grove.

Please join us at the next luncheon at Los Laureles Lodge on June 3 when scholarship recipients will be announced. Make your reservation for June 3 now!

Our 3rd  Annual Hoedown was stupendous!!!

Many thanks to all our members
who worked so hard to
organize and run it, and all
who came and partied!!!